Top SD-WAN suppliers include Fortinet, Cisco/Viptela, HPE/Silver Peak, VMware/VeloCloud, Palo Alto Networks/CloudGenix, and Versa Networks. When deciding between SD-WAN manufacturers, consider network performance, security, and total cost of ownership.
Different aspects of a Secure SD-WAN solution contribute to its capacity to achieve each of these three objectives. The following are six key aspects to consider while comparing Secure SD-WAN solutions:
SD-WAN with ASIC Acceleration:
An SD-WAN ASIC is a piece of hardware that is specifically developed and constructed to improve SD-WAN performance. The SD-WAN appliance may provide substantially greater scalability and efficiency than COTS SD-WAN systems with minimum performance loss.
NGFW Integrated:
A Secure SD-WAN solution must include an NGFW, removing the need for additional security solutions. Threat segmentation and SSL/TLS encrypted traffic inspection should be included in this integration capability to avoid lateral threat movement at dispersed locations.
TCO per Protected Megabit/Second:
The impact of both security (if applicable) and SD-WAN capability on a solution’s pricing and performance is captured by measuring the total cost of ownership (TCO) in terms of protected Mbps.
Vendor Comparisons for SD-WAN
Each SD-WAN manufacturer has a particular emphasis and offers a unique solution. While the major goal of SD-WAN is to increase application performance, it is equally critical to integrate security and deliver high performance value.
In terms of network performance, security, or TCO, many SD-WAN solution suppliers make substantial sacrifices. Comparing SD-WAN suppliers based on their ability to balance these requirements is a good way to choose the best SD-WAN vendor for your needs.
Cisco
The SD-WAN solution from Cisco is implement as software that can be installed on a variety of Cisco equipment. While Fortinet Secure SD-WAN uses Cisco’s zero-touch deployment method, it achieves SD-WAN features with the help of a bespoke ASIC. This allows Fortinet Secure SD-WAN to achieve significantly better throughput than a software-based solution. . As a result, capabilities, performance, and management are all inconsistent. Fortinet SD-WAN was born as a single, unified solution that grew naturally.
Silver Peak/HPE
Silver Peak touts a secure SD-WAN solution that works throughout the corporate network. A number of third-party security companies have solutions connected to Silver Peak’s SD-WAN system. While this provides for privacy and regulatory compliance, it increases administration, complexity, and total cost of ownership.
Fortinet offers a Secure SD-WAN solution that is completely integrating. FortiGate NGFWs offer integrated SD-WAN capability and are part of the Fortinet Security Fabric, rather than relying on a collection of isolated point solutions. This allows them to improve network and security operations, as well as providing visibility and administration of an organization’s complete WAN infrastructure through a single pane of glass.
Mware/VeloCloud
VeloCloud’s VMware SD-WAN is touted as being built to deliver high-performance, dependable SD-WAN connection throughout the business WAN. However, it lacks key features such as built-in security, typical WAN optimization capabilities, and complete IPv6 compatibility.
While VeloCloud’s support for VNFs enables it to handle a wide range of third-party security solutions, it typically does so at the expense of performance. On some VeloCloud models, using a third-party NGFW as a VNF reduces overall appliance throughput.
Fortinet systems, on the other hand, employ a custom-built ASIC to provide SD-WAN capability as well as an integrated NGFW. Fortinet Secure SD-WAN can perform thorough inspection of unencrypted and encrypted network traffic with industry-leading performance thanks to the enhanced efficiency provided by this custom-built hardware.
CloudGenix/Palo Alto Networks
CloudGenix, a Palo Alto Networks subsidiary, promises to provide an SD-WAN that focuses on lightweight equipment that can be deploy throughout the corporate WAN with ease. However, several critical elements for Secure SD-WAN, such as WAN optimization and integrated NGFW capabilities, are missing from these stated lightweight systems. CloudGenix’s potential to grow is further hamper by a lack of service provider acceptance.
Fortinet Secure SD-WAN supports zero-touch provisioning, making it simple to set up. Fortinet Secure SD-WAN, on the other hand, has a variety of integrated network optimization and security features. With an industry-leading TCO, it can deliver high-performance, secure network access across the corporate WAN. Furthermore, Fortinet’s security-driven networking approach to SD-WAN, as well as its vast API ecosystem, enable managed security service providers to diversify their service offerings and stand out in a competitive WAN edge market.
Versa Networks is a company that creates virtual networks.
Versa’s Secure SD-WAN platform is marketed as a way to cut the cost of establishing SD-WAN on a company’s network. Versa enables network service virtualization (NSV) to run its own software on COTS hardware rather than custom hardware. However, it performs less well than specialised hardware such as Fortinet’s SD-WAN ASIC.
Versa uses “service chaining” to build its Secure SD-WAN, in which numerous isolated systems are serialised end-to-end. While this solution secures corporate WAN traffic, it lacks the efficiency and control that a fully integrated system offers. Versa also lacks standard WAN optimization tools, limiting its performance even further.
A unique SD-WAN ASIC powers FortiGate NGFWs, which combine SD-WAN and security functions in a single device. Because of the greater efficiency and optimization provided by this combination, an organization may benefit from improved network performance at a much lower TCO.
Secure SD-WAN from Fortinet
A single platform, Fortinet Secure SD-WAN provides networking and security features. Using dedicated hardware for both SD-WAN and NGFW, including an SD-WAN ASIC, Fortinet Secure SD-WAN inspects both unencrypted and encrypted traffic with no effect on system or network performance.
With integrated application identification and awareness, Fortinet Secure SD-WAN improves network performance. Secure SD-WAN can detect over 5,000 apps based on initial packet categorization. This allows integrated automated path intelligence to prioritize application flows and route them best based on business criteria particular to each application. Fortinet Secure SD-WAN offers the industry’s fastest application steering with the SOC4 ASIC.
The Fortinet Security Fabric includes Fortinet Secure SD-WAN. From a single pane of glass, a business can configure, monitor, and manage its complete network and security infrastructure. This centralization simplifies security monitoring, administration, and analytics while also allowing for quick responses to possible attacks. Through Fabric Connectors, Fabric APIs, and DevOps scripts, the Fortinet Security Fabric can integrate with over 250 Security Fabric Partner solutions. This makes it simple to integrate Fortinet products with an organization’s current security infrastructure.
The only SD-WAN solution that fully integrates hardware-based SD-WAN and NGFW functionalities is Fortinet Secure SD-WAN. In an SD-WAN system, this integration offers the best attainable balance of network performance, security, and TCO. Visit Fortinet’s Secure SD-WAN website to learn more about the capabilities of Fortinet Secure SD-WAN.
Gartner’s SD WAN Leaders
In the Gartner 2021 Critical Capabilities study, Fortinet was place first in three of five use cases: Security-Sensitive WAN, Small Branch WAN, and Remote Work. Gartner’s Magic Quadrant studies have regularly rated Fortinet products favorably.
Gartner’s Magic Quadrant studies strive to highlight the benefits and drawbacks of different technical solutions. The SD-WAN vendors are evaluating in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for WAN Edge Infrastructure on the basis of their vision and execution.
Fortinet Secure SD-WAN was awarding a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for WAN Edge Infrastructure in 2021, placing it in the leaders quadrant with the highest ability to perform.
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