SD-WAN Progress Report: Here's Who Made Headlines In 2017 Q2

Untangling SD-WAN

SD-WAN is one of the fastest growing networking technology markets, one that is perfect for partners who want to solve their customers' connectivity needs and create new, innovative services in a way that is efficient, useful and works with any broadband provider. Networking giant Cisco Systems validated the space as a must-win category earlier this year when it bought Viptela, an SD-WAN startup, for $610 million. CRN is tracking this market by way of this new quarterly roundup of some the leading SD-WAN providers on the market. We've briefly described their approach to SD-WAN and recapped their most recent news, all in one place.

Aryaka

SD-WAN company Aryaka got its start in 2009 when it built out a cloud-based, multi-tenant, private network to give its enterprise customers low latency, throughput, and application performance. Today, Aryaka has network operations centers (NOCs) globally to help the provider keep its data de-duplication, compression, and application acceleration promises.

The Milpitas, Calif.-based company has garnered interest from providers in the telecom industry recently, having received funding from the like of SK Broadband and T-Mobile parent company Deutsche Telekom.

Aryaka In The News

Aryaka today partners with many solution providers via master agent relationships and the provider has a channel program of its own. In April, Aryaka announced an alliance with Converged Network Services Group (CNSG), a Charlotte, N.C.-based master agent.

In June, Aryaka introduced SmartACCESS, a clientless, remote access-as-a-service SD-WAN offering for remote or mobile workers that the company touted as the first clientless SD-WAN offering specifically for remote access.

CloudGenix

A newcomer on the SD-WAN scene, San Jose, Calif.-based CloudGenix was founded in 2013 by a group of veteran network administrators. CloudGenix's flavor of SD-WAN is known for its application-routing capabilities and analytics, which provides customers with reporting on all their applications, including custom apps, and public cloud apps.

CloudGenix In The News

In June, the startup was named an "SD-WAN Innovator" by analyst firm IDC for its application-defined flavor of SD-WAN that eliminates the need for complex routers.

In June, CloudGenix announced its partnership with Chicago-based master agent TBI. CloudGenix also partners with master agents Avant and CNSG.

Silver Peak Systems

Santa Clara, Calif.-based Silver Peak was founded in 2003 and specializes in broadband and hybrid WAN solutions, including WAN optimization, replication acceleration, and SD-WAN for distributed enterprise customers and service providers.

Silver Peak offers its products as physical and virtual appliances to help customers overcome issues like limited bandwidth, latency and poor link quality. Today, the provider has more than 2,000 enterprise customers.

Sliver Peak In The News

During the quarter, Silver Peak has made headway into the service provider market for the first time. In June, the company formalized its relationship with China Telecom, announcing that with the help of IT distributor Westcon-Comstor, the carrier would be offering fully-managed SD-WAN services using Silver Peak's technology to enterprise customers and channel partners. A month earlier, Silver Peak announced a similar partnership with Hyundai HCN Co., Ltd., a South Korean-based multi-system operator, and Weston-Comstor.

Talari

Talari, a 10-year old provider, is known for its "thinking WAN" approach to the market said its version of SD-WAN could work with an all-MPLS network, a hybrid WAN or Internet links as-WAN, backed up with wireless. The provider differentiates itself from competitors with its real-time performance analytics to monitor latency, bandwidth throughput, and jitter.

Talari In The News

To expand its reach in the indirect channel, Talari in June announced a partnership with IT distributor Tech Data which gives Tech Data's extensive partner community access to sell Talari's SD-WAN offering.

VeloCloud

VeloCloud Networks Inc.'s claim to SD-WAN fame begins with its slogan, the "cloud-delivered SD-WAN company." The Mountain View, Calif.-based startup launched in 2014, and its offering today can combine a choice of public, private or hybrid cloud networks to connect to cloud and enterprise applications, branch office enterprise appliances and data center appliances. The solution promises software-defined control and automation, and virtual services delivery for business and service providers.

Several telecom carriers are partnering with VeloCloud to power their SD-WAN solutions, including AT&T, Sprint, and Windstream.

VeloCloud In The News

VeloCloud threw an event specifically for its channel partners in June, VeloCloud Achieve 2017, that focused on SD-WAN solution selling for VARs, MSPs, and telecom agent partners. The provider recently updated its channel program, complete with an enhanced partner portal and more training and support.

VeloCloud in June was named the 2017 Gold Award winner by Network Products Guide, a technology research and advisory guide, in its 12th Annual IT World Awards for the SDN category. The company was honored by the American Business Awards program in May when it received a bronze Stevie Award in the new product of the year, software, cloud platform award category.

Versa Networks

Versa Networks' software-based Cloud IP Platform strives to make it simple for distributed companies to manage their WAN architecture and cloud applications while moving from hardware to software-based networking environments. The Santa Clara, Calif.-based company was founded by a team of networking veterans who launched Versa in 2012.

Telecom provider CenturyLink offers SD-WAN services powered by Versa Networks. Cable giant Comcast also in May announced it was beta testing an SD-WAN service in collaboration with Versa Networks.

Versa In The News

Versa Networks recently enhanced its cloud-based SD-WAN platform to allow partners and end customers virtualize their branch office locations and manage their WANs from a single platform, rather than having to manage network functions across different appliances.

In June, Versa announced its latest partnership with a service provider, Bahrain-based Kalaam Telecom, bringing SD-WAN to the Persian Gulf.