Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN Platform and Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN are popular solutions in the SD-WAN market. Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN Platform has more favorable pricing and support ratings, whereas Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN excels in feature set and ROI.
Features: Users like Aruba EdgeConnect’s seamless integration, robust security, and ease of use. In contrast, Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN is noted for its extensive range of functionalities, adaptability, and scalability. Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN has a stronger range and depth of features offered.
Room for Improvement: Users suggest Aruba EdgeConnect can improve on its complexity, troubleshooting difficulty, and user interface. For Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN, users point out the high learning curve, occasional network issues, and need for better user documentation. Both platforms have areas for enhancement, with Aruba users focusing on simplification and Cisco users on stability.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Aruba EdgeConnect users report a straightforward deployment process with excellent support from the service team. Cisco Catalyst users find deployment more complex but benefit from extensive documentation and professional customer service. Aruba stands out in ease of deployment, while Cisco’s strength lies in comprehensive support and resources.
Pricing and ROI: Aruba EdgeConnect is favored for its competitive pricing and perceived value. Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN, although more costly, is viewed as delivering strong ROI due to its advanced features and scalability. Users lean toward Aruba for cost-effectiveness but recognize Cisco’s superior long-term value.
The SMB market is always price competitive. To penetrate the SMB market or middle segment, we definitely need to work on the pricing aspect.
With Zero Trust provisioning via the Catalyst Center and Meraki dashboard, new branch offices are configured in hours instead of weeks, freeing engineering teams to focus on strategic initiatives rather than manual deployment.
They are now back to do that with the remainder of their company, so they've realized the value in 12 months and are willing to invest in the remainder of their organization.
There are many scenarios where we replace MPLS with the internet because now we have the flexibility to migrate to Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN and we do not need private connectivity such as MPLS.
Aruba's technical support is very responsive.
Technical support from Aruba currently rates at nine on a scale from 1 to 10.
I can harness the power of the teacher model without lowering my top and laser focus.
The principal third-level support is very good.
I would consider Cisco support a 10 out of 10.
I would rate Cisco's support, their customer service, and technical support as excellent.
Its controller architecture is highly matured, making it one of the most valuable and reliable LAN platforms for large enterprises.
Cisco SD-WAN is highly scalable and can be expanded to more than 10,000 sites.
The ease of configuration and features like zero-touch provisioning enhance the scalability of Cisco SD-WAN, especially in disaster recovery situations.
It is very stable, with no significant issues.
I have not observed any vulnerabilities in one year.
For example, with zero-touch provisioning, if we are adding new sites, we can do it with a few simple clicks.
While some software-related issues and bugs were encountered, they did not cause the whole environment to crash.
A simple issue in the control connections between the fabric causes numerous complexities.
I would also like the management of EdgeConnect appliances to be incorporated into Aruba Central Cloud Central.
The security could also improve.
In the Indian market, we need to design a solution with built-in security when considering areas of improvement for the Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN Platform.
Now, they change frequently, making it difficult to obtain long-term support.
Better documentation with real-world examples, improved third-party integration, and more detailed monitoring dashboards would make Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN even more effective.
Including more features like integrating with Splunk for monitoring vulnerabilities would help eliminate the need for other SOC solutions.
The licensing is not too expensive, however, it is also not cheap.
The pricing is on the higher side compared to the competition when discussing experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing of the Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN Platform.
It is an affordable product and yet still a bit expensive.
Its pricing is justifiable due to the comprehensive solution it offers.
It is also relatively cost-effective for smaller businesses when using the Meraki version.
The pricing of Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN is rated between eight and nine out of ten, where ten is the most expensive.
Additionally, it integrates perfectly with Aruba ClearPass, offering a robust security solution, covering network admin, access control, authentication, and authorization.
The Zero-Touch Provisioning feature is one of the best features I have seen so far.
Many features are valuable for automation, connectivity, and throughput.
It also provides robust security features, including port security, analysis, mirroring, and multiple other security solutions.
Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN has integrated security features which include base firewall, URL filtering, IPS, and secure segmentation.
The centralized dashboard gives me a clear view of all branch sites, making it easy to manage and monitor tunnel health, bandwidth usage, and device status from one place.
| Product | Mindshare (%) |
|---|---|
| Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN | 11.0% |
| Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN Platform | 4.7% |
| Other | 84.3% |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 8 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 7 |
| Large Enterprise | 11 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 47 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 15 |
| Large Enterprise | 49 |
Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN Platform is a comprehensive network management tool known for its user-friendly design and robust features like Zero-Touch Provisioning, advanced security, and the ability to optimize WAN. It offers various deployment modes and effective traffic management.
Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN Platform provides a unified approach to managing network infrastructure with a single-controller architecture that simplifies operations compared to multi-controller systems. This platform integrates WAN optimization and offers advanced security, supporting asymmetric lines to minimize bandwidth usage and network congestion. Its pre-configured setup templates enhance network performance, while next-gen firewall capabilities provide complete security management. Although there are areas for improvement such as documentation, pricing, and integration with other vendors, it remains a flexible solution for both on-premises and cloud environments, helping businesses manage routing, bandwidth, and branch connections efficiently.
What are the key features of Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN Platform?In industries requiring high connectivity and efficient routing like telecommunications and finance, Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN Platform replaces edge routers and integrates essential services such as firewalls and IDS/IPS. Organizations utilize its centralized orchestration to manage routing and bandwidth effectively, enhancing connectivity and managing latencies across satellite, MPLS, and internet links.
Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN offers centralized management and integrates seamlessly with existing Cisco ecosystems. It simplifies deployment with zero-touch provisioning, delivering robust security and optimized application routing.
Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN provides essential capabilities for organizations seeking secure remote connectivity and cost reduction, notably through its support of hybrid environments. While pricing and complexity present challenges, its advanced application control and cloud compatibility make it a valuable asset for connecting branches and data centers. Users benefit from enhanced security, network assurance, and simplified management, driving operational efficiency.
What are the key features of Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN?In banking, retail, and enterprise sectors, Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN facilitates effective network management by enhancing connectivity between branches and data centers. Its security features and zero-touch deployment are particularly valued, providing scalable solutions for locations that demand reliable, application-prioritized networking.
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