Case Study: CDK Global achieves uninterrupted dealer operations during Level 3 Internet outage with VMware SD‑WAN

Level 3 Breaks the Internet, but CDK Global SD-WAN Customers Ask What Outage?

CDK Global, a provider of IT and digital marketing solutions for automotive dealers, faced a major connectivity challenge when a Level 3 route‑leak caused a widespread Internet outage on November 6 that disrupted many ISPs and customer transactions. Dealers that relied solely on traditional Internet links experienced slowdowns and interruptions that threatened day‑to‑day operations.

CDK’s customers using its SD‑WAN offering (VMware SD‑WAN with Dynamic Multipath Optimization) were unaffected: DMPO continuously monitors links, detects brownouts/blackouts within 300–500 ms, and reroutes traffic sub‑second without disrupting sessions. As a result, SD‑WAN customers maintained business continuity and processed transactions normally, often unaware an outage had occurred.

CDK Global