Software-Defined WAN Solutions
Software-Defined WAN Solutions Overview
Top Rated Software-Defined WAN Products
These products won a Top Rated award for having excellent customer satisfaction ratings. The list is based purely on reviews; there is no paid placement, and analyst opinions do not influence the rankings. Read more about the Top Rated criteria.
Software-Defined WAN Products
(1-25 of 58) Sorted by Most Reviews
The list of products below is based purely on reviews (sorted from most to least). There is no paid placement and analyst opinions do not influence their rankings. Here is our Promise to Buyers to ensure information on our site is reliable, useful, and worthy of your trust.
Cisco Meraki MX Firewalls is a combined UTM and Software-Defined WAN solution. Meraki is managed via the cloud, and provides core firewall services, including site-to-site VPN, plus network monitoring.
Key Features
- Identification Technologies (47)84%8.4
- Firewall Management Console (48)82%8.2
- Reporting and Logging (49)78%7.8
FortiGate
FortiNet FortiGate is a firewall option with high integrability. It offers a variety of deployment options and next-gen firewall capabilities, including integration with IaaS cloud platforms and public cloud environments.
Key Features
- Firewall Management Console (36)94%9.4
- Policy-based Controls (36)90%9.0
- Reporting and Logging (36)87%8.7
Cisco 4000 Series Integrated Services Routers (ISR 4000) provides a scalable, flexible foundation so you can quickly integrate leading IT initiatives like SD-WAN and edge compute, while meeting the explosive network performance need driven by cloud-based application adoption.
Cisco SD-WAN
Cisco SD-WAN gives users the ability to manage connectivity across their WAN from a single dashboard that simplifies day to day monitoring and operations. Cisco SD-WAN can be cloud-managed or deployed on premise offering comprehensive routing, security and policy control, along with…
The Cisco 1000 Series Aggregation Services Routers (ASR 1000) is a SD-WAN ready router.
Cisco routers support secure, reliable enterprise connections. These enterprise routers help users implement an intent-based, future-ready WAN that is constantly learning, adapting, and protecting. Deploy routers for the branch, cloud, co-location, or the data center with any type…
Cisco 1000 Series Integrated Services Routers (ISR 1000) provides software-defined WAN and integrated security features.
Cisco Meraki SD-WAN is a software-defined WAN offering transport independence, application optimization, intelligent path control, and secure connectivity.
Barracuda CloudGen Firewalls provides a wide range of security and connectivity features, including web filtering, NAC and SSL VPN and other features for remote access, as well as protection as edge devices and IoT security.
Key Features
- Firewall Management Console (8)82%8.2
- Active Directory and LDAP (8)80%8.0
- Reporting and Logging (8)78%7.8
Untangle NG Firewall is an open-source firewall and gateway security platform. It offers a free core firewall platform with paid add-ons, and a cloud-based management platform with a variety of deployment options for smaller teams.
Key Features
- Content Inspection (5)98%9.8
- Visualization Tools (5)94%9.4
- Identification Technologies (5)80%8.0
San Francisco based Riverbed Technology offers Steelhead, a WAN optimization solution, which includes the SteelHead CX/GX delivering optimization for Hybrid WANs, accelerating the performance of applications to improve productivity and reduce costs, and SteelHead SD combining SD-…
VMware SD-WAN by VeloCloud aims to deliver high-performance, reliable branch access to cloud services, private data centers, and SaaS-based enterprise applications. It is based on the services of the former VeloCloud, acquired by VMware in 2018.
Prisma SD-WAN (formerly known as CloudGenix but now as Prisma from Palo Alto Networks since being acquired in April 2020) offers an Autonomous SD-WAN solution, designed to provide app-policies aligned to business intent, along with direct access to multi-cloud and dev-ops frameworks…
HPE company Aruba Networks launched their Software Defined WAN (SD-WAN) product in 2018.
Cisco Cloud Services Router 1000V Series (CSR 1000V) offers routing, security, and network management as cloud services with multitenancy. The series is infrastructure agnostic and programmable across the LAN, WAN, and in the cloud.
The vendor states that Oracle SD-WAN was created to solve the ongoing IT challenges network managers face every day—from expensive, sluggish, inflexible WANs to difficulties deploying new office WAN links and accessing cloud services. With Oracle SD-WAN, enterprises can benefit from…
Windstream offers SD-WAN Concierge, a software-defined WAN solution which includes security policy, proactive monitoring and optimization, centralized management of routing policy, and other application and access management and optimization features.
As part of Untangle’s Network Security Framework, Untangle SD-WAN Router with advanced routing capabilities and stateful firewall, provides the ability for businesses to build a Software-Defined Network. Untangle SD-WAN Router software provides interoffice connectivity across sites,…
Microsoft's Azure Virtual WAN connects global branch offices, point-of-sale locations, and sites using Azure and the Microsoft global network. With it the user can plan, configure, and seamlessly deploy new connections.
CenturyLink® SD-WAN with hybrid connectivity is a complete WAN solution supporting scalable networks across a range of connectivity types. They integrate disparate connectivity types into seamless hybrid software-defined WAN.Gain complete visibility through a centralized customer…
Citrix SD-WAN (formerly Netscaler SD-WAN) is a software-defined WAN solution, featuring WAN optimization.
Forcepoint Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) promises seamless and central management, whether physical, virtual or in the cloud. Administrators can deploy, monitor and update thousands of firewalls, VPNs and IPSs in minutes, all from a single console. The vendor says that the product…
SmartConnect is an on-demand, fully managed and end-to-end SD-WAN connectivity service for enterprises, offering global, regional, and local as well as cloud connectivity. The solution connects branches, remote locations, data centers and cloud service providers, using Aryaka's SD-…
Versa SASE integrates a comprehensive set of services through VOS™ (Versa Operating System, formerly FlexVNF) delivering security, networking, SD-WAN, and analytics. Built to run in the most complex environments, Versa SASE provides the flexibility and elasticity for simple, scalable,…
Learn More About Software-Defined WAN Solutions
What is Software-Defined WAN?
Software-Defined WAN Features & Capabilities:
- WAN Optimization
- Multi-Cloud Management
- Centralized Orchestration
- Zero-Touch Provisioning
- Virtual Private Network (VPN)
- WAN Optimization
- Application Delivery Control
This worked for a time because all information was stored in the data center, but now most applications are hosted in the cloud, and sometimes multiple clouds. Backhauling this information through traditional WAN can cause performance issues and delays often referred to as latency. Latency issues are a main reason many companies are exploring SD-WAN.
WAN Optimization
Businesses should perform WAN optimization as part of an SD-WAN upgrade, especially if they are dealing with latency issues. Even with traditional WAN, optimization can increase app speeds using several methods:
Deduplication - deleting redundant or repeat information
Caching - storing information for faster access
Compression - shrinking files by removing non-essential information
By optimizing the WAN beforehand, companies can make the most of their SD-WAN upgrade.
Multicloud and Hybrid Cloud Management
SD-WAN products improve connectivity and boost security in the multicloud by centralizing cloud management, making it easier. The right products can encrypt data across security points while providing firewalls and app-based security. SD-WAN can also use virtual private networks (VPNs to improve security).
Application Delivery Control (ADC)
Pricing Information
Number of locations (domestic and/or international)
Type of circuit (MPLS, broadband internet services, 4G/LTE)
Bandwidth available at each location
Firewalls in use (business’s equipment vs. vendor’s)