We've listed the most popular SD WAN & Cybersecurity features which are requested by the majority of IT decision makers.
Consider your features based on what you already know. Global private backbone services are often considered by companies that currently use MPLS. In contrast, public gateways offer the ability to leverage multiple Internet providers to achieve the best possible global performance. If you're a national business, there is no need to select private or global as the benefits are not required.
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SD-WAN Vendor | Best For | Key Offerings |
---|---|---|
Cisco Systems | Complex services, existing Cisco customers | vManage, vEdge routers, vSmart, OnRamp for cloud services, Cisco Umbrella for SASE security |
Aryaka | Global, fully managed SD-WAN | Fully managed service, global network of PoPs, simplified WAN management |
Fortinet | Secure branch office and remote user requirements | Advanced security features integrated with SD-WAN capabilities |
Meraki (Cisco) | Organisations requiring an easy-to-manage solution | Simplicity, management interface, AutoVPN |
Cato Networks | Global co-managed SD-WAN and SASE requirements | Cloud-native SASE architecture, global PoP network |
VMware | Global application performance | Dynamic multi-path optimisation, global network of gateways |
Masergy (Comcast) | Global SD-WAN managed services | High-performance global backbone, integrated SASE security |
Versa | Service provider-delivered SD-WAN and SASE | Comprehensive SD-WAN solution with advanced security features |
Palo Alto | Specific SASE security requirements | Strong security-focused SD-WAN solution |
Barracuda | Focus on Microsoft Azure | Optimised SD-WAN solutions for cloud integration |
In 2024, Meraki emerges as the best choice across SD-WAN Vendors, catering to the requirements of Medium and Large Enterprises.
We are the only company to have reviewed and tested 10 leading vendors & service providers to help IT decision makers understand current market leaders and their capability. Our analysis of leading SD-WAN vendors provides a comprehensive view of trends, offering valuable guidance for organisations comparing vendors and managed service providers across the US, UK and with national and global sites.
Finding the best SD-WAN vendor or managed provider is becoming increasingly difficult. Whether you are researching SD-WAN from a large global enterprise or from a mid-market business, understanding which solution is best for your requirements can be a daunting task. Netify have created a tool to help you shortlist and compare vendors alongside our annual list of the 10 best solutions to consider.
Robert Sturt, writer for Techtarget and Forbes, has hands-on tested each vendor and service provider. This list of best SD-WAN solutions has been curated based on our experience of SD-WAN capability that matches the needs of most organisations. Within each vendor or provider listing, we have included a link to the hands on test completed by Robert.
Recognised by Gartner, as one of their magic quadrant leaders, Cisco SD-WAN is typically best for large complex Global Enterprise SD-WAN deployments. The overall proposition is based on vManage (where configuration and deployment occurs), vEdge routers (WAN edge), and vSmart (centralised control plane). Working alongside their main SD-WAN capability is OnRamp, used to simplify connection to Cloud services (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud). The Cisco SD-WAN proposition is also enhanced by Cisco Umbrella, which provides SASE security capability to provide a complete solution.
Cisco SD-WAN is proven as a highly configurable and comprehensive SD-WAN solution with capability to deliver features at a granular level of configuration. We would only recommend Cisco SD-WAN to companies with specific needs across complex services. Organisations must also consider the expertise of in-house IT teams or the expertise of any MSPs (Managed Service Providers delivering the solution).
Pros of Cisco Systems SD-WAN | Cons of Cisco Systems SD-WAN |
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Enhanced Cloud Integration and Application Performance prioritisation features. | Cisco SD-WAN requires expertise to make the most of capability. |
Extensive and capable management portal and capability. | Lacks some of the more innovative features of new SD-WAN players. |
Integrated Security Features, enabling network segmentation. | Reviews suggest remote access is one of the weaker Cisco SD-WAN features. |
Businesses with complex global networking requirements are a good fit for Cisco SD-WAN. While the service is deemed as complicated to manage, the sheer breadth of capability allows for granular configuration of application performance across branch-office and cloud delivered services.
Cisco SD-WAN significantly cut WAN operational costs by 40% for Pfeifer & Langen Polska. The project involved setting up a traffic filtering policy between OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) and OMP (Overlay Management Protocol) as the central policy in the SD-WAN setup.
Pfeifer & Langen Polska highlighted Cisco's flexibility, noting their SD-WAN solution allowed the company to negotiate better with their connectivity providers. The network's independence from these providers meant they could consider other options without affecting the WAN infrastructure.
Cisco is using AI and ML (Machine Learning) for IT operations (AIOps) to enhance and simplify network management.
Aryaka provides access to a Global wholly owned network of PoPs with fully managed underlay (Internet connectivity) and overlay (SD-WAN and SASE cybersecurity). Aryaka is best for organisations with global, fully managed services needs with standard requirements. Although Aryaka is a highly capable SD-WAN solution, the capability does not extend to complex configurations needs. Aspects such as their last mile procurement and circuit inventory with SLA performance metrics make managing their SD-WAN solution simple on an every day basis. The SLA reporting is generated based on extensive reporting across circuit utilisation, downtime, latency, and jitter.
The Aryaka FlexCore network is central to delivery of their overall capability which includes MPLS network migration, Last mile Internet, Cloud and SaaS acceleration, remote access, next generation Firewall and Secure web gateway.
Pros of Aryaka SD-WAN | Cons of Aryaka SD-WAN |
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Aryaka's SD-WAN is a fully managed service, which means businesses don't have to worry about managing their WAN infrastructure. | Aryaka's SD-WAN is a managed service, which means businesses may have less control over their network infrastructure compared to a self-managed solution. |
Aryaka's SD-WAN provides improved application performance through a combination of WAN optimisation techniques. | While Aryaka's SD-WAN can lead to cost savings in some areas, such as reduced IT staff workload, the service itself can be expensive. |
Aryaka's SD-WAN is easy to deploy and can be scaled up or down to meet changing business needs. | With Aryaka's SD-WAN, businesses are dependent on Aryaka for their network infrastructure which could be viewed as a risk. |
Customers choose Aryaka because of their capability to deliver SD-WAN as an underlay and overlay MSP with the addition of a wholly owned private IP backbone which spans 40 PoP locations. Aryaka provides excellent latency and jitter performance across Global SaaS cloud applications.
Solenis has a global presence in over 100 countries and more than 5,000 employees. Their business faced significant challenges with their network infrastructure. Slow file transfers, delayed database syncing, and poor application performance were hindering critical business processes across order management and delivery. After evaluating various solutions, Solenis chose Aryaka’s SmartConnect SD-WAN-as-a-Service for its ability to guarantee application performance in remote regions.
Aryaka’s proprietary byte-level data deduplication algorithm, Advanced Redundancy Removal (ARR™), significantly improves network throughput by removing redundancy from WAN traffic. This has led to bandwidth utilisation reductions of up to 99% and a decrease in round trips by as much as 95% in some customer deployments.
The deployment of Aryaka’s SD-WAN solution enabled Solenis to significantly enhance the performance of its critical business applications.
Ayraka plans to integrate AI for network security and observability.
Fortinet is known for their history of delivering highly rated Firewall capability via their custom ASIC WAN edge hardware. The Fortinet Secure SD-WAN product supports security sensitive cloud applications for both national and global enterprises across 31,000 customers. Standout features include next-generation firewall (NGFW), advanced routing, and ZTNA application gateway functions to ensure branch-office, cloud SaaS applications and remote workers can all access resources without compromising security. Fortinet is currently recognised by Gartner within the SD-WAN magic quadrant.
Fortinet is best for companies with a need for branch-office and remote worker SD-WAN with extensive firewall capability requirements. We also note that Fortinet has been widely adopted by Service Providers and is offered as an MSP proposition.
Pros of Fortinet SD-WAN | Cons of Fortinet SD-WAN |
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Fortinet's Secure SD-WAN solution is known for its deeply integrated advanced security features. Unlike many SD-WAN solutions that require additional security overlays, Fortinet combines networking and traffic shaping with next-generation firewall capabilities in a single solution | While Fortinet aims to simplify WAN operations, SD-WAN architectures, in general, can be more complex to manage compared to traditional WAN solutions. |
Fortinet provides centralised management through FortiOS, which simplifies the operation and management of the WAN. This allows for zero-touch provisioning, enabling quick site deployment. | Some organisations may find that the cost savings expected from SD-WAN are not fully realised, especially if they need to upgrade their existing infrastructure to support the SD-WAN platform. |
Fortinet's are investing in their global AI assistant to help IT teams improve networking decisions. | Although Fortinet's SD-WAN includes integrated security, it may still lack breadth of security offered by some of the newer SD-WAN vendor solutions. |
Businesses should choose Fortinet if they require a strong WAN edge solution to support branch-offices and remote workers. If strong Zero-trust is at the core of your needs, with next generation Firewall, Fortinet is a good choice. Readers should note that DIY management requires significant expertise - Fortinet is available from numerous MSP's and service providers.
TH True Milk transformed its network across 400 sites with Fortinet Secure SD-WAN. The solution improved connectivity for 3,000 users, boosted performance by 50x, and cut costs by 45% annually.
Deployment took minutes instead of days. Network tickets dropped by 70%. FortiManager and FortiAnalyzer provided single-pane management and reporting. With Fortinet, TH True Milk secured their network, optimised traffic, and delivered high application performance. The IT team can now easily monitor the network. Fortinet proved to be the best choice for performance, cost savings and ease of use.
Introduces enhanced AIOps capabilities across their SD-WAN, wired/wireless, and 5G/LTE gateway portfolio.
Meraki is known for their ability to deliver SD-WAN to branch-office and remote users with simplicity and unique features, including support for CCTV (smart cameras), sensors, cloud services, remote users and an excellent WiFi capability. One of their stand-out capabilities is their management interface together with AutoVPN, which enables the setup and deployment of SD-WAN in minutes. Meraki deployments are also effective at supporting multiple Internet circuit types (including support for cellular) via their capability across failover and prioritisation using policy based routing and dynamic path selection. Meraki can deliver the complete solution across Wireless and Switching with unified SASE capability.
Meraki is viewed as the best solution for healthcare and retail. In part, this is due to their strong Wifi, CCTV and sensor capability which fits with the needs of these sectors. However, most business can leverage Meraki benefits, which include ease of configuration, strong partner support and significant product investment from Cisco.
Pros of Meraki SD-WAN | Cons of Meraki SD-WAN |
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Meraki SD-WAN offers a user-friendly, web-based dashboard for managing the entire network. | While Meraki SD-WAN is viewed as a cost-effective solution, some businesses report costs rise significantly as more features are required. |
Meraki's Auto VPN technology simplifies the complex process of VPN configuration. | Meraki's focus on simplicity and user-friendly design sometimes comes at the cost of granular control. |
Strong CCTV and branch-office Wifi capability with excellent reporting. | Meraki SD-WAN requires the use of Meraki hardware for its full set of features and benefits. Think carefully if your organisation is invested in other vendor solutions. |
If your business requires delivering SD-WAN to numerous branch-office sites, Meraki represents a good solution. CCTV, Wifi, and sensor technology are often a great fit for specific use-cases across the retail and healthcare sectors. Alongside these features is a good overall SASE capability, switching and remote user solution (using their mobile device management features).
Reading School District faced network management challenges with 19 schools to manage. The School switched to a full-stack Meraki solution, which included over 1,400 access points to enhance wireless coverage and simplify network management.
Mr Hiestand (the district's sole Network and Systems Administrator) needed an easily managed system without sacrificing performance. Meraki's solution provided a unified management dashboard, allowing for quick, district-wide updates and configurations to significantly reduce the potential for errors and administrative overhead. This shift has enabled the district to focus on improving classroom technology and student engagement.
Building their network platform from the cloud up for automation and AI, focusing on network health and intelligent recommendations.
In Q3 2023, Cato were recognised by Gartner as a leader in their GigaOm report across product leadership. The Cato SD-WAN solution provides cloud-native SASE architecture to deliver a consistent level of service across all elements of their capability. In simple terms, Cato are delivering the complete Cloud stack across SASE and SD-WAN which reduces complexity. While Cato can deliver fully managed services, most customers opt for co-managed, which ensures the core capability is setup and deployed but allows IT teams to quickly make the changes they need. Comparable to Aryaka, Cato operate a network of global PoP locations to enhance application and cloud access performance.
The Cato proposition is best for businesses which require global co-managed services. While Cato does offer fully managed services, their capability is more aligned with businesses requiring initial setup and support but, day to day control of the SD-WAN.
Pros of Cato SD-WAN | Cons of Cato SD-WAN |
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Cato SD-WAN is known for its simplicity and quick deployment capabilities. The Cato Socket, a key component of their SD-WAN solution, facilitates easy setup and immediate operational status, making the process hassle-free for businesses of all sizes. | Cato Networks might lack some of the advanced features and the broad market acceptance that established competitors possess. |
Cato integrates comprehensive security features directly into its SD-WAN solution, including a Secure Web Gateway, advanced anti-malware, and Intrusion Prevention System (IPS). | Unlike Aryaka, customers must research and purchase their own underlay connectivity (ISP services). |
Cato offers a global private backbone that significantly enhances the performance of international traffic. | To fully leverage Cato's SD-WAN solution, some organisations might need to replace their current network infrastructure or make significant changes to it. |
If your business is global and requires a fully featured end-to-end single vendor SASE and SD-WAN c0-managed solution. It is important to understand that Cato is a solution which is not highly customisable which may mean complex Enterprise networks should look elsewhere for their SD-WAN solution.
Brake Masters is a 71-site auto-repair chain, their business switched from MPLS to Cato's SD-WAN. The change increased bandwidth by 30x and ended weekly outages. The previous MPLS network bandwidth was low and they company was experiencing issues with lines poor Wi-Fi.
After comparing 10+ vendors, IT Director Steve Waibel picked Cato for their capability across setup, management and cost. The new solution enables proactive network monitoring. Steve praised Cato's affordability and ease of opening new locations - he says it greatly improves on their six years with MPLS.
Cato Networks is actively exploring the use of Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance the security and effectiveness of their Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) product, which includes its SD-WAN solution.
VMware's work within the virtualisation market means they are a well recognised and respected brand in the networking space. With the purchase of VeloCloud, VMware has integrated an SD-WAN and SASE capability to create number of features. Dynamic multi-path optimisation with access to a network of global gateways mean their solution has been adopted by their existing multinational customer base. Similar to Cisco SD-WAN, VMware is also capable of network segmentation which is aligned well with significant cloud capability.
VMware are best for global businesses that require the best possible application performance. With global Internet connected gateways, VMware are recognised for their ability to ensure applications traverse the Internet with low latency.
Pros of VMware SD-WAN | Cons of VMware SD-WAN |
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VMware SD-WAN enhances application performance across the network by leveraging dynamic multi-path optimisation. | VMware SD-WAN does not provide an integrated solution for WLAN, LAN, and network security within a single offering. |
The platform integrates comprehensive security features, including end-to-end segmentation, advanced threat protection, and the ability to insert security services wherever needed. | Some users have found VMware SD-WAN to be costly and have expressed concerns about the lack of transparent pricing information. |
VMware SD-WAN supports a highly scalable and flexible network architecture. | While VMware SD-WAN is praised for its features and performance, some users have reported challenges with finding comprehensive documentation and receiving support for complex issues. |
First, if you are a current customer of VMware with Global requirements, VMware should make your shortlist. The global network of cloud gateways are connected to multiple ISP's which in turn is leveraged by their dynamic multi-path SD-WAN application routing meaning Global Enterprises should also consider the VMware solution. Readers should note that VMware is typically available via Service Providers which presents a further comparison task when conducting research.
Stolt-Nielsen replaced its complex MPLS network with VMware SD-WAN through Expereo. The old setup had issues with cost, flexibility, and management across 40+ global sites.
VMware SD-WAN connected Stolt-Nielsen's apps and guarantees quality across their users. The SD-WAN solution supports easy M&A integration too. Rollout took just 3 months, down from 1 year. with sites seeing a major bandwidth and speed boost.
New sites now take days, not months to install which offers significant agility. Management is also simpler with 1 portal vs. 6+ used previously.
VMware is integrating AI and ML into their SD-WAN solution to enhance network operations and application performance. The Edge Network Intelligence delivers enhanced AIOps capabilities to reduce SD-WAN operations costs and provide visibility to end-to-end application performance.
The first true traditional service provider to make our list of best SD-WAN providers. Netify have worked successfully with Masergy (now Comcast) since 2010, as customers of large telcos became disgruntled with service and support. Not only does Masergy offer highly rated support, they also operate one of the highest performing global backbones across latency and jitter. We note the capability of Masergy's AIOps and Network Analytics to deliver actionable insights into network security and application performance. There's also integrated SASE security which is delivered by their UTM (Unified Threat Management), NGFW (Next Generation Firewall) with advanced IDS (Intrusion Detection System). The entire Masergy capability is wrapped into fully managed services which is capable of delivering connectivity across their own backbone of via OTT (Over the Top) where Masergy will SLA 3rd party Internet connectivity.
Masergy are best for global service provider managed services. The combination of their backbone, adoption of AIOps, and high Net Promoter score means your applications perform well and your solution support is firmly in place for when issues occur.
Pros of Masergy SD-WAN | Cons of Masergy SD-WAN |
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Masergy SD-WAN includes built-in security capabilities such as next-generation firewalls with Unified Threat Management (UTM), advanced Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS), and end-to-end IPsec data encryption. | While Masergy SD-WAN offers a comprehensive set of features and managed services, the cost can be a significant factor for some businesses. |
Masergy offers a global network that ensures high performance and reliability for SD-WAN sites, committing to 100% service availability for SD-WAN sites configured for high availability and for direct cloud connections architected for redundancy. | While Masergy's managed SD-WAN service is designed to simplify network management, it may also result in limited visibility and control for businesses that prefer to have hands-on management of their network. |
High Net Promoter score recognising their ability to deliver excellent customer service. | Masergy's service and support does carry a premium, businesses looking for low cost SD-WAN should look elsewhere. |
Customers looking to outsource managed services to a traditional service provider should consider Masergy. The Masergy capability integrates fully managed SD-WAN and SASE security across a global infrastructure with flexible managed service options. All backed up by a high Net Promoter score.
Eurostar runs high-speed trains linking England, France and Belgium. The goal of engaging Masergy was to migrate critical apps to Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud meaning that the network is vital for access and security.
With a small IT team, Eurostar wanted a managed provider to support this shift. It needed an MSP with traffic engineering, bandwidth on demand, and strong cybersecurity. Masergy created a custom software-defined WAN with direct AWS links, which intelligently delivers primary and backup connectivity globally. Eurostar can adjust bandwidth in real time as needed.
Masergy has introduced AIOps, an industry-first integrated AI-based solution for network, security, and application optimisation. This digital assistant, embedded into Masergy's Intelligent Service Control customer portal, acts as a virtual engineer, providing intelligent alerts and recommendations to enhance application performance, predict bandwidth needs, and optimise network throughput using anomaly detection and predictive analytics.
Versa SD-WAN offers true multi-tenancy with sophisticated and customisable analytics and reporting. These features mean that Versa is widely adopted by service providers which, in turn, deliver managed services to their customer base. Versa is also capable of delivering highly complex requirements along side standardised SD-WAN features to meet the needs of most organisations. Where simpler requirements are concerned, Versa is one of the most cost effective solutions on the market which is capable of offering a broad set of SASE and SD-WAN features. Gartner recognise Versa within the leader section of their magic quadrant, which is part due to highly capable UTM (Unified Threat Management) and their single pass architecture which is designed to reduce latency.
Versa are best for national companies with generalised needs. The Versa capability is excellent across all SD-WAN features from SASE security to traffic optimisation. Although Versa is used for Global companies, we would recommend their solution for national requirements.
Pros of Versa SD-WAN | Cons of Versa SD-WAN |
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Versa SD-WAN offers a unified solution that integrates advanced security services, such as next-generation firewalls and Unified Threat Management (UTM), with its SD-WAN capabilities. | Some users have reported that the management interface of Versa SD-WAN can be complex and overwhelming. |
Versa's SD-WAN solution features dynamic policy-based path selection, which optimizes application performance by intelligently routing traffic based on real-time network conditions. | Versa SD-WAN has been noted to lack substantial WAN optimization functionality. |
Versa SD-WAN provides a range of deployment options, including on-premises, cloud, and blended models. | Versa SD-WAN is perceived to have a lower market presence and visibility outside of the service provider realm. |
Versa is a cost effective alternative to the usual suspects of Meraki and Fortinet. There's no IP backbone to leverage with Versa but the solution is delivered via their Cloud presence. There is a focus on SASE security, Versa have been recognised by Gartner for their approach to networking and security. Overall, Versa should be selected based on their strong application steering and comprehensive SASE solution.
A global financial services firm transformed their complex, hardware-dependent WAN into an agile software-defined network using Versa SD-WAN Platform-as-a-Service.
The dual-management solution allowed the company to maintain control over configurations while the service provider handled uCPE deployment and monitoring.
Key benefits included optimised bandwidth usage, intelligent traffic steering, centralised orchestration and integrated security. The Versa Secure Cloud IP platform enabled the firm to achieve its goals of a topology- and vendor-agnostic network that supports both on-premises and cloud applications with scalability and automation.
Versa Networks has introduced AI and ML-powered enhancements across its product line, including its SD-WAN solutions. These advancements leverage sophisticated analytics and true multi-tenancy to provide enhanced networking and security capabilities.
Palo Alto (Prisma SD-WAN), a leader in the Gartner magic quadrant, is used by large Enterprise customers with complex or granular cybersecurity requirements. With this in mind, Palo is often viewed as difficult to setup and configure due to the need to meet the demands of complicated security architecture. The core capability of Palo Alto SD-WAN surrounds their next generation Firewall offering but there are enhancements arriving to keep pace with SD-WAN innovations. These include packet duplication and FEC (Forward Error Correction) to help improve delay sensitive application performance. Over the next 18 months, Palo Alto Networks have stated their intent to enhance application acceleration, SASE enhancements and FEC and packet duplication.
Palo Alto is generally best for organisations which have a need to leverage their next generation SASE security capability. Companies are aware of their strong history and security focus over many years. The Palo SD-WAN solution has been tested across application aware routing demonstrating their commitment to SD-WAN features.
Pros of Palo Alto Networks Prisma SD-WAN | Cons of Palo Alto SD-WAN |
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Palo Alto Networks Prisma SD-WAN (formerly CloudGenix) is recognised for its innovation, particularly in AI operations, granular policy control, and visibility. | One of the drawbacks noted by users is the pricing, especially for licensing large numbers of people. |
Palo Alto SD-WAN provides comprehensive visibility into network traffic, allowing easy identification and prioritisation of applications and their traffic. | While Palo Alto SD-WAN is robust in many aspects, it has limited capabilities in certain technical areas, such as TCP and WAN optimisation features. |
The platform is noted for its above-average customer experience ratings and a strong understanding of both current and future customer requirements. | The existence of multiple SD-WAN products under the Palo Alto umbrella can lead to market confusion. |
Your business should shortlist Palo Alto if you have complex and specific security needs. Palo is also recognised as a vendor for large Global Enterprise businesses - Gartner have stated that Palo has a focus on the larger corporate market.
Nuffield Health transformed their cybersecurity strategy by partnering with Palo Alto Networks. By deploying Palo Alto Networks ML-Powered Next-Generation Firewalls, Prisma Access and Cortex XSOAR.
The Palo integrated solution delivers secure, direct-to-app connectivity for patients, members, and customers across Nuffield's 37 hospitals and 114 fitness and wellbeing centres.
Prisma Access provides scalable protection without the complexity of sizing and deploying firewalls at each location, while Cortex XSOAR automates routine security tasks.
Palo Alto Networks recognises the importance of Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the evolution of SD-WAN, emphasising their role in automating operations and enhancing network performance. By embedding AI and ML into SD-WAN solutions, networks can process massive amounts of data and gain a deeper understanding of network and application performance, leading to a smarter, self-healing, and self-driving network that requires minimal human intervention.
Barracuda is a North American centric SD-WAN vendor with global presence. The Barracuda core value proposition surrounds their CloudGen Firewall and SecureEdge products. In 2023 and 2024, Barracuda have significantly enhanced their overall SASE features. With approximately 1500 Enterprise customers, the business is known for the cloud-native integration of Microsoft Azure. Other enhancements include improvements to reporting, analytics and cloud based-XDR. The CudaLaunch application is designed to secure remote worker connectivity while enforcing policies.
Barracuda is best for companies with a focus on cloud vendor integration, especially Microsoft Azure. Alongside native cloud integration, Barracuda also offer significant capabilities across threat protection and cloud based sandboxing to help with malware and zero-hour attacks.
Pros of Barracuda SD-WAN | Cons of Barracuda SD-WAN |
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Barracuda SD-WAN incorporates multi-layered, next-generation security features, including cloud-based full emulation sandboxing. | Despite its benefits, Barracuda SD-WAN is noted to be quite expensive. |
Barracuda's SD-WAN solution is designed for ease of use, offering out-of-the-box configurations and zero-touch deployment. | While Barracuda SD-WAN is designed to boost network performance, it has shown some limitations in handling link redundancy. |
Barracuda SD-WAN is fully cloud-native to Azure, leveraging Microsoft's Global Network as a WAN backbone. | Barracuda is viewed as primarily a North American centric organisation. |
If your business is heavily invested in Microsoft Azure, Barracuda is an excellent choice due to their native in-built capability and relationship with Microsoft. This is particularly beneficial for businesses also using Microsoft Office 365 due to route prioritisation.
Hubo improved their network security by implementing Barracuda CloudGen Firewall across 150 stores. Transitioning to an SD-WAN architecture with local internet breakouts, Hubo aimed to enhance connectivity, regulate traffic, and streamline network management across their small IT team.
In collaboration with one of Barracuda's certified partners, Hubo deployed the CloudGen Firewall, managed via the NextGen Control Center platform. Hugo noted how applying a global ruleset allowed efficient settings migration and changes across locations.
The solution provided end-to-end visibility for effective network monitoring, issue troubleshooting, and threat detection. Hubo's IT team is well-prepared to protect against sophisticated cyber threats.
Deploying the Barracuda CloudGen Firewall has transformed Hubo's network security approach, offering granular control, and user-friendly management.
Aspect | Cisco SD-WAN (Viptela) | Aryaka SD-WAN | Fortinet SD-WAN | Meraki SD-WAN | Cato Networks SD-WAN |
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SASE Integration | Integrates with Cisco Umbrella for cloud-delivered security services. | Unified SASE services with managed firewall, secure web gateway, and secure remote access. | FortiSASE offers networking and security functionalities in a unified platform. | Seamless integration with Cisco's SASE technologies for a unified network and security platform. | SD-WAN capabilities integrated with WAN backbone and cloud-based security services. |
SD-WAN Architecture | Abstracted architecture with control and forwarding plane separation across network resources. Includes Cisco vEdge and XE SD-WAN routers. | FlexCore global Layer 2/3 backbone network, offering tiered performance and availability. | Scalable, redundant design with multiple transport options including MPLS and broadband. | Cloud-based management with hub-and-spoke topology, utilising Meraki MX appliances. | Cloud-native software stack minimising edge-compute requirements, global private backbone. |
Technology Management | Managed via Cisco vManage for centralised control, supporting REST and NETCONF communication. | MyAryaka portal for intuitive, intent-based forwarding rules and policy definition. | Centralised management console for streamlined configuration and management. | Cisco Meraki dashboard for granular control over SD-WAN infrastructure in a cloud-native environment. | Cloud-based application for single-pane-of-glass management of networking and security infrastructure. |
Core Network | Global scale operation with cloud-based network connectivity management, flexible architecture. | Secure PoPs with integrated WAN acceleration and optimisation, sub-30ms latency to major business areas. | Security-driven network approach, designed for cloud-first and hybrid workforces. | Engineered for cloud-first enterprises, blending SD-WAN functionality with security features. | Global private backbone designed to replace MPLS, optimising cloud application access. |
Differentiators | Advanced routing capabilities, global support network, integration with Cisco's security portfolio. | Global FlexCore network, sophisticated end-to-end application and network optimisation technology. | Specialised hardware for performance optimisation, self-healing capabilities, application identification. | Cloud-centric management, user-friendly dashboard, integration with Cisco's security portfolio. | Integrated SD-WAN and security solution with a global backbone, cloud-based security services. |
Aspect |
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SASE Integration | VMware SASE integration for cloud-native network security and connectivity. | Aligns with Gartner’s SASE model, offering tiered security options including next-gen cloud firewalls. | Versa SASE integration for continuous security across multiple access points. | Centralised management of network security policies, traffic segmentation, and built-in encryption. | Integrates next-generation firewall capabilities for comprehensive threat protection. |
SD-WAN Architecture | Cloud-native architecture supporting edge computing, AI integration for simplified operations. | Flexibility in network connectivity with options for public, private, and 5G wireless access. | Single software platform offering multi-layered security and multi-cloud connectivity. | Cloud and virtual machine setups on universal customer premises equipment. | Combines advanced VPN routing, balancing, and shaping features for optimised performance. |
Technology Management | Cloud-native platform with AI for IT operations (AIOps) capabilities for proactive network management. | Masergy’s management portal offers a single-pane-of-glass view into network and cloud application delivery. | AI/ML integration for a self-managing, self-healing, and predictive networking solution. | Assists with planning of SD-WAN configuration, including branch and hub communications. | Zero-touch deployment for SecureEdge site devices, requiring no local expertise for setup. |
Core Network | Part of VMware SASE offering, with expanded PoPs for better cloud connectivity. | Direct connections to the cloud with 100% service availability SLA, secure access to cloud applications. | Carrier-class, flexible, agile, and innovative approach in the NFV market. | Improved reliability, better performance, and enhanced security for IoT integration. | Ensures fast, always-on access to business-critical applications on-premises and in the cloud. |
Differentiators | Cloud-native design, expansive global PoP network, enhanced performance for voice and video applications. | 24/7 monitoring, software-defined network for enhanced reliability, AI-powered analytics. | Flexibility to scale network resources, multi-tenancy, unified network management. | Prisma Access integration for a unified security posture, AI/ML-driven operations for predictive analytics. | CloudGen WAN integration for optimised cloud application performance, automated threat protection. |
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Find out how the SD-WAN comparison tool works to build your unique shortlist.
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Learn how our Netify research team ensures impartiality.
The Netify research team can provide you with a tool to conduct SD-WAN cost analysis.
Netify have researched security and compliance needs across several key sectors.
Learn more about IT decision makers who have used Netify for WAN provider selection.
We update Netify on a regular basis, we release new updates every 3 months.
When you enter data into Netify, we match against each vendors features.
We're known for helping UK companies with Global locations.
Netify has conducted hands-on tests of SD-WAN solutions, specifically targeting UK and global companies. This approach has resulted in a practical and experience-based understanding of their products.
Our SD-WAN Comparison Tool simplifies the selection of SD-WAN solutions, allowing businesses to compare various vendors based on specific needs and criteria.
The tool aggregates data from multiple SD-WAN vendors, presenting it in an easy-to-understand format. If you need to conduct further research, use our marketplace to filter and compare options based on features, pricing, and business requirements.
This SD-WAN comparison tool is ideal for businesses of all sizes looking to adopt or upgrade their SD-WAN solutions, especially those seeking tailored solutions for their specific operational needs.
Netify maintains impartiality by providing a vendor-neutral platform. Our comparison tool lists options without favouring any vendor, ensuring unbiased recommendations.
Yes, our services includes a cost comparison, allowing you to evaluate the financial aspects of different SD-WAN solutions, including upfront costs and potential ROI.
Absolutely. The tool provides detailed information on the security features and compliance standards of each SD-WAN solution, aiding in informed decision-making.
Netify regularly updates our comparison data to reflect the latest market trends, new features, and pricing changes, ensuring you have the most current information.
Yes, Netify offers personalised recommendations based on your specific business needs and network requirements, ensuring a tailored solution.
Yes, our tool allows you to compare both local and international SD-WAN vendors, catering to businesses with global networking needs.
To build your SD-WAN shortlist, you’ll need to tell us about:
We need to understand your high-level requirements across locations, remote users and features.
Netify logic will immediately match your answers with providers which match your needs.
Netify apply free advisory resources via Zoom or on-site throughout the UK, North America and internationally.
Our SD-WAN comparison service is quick and easy to use. Just enter in your details and find your top-3 match across 30+ solutions. We also offer free advisory services to help take your research further.
Let us automatically do the research for you. We've taken the time to understand the capability of each SD-WAN solution listed on our Marketplace.
It typically takes 2 minutes to enter your requirements. Once done, our tool will output your best-match solutions which you can print or save as a PDF.
The recommendations include a free call hosted over MS Teams. We further analyse your needs and produce a follow-up report which you can use for your business case.
There are several market leaders, which have been recognised by the Gartner 2024 Magic Quadrant. Fortinet, VMware, Cisco, HPE, Versa and Palo Alto are all 2024 SD-WAN leaders.
Yes, in 2024 SD-WAN remains relevant. However, the general view is that SD-WAN will become another component of the Gartner SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) framework.
In 2024, SD-WAN is evolving significantly with trends such as the integration of AI for optimising AI delivery and network management, the rise of SD-WAN as a service within the broader Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) offerings, and the merging of SD-WAN with secure remote access, particularly in the context of Secure Access Service Edge (SASE). In addition, the use of Wireless WAN (WWAN) within SD-WAN, especially leveraging 4G and 5G services, is expected to increase substantially. The advent of quantum computing, securing communications in the post-quantum era is a growing challenge, where Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) are becoming necessary to secure private communication channels.
SD-WAN is regarded as a key technology for future network management due to adaptability and integration with emerging technologies like AI, cloud computing, and 5G. SD-WAN offers the capability to streamline network operations, optimise AI delivery, and support complex business requirements positions SD-WAN as a forward-looking solution.
Next-generation SD-WAN is an advanced evolution of traditional SD-WAN, integrating modern technologies like AI, ML, and automation to offer improved network performance, increased security, and simplified network management.
With the key features you should consider. And, build a vendor shortlist in less than 60 seconds with our comparison tool.