Best SD-WAN Vendors for Your Network Needs

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SD-WAN (software-defined wide area network) has revolutionized the way businesses manage and optimize their wide area networks. With the help of this advanced technology, companies can now enjoy secure, reliable, and cost-effective networking solutions. As more businesses adopt SD-WAN for their networking needs, it’s important to understand the different SD-WAN vendors available in the market today and how they can be used to better meet your business’s needs.

When it comes to choosing an SD-WAN vendor, there are several factors that you need to consider. These include network security, application support, service level agreement (SLA), WAN bandwidth requirements, traffic prioritization via SD-WAN, and cost savings. All of these elements should be weighed carefully before making a decision on which vendor is right for your business.

Aruba (a Hewlett-Packard Enterprise company) is one of the leading providers of software-defined networking solutions in the market today. The company offers comprehensive SD-WAN solutions such as cloud-managed switches, access points, and routers that are designed to provide high-performance and secure networks. Additionally, Aruba provides an easy-to-use dashboard with analytics that allows users to monitor their network’s performance and make informed decisions about changes or upgrades needed.

Cisco Meraki is another leading provider of SD-WAN solutions for businesses. The company offers a range of products including cloud-managed switches, access points, and routers that have been designed with high performance in mind. Additionally, Cisco Meraki provides an easy-to-use dashboard with analytics so users can track their network’s performance in real-time and make changes as needed.

Versa Networks is another popular provider of software-defined networking solutions. The company offers comprehensive SD-WAN solutions such as cloud-managed switches, access points, and routers that are designed to provide high-performance and secure networks while also being cost-effective for businesses on a tight budget. Versa also provides an intuitive dashboard with analytics so users can easily monitor their networks’ performance without needing any specialized knowledge or training.

Fortinet is yet another major provider of software-defined networking solutions for businesses looking for a reliable network solution that meets their needs without breaking the bank. The company offers a range of products including cloud-managed switches, access points, and routers that provide high performance while being extremely cost-effective at the same time. Additionally, Fortinet provides its customers with an easy-to-use dashboard with analytics so they can keep track of their networks’ performance in real-time without needing any special expertise or training.

Cradlepoint is another popular provider of software-defined networking solutions for businesses looking for reliable yet affordable options when it comes to managing their networks efficiently. Cradlepoint offers a range of products including cloud-managed switches, access points, and routers designed for optimal performance while being extremely cost-effective at the same time. Additionally, Cradlepoint provides its customers with an easy-to-use dashboard with analytics so they can monitor their networks’ performance in real-time without needing any specialized knowledge or training.

Finally, Juniper Networks is one more major provider of software-defined networking solutions for businesses looking for reliable yet affordable options when it comes to managing their networks efficiently without breaking the bank too much. Juniper offers a range of products including cloud-managed switches, access points, and routers designed specifically for optimal performance while being extremely cost-effective at the same time as well as having strong security features built into them from the start which makes them ideal choices when it comes to keeping your data safe from malicious actors while still enjoying fast speeds over long distances.. Additionally, Juniper also provides its customers with an intuitive dashboard with analytics so they can keep track of their networks’ performances in real-time without needing any special expertise or training which makes using these services very simple even if you are not technically savvy..

Overall all these vendors offer excellent options when it comes to providing reliable yet affordable options when it comes to managing your WANs whether you need basic features or more sophisticated ones like traffic prioritization via SD-WAN. It all ultimately depends on what features you need from your chosen vendor as each one has something unique to offer depending on what type of customer they target which includes both small business owners who don’t want too much complexity but still want enough features, as well as larger enterprises who require more sophisticated capabilities than lower tier ones, would offer.. All in all these vendors are great choices no matter what size your business is so make sure you do some research before deciding on which one best suits your business’s needs!

Best SD-WAN Vendors for Your Network Needs 1

Comparing SD-WAN Vendors to Determine the Best Option

It is difficult to determine which SD-WAN vendor is best, as the right choice will depend on each customer’s individual needs. Each vendor offers a variety of services, features, and pricing models that may prove advantageous for certain businesses. That said, here is a brief overview of some of the top SD-WAN providers and their core offerings:

Cato: Cato provides a cloud-native platform that can be deployed on public clouds, private clouds, and even on-premise. It includes built-in security features such as IPSec VPN, malware protection, and zero-trust network access control. Cato also offers advanced analytics and reporting capabilities to help customers monitor their networks.

Aryaka: Aryaka offers an SD-WAN solution that integrates with public cloud services like AWS and Azure for improved performance. It also provides an integrated web security suite to protect against cyber threats in addition to tools for real-time application monitoring and optimization.

Masergy: Masergy’s SD-WAN solution is designed to provide fast application performance across multiple locations while reducing costs associated with traditional WANs. It includes advanced routing capabilities, priority queuing for voice/video applications, and dynamic traffic management.

BT Business: BT Business provides an SD-WAN platform that can be deployed in both public cloud environments or on-premise. The platform includes application optimization tools as well as business continuity capabilities such as automated failover between different connections in case of an outage.

AT&T: AT&T’s SD-WAN solution offers improved network visibility through real-time analytics and reporting tools in addition to providing optimized path selection between multiple sites for reduced latency. It also includes enhanced security features such as URL filtering for more secure web browsing experiences.

COLT: COLT’s managed SD-WAN service provides enterprise-grade routing capabilities along with advanced QoS (Quality Of Service) features like traffic shaping for optimal performance across different types of applications. It also includes built-in firewall protection powered by Check Point software blades to help protect against cyber threats.

GTT: GTT’s SD-WAN offering is designed to deliver better application performance while reducing costs associated with traditional WAN deployments. The platform comes with built-in security measures such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems (IDS) as well as tools for monitoring bandwidth usage across different sites over time.

Lumen: Lumen offers a cloud-native platform that can be deployed on public clouds or private data centers for improved scalability and agility when deploying new applications or services quickly across multiple locations. The platform also comes with enhanced security features such as web content filtering and encryption options for more secure data transfers between sites or customers.

Open Systems: Open Systems provides an end-to-end managed service that is designed to reduce complexity when managing multiple locations over long distances while optimizing the use of resources like bandwidth at the same time. The service includes built-in tools like path selection algorithms that can dynamically adjust the route taken by data packets based on changing conditions like latency or link conditions between different nodes over time.

Tata Communications: Tata Communications’ offering combines traditional WAN technologies like MPLS with internet links so customers can take advantage of cost savings associated with using the latter while still enjoying the fast speeds required by certain applications. The service supports advanced routing protocols like BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) along with integrated security gateways powered by Fortinet technology. Furthermore, it includes detailed analytics dashboards so customers have full visibility into their networks at all times.

there is no single ‘best’ SD-WAN vendor, rather there are several vendors who offer great solutions suitable for different types of businesses depending on their specific needs. Customers should evaluate each provider before making a decision so they can choose the one that best meets their requirements.

List of SD-Branch Vendors

SD-branch vendors provide the technology and hardware needed to create a secure, reliable, and cost-effective software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN). These vendors provide routers, switches, firewalls, wireless access points, and other networking equipment that can be used to build SD-WANs.

Aruba (a Hewlett-Packard Enterprise company) is an industry leader in SD-WAN solutions. Aruba provides a comprehensive suite of networking hardware and software products designed to optimize the performance of SD-WANs. This includes cloud-managed routers, switches, and firewall appliances that are easy to deploy and configure. Additionally, Aruba provides a suite of analytics tools that allow customers to monitor the performance of their networks in real-time.

Cisco Meraki is another popular vendor for SD-WAN solutions. Meraki offers an extensive portfolio of cloud-managed networking hardware that is designed to make deploying and managing SD-WANs simpler and more efficient. Their products include routers, switches, wireless access points, and firewalls that are all managed through a single dashboard for ease of use. Additionally, Meraki offers advanced analytics tools that help customers visualize their networks’ performance in real-time.

Versa Networks is another leading provider of SD-branch solutions. Versa offers an integrated suite of software products designed to simplify the deployment process for businesses looking to set up secure and reliable branch offices with SD-WANs. Their products include virtual customer premises equipment (vCPE), network functions virtualization (NFV) capabilities for automated service creation, analytics tools for monitoring network performance in real-time, as well as other features such as application-aware routing that optimize the performance of applications over the WAN.

Fortinet is another prominent vendor offering SD-branch solutions with their FortiGate series of security appliances. These devices offer advanced security features such as application control, intrusion prevention systems (IPS), content filtering, and malware protection while also providing flexibility in terms of how they can be deployed within an enterprise’s existing infrastructure.

Cradlepoint also provides comprehensive network solutions for branch offices using SD-WAN technology. Their products include routers with integrated wireless access points as well as WiMAX connectivity options for greater flexibility in remote locations where traditional wired connections may not be available or feasible. In addition to providing robust security features such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and content filtering capabilities their products also feature built-in analytics tools that allow customers to monitor the performance of their networks from any web browser or mobile device such as a tablet or smartphone.

Finally, Juniper provides a range of networking hardware specifically designed for branch offices using SD-WAN technologies including virtual private networks (VPNs), secure remote access options such as SSL VPNs for mobile users, firewall protection against malicious attack vectors such as malware downloads or phishing attempts, plus integrated analytics tools so customers can monitor the health of their networks from anywhere at any time via an intuitive web interface or mobile app.

VMware has become increasingly prominent in the world of software-defined wide area networks (SD-WAN) due to its ability to simplify deployments across multiple sites while also providing centralized management capabilities along with robust security functionality like encryption protocols like TLS/SSL encryption plus advanced authentication mechanisms like RADIUS servers or two-factor authentication processes when logging into sensitive data stores or applications over public networks like the internet. VMware’s NSX platform is particularly renowned among IT professionals due to its ability to seamlessly integrate with existing infrastructure while still offering improved levels of performance scalability across both local area networks (LANs) and wide area networks (WANs).

Choosing the Right SD-WAN Vendor

When choosing an SD-WAN vendor, there are several important factors to consider. Firstly, it is essential to ensure that the vendor provides a secure network. All connections should be encrypted, and the system must provide adequate protection from potential cyber threats.

Secondly, it is important to consider the applications supported by the vendor. The system should be able to accommodate your current applications as well as any that you may need in the future.

Thirdly, it is advisable to choose an SLA (Service Level Agreement) that fits your business needs and ensures reliable service. This will guarantee a certain level of performance in terms of uptime and response times.

Fourthly, you should assess whether or not your WAN bandwidth requirements can be met by the chosen vendor. It is important to ensure that all traffic can be effectively managed and prioritized according to your specific needs.

Fifthly, it is important to evaluate whether or not the SD-WAN solution can provide cost-cutting benefits for your business. This could include reducing network costs and improving efficiency through automated processes such as remote routing and load balancing.

Finally, it is essential to determine if the system offers inflight rerouting capabilities in order to avoid traffic congestion caused by peak hours or heavy network usage. This will help reduce latency and maintain quality performance throughout the day.

By considering these factors when selecting an SD-WAN vendor, you can ensure that you are receiving a reliable service tailored specifically to your business needs.

The Cost Benefits of SD-WAN Compared to MPLS

SD-WAN is often cheaper than MPLS because it uses distributed, private data traffic exchange and control points across multiple locations to reduce the need for expensive leased lines and dedicated hardware. This allows organizations to save money on costly WAN infrastructure, while still delivering secure, reliable connectivity between all network locations. Additionally, SD-WAN’s flexibility allows organizations to quickly and easily scale their networks up or down as needed, further reducing overall costs. By implementing an SD-WAN solution, organizations can benefit from increased performance, improved security, and increased cost savings compared to a traditional MPLS network.

Comparing SD-WAN and SD-Branch

SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Network) is a technology that enables organizations to use the Internet and other wide area networks to securely connect branch offices to corporate headquarters, cloud resources, and applications. It simplifies the setup and management of remote locations by providing centralized control over their network infrastructure and enables the deployment of applications with optimized performance based on network conditions.

SD-Branch (Software Defined Branch) extends the benefits of SD-WAN to include additional networking needs within enterprise branches and local area networks. It simplifies the setup and management of distributed enterprise networks by providing centralized control over both wired and wireless LANs, while also enabling enhanced security controls such as segmentation, user authentication, policy enforcement, etc. Additionally, it offers enhanced performance optimization for applications across multiple locations by using WAN optimization techniques such as caching, compression, deduplication, etc.

The Cost of Implementing SD-WAN

SD-WAN pricing varies widely depending on the size of the network, connection speeds, and other factors. Generally speaking, smaller sites with 10 Mbps speeds can expect to pay a median NRC price of around $452 for an SD-WAN site appliance. For larger networks with GigE speeds, the median NRC is around $1,422. The largest sites on your network might require a 10 Gbps appliance, which has a median NRC of approximately $8,823. Additionally, customers should factor in any additional fees associated with installation or maintenance as well as any recurring fees for software or services. Ultimately, SD-WAN can be a cost-effective way to increase efficiency and improve performance across your entire network while reducing operational complexity and costs.

Conclusion

In conclusion, SD-WAN is an incredibly powerful and useful technology that can be used to manage and optimize the performance of WANs. When selecting an SD-WAN vendor, it is important to consider network security, applications supported, the service level agreement offered, bandwidth requirements, traffic prioritization options, and cost-cutting capabilities. The major SD-branch vendors include Aruba (a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company), Cisco Meraki, Versa, Fortinet, Cradlepoint, Juniper, and VMware. Each provider offers different features and benefits that should be considered when selecting the best solution for your specific needs.