Gartner, the world’s leading research and advisory firm, has released its latest Magic Quadrant Report on SD-WAN. The report is intended to help businesses evaluate the leading vendors of SD-WAN solutions and identify the ones that can best help them achieve their goals. In this article, we will take a closer look at the report and discuss the leaders and challengers in the SD-WAN market.
SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Network) is a technology that allows businesses to connect their branch offices and remote sites to the corporate network using a combination of public and private networks. It provides better connectivity, security, and performance compared to traditional WAN architectures. According to Gartner, the SD-WAN market is projected to reach $8 billion by 2021.
Let’s start with the leaders in the SD-WAN market. Gartner identifies five vendors as leaders in this category:
1. VMware: VMware is a global leader in virtualization and cloud computing solutions. Its SD-WAN solution, VMware SD-WAN by VeloCloud, offers a comprehensive platform that includes routing, security, and policy management capabilities. The solution is available as a cloud-based service or on-premises deployment.
2. Cisco: Cisco is a well-known name in the networking industry. Its SD-WAN solution, Cisco SD-WAN, is a part of its broader Intent-Based Networking (IBN) portfolio. The solution provides a unified management platform, high availability, and advanced threat protection.
3. Silver Peak: Silver Peak is a leading SD-WAN vendor that offers a complete package of WAN optimization, security, and routing functionality. Its Unity EdgeConnect SD-WAN platform provides advanced traffic steering, encryption, and analytics capabilities.
4. Fortinet: Fortinet is a cybersecurity company that provides a range of security solutions, including SD-WAN. Its FortiGate SD-WAN platform provides secure connectivity, advanced routing, and unified threat management (UTM) capabilities.
5. Versa Networks: Versa Networks is a leading SD-WAN vendor that offers a cloud-native platform called Versa Secure SD-WAN. The solution provides advanced security, routing, and integration with cloud services.
These vendors have been identified as leaders based on their ability to execute their SD-WAN strategies and their completeness of vision.
Moving on to the challengers, Gartner identifies two vendors in this category:
1. HPE (Aruba): HPE is a global leader in IT solutions and services. Its Aruba SD-Branch solution provides advanced security, routing, and management capabilities for distributed enterprises.
2. Nokia (Nuage Networks): Nokia is a telecommunications company that acquired Nuage Networks to offer SD-WAN solutions to its customers. Its Virtualized Network Services (VNS) platform provides integrated SD-WAN and network function virtualization (NFV) capabilities.
These vendors are identified as challengers because they have the potential to execute their SD-WAN strategies but may be limited by their completeness of vision.
Other vendors in the Magic Quadrant Report include:
1. Citrix Systems: Citrix is a global leader in virtualization, cloud computing, and networking technologies. Its Citrix SD-WAN solution provides secure connectivity and network optimization capabilities.
2. Juniper Networks: Juniper Networks is a networking solutions provider that offers a range of products, including SD-WAN. Its Contrail SD-WAN provides advanced routing, security, and automation capabilities.
3. Oracle: Oracle is a global technology company that offers a range of cloud-based services, including SD-WAN. Its Oracle SD-WAN solution provides advanced routing, security, and network optimization capabilities.
4. Huawei: Huawei is a leading provider of telecommunications and networking solutions. Its SD-WAN solution provides advanced security, routing, and management capabilities for distributed enterprises.
In conclusion, businesses need to evaluate SD-WAN vendors based on their specific needs and goals. The Magic Quadrant Report on SD-WAN provides an excellent starting point for businesses to identify the leading vendors in the market and select the one that can provide the best solution for their needs.