CATO Networks

JUNE 19, 2018

WAN optimization has been with us for a long time. Born alongside the expensive MPLS data service, WAN optimization appliances allowed organizations to squeeze more bandwidth out of thin pipes through compression and deduplication, as well as prioritizing traffic of loss-sensitive applications such as remote desktops.

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CATO Networks

MARCH 1, 2017

While SD-WANs are a valuable first step towards evolving the wide area network , they only address a small part of the dissolved enterprise perimeter challenge. Impact of the Dissolved Perimeter The traffic patterns driving SD-WAN adoption change how companies protect their users and data.

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CATO Networks

APRIL 25, 2018

SD-WAN is one of the hottest technologies in the networking space. Being hot, though, doesn’t mean that SD-WAN has a solid business case to support it. Historically, MPLS was the default WAN choice to maximize uptime and ensure predictable network behavior. How can IT executives justify the investment in this technology?

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CATO Networks

AUGUST 7, 2018

Work is done in more places and the Internet has become central to how business is conducted. The answer Software-Defined Wide Area Networks (SD-WANs). SD-WAN brings unparalleled agility and cost savings to networking. SD-WAN creates an overlay across the wide area network also bringing incredible efficiency and agility gains.

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CATO Networks

FEBRUARY 26, 2017

We, at Cato Networks, are excited to sponsor the 2017 Guide to WAN Architecture & Design. The wide area network (WAN) is a critical and fundamental resource for any business. As we will discuss in this guide, the WAN is evolving, so the architecture must evolve, as well.

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CATO Networks

MAY 14, 2018

SD-WAN is all the rage in enterprise networking these days. IT teams are excited about the opportunities SD-WAN creates to transform their networks. Below are some of the use cases that can launch your SD-WAN project. Improved WAN resiliency, availability and capacity The network is the core of our digital business.

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CATO Networks

APRIL 12, 2018

The widespread adoption of Software-Defined Wide-Area-Network ( SD-WAN ) in recent years has caused many to wonder whether WAN optimization is still necessary. More specifically, t he rise of WAN optimization began around 2004 and addressed the limitations of the limited capacity of costly MPLS and leased line connections.

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CATO Networks

AUGUST 22, 2023

The corporate WAN connects an organizations distributed branch locations, data center, cloud-based infrastructure, and remote workers. The WAN needs to offer high-performance and reliable network connectivity to ensure all users and applications can communicate effectively.

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CATO Networks

JULY 24, 2023

SASE = SD-WAN + SSE. It identifies two elements that underpin SASE , namely the network access technology ( SD-WAN ) and secure internet access ( Security Service Edge (SSE) ). The East-West WAN traffic visibility gap : SASE converges two separate disciplines: the Wide Area Network and Network Security. Here is why.

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CATO Networks

DECEMBER 29, 2024

The WAN landscape is evolving at a rapid pace, driven by demands of cloud, mobility, and globalization. However, the rise of SaaS applications, hybrid work, and global operations has created new challenges for MPLS-based networks, as their once-reliable architecture now fails to meet the demands of modern, cloud-centric environments.

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CATO Networks

FEBRUARY 27, 2017

Software-Defined Wide Area Networks (SD-WANs) promised to address the high costs, rigidity and limitations of private MPLS services. Like so many technologies, though, there are the promises of SD-WANs and then there are the realities of SD-WANs. Internet performance has improved significantly over the years, no doubt.

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CATO Networks

MARCH 7, 2019

Companies evaluating which SD-WAN approach is best for them will have to decide between deploying an Over the Top (OTT) SD-WAN or having their SD-WAN bundled with the underlying network. The decision certainly has a big impact on SD-WANs complexity, performance, and affordability. Is Cato an OTT SD-WAN?

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CATO Networks

JANUARY 22, 2017

Companies should not be shortsighted when upgrading their WANs. Its not just about cutting the cost of their existing MPLS-based WANs. Well look at those challenges this week when long-time industry veteran and expert, Dr. Jim Metzler, joins us on our webinar Critical Capabilities for a Successful WAN Transformation.

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CATO Networks

SEPTEMBER 18, 2019

This stat struck a chord with me as it helps to quantify a common problem the Cato team works with customers to solve: reducing WAN latency. However, keeping WAN latency in check while using traditional solutions, like MPLS or VPN, with cloud services has become impractical. Well answer that here.

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CATO Networks

APRIL 30, 2018

As our networks have evolved so to have the challenges of optimizing application performance. Our new eBook, Cato Networks Optimized WAN and Cloud Connectivity , analyzes those challenges and explains Catos unique approach to overcoming the performance limitations in todays cloud- and mobile-centric organizations.

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CATO Networks

SEPTEMBER 27, 2017

The market for SD-WAN has been driven in part by its ability to reduce bandwidth costs and improve the performance of cloud access. Traditionally, Wide Area Networks (WANs) and network security were loosely coupled entities. This amicable live-and-let-live separation falls apart with todays SD-WAN.

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CATO Networks

JULY 26, 2022

Happy To Announce the Birth of a New Technology – SD-WAN It wasnt that long ago that we oohed and ahhed over the brand-new technology called SD-WAN. But just as were getting used to the toddling SD-WAN, along came yet another even more exciting newborn, the Secure Access Service Edge (SASE). Thats so yesteryear or is it?

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CATO Networks

MAY 4, 2020

However, when I discuss latency reduction and WAN acceleration with network managers and CIOs, one of the key takeaways is that getting network optimization right has changed significantly over the last decade. So, what exactly are WAN accelerators and what is WAN acceleration in 2020? Here, well answer those questions.

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CATO Networks

MARCH 17, 2022

WAN transformation with SD-WAN and SASE is a strategic project for many organizations. This happens in many developing nations, where the cost of high-quality internet is similar to the cost of MPLS, so migration from MPLS to Internet-based last mile doesnt create significant cost savings. The hub and spokes are changing.

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Kentik

JUNE 14, 2023

But this type of encounter in space, this new application of battle strategy borne from intelligence without experience, meant Khan was handicapped from the start. Enterprise WAN in 2023 Enterprise networking in 2023 is very much the same. I recently had the privilege of attending the WAN and AWS Summits in London.

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CATO Networks

MAY 16, 2018

SD-WAN adoption is seeing rapid growth as companies look to streamline their WAN infrastructure and move toward more cloud-based applications. Streamlining the network security infrastructure and providing secure Internet access from any location were the top 2 reasons for moving to SD-WAN in 2018.

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CATO Networks

JANUARY 31, 2018

Regular readers of this blog know all too well what enterprises of all sizes are recognizing: the inefficiencies of legacy Wide Area Networks (WANs) making it difficult for many IT leaders to meet the needs of todays business. Real-time applications, such as video and voice, continue to grow. The post 2018: Is Your WAN Ready?

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CATO Networks

SEPTEMBER 20, 2022

What is the ROI on SD-WAN projects? Most enterprises look at SD-WAN as an MPLS alternative , hoping to reduc e their MPLS connectivity costs. But the actual SD-WAN ROI is a mix of hard and soft savi n gs from increasing overall network capacity and availability to a reduc ed operational load of managing and securing the network.

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CATO Networks

OCTOBER 2, 2017

WAN Transformation: SD-WAN Cost and ROI Analysis Its no secret that traditional wide area networks (WANs) have to change. Much has been made about their high costs, long-time to deploy, and poor fit for running Internet and cloud traffic. The reality is very different. All of which increases last-mile costs.

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CATO Networks

OCTOBER 10, 2018

Despite the relatively high costs, MPLS can deliver SLA-backed performance required for todays applications. SD-WAN is a flexible solution that integrates low-cost Internet transports into a virtual WAN connection. SD-WAN is a flexible solution that integrates low-cost Internet transports into a virtual WAN connection.

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CATO Networks

FEBRUARY 13, 2017

Last month, analyst Jim Metzler and I joined together on a webinar to discuss the current state of the WAN. Jim shared research from his recent study into the current drivers and inhibitors for WAN transformation and the deployment of SD-WAN. Traditional WANs were never designed to handle the dissolving perimeter.

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CATO Networks

MARCH 9, 2022

SD-WAN networks provide multiple benefits to organizations, especially when compared to MPLS. SD-WAN improves cloud application performance, reduces WAN costs and increases business agility. This blog post lists the top considerations for enterprises that are evaluating and deploying SD-WAN.

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CATO Networks

JULY 31, 2023

SD-WAN has enabled new technology opportunities for businesses. But not all organizations have adopted SD-WAN in the same manner or are having the same SD-WAN experience. As the market gravitates away from SD-WAN towards SASE , research and consulting firm EMA analyzed how businesses are managing this transition to SASE.

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CATO Networks

SEPTEMBER 5, 2018

For a while now, there have been two basic SD-WAN solutions offering a choice between DIY (appliance-based) or fully managed (service-based) solutions. Being at opposite ends of the spectrum, customers are increasingly preferring an SD-WAN solution that encompasses the advantages of both solutions.

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CATO Networks

JUNE 17, 2018

Although MPLS circuits are considerably more expensive than general Internet circuits, businesses have relied on MPLS networks for their dependability. Software-defined wide area networking (SD-WAN) is making organizations rethink their WAN infrastructure. Internet backup may be used but that adds complexity to the network.

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CATO Networks

FEBRUARY 21, 2019

One of the key requirements of Unified Communications-as-a-Service (UCaaS) is the ability to connect to service providers via the Internet. As I discussed in my previous blog , few companies, especially global organizations, have Internet access at every branch. Another option is the use of WAN-Cloud exchanges.

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CATO Networks

OCTOBER 22, 2018

Companies that are accustomed to the reliability and affordability of high-performance connectivity in North America and Europe might be challenged by WAN issues as they venture into less developed regions. Internet infrastructure is often less developed, which can lead to problems such as packet loss over the last mile.

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CATO Networks

MARCH 27, 2019

UCaaS offerings move unified communications capabilities integrated calling, conferencing, and messaging applications normally delivered from on-premises servers, into the cloud. Our research also shows, though,that many enterprises experience an increase in WAN costs to support connectivity to the cloud.

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Akins IT

NOVEMBER 17, 2020

Luckily, SD-WAN can be configured to prioritize business-critical traffic and real-time services like Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and then effectively steer it over the most efficient route. Performance MPLS was the top dog in enterprise WAN before cloud-computing and mobile smart devices exploded in popularity.

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CATO Networks

JUNE 5, 2018

IT organizations are becoming increasingly aware of the benefits of software-defined wide area networking (SD-WAN). According to a July 2017 report from market-research firm IDC , SD-WAN adoption is seeing remarkable growth as companies look to streamline their WAN infrastructure and move toward more cloud-based applications.

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CATO Networks

SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

The WAN is evolving after years of stagnation, and SD-WAN is all the rage. What is the promise driving SD-WAN? In short, SD-WAN aims to remove the constraints of legacy connectivity technologies, namely MPLS and the unmanaged public Internet , ushering a new age of flexible, resilient and secure networks.

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CATO Networks

MARCH 29, 2018

Weve long touted the benefits of a software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN) so its encouraging to see that enterprises are increasingly recognizing its value. IDC recently surveyed mid-market enterprises and found they are rapidly embracing SD-WAN infrastructure and services.

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