ATC Provider, Masergy, Leads with SD-WAN Approach to Network Services
Masergy has been one the early providers of SDN, NFV and vCPE globally. Gartner’s recognition is likely due to Masergy’s innovative hybrid networking suite of fully managed services.
“We believe our position in the Visionary quadrant is an affirmation of our software-defined approach to delivering global network solutions,” said Chris MacFarland, CEO, Masergy. “We are redefining enterprise networking by simplifying the complex through automation to create agile enablement platforms.”
Masergy’s hybrid networking combines ultra-high performance intelligent connectivity, SD-WAN, and a complete suite of fully managed network functions. This platform allows for custom designs that deliver optimal price/performance for each unique application environment.
Download the report here.
According to Gartner:
“The global enterprise network service market is on the cusp of a major transformation, with new generations of software-based virtualized network technologies enabling new services and new business models that place less emphasis on the ownership of large-scale infrastructure. Therefore, this Magic Quadrant is focused on transformational technologies or approaches aimed at addressing the evolving needs of enterprises, including greater agility and the adoption of cloud-based applications and infrastructure.”
Gartner lists 3 emerging global network service technologies… technologies we often reference and discuss in this blog:
- Managed software-defined WAN (SD-WAN) services — Lightweight edge devices with zero-touch installation able to dynamically route traffic over different links based on application policies under central policy management. SD-WAN improves hybrid WAN agility by allowing easier and faster deployment of new sites, flexibility in the link types used and simplified addition of new applications to the network. In addition, SD-WAN services typically provide significantly enhanced levels of application visibility compared with traditional managed router services. SD-WAN is the most widely adopted of the emerging network services.
- Network function virtualization (NFV) services — The replacement of special-purpose network devices, such as routers, security devices or WAN optimizers, with virtualized software. This can be run in NFV service nodes located in the provider’s network or in virtual customer premises equipment (vCPE) — on-site x86 devices, typically optimized for network-edge use supporting multiple virtualized network functions. NFV allows network functions to be activated on demand and consumed on an “as a service” basis, improving both the agility and cost-effectiveness of the enterprise WAN.
- Software-defined networking (SDN) services — Software programmability of the network, so that a single-access connection (typically Ethernet) can be dynamically configured to deliver varying bandwidth and/or multiple services including Ethernet, Internet and MPLS services. These services enable the rapid accommodation of new applications and other changes in traffic patterns.
