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Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Reviews

Vendor: Cisco
4.0 out of 5
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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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Buyer's Guide
Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN
November 2024
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Key learnings from peers

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
7%
Manufacturing Company
5%
Government
3%
Comms Service Provider
3%
Energy/Utilities Company
3%
Healthcare Company
2%
Retailer
2%
Legal Firm
2%
University
2%
Real Estate/Law Firm
2%
Construction Company
2%
Insurance Company
2%
Wholesaler/Distributor
1%
Non Profit
1%
Hospitality Company
1%
Media Company
1%
Outsourcing Company
1%
Transportation Company
1%
Recreational Facilities/Services Company
1%

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.

Product Video

Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN customers

Doyle Research, Ashton Metzler & Associates

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