All About the Apps: Verizon Unveils New Managed Software Defined WAN Solution

Verizon Enterprise Solutions, this month, is rolling out Managed Software Defined Wide Area Network (Managed SD-WAN), a new intelligent managed networking suite of services that harness the power of the Internet with the performance and reliability of a private IP network.

It is also the first Verizon solution enabled by software-defined networking technology, which increases operational efficiencies and accelerates the deployment of new services. “Enterprises are challenged with managing a massive amount of traffic created by the expanding number of mobile users using cloud-based services and applications,” said Shawn Hakl, vice president of enterprise networking and innovation.

“This makes a software-defined WAN the ideal choice for supporting increased traffic demands, especially as more network traffic originates from and is destined for the Internet.” The Internet is the primary path for less-critical applications and services, such as email and web browsing, which are not impacted by inconsistent, lower quality connectivity.

However, as more enterprises move their operations online, they require a flexible solution such as an multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) network that utilizes a more efficient way to deliver real-time and mission-critical applications to their users. Verizon’s new offering maps each application on the network to a routing policy which is defined by the enterprise on an application-by-application basis. When network conditions shift, real-time automated and manual route changes enable enterprise data to be delivered over the best available transport for each application.

This solution is ideal for enterprises looking to re-architect their network to efficiently handle the increasing amounts of traffic now commonplace in the enterprise setting. “With Verizon’s Managed SD-WAN solution, enterprises essentially get the best of both worlds — public and private IP,” Hakl added. Verizon’s first offering is based on Cisco IWAN networking technology, which allows enterprises to reap the benefits of this technology, including:

• Better User Experience: integrated application optimization for improved and faster application performance
• Secure Infrastructure and Applications: robust, secure and certified routing platforms (ISRs and ASRs)
• Low Operational Cost: Intelligent path control to fully leverage both MPLS and the Internet
• IT agility: Provision new sites and services faster with a hybrid WAN to support key business initiatives

In addition, Verizon offers SD WAN professional IT consulting services to help organizations make the best use of this technology, including Design & Implement, Network Assessment; Network Strategy & Roadmap; and Lifecycle Management, among other key functions.

Read our interview with Shawn Hakl, head of network platforms and managed services, to learn how software defined networks are redefining enterprise IT. Visit the Verizon Enterprise Solutions’ Products and Services Center to learn how to improve your business with the latest technologies and network solutions.