Zayo Picks Versa for SD-WAN

Zayo Group (News - Alert) has tapped Versa Networks to provide it with an SD-WAN solution.

SD-WAN offerings from Zayo come in two options: managed and unmanaged.  The managed option includes network monitoring and performance problem troubleshooting assistance.

As TMC (News - Alert) Labs recently explained in an INTERNET TELEPHONY product review: “The Versa Networks Cloud IP Platform brings SD-WAN and cyber security protection to the branch office. The idea makes a lot of sense, as SD-WAN is bringing more broadband connections into the network, which could mean more attack vectors.”

The Versa Networks Cloud IP Platform consists of FlexVNF, which handles routing, SD-WAN, and other functions; the Director, which does the management, monitoring, and provisioning; and the Analytics database and engine, which collects and can present real-time and historical data.

Versa Networks is a Gold Sponsor for the upcoming SD-WAN Expo. That will take place Feb. 14 through 16 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Speaking of SD-WAN, a recent blog by Pravin Mirchandani, CMO of OneAccess (News - Alert) Networks, discusses how and why service providers are adopting it. Initially, he says, SD-WAN took operators by surprise. That’s because many SD-WAN vendors went direct to enterprises with offerings featuring the ability to enjoy less expense internet links, centralized policy control, and self-select portals.

“SD-WAN, by putting agility directly in the hands of enterprises, thereby threatening MPLS revenues, has created such a sense of urgency that the operators have been prepared to abandon their normally conservative vendor and technology selection process to prove they can also play the agility card,” writes Mirchandani.

OneAccess is not an SD-WAN Expo sponsor. But here’s a list of the many sponsors of this event in addition to Versa Networks.

That list includes Windstream; Citrix, Comcast Business, MegaPath (News - Alert), Riverbed, Silver Peak, TeloIP, and TPX Communications; airespring, aryaka, Barracuda, Bigleaf Networks, expereo, FatPipe, Granite, HughesON, NetCom Communications Group, and ZeroOutages.