Cloud | FatPipe Networks Blog

01 Mar

Empowering Cloud Security: Explore FatPipe SD-WAN’s ‘Bring Your Own Firewall’ Advantage

In today’s evolving landscape of digital transformation, the path to adopting Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) varies widely depending on the organization, reflecting the unique circumstances and objectives of each entity embarking on this transformative journey. At FatPipe, we recognize the unique nature of every SASE transition. We understand that each organization starts this journey from a different starting point, which highlights the importance of a flexible approach that delivers tangible benefits at every step.

Flexibility isn’t just about incremental wins; it’s about empowering organizations to adapt and evolve on their terms. FatPipe follows a flexible approach that not only acknowledges but embraces the diverse needs and circumstances of our customers. At FatPipe, we have innovated our SD-WAN solutions with a third-party Bring Your Own Firewall (BYOF) model to provide organizations with unparalleled flexibility and choice in their security infrastructure. This approach allows organizations to leverage their preferred firewall technology within FatPipe’s SASE framework, creating a cohesive and robust security environment tailored to their specific needs.

Benefits of FatPipe SD-WAN Bring your own Line and Bring Your Own Firewall Integration

The integration between FatPipe SD-WAN and third-party firewalls is developed to facilitate a smooth and efficient flow of traffic within the SASE architecture. By seamlessly integrating these elements, organizations can ensure that their network traffic is routed through their chosen firewall for inspection and enforcement of security policies. This integration streamlines security operations and ensures consistent protection across the entire network infrastructure.
Within the SASE framework, FatPipe’s SD-WAN acts as the foundation for connectivity, providing feature of “Bring your own line” which allows seamless aggregated connectivity across heterogeneous media types e.g., Wireless, Wireline, MPLS, Internet, 4G/5G etc. The third-party firewall, brought in by the organization under the BYOF model, serves as an additional layer of defense, augmenting the security capabilities of the SD-WAN solution. Together, these components work in tandem to safeguard against a wide spectrum of threats and vulnerabilities, ensuring comprehensive protection for the organization’s digital assets.
This integrated approach not only enhances security but also provides higher Network Uptimes with seamless integration of heterogeneous lines with simple administration for IT teams. By consolidating networking and security functions within a unified platform, organizations can reduce complexity, streamline operations, and improve overall efficiency. Moreover, the flexibility offered by the BYOF and BYOL model enables organizations to leverage their existing investments in security infrastructure, maximizing ROI while benefiting from the advanced capabilities of FatPipe’s SASE-enabled SD-WAN solution.

23 Jan

Mastering the Multi-Cloud Connectivity Maze with the Right SD-WAN Partner

In today’s dynamic business landscape, enterprises are navigating an intricate maze of multi-cloud environments, seeking the perfect synergy between performance, security, and flexibility. As the digital realm evolves, the importance of a robust and strategic SD-WAN solution becomes paramount. SD-WAN simplifies and streamlines the complexities of multi-cloud connectivity, ensuring reliable, secure and efficient network performance across a spectrum of cloud platforms. One major point which cannot be ignored while selection of SD-WAN provider is the seamless integration with SASE offerings preferably from the same SD-WAN provider.

FatPipe SD-WAN for Multi-Cloud Reliable Connectivity

According to a recent annual outage analysis, cloud, Software as a Service, and digital services attributed to 80% of public outages in 2023, increasing from 66% in 2016. Reliability and quality of experience is essential as far as cloud is concerned. Traditional networks often backhaul traffic from remote locations to a centralized data center before accessing cloud services. SD-WAN allows direct access to cloud applications and services, reducing latency and improving the user experience. This direct access enhances reliability by minimizing the dependency on a single centralized point.

FatPipe SD-WAN enables customers who utilize Azure or AWS applications to gain a better experience by overcoming the need to reconnect frequently when the sessions break, which is possible through patented FatPipe SD-WAN technology. This becomes a concern of paramount importance for customers and offices where large groups need to use cloud-hosted applications wherein a single line connection to AWS or Azure is not sufficient to address line drop issues.

FatPipe SD-WAN’s Solutions for Multi-Cloud Connectivity Challenges

Faster TCP Connection Setup Time

FatPipe SD-WAN significantly reduces the TCP connection set-up time by effectively utilizing cross-border cloud communications. This improvement ensured quicker and more efficient establishment of connections. The result is a streamlined and accelerated network experience, mitigating delays and enhancing the efficiency of data transmission across diverse geographic locations within a multi-cloud environment.

Dynamic Load Balancing for Optimal Resource Utilization

FatPipe SD-WAN solution intelligently assesses real-time conditions, directing traffic along the most efficient routes. This dynamic load balancing not only enhances network performance but also contributes to the seamless integration of multiple cloud environments. By ensuring optimal resource allocation, FatPipe SD-WAN solution fosters an agile and responsive multi-cloud connectivity framework, overcoming challenges associated with uneven workloads and diverse cloud architectures.

Enhanced Security with End-to-End Encryption

As data traverses diverse cloud environments, FatPipe SD-WAN employs robust encryption protocols to safeguard information from potential threats and unauthorized access. This end-to-end encryption makes sure that sensitive data remains secure throughout its journey across multiple cloud platforms, addressing the inherent security challenges associated with the diverse architectures of various cloud providers.

Seamless Integration of FatPipe SD-WAN with SASE offerings

FatPipe provides myriad of SASE offerings which seamlessly integrate with our SD-WAN products providing enhanced end user experience. Customers can procure SD-WAN and SASE licenses simultaneously, or time lapse in procurement of SD-WAN and SASE is also possible.

Legacy SD-WAN solutions lack the efficiency to simplify and automate branch-to-cloud connections, hindering the seamless integration needed for an efficient cloud journey. FatPipe SD-WAN emerges as a pivotal solution, addressing the shortcomings of traditional WAN architectures and legacy SD-WAN offerings. It supports innovative approaches including tunnel-less connectivity that involves establishing direct, site-to-site connections without the need for traditional VPN tunnels and without the need for specialized routing protocols. FatPipe SD-WAN’s application-defined focus, autonomous capabilities, and cloud-enabled approach with SASE offerings positions it as a comprehensive solution for organizations seeking a seamless and secure transition to a cloud-centric infrastructure.

01 Feb

WAN Edge and SD-WAN, what you need to know

There are plenty of articles and information on the WAN Edge. Perhaps the question to ask is, so what? How does this affect today’s multi-line hybrid WAN? With research suggesting there will be 50 billion devices attached to the Internet in the next 3 to 5 years, how does the corporate network manage access to their applications and information stored, both on premise, in the cloud and from WAN edge devices?

Today’s corporate WAN’s are complex, and the top issues faced by IT management are still the security of data flowing across the network, managing access, the co-mingling of on premise and cloud-based applications, and reliable, high speed connectivity. Adding new WAN EDGE devices is simply adding new access and data flow challenges that require careful management. But who has extra IT staff for this? They key to success rests with the management of this data traffic.

WAN of Things

The WAN ‘edge’ is evolving into the new WAN of things. Remember IoT? WANoT could be how data is to be served to users, no matter where they are, and no matter what device they use. The question then changes to how to ensure secure, reliable access to applications and information no matter what the access route.

Data can be anywhere these days, applications too. It is the secure, reliable access to this data, the applications and information needed to be successful in today’s digital society.

WAN Edge devices have computational power

WAN Edge devices have evolved to where they now have computing power, meaning a major portion of data analysis and computational functions are being handled “at the edge”. For example, routers are WAN edge devices, as are switches, but so are weather sensors and satellite tracking devices in shipping. The proliferation of these “smart” devices with computational power can transform the business WAN, especially if the data from these devices becomes mission critical. Instead of a device sending data only, it is now able to compute and send results of that computational analysis back to the WAN. This data is then sent to a web property or reporting tool. The downside of all of this computational activity that it adds more traffic to the network.

Control and management of data flow is not new, but is certainly becoming more critical, especially with more and more devices attaching to networks. WAN traffic management is the key and IT administrators are seeking solutions that automate the management of this traffic.

So, what about “SD-WAN”? Surely this was the answer to the IT administrators desire for WAN traffic control and management? Well, it seems that since the advent of SD-WAN, many businesses have been trying to implement a solution that supposedly promises nirvana. But this has had mixed results at best. The problem is that SD-WAN means different things to different people. Some SD-WAN solutions are complex, some are off premise or cloud based, and some cannot deliver on the promise of true WAN traffic management.

What is True WAN Traffic Management?

Recent research with customers across the globe suggests that “true” WAN traffic management requires sophisticated software that can automatically manage any traffic type, on any type of link. Today , businesses want to customize their data traffic that results in secure, highly reliable data flow across the WAN, with limited, if any, administration oversight. This software must have the ability to customize HOW to direct this WAN traffic, especially if it has come from a WAN Edge device, using tools that can prioritize link usage with options to customize the flow. Requested options are, interface type, application signature, protocol, IP address or destination, port source or destination or a combination thereof. True traffic management must also have the ability to set thresholds, based on almost any criteria, allowing for complete customization of how this traffic is directed across the circuits.

Identification of WAN Edge devices then becomes much easier, and the traffic flowing to and from them, customized and optimized. Using this true traffic management, it does not matter what type of device it is, where it is located, or how it is connecting to the network. Providing seamless, secure, and reliable access is paramount as is ease of installation and management.

FatPipe Networks has been developing and providing WAN traffic solutions for over 20 years. With 13 seminal patents, over 182 technical claims, FatPipe is a leader in the industry for SD-WAN, WAN Edge solutions and true WAN traffic management.

FatPipe is continuously innovating and developing to meet customer demand. FatPipe’s Software-Defined WAN (SD-WAN) and SDN traffic management solutions lead the industry with a security module that is FIPS 140-2 certified. With a rich, complete suite of software to customize application traffic on premise or in the cloud, as well as for remote users and offices, FatPipe offers true WAN traffic management. Cloud approved, FatPipe also supports any link type including Fiber, Copper, Wireless (3G:4G:5G LTE), and satellite.

Recently, FatPipe received a rating of 4.9 out of 5 by Gartner, and 100% of customers reviewed stated they would recommend FatPipe. The nearest competitor had 4.8 and 86% respectively.

If you are adding WAN edge devices, or are wanting to manage WAN traffic securely and cost effectively, you have to consider FatPipe Networks solutions.

Contact FatPipe today – 801-683-5656 or visit www.fatpipeinc.com

17 Jan

Avaya and FatPipe Partner to improve customer mobile experience

Toll Free is still popular, but using a mobile provides new challenges

Toll-free numbers aren’t going away any time soon. Companies still use them to connect customers to their contact centers. What’s different from a few years ago is that most contact center calls now come from mobile devices. And while companies are confident that they’re providing a good mobile experience, their customers don’t often feel the same.

One problem contact centers face is having to pay for each call going through a toll-free line, whether it originates from a smartphone or a landline. This significantly adds to a company’s operating expenses. The Avaya Mobile Experience (AME), launched in 2018, addresses this problem by lowering toll-free and agent costs. The cloud-based service can send incoming calls directly to a contact center without passing it to a fixed network.

AME identifies when a call is coming from a mobile phone, transfers contextual information on the caller to a contact center, and deflects calls to the mobile web for a richer customer service experience. If a caller chooses that option, the toll-free call ends and they receive a link for personalized access to a website. Customers can then use self-service tools like chatbots or a combination of voice, video, and co-browsing.

SD-WAN provides better visibility

With the proliferation of smartphones, consumers have come to expect a seamless digital experience. When dialing a toll-free number, they want agents to know who they are and have additional context that could speed up the call. AME was designed with those needs in mind. It collects customer information to assist contact center agents, so they can handle a call more efficiently if a customer prefers to interact via voice.

Greater multichannel engagement equips companies with valuable insight about customer behavior. But to pull it off, companies need a reliable network that prioritizes voice over IP (VoIP), video, and other real-time traffic without dropping sessions. By deploying a software-defined WAN (SD-WAN), companies can have better visibility into their network. An SD-WAN performs over any type of transport—including MPLS, broadband, cellular, and satellite—and selects an optimal path for each data packet.

A SD-WAN infrastructure needs reliable internet connectivity with sufficient bandwidth. SD-WANs provide operational flexibility, but also create complexities that stem from implementing WAN load balancing for internal, internet-facing, and mobile workloads. Thus, they require monitoring and tuning internet throughput for performance. A SD-WAN infrastructure must also include secure access to mobile devices as traffic is transported outside the firewall.

FatPipe and Avaya Mobile Experience (AME) helps improve overall customer experience

FatPipe, a provider of intra-corporate WAN solutions, has developed a secure multi-path VPN (MPVPN) to be implemented for hybrid WAN. It supports bidirectional quality of service (QoS), which monitors the sending and receiving of calls/sessions. An advanced routing architecture that utilizes MPVPN can correct up to 15 percent packet loss on diverse circuits simultaneously, while maintaining toll-quality calls and seamless failover.

Contact centers with mobile customers looking to migrate away from high cost MPLS circuits, now have the option of deploying FatPipe’s dual-path SD-WAN for AME. FatPipe and Avaya came up with a combined solution that equips contact centers with a hybrid WAN mobile infrastructure, which can reduce toll call expenses by up 40 percent annually, per FatPipe.

Call center response is vastly improved

The vendors formed a global alliance to help contact centers achieve those cost savings through joint product verification, pre-integration, and certified solutions. Beyond cost savings, the vendors see companies bridging an existing technology gap.

Companies that implement FatPipe’s SD-WAN with AME can control, monitor, and maintain multiple WAN connections, eliminating the need for Internet Service Provider (ISP) management. As a result, smartphone users get more self-service options on a hybrid network that’s flexible and can accommodate new cloud-based applications.

Contact FatPipe Networks at 801-683-5656 x 1224 for more information. www.fatpipeinc.com.

25 Nov

Cloud connectivity more important now than ever

Cloud connectivity more important now than ever.

The software-defined wide-area-networking (SD-WAN) ecosystem is expanding into multiple clouds as the largest public cloud providers race to provide connectivity and integrations with SD-WAN technology. This is a win for everybody.

Futuriom SD-WAN Survey 2019

With virtual networking connection program such as Microsoft Azure Virtual WAN and Amazon’s Direct Connect, application programming interfaces (APIs) make it easier for the SD-WAN technology providers to tie into the public cloud at nearby points-of-presence (PoPs), speeding up access to the public clouds.

Imagine a Web of virtualized services being connected across the globe at key interconnection points, with the capability to exchange key information about the performance standards for applications. This is one of the big drivers of SD-WAN, which enables enterprises to speed up performance and access to business applications in the cloud.

Microsoft has been the leader here, describing its Azure Virtual WAN as a way to provide optimized WAN branch connectivity to Azure, its cloud services. The access points are placed in regional hubs at Internet exchange points in carrier hotels or data centers. This can enable services such as site-to-site virtual private networking (VPN), point-to-site VPN (point-to-site), and ExpressRoute. In addition, direct connections into Azure virtual WAN can enable high-performance network connectivity for cloud applications such as Office 365. Microsoft has architected its entire network to bring apps closer to the service edge.

FatPipe Networks, like other SD-WAN vendors, is quickly adopting integrations with the major cloud providers to leverage these services. Earlier this year, FatPipe announced the availability of FatPipe SD-WAN for Azure, which provides SD-WAN customers direct connections into the Microsoft Azure cloud.

By hosting a virtual endpoint, or gateway in Azure, the FatPipe SD-WAN service can improve connection and customer experience for access to Azure applications and cloud-hosted business applications such as Microsoft Office 365. FatPipe says the direct cloud access will speed up connections and avoid problems such as session drops. FatPipe does this by hosting a specific FatPipe virtual machine on the Azure platform. FatPipe SD-WAN for Azure is built around FatPipe’s MPSec technology, which provides additional WAN transmission security versus standard encryption. The improved security is targeted first at small to medium businesses where FatPipe is primarily focused, then multinational corporations, and government agencies that want to use cloud applications but are concerned about security and compromised ISPs.

But such edge connectivity does not stop at the major clouds. It will also be used to optimize performance of specific business cloud applications, such as Unified communications as a service (UCaaS).

For example, FatPipe has announced a partnership with RingCentral to deliver higher quality VoIP calls. Other SD-WAN vendors are looking to forge relationship with VOIP and UCaaS services. Connecting directly to the cloud PoP for a specific VOIP services can help reduce jitter and latency.

FatPipe’s backing a strong trend of the broader SD-WAN ecosystem, in which software and service vendors partner with Microsoft and other cloud providers to provide integrated services for WAN connectivity to cloud apps.

Now, imagine this theme spreading, as it will – to Amazon, Google, and other major cloud provider. The expansion of edge-optimized cloud connectivity extends the edge networking capabilities among partners, building a robust ecosystem.

Futuriom research indicates that the top three reasons that enterprises are adopting SD-WAN including improving security, management, and support for edge cloud services.

Providing inter-connectivity with the major cloud providers has the potential to hit on all three of these, as managers can now provision and deploy secure virtual networks across clouds. This will help them manage the user experience in the increasingly cloudified world.