Riverbed SD-WAN Update Tackles Large, Complex Networks

Written by James Anderson
October 21, 2019

Large enterprises are more cautious about SD-WAN adoption than their smaller peers.

Riverbed Technology has introduced the latest generation of its software-defined wide area networking (SD-WAN) solution.

The SteelConnect EX edge infrastructure platform incorporates an “enterprise-class and carrier-grade” routing stack that allows for integration with legacy networks. Riverbed says the platform can accelerate application performance by a factor of 33.

Riverbed’s Dante Malagrino

“Riverbed now offers the most complete and powerful digital networking solution in the market to help organizations achieve higher levels of agility, efficiency, innovation and growth. Riverbed’s new SteelConnect EX encompasses the scalability, performance and security to meet the needs of the most complex networks,” said Dante Malagrino, Riverbed’s chief development officer. “With a proven track record of WAN expertise, world-class support and professional services, Riverbed sets the new standard for digital networking to propel and accelerate digital transformation with confidence.”

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The data shows that enterprises are trailing their smaller counterparts in SD-WAN adoption. A recent Avant Communications study shows a smaller rate of disruption for larger companies. Riverbed says larger enterprises are concerned about “the inability for SD-WAN solutions to interface directly with legacy networks during a phased SD-WAN rollout.”

Source: Avant SD-WAN 6-12 Report

Riverbed earlier this year signed Versa Networks as a partner in order to give enterprise customers a second SD-WAN option.

Have you heard the news? ?Our new release of SteelConnect EX is a game-changer for #SDWAN. See why: https://t.co/DEFCtyJRkA pic.twitter.com/aYwXJN5kAP

— Riverbed (@riverbed) October 21, 2019

Zeus Kerravala, principle analyst for ZK Research, said businesses must modernize their infrastructure in order to digitally transform.

“… the networking industry is at an inflection point where we’re starting to see mainstream, enterprise organizations rapidly adopting SD-WAN as a way to deliver greater network agility and achieve significant cost savings,” Kerravala said. “The new release of SteelConnect EX from Riverbed delivers the comprehensive SD-WAN capabilities that large scale organizations require in order to successfully compete in today’s cloud-based, complex digital environments.”