Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN review
Updated March 14, 2025

Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN review

Nikunj Thakar | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User

Overall Satisfaction with Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN

this is our first SD-WAN deployment for the small site. This pure fabric site builds on Catalyst Switches feedback to non fabric network for all APs and endpoints.

Pros

  • Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN as name suggests, create software defined network. We like to create SSID for each type of devices where it's able to connect as configured in policy. E.g. IOT can only connect to specific SSID and Vlan. We can allow and deny connection from matrix policy.

Cons

  • Mostly I would like to get Cisco products integrated and allow to streamline some of the tasks with the same window. I guess I can see some progress on the way via Splunk implementation.
  • QS is one of the biggest impacts. WebUI allows easy user experience. May be limited integration options atm.
Once you get the hang of the UI, it's a go to tool and becomes easy to use.
Did looked in to it but we are heavily on Cisco infra.

Do you think Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN delivers good value for the price?

Yes

Are you happy with Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN's feature set?

Yes

Did Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN live up to sales and marketing promises?

I wasn't involved with the selection/purchase process

Did implementation of Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN go as expected?

No

Would you buy Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN again?

Yes

Minimise physical footprint and open up scalability to incorporate other technologies. However, if you are on old hardware, it limits what you can achieve.

Using Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN

101 - There three sites that cover the SD-WAN.
We have Fabric/non-fabric network connectivity between sites. Many Clinical departments connect they devices (including iOT). We also use network segmentation for protect our management network and server network. Most of the function we use for end point connectivity and network segmentation for security purpose. Overall, out Digital health team use most of the function and maintain the functionality.
10 - We are hospital environment. So we do have sperate ITs/sub it department who specialist in Medical devices and application. Most of them provide support to endpoints and end users troubleshooting. There about 5 senior people who has main qualification from Cisco, VMware, Microsoft, AWS etc.
Few have more experience in Cisco end to end product than others. We all share out knowledge and skills across the team.
  • Medical Device connectivity in Secure manner
  • Network Segmantation
  • Zero Trust approach
  • Not sure about unexpected but we expect to work on core function of SD-WAN
  • SSID profiling
  • Network Segmentation.
If the product working as expected and ticking all the objectives of Business than why not?

Evaluating Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN and Competitors

  • Cloud Solutions
  • Scalability
  • Ease of Use
I think next year may have to see if the budget permit we may have to compare the price vs functionality what we use to optimize the value proportion.

Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Implementation

I was late to participate but my team was very happy with the outcome.
  • Implemented in-house
  • Third-party professional services
We do have third party (contractors) to implement the product.
Yes - We do have test play area where we test out concept and implement base on requirement of the business function.
  • Network segments. we have over 100 vlans across specificality clinics.

Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Training

  • No Training
I have used other SD-WAN logic. So for me it's relatively easy to get in.

Configuring Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN

We you know your stuff and have money to spend. It's highly configurable. Specially cross functions and integration bits.
I don't think one size fits all. Depends on what are you trying to achieve.
No - we have not done any customization to the interface
No - we have not done any custom code
Nothing that I am aware off.

Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Support

We do have specialist (authorized Cisco vendor to configure SD-WAN)
ProsCons
Quick Resolution
Good followup
Knowledgeable team
Kept well informed
Support cares about my success
None
No. We got std support. it was too expensive to get it.
Well I personally never have to deal with support regarding SD-wan. but generally, they are very responsive to me.

Using Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN

ProsCons
Like to use
Well integrated
Convenient
Requires technical support
  • Profiling
  • Network Segmentation (Assuming network ends complete)
  • Nevigation is bit difficult to remember but once you get used to it. It's easy
  • Integration documentation.
Yes, but I don't use it

Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Reliability

Really strength in scalability. Only thigs it's depends on some prototype Cisco product which you can't work with other Cisco products.
I think if we could afford, we could have HA inplace but we planned out outage and workaround to avoid any outages.
It does slow down over the period but it's same with other product. you need to clear/reboot services.

Integrating Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN

  • May be ISE
  • Servicedesk
  • CMDB apps
  • Single Signon
  • API (e.g. SOAP or REST)
Choose wisely as it may not be best choice.

Relationship with Cisco

I was not fully part of the project but it's pretty straight forward to follow design and configuration once you know what you getting out of it and also fit to the purpose.
Depends on your relationship with Vendor. Mostly it's first 3 months that you will find more issue than it will settle down and after that it's BAU
For SD-WAN, we want more specialise support where we got more number of hours of training or support as we move forward on the project implementation.
I didn't take part of this decision but it always multiyear contract get best discount.
Get good understanding why and what you need. Have couple of options design ready before so you can have better view and understanding of vendor proposal.

Upgrading Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN

  • Some UI changes on one upgrade but nothing significate on SD-WAN side
  • Integration and Alerts could be more resilience to changes.

Comments

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