SD-WAN · SASE · US Carrier
Verizon Business SD-WAN & SASE Review
Verizon Business is the enterprise division of Verizon Communications, one of the largest US telecommunications carriers, providing managed SD-WAN, SASE, and network security services to large enterprises and government organisations globally. Verizon Business combines its own global network infrastructure — including its 4G/5G mobile backbone, MPLS, and fibre assets — with managed SD-WAN services delivered through technology partnerships with Fortinet, Cisco, and HPE Aruba. Its SASE offering integrates SD-WAN with cloud-delivered security capabilities, and Verizon's managed security services are backed by its Security Operations Centre capability. Verizon Business is recognised by Gartner in managed network services.
Quick Facts — Verizon Business
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full company name | Verizon Communications Inc. (Verizon Business division) |
| Headquarters | New York, New York, USA |
| Founded | 2000 (as Verizon; Bell Atlantic rebranding) |
| Stock | NYSE: VZ |
| Primary product | Verizon SD-WAN (Fortinet, Cisco, HPE Aruba); Verizon SASE; Verizon Advanced Communications and Network Security |
| Architecture | Managed service overlay on Verizon's own MPLS, 4G/5G, and fibre infrastructure; multi-vendor SD-WAN |
| Global reach | 150+ countries for managed network services; strong US and global enterprise coverage |
| UK presence | International operations; UK enterprise accounts supported directly; Verizon has UK operations and sales presence |
| SASE capability | Partial — Verizon SASE combines managed SD-WAN with security service edge capabilities from technology partners |
| SD-WAN capability | Full (as a managed service) — via Fortinet, Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN, Cisco Meraki, and HPE Aruba EdgeConnect |
| Target market | Large enterprise and government; multinational organisations; US-headquartered enterprises |
| UK channel | Direct enterprise for global accounts |
| Gartner position | Recognised in Gartner MQ for Managed Network Services (top 10 provider by revenue); also recognised in Global WAN Services |
What Netify Thinks
Verizon Business occupies a similar position in the managed SD-WAN market to AT&T — a US carrier with owned network infrastructure, multi-vendor SD-WAN partnerships, and the ability to provide a single point of accountability for underlay and overlay. Where Verizon differentiates from AT&T is in its 5G network capabilities and its stronger security services portfolio, including dedicated SOC and threat intelligence services.
Strengths
- 5G integration with SD-WAN: Verizon's owned 4G/5G network provides a unique ability to integrate mobile broadband as a primary or secondary WAN underlay for SD-WAN deployments — not as a third-party SIM card but as a managed service on Verizon's own network. This is particularly relevant for retail, field operations, and temporary site deployments.
- Multi-vendor SD-WAN portfolio: Verizon supports Fortinet, Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN, Cisco Meraki, and HPE Aruba EdgeConnect — giving enterprises technology choice without requiring a carrier migration.
- Managed security services depth: Beyond SD-WAN, Verizon Business has a significant managed security services practice including SOC, threat intelligence, incident response, and network security capabilities. For enterprises wanting a single provider for both managed WAN and managed security, Verizon's combined portfolio is relevant.
- Global network scale: Verizon's MPLS and IP network reaches 150+ countries, providing a foundation for global enterprise WAN deployments with consistent service levels and a single contract.
Weaknesses
- Primarily US-focused: While Verizon has global reach, its managed services are most mature and most cost-competitive in the United States. UK and European-headquartered organisations should evaluate service quality, local support capability, and pricing outside North America carefully.
- Legacy carrier service delivery challenges: Like AT&T and Lumen, Verizon Business operates as a legacy telecommunications carrier that has been adding managed services capabilities. Independent advisors note that managed service delivery quality can be variable below the very large enterprise segment.
- Not a SASE technology developer: Verizon's SASE capability depends on technology partners. It does not develop its own SD-WAN or SSE software, and SASE feature roadmaps are determined by Fortinet, Cisco, and HPE Aruba rather than Verizon.
- Pricing complexity: Like other carriers, Verizon's enterprise pricing is complex and varies significantly by geography, technology choice, and contract structure. Total cost of ownership analysis requires careful modelling.
Verdict: Verizon Business SD-WAN and SASE is best suited to large US-headquartered enterprises with existing Verizon network relationships, particularly those with mobile and 5G underlay requirements, retail-scale distributed deployments, or a preference for combining managed WAN and managed security from a single carrier.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- 5G integration — managed 5G as SD-WAN underlay on Verizon's own network
- Multi-vendor SD-WAN portfolio (Fortinet, Cisco Catalyst, Meraki, HPE Aruba)
- Global MPLS and IP network in 150+ countries
- Managed security services depth — SOC, threat intelligence, incident response
- Single contract for underlay and SD-WAN overlay accountability
- Strong US public sector and government presence
Cons
- Primarily US-focused — service quality and pricing outside North America can vary
- Legacy carrier service delivery challenges below very large enterprise segment
- Not a SASE technology developer — roadmaps depend on third-party vendors
- Pricing complexity — full TCO analysis requires careful modelling
Frequently Asked Questions
What SD-WAN and SASE services does Verizon Business offer?
Verizon Business offers managed SD-WAN services through partnerships with Fortinet (FortiGate SD-WAN), Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN, Cisco Meraki, and HPE Aruba EdgeConnect, all delivered on Verizon's own network infrastructure. SASE is offered as a combined managed service integrating SD-WAN with cloud-delivered security. Verizon also offers advanced security services including managed SOC, threat intelligence, and incident response capabilities.
How much does Verizon Business SD-WAN cost?
Verizon Business does not publish SD-WAN list pricing. All contracts are scoped individually based on site count, geography, bandwidth, SD-WAN technology choice, and managed service scope. As a carrier-delivered managed service, Verizon's pricing typically includes underlay circuits, CPE, and management in a single monthly per-site charge. UK and international pricing should be discussed directly with Verizon's enterprise sales team, as non-US pricing typically carries premiums for last-mile circuit sourcing.
Is Verizon Business suitable for UK deployments?
Verizon Business has UK operations and serves UK enterprise customers, primarily as part of global enterprise agreements where the customer has a significant US presence. For UK-headquartered organisations, Verizon may be relevant for US-based sites within a global WAN estate, but UK-focused buyers should compare Verizon against UK-native providers (Colt, Virgin Media Business, BT) for primary UK deployments. Verizon's 5G advantage is less differentiated in the UK where multiple carriers offer comparable 5G managed services.
How does Verizon Business compare to AT&T for SD-WAN?
Both Verizon and AT&T are US carrier-based SD-WAN managed service providers on owned network infrastructure. Key differences: Verizon differentiates through its 5G mobile integration capability and managed security services depth. AT&T differentiates through its larger global MPLS footprint and more extensive SASE vendor partnerships (Fortinet, Cisco, Palo Alto Networks). For enterprises with significant mobile/5G WAN requirements, Verizon is generally stronger; for enterprise accounts with extensive global MPLS requirements, AT&T may offer broader coverage.
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