Techniques for providing a backup network path using a standby wide area network (WAN) link with reducing monitoring. Packet loss and latency metrics are monitored for network paths in an adaptive private network (APN) connecting a first user and a second user according to control traffic operating at a first control bandwidth for each network path. A determination is made that a first network path uses a standby WAN link, has packet loss and latency metrics indicative of a good quality state, and has at least one characteristic that identifies the first network path as a backup network path. The control traffic is then reduced for the backup network path to a second control bandwidth substantially less than the first control bandwidth. The backup network path is made active when the number of active network paths is less than or equal to a minimum number.