Top 8 Software Defined WAN (SD-WAN) Solutions

Fortinet FortiGateCisco SD-WANVMware SD-WANPrisma SD-WANCato NetworksCitrix SD-WANBarracuda CloudGen FirewallVersa FlexVNF
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    Reliability is the best feature. We faced some issues when we were setting it up, but the service, portal, and administration are good.It's a user-friendly firewall. Most of the tasks are very simple. It's simple to configure and troubleshoot this firewall.
  2. The product helps to aggregate network links. The tool increases security and makes it possible for you to have remote workers. The most valuable features of Cisco SD-WAN are reliability and scalability.
  3. Buyer's Guide
    Software Defined WAN (SD-WAN) Solutions
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  4. Initially, we had a scattered environment, but VMware SD-WAN helped us achieve centralization, which was beneficial.The most valuable features of VMware SD-WAN are the overall capabilities and ease of use.
  5. When it comes to supporting large, complex, network architectures, it's a very simple architecture. The main component is the fabric. It's very easy to troubleshoot if there is an issue happening in the underlying network.
  6. The most valuable feature of Cato Networks is the CASB and the documentation is useful.It is quite simple and easy to use.
  7. The most valuable feature of Citrix SD-WAN is customization. You are able to customize the solution to your needs.They have a zero downtime failover mechanism, where, when there's a link failure or a link weakness, or bad link conditions, they provide the ability to fail back seamlessly.
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  9. The antivirus protection or malware protection has been great.I think Barracuda CloudGen Firewall is one of the most advanced firewall platforms. I also like that it's easy to get top-level support right away. You get that security, and if you make a mistake, it doesn't break.
  10. Versa FlexVNF is a scalable product because it does not have any hardware dependencies. This makes it a versatile solution that can be easily integrated with any firewall.

Advice From The Community

Read answers to top Software Defined WAN (SD-WAN) Solutions questions. 706,951 professionals have gotten help from our community of experts.
Janet Staver - PeerSpot reviewer
Janet Staver
Tech Blogger
Rony_Sklar - PeerSpot reviewer
Rony_Sklar
Community Manager at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Feb 15 2023

Hi peers,

What are some of the most common SD-WAN security vulnerabilities? How can I detect and prevent these potential security issues? 

Lipaz Hessel - PeerSpot reviewer
Lipaz HesselSD-WAN comes with firewall inside the device, the issue with that Firewalls is… more »
9 Answers
SandeepKumar13 - PeerSpot reviewer
SandeepKumar13
IT Manager at a legal firm with 11-50 employees

Hi peers,

I'm looking for your recommendations. Which of the latest firewall products can efficiently support 500 -100 concurrent SSL VPN users along with SD-WAN?

Mike Hancock - PeerSpot reviewer
Mike HancockThe best investment in my opinion is the FortiGate 600E platform.  It is less… more »
16 Answers
Netanya Carmi - PeerSpot reviewer
Netanya Carmi
Content Manager at PeerSpot (formerly IT Central Station)

Should I choose SASE? Why is it better?

Mike Hounsome - PeerSpot reviewer
Mike HounsomeSASE is cloud delivered architecture that provides central policy and… more »
3 Answers
Ken Kao - PeerSpot reviewer
Ken Kao
Product Manager at a comms service provider with 201-500 employees

If your company is using a SD-WAN solution, which brand is your choice? Why?

Lipaz Hessel - PeerSpot reviewer
Lipaz HesselWe are working with Silver Peak, Fortinet (FortiGate and FortiAnalayzer) and… more »
5 Answers

Software Defined WAN (SD-WAN) Solutions Articles

Evgeny Belenky - PeerSpot reviewer
Evgeny Belenky
PeerSpot (formerly IT Central Station)
Dear PeerSpot community members, Welcome to the latest PeerSpot Community Spotlight, where we sum up the most relevant recent postings by your peers in the community.  Check out the latest questions, articles and professional discussions contributed by PeerSpot community members!  Tren...
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Evgeny Belenky - PeerSpot reviewer
Evgeny Belenky
PeerSpot (formerly IT Central Station)
Hi PeerSpot community members, This is a fresh-from-the-oven Community Spotlight for you. Here, we've summarized and selected the latest posts (professional questions, articles and discussions) by PeerSpot community members. Check them out! Also, please share with us your feedback and suggestio...
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Evgeny Belenky - PeerSpot reviewer
Evgeny Belenky
PeerSpot (formerly IT Central Station)
Hi community members, Spotlight #2 is our fresh bi-weekly community digest for you. It covers cybersecurity, IT and DevOps topics. Check it out and comment below with your feedback! Trending What are the pros and cons of internal SOC vs SOC-as-a-Service? Join The Moderator Team at IT Ce...
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Software Defined WAN (SD-WAN) Solutions Topics

What does SD-WAN stand for?

SD-WAN stands for Software Defined Wide Area Network. The centralized software model provides an overlay over the WAN network, supporting applications wherever they are hosted. This includes on-premises data centers, SaaS (software as a service), public or private clouds, or hybrid on-premises/cloud environments.

Is SD-WAN a router?

SD-WAN (software defined wide area network), as a virtualized architecture, is software that sits on top of a router, improving the WAN router functionality. An SD-WAN mitigates router risks, like application performance degradation, by optimizing and remediating poor quality routes. You can add an SD-WAN solution to an existing WAN infrastructure or replace it to simplify operations.

What problems does SD-WAN solve?

Until the widespread adoption of the cloud, companies connected the different parts of their enterprise environment through physical routers. WAN routers were used to connect different branch offices with data centers, manufacturing facilities, and retail outlets. This is a reliable option but highly expensive because of infrastructure costs. It often requires dedicated bandwidth and on-premise box routers to ensure the traffic works smoothly.

Since they are not designed for the cloud, WANs may have operational challenges, including:

  • Network congestion: WANs typically hold back all traffic (including cloud traffic), directing it to a hub or data center for security inspections before it is released to the network. This can produce delays.
  • Packet delay and packet loss: the network congestion can cause errors in the data transmission, which result in information packets relayed with delays or simply lost.
  • Latency issues: Most communication applications for streaming, videoconferencing, or virtual desktops require no lags in connection. Delays in transmission impact productivity and disturb the user experience.
  • Low bandwidth requirements: Similarly, modern applications using HD video and images require more bandwidth. Increasing WAN bandwidth capability can be expensive and a hassle, as it may involve replacing the routers.

Expanding WAN capabilities usually means replacing expensive MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) with VPNs. Still, many times the VPNs come from different providers, making the network more complex to manage.

SD-WAN addresses these problems by optimizing the functionality of WAN routers through virtualized appliances. Some ways SD-WAN solves network challenges include:

  • Providing application-level routing by ensuring each application receives the appropriate quality of service, security, and performance.
  • Simplifying the operational environment by abstracting the logical layer from the traffic layer. Therefore, companies can avoid vendor lock-in and use multiple carriers and environments.
  • Creating fluid interaction between on-premises applications and the public cloud. Eliminates backhauling traffic by enabling the remote branch to directly access the cloud.
What are the benefits of SD-WAN?

SD-WANs benefit businesses by reducing hardware costs and giving companies the flexibility to access multi-cloud services. Organizations adopt SD-WAN solutions to address networking challenges coming from their digital transformation. 

Benefits of SD-WAN include:

  1. Improving performance: SD-WAN differentiates between types of traffic, prioritizing critical packets and delivering them through the most efficient route. This reduces packet delays and latency issues. Employees get the information they need when they need it, improving productivity and performance.
  2. Cost savings: Companies deploying SD-WAN can reduce the operating and hardware costs of expanding a WAN network. SD-WANs use low-cost internet access, and by being software-defined, hardware investment is reduced.
  3. Scalability: As organizations need to connect users and data across locations and deploy an increasing number of cloud-based applications, they need to accommodate fast-changing business needs. SD-WAN products are easy to scale up and grow as the traffic demand grows.
  4. Enhancement of security: Companies embracing digital transformation may find that while it improves user experience, it also can increase security risks for the network. SD-WAN solutions provide integrated security features in an extra layer that covers the entire network at the application level. IPS (intrusion prevention systems), encryption, and sandboxes help reduce the risk of data breaches, data loss, and downtime.
  5. Simplification of WAN infrastructure: SD-WAN centralizes network management through the controller, making the IT team’s work easier. These solutions also automate monitoring tasks and prioritize traffic.
  6. Enabling of cloud adoption: A company moving its network to the cloud can face a complicated process, trying to connect traffic both to the cloud and on-premises. SD-WAN enables workers to access the cloud directly from the branch, without the need of rerouting traffic to the hub. Thus, deploying an SD-WAN makes transitioning and operating in the cloud or hybrid environments easier for organizations.
  7. Can extend the LAN: Since the SD-WAN is scalable and supports on-premises applications, the functionality can integrate the local LAN (local area network). This protects the traffic between local devices and online resources.
Buyer's Guide
Software Defined WAN (SD-WAN) Solutions
April 2023
Find out what your peers are saying about Fortinet, Cisco, VMware and others in Software Defined WAN (SD-WAN) Solutions. Updated: April 2023.
706,951 professionals have used our research since 2012.