Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Reviews

Name: Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN
Brand: Cisco
Rating: 4.0 (90 reviews)

Vendor: Cisco

4.0 out of 5

90 reviews
92% willing to recommend

1,056 followers

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What is Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN?

Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN serves to connect remote offices, reduce MPLS costs, and facilitate cloud and internet access while providing secure connectivity and centralized management for hybrid networks.

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Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN is the #2 ranked solution in SD-WAN tools, #2 ranked solution in top WAN Edge solutions, and #5 ranked solution in top Network Management Applications. PeerSpot users give Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN an average rating of 8.0 out of 10. Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN is most commonly compared to Fortinet FortiGate: Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN vs Fortinet FortiGate. Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN is popular among the midsize enterprise segment, accounting for 49% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a educational organization, accounting for 43% of all views.

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Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN

November 2024

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Featured reviews

MOHAMEDELSHERIF

Senior Technical Consultant at International Turnkey Systems - ITS

Our company uses the solution to provide secure connections for customers. We have a hybrid data center model that bridges the gap between cloud and on-premises for customers. It is a mixed design to consolidate resources. We also replace expensive NBLS lines with SDN and the internet to provide…

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Suraj Krishna

IT Consultant at Orange

We rate customers' sites in four categories, platinum, gold, silver, and bronze. Depending on the type of site, such as how many connections or internet circuits, we gather information about the site and how it is operating and place them into one of the four categories. At this stage, we will…

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Samuel Romero

Field data engineer at a energy/utilities company with 501-1,000 employees

Cisco products are rated to handle the heat and are very rugged, making them a good corporate standard. They are slightly more expensive than some other products but are still an affordable corporate-grade solution. We have had some issues with the ISO versions of the SD-WAN, but the FlexVPN solution has since resolved them. Cisco SD-WAN is a good, solid product, but requires a certain skill set to use. We cannot simply switch from Peplink to Cisco as the two are different. The upgrade to iOS 11 has fixed any issues we had with the product, and it has been reliable for the past four years.

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Valuable Features

Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN offers centralized management, automated routing, policy configuration, and application-level routing. Users appreciate its ease of deployment, high security, cloud integration, and real-time traffic visibility. Its robust scalability, failover resilience, and ability to balance load efficiently stand out. The platform enhances cost savings, improves security, and is known for high reliability. Advanced features like deep packet inspection, zero-touch provisioning, and on-prem and cloud-based deployments provide significant value.

"SD-WAN provides a range of common benefits, including cost reduction, increased visibility, and scalability"
"If one of your ISPs goes down or has latency in your environment, Cisco SD-WAN will detect the issue and explain why the ISP is down."
"The product is stable."

Room for Improvement

Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN needs pricing to be more competitive. Simplifying the user interface and reducing complexity will enhance usability. Security features and integration with other services should be improved. Expanding hardware options and enhancing mobile and cloud functionality are necessary. Licensing models could be more flexible and simpler. Improving documentation accessibility will benefit users. Reducing the setup complexity and enhancing firewall capabilities will increase its appeal. Enhanced automation and better support are also needed.

"It is expensive."
"The solution should be more user-friendly."
"The tool is very expensive."

ROI

Organizations reported that Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN resulted in an 80% reduction in WAN costs due to eliminating MPLS and P2P circuits. They achieved notable monthly savings and experienced improved transport capabilities. Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN's ROI was positively rated, with some highlighting an 18% return. Users noted flexibility and scalability benefits, longer-term financial advantages over five to seven years, and a positive financial impact since its pre-2018 deployment.

Pricing

Customers consider Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN pricing high compared to competitors like Fortinet and Juniper. While it offers superior QoS and support, the subscription-based model with mandatory licenses and additional costs for on-premises equipment and technical support raises total expenses. Large enterprises favor it for value and reliability despite high costs. Licensing complexity and pricing variability depending on geography and deal negotiations are noted, making it less attractive for SMBs and those seeking more flexible, cost-efficient options.

"We can only buy three-year licenses, not monthly. The cost seems high for us, especially since we're in Vietnam, which isn't a rich country. But we still like the product because it is good."
"The product is not too expensive."
"The initial cost is quite significant, but the investment is worthwhile."

Popular Use Cases

Primary use cases for Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN include remote connectivity, reducing MPLS costs, managing cloud services, enhancing network security, and connecting branch offices to head offices. Companies also use it for data center communications, load balancing, VPN access, and integrating firewall features. Many organizations implement Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN to migrate from traditional networking, achieve cost efficiencies, and manage networks centrally.

Service and Support

Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN customer service and support are highly appreciated. Users describe technical support as excellent, responsive, and knowledgeable. The team is praised for their helpfulness, quick response times, and ease of contact. While some instances of delays and outsourced support have been mentioned, the majority of experiences highlight efficient service and satisfactory issue resolution. Resources like manuals and community support are also found useful.

Deployment

Users had mixed experiences with Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN's initial setup. Some found it straightforward, especially with prior experience or guidance. Others found it complex, noting that deployment time varied by organization size and requirements. Smaller setups were generally easier, while larger deployments faced challenges with configuration and stability. Notably, understanding Cisco's products and commands played a crucial role in easing the initial setup process.

Scalability

Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN scales effectively from small to large enterprises, with a strong emphasis on reliability. Many users indicate ease of expansion, adaptability across various industries, and the ability to handle thousands of connections. Technical challenges are noted but considered manageable with proper setup. Licensing and integration with other Cisco products are highlighted as factors in scalability. Users across mid-sized organizations to large enterprises like banks and educational institutions benefit from its scalability.

Stability

Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN is mostly praised for its stability, reliability, and minimal issues with crashes or glitches. A majority find it very stable, aided by regular updates. However, some encounter occasional bugs, especially with complex setups or during transitions. Users report it performs consistently well under proper management and standard usage, while minor improvements are needed in specific areas to enhance overall stability.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Educational Organization

43%

Computer Software Company

14%

Financial Services Firm

Manufacturing Company

Government

Comms Service Provider

Energy/Utilities Company

Healthcare Company

Retailer

Legal Firm

University

Insurance Company

Real Estate/Law Firm

Construction Company

Wholesaler/Distributor

Hospitality Company

Media Company

Non Profit

Outsourcing Company

Transportation Company

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Pharma/Biotech Company

Compare Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN with alternative products

Learn more about Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN

Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN is leveraged for secure connectivity, load balancing, VPN, centralized network management, and migrating from traditional networks to SD-WAN. It supports hybrid networks, enabling centralized management across branches and data centers, improving security, and optimizing bandwidth usage. Industries such as banking and retail benefit from its capabilities for secure and efficient network management.

What are the main features of Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN?

Centralized Management: Simplifies network operations and administration.
Application-Level Routing: Enhances performance for critical applications.
Segmentation: Provides robust network segmentation for security.
Policy Configuration: Customizable policies for traffic management.
Real-Time Traffic Visibility: Enables monitoring for better insights.
Load Balancing: Distributes network traffic efficiently.
Hybrid Cloud Connectivity: Seamless integration with cloud services.
Deep Packet Inspection: Detailed traffic analysis for security.
High Security: Offers strong security protocols to protect the network.
Ease of Deployment: Features like zero-touch provisioning simplify setup.

What benefits should be considered in reviews?

Cost Savings: Reduces operational expenses through efficient network management.
Reliability: Proven performance and uptime for critical operations.
Scalability: Grows with the organization's needs.
Integrated Health Monitoring: Proactively identifies and resolves issues.
Industry Trust: Cisco's reputation for quality and support.

Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN's implementation in banking enhances secure transaction communication between branches and data centers. Retailers utilize it to ensure steady connectivity for point-of-sale systems and inventory management. Organizations benefit from centralized management, making it easier to handle networks across multiple locations.

Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN was previously known as Cisco SD-WAN.