Playbook Volume 10 - ChannelVision Magazine

IT professionals explicitly point to ‘complexity’ as a challenge. In other instances, complexity is implicit, such as when they express interest in ‘network automation’ or point to concerns around selecting, integrat- ing and managing multiple tools and platforms.” Cato ultimately makes the mes- sage loud and clear in the report: If SD-WAN is to develop fully in 2018, the company says, and enable enterprises to truly transform their networks, then the complete, secure networking experience must become simpler and more seamless. SD-WAN providers that cannot offer a simplified and consolidated line of services are going to be in for a rude awakening. “If you’re a company that only delivers connectivity, or you only deliver SD-WAN, you have a real problem,” Greenfield said. “You are truly in a race against time. Cato is an example of how SD-WAN func- tionality is being packaged with ad- ditional capabilities for greater value. Firewall vendors are doing this, too.” “The fact is,” Greenfield contin- ued, “the pure SD-WAN industry is probably going away or becoming intertwined with other capabilities. As we look out into industry over the next 24 months, greater conver- gence will take place. Security and SD-WAN in particular are coming together in a closer and closer way.” The Cato model, Greenfield said, brings together data centers, as well as cloud data centers and applica- tions and remote users into a single and unified network. “It’s a new kind of IP and en- terprise backbone that is much, much easier to manage and main- tain because it is one network,” Greenfield stated. “You don’t have separate networks, separate re- mote access solutions, a separate solution for the cloud or a separate solution for site-to-site connectiv- ity. You have one solution for all of them. Plus, our security services are baked into that.” o Which of the following use cases will be a primary focus for your company during the next 12 months? Simplify network or security architectures 50% Provide secure internet access from any location 46% Integrate cloud datacenters into the WAN 36% Replace MPLS with a more affordable alternative with suitable performance 32% Improve visibility into and control over mobile access to cloud applications like Office 365 31% Decrease the time users want to access remote servers or transfer files 16% Eliminate appliances from branch offices 14% Other 7% Source: Cato Networks Stop by Channel Partners BOOTH 358 Your share of our $25,000 Prize Pool WIN 17 THE CHANNEL MANAGER’S PLAYBOOK