SD-WAN Solutions: A Comprehensive Comparison of VMware, Cisco, Fortinet Secure SD-WAN, Prisma, and Aruba EdgeConnect

Software-Defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN) revolutionizes how businesses connect their branch offices and data centers. By leveraging broadband internet and other affordable transport options, SD-WAN offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional MPLS networks while improving application performance and network agility. This blog post provides a technical deep dive into five leading SD-WAN solutions: VMware, Cisco, Fortinet Secure SD-WAN, Prisma, and Aruba EdgeConnect. We'll explore their key features, configuration, deployment considerations, real-world case scenarios, and compare their advantages and disadvantages.

Common SD-WAN Features

Before diving into the specifics of each solution, let's look at some common features that most SD-WAN solutions offer:

• Centralized Management: SD-WAN solutions typically provide a centralized platform for managing and monitoring the entire network. This simplifies network operations and allows administrators to easily configure devices, define policies, and monitor performance from a single location.

• Multi-Cloud Connectivity: As businesses increasingly adopt cloud services, SD-WAN solutions offer seamless connectivity to multiple cloud providers, such as AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. This enables businesses to adopt a cloud-first strategy and access cloud applications with optimal performance.

• Improved Application Performance: SD-WAN solutions optimize application performance by intelligently routing traffic across multiple WAN links based on application requirements. This ensures that critical applications receive the necessary bandwidth and priority, resulting in a better user experience.

• Enhanced Security: SD-WAN solutions often include integrated security features, such as firewalling, intrusion prevention, and URL filtering, to protect the network from threats. Some solutions also integrate with cloud-based security services to provide a comprehensive SASE solution.

VMware SD-WAN

VMware SD-WAN, formerly known as VeloCloud SD-WAN, offers a cloud-delivered solution that enables businesses to build a high-performance, secure, and reliable WAN.

Key Features

• Dynamic Multipath Optimization (DMPO): This feature continuously monitors the quality of multiple WAN links and intelligently routes traffic across the best-performing path, ensuring optimal application performance. DMPO adapts to real-time network conditions, minimizing latency and jitter for critical applications1.

• Cloud-First Approach: VMware SD-WAN seamlessly integrates with various cloud providers, such as AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, simplifying cloud connectivity and application access. This allows businesses to easily connect their branch offices and data centers to cloud resources and applications2.

• Support for Various Network Topologies: VMware SD-WAN supports various network topologies, including hub-and-spoke and full mesh, providing flexibility in designing and deploying the SD-WAN. This allows businesses to choose the topology that best suits their needs and network architecture3.

• Comprehensive Security: VMware SD-WAN offers integrated security features, including firewalling, intrusion prevention, and URL filtering, to protect branch offices from threats. This helps businesses secure their network and prevent unauthorized access to critical resources4.

Configuration and Deployment

VMware SD-WAN can be deployed as a physical or virtual appliance at branch offices and data centers. The configuration is managed through the VMware SASE Orchestrator, which provides a user-friendly interface for defining policies, configuring WAN links, and monitoring network performance.

VMware SD-WAN's integration with VMware vSphere provides significant benefits for businesses with virtualized environments. It allows for seamless integration with existing infrastructure and simplifies the deployment and management of SD-WAN in virtualized data centers2.

Case Scenario

Kimley-Horn, a civil engineering consultancy, faced productivity challenges due to connectivity outages with their legacy MPLS network. They adopted AT&T SD-WAN with VMware, leveraging dual internet links in active-active mode at each site. This provided more reliable connections and improved application performance, particularly with the Dynamic Multipath Optimization feature. The solution also allowed them to move to a cloud-first approach, leveraging virtual instances of VMware SD-WAN in the cloud with Microsoft Azure2.

Cisco SD-WAN

Cisco SD-WAN, powered by Viptela, offers a comprehensive solution that combines routing, security, and WAN optimization capabilities to deliver a secure and optimized WAN.

Key Features

• Application-Aware Routing: Cisco SD-WAN intelligently routes traffic based on application performance requirements, ensuring an optimal user experience. It can identify and prioritize critical applications, such as voice and video, to guarantee their performance even over congested links5.

• Integrated Security: Cisco SD-WAN offers a comprehensive suite of security features, including firewalling, intrusion prevention, and URL filtering, to protect the network from threats. This helps businesses secure their WAN and prevent unauthorized access to critical resources6.

• Support for Various WAN Transports: Cisco SD-WAN supports a wide range of WAN transport options, including MPLS, broadband, and cellular, providing flexibility in choosing the best connectivity option for each location. This allows businesses to tailor their WAN connectivity to their specific needs and budget6.

• Support for EWC Mode on the WIM Module: Cisco SD-WAN supports EWC mode on the Wireless Interface Module (WIM), allowing for the configuration and management of wireless connectivity through the vManage console. This provides a unified platform for managing both wired and wireless WAN connections5.

• Segmentation: Cisco SD-WAN enables granular segmentation of the network, isolating different departments or applications to enhance security and performance. This helps businesses create secure and isolated network segments for different user groups or applications7.

Configuration and Deployment

Cisco SD-WAN can be deployed on Cisco routers or as virtual appliances. The configuration is managed through the Cisco vManage console, which provides a centralized platform for defining policies, configuring devices, and monitoring the network.

Cisco SD-WAN's comprehensive security features and its ability to integrate with other Cisco security products make it a strong contender for businesses looking for a single-vendor SASE solution. This allows businesses to simplify their security architecture and manage their entire network and security infrastructure from a single platform8.

Case Scenario

American GasCo, a fictitious company with 500+ gas station/convenience stores, deployed Cisco SD-WAN to improve operational efficiency and increase store bandwidth. They leveraged SD-WAN to support new services like IP video surveillance and streaming media to gas pumps. They also utilized the SD-WAN remote access (SDRA) feature to provide secure remote access for technicians responsible for managing and monitoring the store network10.

Fortinet Secure SD-WAN

Fortinet Secure SD-WAN integrates SD-WAN functionality with next-generation firewall (NGFW) capabilities to deliver a secure and high-performance WAN edge solution.

Key Features

• Integrated Security: Fortinet Secure SD-WAN combines SD-WAN with advanced security features, including intrusion prevention, malware protection, and web filtering, to protect branch offices from threats. This integrated approach eliminates the need for separate security appliances, simplifying the network architecture and reducing costs11.

• Application Steering: Fortinet Secure SD-WAN intelligently steers traffic across multiple WAN links based on application performance requirements, ensuring optimal user experience. It can identify and prioritize critical applications, such as voice and video, to guarantee their performance even over congested links12.

• Reduced WAN OPEX with Direct Internet Access: Fortinet Secure SD-WAN enables businesses to reduce WAN operating expenses by leveraging direct internet access for branch offices. This eliminates the need for expensive MPLS connections while still maintaining security and application performance13.

• Support for Advanced Routing Features: Fortinet Secure SD-WAN supports advanced routing features, such as ADVPN and VXLAN, to provide flexibility and scalability in network deployments. This allows businesses to build complex network topologies and support various routing protocols14.

• Zero-Touch Provisioning: Fortinet Secure SD-WAN supports zero-touch provisioning, simplifying the deployment of SD-WAN edges at branch offices. This reduces the need for manual configuration and allows for faster deployment of new branches12.

Configuration and Deployment

Fortinet Secure SD-WAN can be deployed on FortiGate NGFW appliances or as virtual machines. The configuration is managed through FortiManager, which provides a centralized platform for defining policies, configuring devices, and monitoring the network.

Fortinet Secure SD-WAN's integrated security approach offers a cost-effective solution for businesses looking to consolidate their security and networking infrastructure. By combining SD-WAN and NGFW capabilities in a single appliance, businesses can reduce capital expenditures and operational expenses while improving security posture15.

Case Scenario

A large food retailer in India with over a thousand locations deployed Versa Secure SD-WAN in partnership with Tata Communications as the ISP. The solution significantly improved throughput, traffic stability, and uptime, addressing issues related to packet loss and flappy links. This resulted in significant cost savings, increased availability, and connectivity flexibility17.

Prisma SD-WAN

Palo Alto Networks Prisma SD-WAN, formerly CloudGenix SD-WAN, offers a cloud-delivered solution that provides application-defined, autonomous SD-WAN to connect branch offices and data centers.

Key Features

• Application-Defined Networking: Prisma SD-WAN prioritizes and steers traffic based on application performance requirements, ensuring optimal user experience for critical applications. It can identify and classify applications, allowing businesses to define specific policies for different application types18.

• Autonomous Operations: Prisma SD-WAN uses AI and machine learning to automate network operations, such as path selection, traffic optimization, and security policy enforcement. This simplifies network management and allows the SD-WAN to adapt to changing network conditions without manual intervention18.

• Cloud-Native Security: Prisma SD-WAN integrates with Palo Alto Networks Prisma Access to deliver a comprehensive SASE solution, providing cloud-native security for branch offices. This allows businesses to extend their security policies to the branch and protect users and applications from internet-based threats18.

Configuration and Deployment

Prisma SD-WAN is deployed on ION devices at branch offices and data centers. The configuration is managed through the Strata Cloud Manager, a cloud-based platform that provides a user-friendly interface for defining policies, configuring devices, and monitoring the network.

Prisma SD-WAN supports features like link quality aggregation and device-initiated connections for circuits. Link quality aggregation allows businesses to combine multiple WAN links to improve bandwidth and reliability. Device-initiated connections enable the ION devices to establish connections with the Strata Cloud Manager without manual configuration19.

Prisma SD-WAN's configuration abstraction capabilities simplify the configuration and management of the network. It allows administrators to define configuration elements once and apply them across multiple devices, reducing complexity and improving consistency20.

Case Scenario

AutoNation, the largest automobile retailer in the United States, replaced its MPLS network with Prisma SD-WAN to reduce telecommunications costs and improve network connectivity. The solution provided high availability, increased bandwidth, and a significant return on investment. It allowed AutoNation to support its growing business and improve the performance of critical applications21.

Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN

Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN, acquired from Silver Peak, offers a comprehensive solution that combines SD-WAN, routing, security, and WAN optimization capabilities to deliver a high-performance and secure WAN edge.

Key Features

• WAN Optimization: Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN includes WAN optimization capabilities to improve application performance over high-latency and lossy connections. This is particularly beneficial for businesses with global operations or those that rely on applications sensitive to network latency22.

• Unified Management: Aruba Orchestrator provides a centralized platform for managing and monitoring the entire SD-WAN fabric, including devices, policies, and network performance. This simplifies network operations and allows administrators to easily manage their entire WAN from a single location22.

• Significant Cost Savings: Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN can significantly reduce WAN costs by up to 90% by leveraging broadband internet and other affordable transport options. This allows businesses to reduce their reliance on expensive MPLS connections and optimize their WAN spending23.

• Flexible Deployment: Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN can be deployed as a physical or virtual appliance, offering flexibility for different branch office environments. This allows businesses to choose the deployment option that best suits their needs and infrastructure24.

Configuration and Deployment

Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN can be deployed on physical or virtual appliances. The configuration is managed through the Aruba Orchestrator, which provides a centralized platform for defining policies, configuring devices, and monitoring the network.

Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN offers a tiered licensing model, providing different levels of functionality and features based on the chosen license. This allows businesses to select the licensing option that best aligns with their needs and budget22.

Case Scenario

Cohu, a global leader in supplying test and handling equipment to the semiconductor industry, deployed Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN to simplify its global WAN edge and improve business efficiency. The solution improved employee productivity and customer responsiveness by accelerating application performance. It also reduced WAN traffic over long distances and lowered WAN costs, enabling Cohu to expand its cloud-first initiatives25.

Comparison of SD-WAN Solutions

Note: This table provides a more detailed comparison of the five SD-WAN solutions, incorporating additional features and insights from analyst reports. Each solution has its own unique strengths and weaknesses, and the best choice for a particular organization will depend on its specific needs and requirements.

Conclusion

Choosing the right SD-WAN solution requires careful consideration of various factors, including your organization's size, network requirements, security needs, and budget. By understanding the key features, configuration, and deployment considerations of each solution, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your business objectives.

Here's a summary of key recommendations based on different use cases:

• For organizations prioritizing security: Cisco SD-WAN and Fortinet Secure SD-WAN offer comprehensive security features and can be integrated with other security products to provide a complete SASE solution.

• For organizations with high-latency or lossy connections: Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN's WAN optimization capabilities can significantly improve application performance in these environments.

• For organizations with virtualized environments: VMware SD-WAN's integration with VMware vSphere provides seamless integration with existing infrastructure and simplifies deployment.

• For organizations looking for a cloud-native SASE solution: Prisma SD-WAN, with its integration with Prisma Access, offers a comprehensive cloud-delivered security solution.

Remember to evaluate real-world case scenarios and compare the advantages and disadvantages of each solution to determine the best fit for your organization.

Works cited

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