Top 8 WAN Edge
Fortinet FortiGateCisco SD-WANVMware SD-WANVersa FlexVNFCato NetworksCitrix SD-WANForcepoint Next Generation FirewallHuawei Enterprise Routers
Popular Comparisons Whenever I need something, Fortinet improves and updates the software for me.
It can expand easily.
Popular Comparisons It is a very scalable solution.
The most valuable features of Cisco SD-WAN include the DIA and its integration with Cisco Umbrella for DNS security.
Popular Comparisons The setup is very straightforward.
When extra capacity is needed, we can get it very quickly.
Popular Comparisons The granularity when it comes to configuration and security features are valuable.
The product has a dynamic VPN feature for SD-WAN.
Popular Comparisons It is quite simple and easy to use.
What I found most helpful in Cato Networks is that it works out of the box. One of its main advantages is that it's a simple product to deploy. You subscribe, and you're ready to run.
Popular Comparisons 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.
Popular Comparisons I have two offices, and I can route the internet of both offices using the same product. The connectivity is great.
I found the initial setup process to be very simple and straightforward.
Popular Comparisons It's simple to use and offers good connectivity.
The product is very reasonably priced.
Buyer's Guide
WAN Edge
January 2023

Find out what your peers are saying about Fortinet, Cisco, VMware and others in WAN Edge. Updated: January 2023.
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Advice From The Community
Read answers to top WAN Edge questions. 670,331 professionals have gotten help from our community of experts.WAN Edge Topics
What Is the difference between SD-WANs and WANs?What are the advantages of having a modern WAN edge?
What Is the difference between SD-WANs and WANs?
Current WAN edge technologies are increasingly influenced by SD-WAN (software-defined wide area network) technologies. SD-WAN identifies business-critical applications and directs them over the most efficient route of the WAN.
WANs and SD-WANs vary in the following ways:
WAN |
SD-WAN |
|
Application Performance |
WAN architecture drives the traffic from the network edge via data centers for security checks before sending it to the network. This causes delays and issues with cloud performance. |
SD-WAN identifies and prioritizes critical application traffic. The system can detect where to send each app’s traffic, and distributes it to the closest cloud inspection service. |
Connectivity |
Transports the traffic over MPLS (multiprotocol label switching) from branch routers to data centers. |
Uses broadband and internet services, providing faster connectivity and extra bandwidth. |
Management and Visibility |
WAN architecture is typically siloed, which can be complicated when you need to orchestrate multiple licenses and vendors. |
Uses a unified management approach, with centralized policy creation and visibility. |
Security |
Typically uses a VPN (virtual private network) to create a secure tunnel and protect the data. |
Integrates advanced security mechanisms such as IPS (intrusion detection systems). |
Costs |
WAN infrastructure requires investment in hardware and it is generally expensive to update or expand the network. |
SD-WANs don’t require investing in hardware to scale or expand the network. Additionally, they use low-cost internet to transport information, thus they are cheaper than MPLS. |
What are the advantages of having a modern WAN edge?
Transforming the WAN (wide area network) edge by adding SD-WAN (software-defined WAN) functionality can improve productivity, simplify WAN operations and allow for better digital transformation and transition to the cloud.
Some advantages of transforming WAN edge capabilities include:
- Secure connection to cloud computing platforms and cloud-hosted applications.
- Simplification of branch connectivity from the edge.
- WAN features like TCP (transmission control protocol) optimization and application protocol optimization improve application performance.
- More visibility and centralized network management.
- Optimization of traffic according to applications - for instance, using API (application programming interface) support for Microsoft 365.
- Improving limitations of WAN edge routers by using route learning protocol.
Buyer's Guide
WAN Edge
January 2023

Find out what your peers are saying about Fortinet, Cisco, VMware and others in WAN Edge. Updated: January 2023.
670,331 professionals have used our research since 2012.