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SD-WAN competitive comparison

See how Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN stacks up

Compare Cisco SD-WAN with vendors Fortinet, Versa, Velo, Aruba, and PAN. Take a deep dive into how Cisco transforms WAN, ensures secure connectivity, simplifies IT, and delivers a seamless experience.

Choose the SD-WAN solution that's as smart as your business

When comparing SD-WAN solutions, performance, reliability, security, speed, bandwidth, scalability, and simplicity are critical. Cisco SD-WAN meets all these needs and more.

SD-WAN comparison chart

Most popular
Vendors/Products
Most popular
Cisco
Fortinet
Versa
Velo
Aruba EdgeConnect
PAN
Supports traditional routing and SD-WAN
Available
  • Comprehensive traditional routing services and smooth migration with features relevant to SD-WAN on the same platform
  • Unified image common across traditional routing and SD-WAN
  • Industry-leading traditional routing and SD-WAN within the same platform
Available

SD-WAN available with existing infrastructure

Available
  • SD-WAN available with existing infrastructure
Limited
  • No investment protection for smoother migration in relation to SD-WAN on legacy routing platforms
Limited
  • Supports traditional routing, firewall, and SD-WAN capabilities on the same PAN OS NGFW platform
Available
Purpose-built SD-WAN architecture
Available
  • Dedicated control, data, and management plane components for scalability and performance, offering an SDN-compliant architecture
Not Available
  • Legacy firewall-based architecture
  • Integrated control plane and data plane within each firewall
  • Extensive peer required for setup of routing protocols and related services
Available
  • Dedicated control, data, and management plane components
Available
  • Segregated control, data, and management plane components, VMware edge, and VMware SD-WAN orchestrator
Not Available
  • Legacy combined control and data plane architecture
  • Integrated control plane and data plane within each firewall
  • Extensive peer required for setup of routing protocols and related services
Limited
  • Integrated control and data plane components limit flexibility in PAN OS SD-WAN
  • Integrated control plane and data plane within each firewall
  • Extensive peer required for setup of routing protocols and related services
Advanced routing protocols for brownfield integrations
Available
  • Faster, more reliable connectivity to cloud workloads
  • Supported with dual stack
  • Supports services including performance routing, MPLS, RIP, EIGRP, LISP, OSPF, OSPFv3, PIM, BGP, per VRF routing instances, and VRF route leaking
Available
  • Supports advanced routing protocols, including BGP and OSPF
Available
  • Supports advanced routing protocols, including BGP and OSPF
Limited
  • Supports advanced routing protocols, including BGP and OSPF, but OSPF is only available in a global setting and not per instance
  • No flexibility in creating multi-segment topologies like full mesh, regional mesh, hub and spoke
Limited
  • BGP and OSPF routing protocols are supported with limitation of a maximum of 64 OSPF neighbors and 64 BGP peers supported per appliance
Available
  • Supports advanced routing protocols, including BGP and OSPF
Dynamic path selection
Available
  • Automatically steers critical applications to the best path, making decisions around network problems/metrics like latency, jitter, and loss
Available
  • SD-WAN rules used to control path selection by dynamically sending specific traffic to a specific link
Available
  • Ability to traffic-engineer based on application-aware policy
Available
  • Offers dynamic multi-path optimization (DMPO) steering and application-aware per-packet steering
Limited
  • Policies created and reused from business intent perspective
  • Limitations within microsegmentation and multi-domain policy enforcement
Available
  • Intelligent path selection based on metrics like latency, loss and jitter, and dynamic application steering based on routing attributes, security policy, and application policy
Multi-region fabric
Available

Supports sub-regions in multi-fabric region solution, providing:

  • Ability to share BR
  • Ability to make BR as backup for a sub-region

Helps scale the WAN with hierarchical regions improving performance and reliability

Not Available
  • Sub-region not supported in multi-region fabric
Not Available
  • Sub-region not supported in multi-region fabric
Not Available
  • Sub-region not supported in multi-region fabric
Not Available
  • Sub-region not supported in multi-region fabric
Not Available
  • Sub-region not supported in multi-region fabric
Multiple-IDPs integration
Available
  • Supports multiple identity providers for checking user identities to access digital and cloud-hosted applications
  • Three IDPs supported in case of single tenant; three IdPs supported per tenant in case of multi-tenant
Not Available
  • Integration with multiple IDPs not supported
Not Available
  • Integration with multiple IDPs not supported
Available
  • Supports integration with multiple IDPs
Not Available
  • Integration with multiple IDPs not supported
Available
  • Supports integration with multiple IDPs
SD-WAN and ISE integration
Available
  • Supports the configuration of security posture policies in the SD-WAN fabric, context extension, and periodic reassessment of device posture
Available
  • Supports identity and access management system
Limited
  • Needs third-party integration with ClearPass
Not Available
  • Relies on third-party integration
Available
  • ClearPass integration
Not Available
  • Relies on third-party integration
Complete SD-WAN/SASE integration
Available
  • Automated registration and creation
  • IPsec tunnels to Umbrella Secure Internet Gateway (SIG)
  • Guided workflows on Catalyst SD-WAN Manager
  • Complete integration with Cisco AnyConnect and Cisco Duo
Available
  • Support integrations with FortiSASE and native SIG
  • Workflows for third-party SIG integration
Available
  • Support for complete SASE integration and native security services built into a native SSE service
Limited
  • Offers an integrated single-vendor SASE solution which is not a proven/mature security offering.
Not Available
  • No support for auto-registration or creation of IPsec tunnels for SASE
  • Relies on third-party integrations
Limited
  • Guided Workflows available for SIG integration with Prisma Access; involves multiple steps and support intervention
Remote office, branch office, on-premises security services
Available
  • Catalyst SD-WAN Manager includes enterprise firewall with application-awareness, snort IPS, URL filtering, AMP file analysis, threat grid sandboxing, Cisco Umbrella DNS security, SSL and Talos threat intelligence
Available
  • Integrated NGFW features with IPS/IDS, application control, and AMP capabilities
Available
  • Integrated NGFW features with IPS/IDS, application control, and AMP capabilities
Limited
  • NSX firewall now available with performance impact unknown
Limited
  • Lacks security integrations in the SD-WAN console
  • Only IDS/IPS is natively supported; must rely on third-party integration for the rest of the advanced security functions
Available
  • Integrated NGFW features with IPS/IDS/application control/AMP/URL filtering/DNS Security capabilities in PAN OS NGFW; requires additional licensing
  • Only basic zone-based firewall capabilities in Prisma SD-WAN
Custom silicon
Available
  • x86 architecture with QFP3.0 for hardware-accelerated service, dynamic core allocation, data plane development kit (DPDK), and quick assist technology (QAT) to boost performance and faster encryption processes
Available
  • Custom ASIC available to boost firewall performance and faster encryption processes
Not Available
  • No custom silicon with dynamic core allocation techniques
Not Available
  • No custom silicon with dynamic core allocation techniques
Not Available
  • No custom silicon with dynamic core allocation techniques
Not Available
  • No custom silicon with dynamic core allocation techniques
Segmentation
Available
  • Proven, scalable MPLS/VRF-like end-to-end segmentation
  • Support for multi-segment topologies and services
  • Many MPLS services are supported in autonomous mode, including MPLS and layer 2/layer 3 VPN services
Limited
  • SD-WAN, VPN, and BGP configurations support layer 3 VPN segmentation over a single overlay
  • Complex VDOM configurations
  • No dynamic and flexible multi-segment topologies creation
Available
  • Proven, scalable MPLS/VRF-like segmentation from layer 2 to layer 7
Limited
  • VRF-based segmentation supported with no dynamic and flexible multi-segment topologies creation
Limited
  • VRF-style segmentation with routing limitations in OSPF and peer priority
Limited
  • Scalable VRF-like segmentation by creating zones but does not offer flexible multi-segment topologies creation
Encrypted traffic analysis
Available
  • Detects malware by matching encrypted SHA patterns without decryption
Available
  • Provides TLS/SSL traffic encryption
Available
  • Provides TLS/SSL traffic encryption
Not Available
  • Cannot detect encrypted malware
Not Available
  • Cannot detect encrypted malware
Available
  • PAN OS SD-WAN supports ETA by decrypting, inspecting, and controlling inbound and outbound SSL and SSH connections
  • No support for ETA in Prisma SD-WAN
IPv6 support for ZBFW
Available
  • Ability to send IPv6 encapsulated flows and apply ZBFW rules based on IPv6 address as source or destination filters
Not Available
  • IPv6 not supported for ZBFW
Not Available
  • IPv6 not supported for ZBFW
Not Available
  • IPv6 not supported for ZBFW
Not Available
  • IPv6 not supported for ZBFW
Not Available
  • IPv6 not supported for ZBFW
Threat intelligence
Available
  • Globally recognized threat intelligence (TALOS)
  • Ability to deploy incident response services
Available
  • Provides threat intelligence capabilities
Available
  • Provides threat intelligence and monitoring
Not Available
  • No threat intelligence
Not Available
  • No threat intelligence
Available
  • PAN OS SD-WAN supports threat intelligence
  • No support for threat intelligence in Prisma SD-WAN
Security Service Edge
Available
  • Zscaler, Palo Alto Networks, Netskope, Cloudflare, Skyhigh
Available
  • Zscaler, Netskope, and Cloudflare
Limited
  • IPSEC and GRE tunnels
Available
  • Zscaler, Netskope, and Cloudflare
Available
  • Zscaler, Netskope, and Atmos
Limited
  • Not available in PAN OS SD-WAN
  • Basic integration through cloudblades with Zscaler and Netskope in Prisma SD-WAN
Security insights
Available
  • Better visibility and control through security insights
  • Provides heat maps, security events logging, and a security-centric dashboard
Available
  • Provides security insights with event logging on a security-centric dashboard
Available
  • Dashboard display for applications analytics, URL filtering, stateful firewall, NGFW firewall, and unified threat analytics
Limited
  • Basic monitoring insights with no security monitoring dashboard
Limited
  • Limited security insights with no security monitoring dashboard
Available
  • Provides security insights with event logging in Strata Cloud Manager
SaaS connectivity
Available
  • Transport independence providing an intelligent path selection to leading SaaS applications based on performance metrics and best path selection
Limited
  • Basic SaaS optimization with manual SLA creation for every application
Limited
  • Basic SaaS optimization with manual SLA creation for every application
Limited
  • SaaS optimization based on manual application rule creation through DIA broadband paths to colocations
Available
  • Transport independence providing intelligent path selection to leading SaaS applications based on performance metrics and best path selection
Available
  • SaaS optimization with intelligent path selection based on metrics and dynamic application steering
Colocation-cloud gateways
Available
  • Simplified network management with traffic aggregation through colocation hubs to cloud workloads
  • Guided workflows for automated deployment
Limited
  • Limited colocated aggregation
Limited
  • Limited colocated aggregation
Limited
  • Limited colocated aggregation
Limited
  • Limited colocated aggregation
Limited
  • Limited colocated aggregation
Multicloud connectivity
Available
  • Guided workflows for automated deployment across various cloud service providers (CSPs), such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
Limited
  • Limited workflows for multicloud connectivity
Limited
  • Manual deployment across various CSPs
Limited
  • Partnership with Microsoft Azure Virtual WAN
Limited
  • Manual deployment across various CSPs
Limited
  • Manual deployment across various CSPs
Multiple VHUBs per Azure region
Available
  • Cloud OnRamp deployment support of cloud gateways into multiple virtual hubs within the same region
  • Cloud gateways (C8000v) can advertise VNETs connected to the VHUBs
  • Traffic directed using centralized policies
  • Supports up to eight VHUBs per region
Not Available
  • Not supported
Not Available
  • Not supported
Not Available
  • Not supported
Not Available
  • Not supported
Not Available
  • Not supported
Google Service Directory integration
Available
  • Detection and recognition of custom cloud applications​
  • Seamless mapping of service directory traffic profile to SD-WAN policy manager​
  • Unified visibility for all services across all environments
  • Easy creation of traffic profiles in service directory​
Not Available
  • Not supported
Not Available
  • Not supported
Not Available
  • Not supported
Not Available
  • Not supported
Not Available
  • Not supported
Storage
Available
  • Provides IoT/OT automation with integrated branch storage and compute
  • Supported by Cisco Catalyst 8200 Series Edge Platform
Not Available
  • No edge VNF hosting capabilities
Available
  • VNFs available on Versa SD-WAN edge appliances
Available
  • VNFs available on VMware SD-WAN edge appliances
Not Available
  • No edge VNF hosting capabilities
Not Available
  • No edge VNF hosting capabilities
Active-active dual router SD-WAN topology
Available
  • Capability to horizontally scale with easy-to-use features
Not Available
  • Additional WAN switch required
Available
  • Supports active-active connections
Not Available
  • Does not support active-active connections
Available
  • Allows for active-active networking
Limited
  • Only active-passive available on PAN OS SD-WAN and Prisma SD-WAN
Voice integration
Available
  • Rich voice services available in Cisco Catalyst 8000V Edge Software platforms
  • Cisco is the only SD-WAN vendor to natively integrate analog/digital IP directly into a single CPE
Not Available
  • No native voice integration
Not Available
  • No native voice integration
Not Available
  • No edge application-hosting capabilities
  • VNFs only available on VMware SD-WAN edge appliances
Not Available
  • No native voice integration
Not Available
  • No native voice integration
Advanced LTE solutions
Available
  • Advanced cellular capabilities as a transport link
  • Supported with the deployment flexibility of a built-in module, card, or external gateway on Cisco Catalyst 8000 Series Routers
Limited
  • Cellular capabilities as a transport link
Available
  • Cellular supported
Limited
  • Cellular capabilities as a transport link
Limited
  • No significant cellular support
Available
  • Supports cellular capabilities on PAN OS SD-WAN and Prisma SD-WAN
Industrial SD-WAN
Available
  • Ruggedized SD-WAN options for adverse and industrial environments
Available
  • Ruggedized SD-WAN options
Limited
  • No native ruggedized option available; supported via third-party white box appliance
Not Available
  • No ruggedized SD-WAN options
Not Available
  • No ruggedized SD-WAN options
Available
  • Ruggedized SD-WAN options in PAN OS SD-WAN
Wi-Fi/5G-ready
Available
  • Uses advanced wireless frequency and protocol technology
Available
  • Uses advanced wireless frequency and protocol technology
Available
  • Uses advanced wireless frequency and protocol technology
Available
  • Uses advanced wireless frequency and protocol technology
Not Available
  • No advanced wireless capabilities
Not Available
  • No Wi-Fi capabilities; dependence on third parties to enable features
Data center integration
Available
  • Cross-domain integrations and common QoS policies between Cisco ACI and SD-WAN
  • Extend TrustSec security group tags (SGTs)/metadata from WAN to campus to data center
Not Available
  • No data center integration
Not Available
  • No data center integration
Available
  • Unifies data center policies with edge needs
Not Available
  • No data center integration
Not Available
  • No cross-domain integration
End-to-end observability
Available
  • Predictive path recommendations (PPR) powered by ThousandEyes WAN Insights
Available
  • FortiMonitor used for providing end-to-end visibility
Not Available
  • No support
Limited
  • Supported with Edge Network Intelligence
Not Available
  • No support
Limited
  • No support for ADEM in PAN OS SD-WAN
Analytics and visibility
Available
  • Advanced visibility and analytics into network and app performance
  • Interactive global topology to monitor the WAN
  • Alarm correlation for faster root-cause analysis
  • Guided workflows for tasks such as site configurations, software upgrades, etc.
Limited
  • Visibility and analytics into network and app performance
Limited
  • Visibility and analytics into network and app performance
Limited
  • Basic visibility and analytics into network and app performance
Limited
  • Basic SD-WAN visibility with Aruba Unity Orchestrator
Limited
  • Basic SD-WAN visibility into network and app performance in Panorama-managed PAN OS SD-WAN
  • Predictive analytics in Prisma SD-WAN for site and link capacity prediction only; requires add-on license

Updated in March 2024 based on public information.

Americas Headquarters

Cisco Systems, Inc.

San Jose, CA

Asia Pacific Headquarters

Cisco Systems (USA) Pte. Ltd.

Singapore

Europe Headquarters

Cisco Systems International BV Amsterdam,

The Netherlands

Netherlands


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