Cisco WAAS WAN Optimization
August 26, 2022

Cisco WAAS WAN Optimization

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

Overall Satisfaction with Cisco Wide Area Application Services

Our organization has a network design of hub and spoke. All of the spoke locations are connected via an MPLS link and have varying speed connections. To facilitate a seamless and robust WAN network we implemented WAAS as a bandwidth optimization tool. It enables us to provide a faster user experience without having to implement faster networks and pay more money monthly for the service.

We use WAAS for all of our MPLS WAN connected sites to connect back to our primary datacenter and application service site.

Pros

  • Network file and application optimization
  • VOIP telephony optimization
  • Citrix application optimization
  • Standardized user experience for networking usage

Cons

  • Administrator GUI user interface is archaic and very dated
  • Admin GUI lacks a bunch of feature support options you have to do via CLI
  • Some endpoint functionality needs to be done at each site instead of from the central admin tool. so redundant effort and can cause site config drift
  • Admin GUI lacks some monitoring and reporting options that would be helpful for support and trouble resolution
  • WAN optimization
  • application optimization
  • citrix optimization
  • vpn service optimization
  • voice optimization
  • database optimization
  • data replication optimization
  • DR scenario optimization
  • saves monthly internet service costs
  • seamless network experience for all users at all sites
  • ok troubleshooting admin portal so some IT skills are required to manage this
  • is costly to purchase
  • somewhat complex to set up but easy to administer once working
We are already a Cisco organization for network and security products. Cisco provided us discounting competitors just couldn't get to. competitors required more hardware and more complex setup requirements over this product due to our network design. The end result when comparing WAAS to others were going to be the same speed, experience, and pretty much the same administration requirements from IT. The added cost savings won us over.

Do you think Cisco Wide Area Application Services delivers good value for the price?

Yes

Are you happy with Cisco Wide Area Application Services's feature set?

Yes

Did Cisco Wide Area Application Services live up to sales and marketing promises?

Yes

Did implementation of Cisco Wide Area Application Services go as expected?

Yes

Would you buy Cisco Wide Area Application Services again?

Yes

WAAS works best for cookie cutter and some unique network design implementations. is best suited for an all Cisco network infrastructure. however, a number of 3rd party network devices can be used and supported when using this product. it's easier with all Cisco. It is priced pretty high to get into and medium to enterprise organizations is best suited to implement this in.

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