Key Issue: Who are the players in the SD-WAN appliance market ?
Title: GartnorGroup evaluation of SD-WAN appliances
Definitions
1) Ability to Successfully Execute
Palo Alto Networks Prisma SD-WAN (Scores 16.5/20)
Palo Alto Networks, a leading cybersecurity company, is headquartered in Santa Clara, California. Founded in 2005 by Nir Zuk, the company has grown to become a dominant force in the network security market, offering a comprehensive suite of products and services that protect enterprises from evolving cyber threats.
Palo Alto Networks' Prisma SD-WAN solution is designed to provide a seamless integration of secure connectivity and advanced networking capabilities. The Prisma SD-WAN appliance features a hardware platform with powerful processors, ample memory, and a variety of network interfaces, including Ethernet, LTE, and Wi-Fi. The appliance runs Palo Alto Networks' own operating system, which includes the company's renowned next-generation firewall (NGFW) technology, as well as SD-WAN functionality such as dynamic path selection, application-aware routing, and WAN optimization. One of the key strengths of Prisma SD-WAN is its strong security posture, which includes features like URL filtering, intrusion prevention, and advanced threat protection. This aligns well with Palo Alto Networks' focus on comprehensive security solutions. However, the Prisma SD-WAN solution may be more expensive compared to some of its competitors, which could be a consideration for organizations with limited budgets.
Bottom Line
Palo Alto Networks' Prisma SD-WAN is well-suited for enterprises that prioritize security and seek a tightly integrated SD-WAN solution that leverages the company's expertise in network security. The platform's advanced security capabilities, combined with its SD-WAN functionalities, make it a compelling option for organizations looking to secure and optimize their wide-area networks while maintaining a high level of visibility and control.
Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN (Scores 17.5/20)
Cisco Systems, Inc. is a multinational technology conglomerate headquartered in San Jose, California. Founded in 1984 by Leonard Bosack and Sandra Lerner, Cisco has grown to become a leading provider of networking and telecommunications equipment, software, and services. With a focus on enterprise and service provider markets, Cisco's portfolio spans a wide range of technologies, including routing, switching, security, and collaboration solutions.
Cisco's Catalyst SD-WAN offering is a comprehensive solution that leverages the company's expertise in networking and security. The Catalyst SD-WAN appliance features a powerful hardware platform with multi-core processors, ample memory, and diverse network interfaces, including Ethernet, LTE, and Wi-Fi. The appliance runs Cisco's proprietary IOS XE operating system, which has been optimized for SD-WAN functionality, including dynamic path selection, application-aware routing, and integrated security.
Strengths
Seamless integration with the broader Cisco networking and security ecosystem, allowing for centralized management, threat intelligence, and policy enforcement across the entire infrastructure.
Robust security features, including a built-in firewall, intrusion prevention, and threat intelligence from Cisco Talos.
Advanced analytics and visibility, providing deep insights into network performance and application behavior.
Scalability to support large-scale deployments, making it suitable for enterprise and service provider environments.
Weaknesses
The Catalyst SD-WAN solution may be more complex and resource-intensive compared to some of its competitors, which could be a consideration for smaller organizations with limited IT resources.
The tight integration with the Cisco ecosystem may be less appealing to organizations that prefer a more vendor-agnostic approach or have a multi-vendor networking environment.
Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN is often the preferred choice for enterprises and service providers with a significant investment in Cisco technologies and a need for a tightly integrated SD-WAN solution. The platform's robust security features, advanced analytics, and scalability make it a reliable option for organizations seeking to modernize their wide-area networks and enhance application performance, visibility, and control.
Bottom Line
Seamless integration with the broader Cisco networking and security ecosystem, enabling centralized management and policy enforcement.
Robust security features, including a built-in firewall, intrusion prevention, and threat intelligence, making it a compelling choice for security-conscious organizations.
Advanced analytics and visibility, providing deep insights into network performance and application behavior, which is crucial for optimizing wide-area network operations.