New SD-WAN platform simplifies complex, enterprise-scale implementations

The new version of application performance company Riverbed Technology’s software-defined wide-area network (SD-WAN) solution supports complex enterprise environments and simplifies the implementation of large-scale SD-WAN deployments in data centres through nondisruptive network integration, says Riverbed Technology UK, Ireland and South Africa regional VP Allan Paton.

The nondisruptive aspect is that the SteelConnect solution can be deployed through a data centre device – the SteelHead technology – and software updates. It is primed to provide enterprise-scale cloud network orchestration and performance management of processes and applications (apps).

The rise of cloud services, coupled with increased use of bandwidth-intensive apps like voice and video, has prompted information technology (IT) leaders to adopt hybrid WANs that blend traditional multiprotocol label switching with other connectivity options such as Internet and fourth-generation long-term evolution.

Hybrid network topologies increase capacity and reliability, but are complex, fragile and costly to manage, which is why the platform uses software-defined networking capabilities.

Enterprises are embracing cloud computing for increased business agility, despite network-connectivity issues remaining a major challenge. The solution integrates SD-WAN and WAN optimisation so that customers can have unified control and management of traditional and hybrid-cloud networks, says IT market research firm IDC data centre networks research director Brad Casemore.

“Every CIO has plans to or is in the process of adopting cloud-based technologies. Our new SteelConnect and SteelHead releases provide the integration that enables enterprisewide cloud and device networking management, especially between on-premise and off-premise data centres,” confirms Paton.

He says there are often concerns around visibility when moving resources off premise.

“However, this latest version, which includes the capabilities of the German SD-WAN firm Ocedo, acquired by Riverbed early last year, provides visibility down to the performance of apps on desktops, regardless of where the apps reside in the company’s data centre or external cloud services.”

The performance of business applications will be impacted on by moves into and out of the various on-premise and off-premise cloud resources. The new SD-WAN solution provides companies with the capabilities to manage networking and compute resources during the transition phase of their cloud strategies and also supports long-term operational management, he emphasises.