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WAN Optimization

WAN Optimization Reviews and Ratings

What is wide area network (WAN) optimization software?

Gartner defines WAN optimization tools as products that improve the performance of applications running across the WAN as well as reduce WAN service expenses. WAN optimization solutions continue to evolve, and now support four high-level needs: improving the response times for users of business-critical applications over WAN links or mobile connections; assisting in maximizing ROI for WAN bandwidth; optimizing data-center-to-data-center (DC-to-DC) traffic for faster storage replication and synchronization; and assisting in directing traffic across multiple WANS, such as a hybrid WAN or public cloud connectivity.

How Categories and Markets Are Defined

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Logo of SteelHead

SteelHead

By Riverbed

4.5
(60 Ratings)

SteelHead is a software that enables organizations to optimize application performance across wide area networks by utilizing techniques such as data deduplication, application streamlining, and protocol optimization. The software is designed to improve the speed and reliability of data transfer between remote locations and data centers, helping businesses address challenges related to bandwidth limitations and network latency. SteelHead supports visibility into network traffic and user experience, providing tools for troubleshooting and performance monitoring. It facilitates efficient delivery of both on-premises and cloud-hosted applications, contributing to smoother workflow and resource utilization in distributed environments.

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Logo of Cisco 4000 Series Integrated Service Router with Application Experience (ISR-AX)

Cisco 4000 Series Integrated Service Router with Application Experience (ISR-AX)

By Cisco Systems

4.3
(41 Ratings)

Cisco 4000 Series Integrated Services Router with Application Experience (ISR-AX) is a software designed for enterprise branch offices that integrates routing, switching, security, unified communications, and application services into a single platform. The software delivers high availability, low latency, and scalable performance to support cloud connectivity and critical business applications. It offers advanced traffic management, deep packet inspection, WAN optimization, and secure VPN capabilities to optimize bandwidth usage and protect network data. The software enables organizations to consolidate network infrastructure and streamline deployment while supporting advanced network services and regulatory compliance. It is intended to address the need for integrated and manageable network services in distributed business environments.

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Logo of Cisco ISR G2

Cisco ISR G2

By Cisco Systems

4.9
(26 Ratings)

Cisco ISR G2 is a software integrated with the Integrated Services Routers Generation 2 platform that delivers secure connectivity, network services, and unified communications for branch offices. The software supports routing, switching, wireless, security, voice, and application services within a single device, aiming to simplify network management and reduce operational costs. Cisco ISR G2 enables organizations to deploy a range of network services such as WAN optimization, intrusion prevention, VPN termination, and advanced voice features. The software is designed to address business requirements for increased bandwidth demands, scalable WAN connectivity, and integrated support for multiple branch office needs.

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Logo of Fatpipe WAN optimization

Fatpipe WAN optimization

By FatPipe Networks

4.1
(18 Ratings)

Fatpipe WAN Optimization is a software that enhances the efficiency and reliability of wide area network (WAN) connections by managing and optimizing the flow of data traffic across multiple network paths. The software offers features such as load balancing, redundancy, bandwidth aggregation, and automated failover to improve application performance and uptime. It addresses business challenges related to maximizing bandwidth utilization, reducing latency, and ensuring continuous connectivity in distributed network environments. The software is designed to support the transmission of critical business applications and data by providing intelligent routing and traffic management capabilities, which aim to minimize downtime and optimize the use of network resources.

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Logo of CloudBridge (Legacy)

CloudBridge (Legacy)

By Citrix

4
(10 Ratings)

CloudBridge (Legacy) is a software that enables optimization of application delivery across wide area networks by providing features such as data compression, protocol acceleration, and network visibility. The software streamlines the transfer of files, applications, and data between branch locations and data centers with the aim of improving network performance and reducing bandwidth usage. It supports integration with existing network infrastructures, facilitating more efficient enterprise connectivity while supporting security protocols for data transmission. CloudBridge (Legacy) addresses the business challenge of optimizing bandwidth and application responsiveness for organizations operating across multiple geographically distributed sites.

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Logo of Network Orchestrator

Network Orchestrator

By Exinda

4.6
(7 Ratings)

GFI Network Orchestrator is a software designed to streamline and automate network configuration management, change tracking, and compliance monitoring across diverse network environments. The software allows administrators to efficiently manage network policies, device settings, and security parameters from a centralized interface. It provides tools for scheduling, auditing, and validating configuration changes to help reduce errors and maintain system integrity. The software addresses business needs by optimizing operational workflows, supporting regulatory compliance, and reducing manual intervention in network infrastructure management. Its capabilities aim to improve network reliability, visibility, and responsiveness, making it suitable for organizations that require robust control over complex network systems.

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Logo of Blue Coat PacketShaper

Blue Coat PacketShaper

By Broadcom

4.2
(6 Ratings)

Blue Coat PacketShaper is a network traffic management software that provides visibility and control over application and network performance. The software identifies, classifies, and monitors network traffic, allowing organizations to manage bandwidth usage and prioritize applications critical to business operations. It helps address issues related to network congestion and inefficient bandwidth utilization by enabling administrators to set policies for different types of network traffic. PacketShaper is designed to enhance user experience and support business continuity by optimizing network resources and reducing the impact of non-essential or disruptive applications.

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Logo of Sangfor WANO

Sangfor WANO

By Sangfor Technologies

5
(6 Ratings)

Sangfor WANO is a software designed to optimize wide area network performance for enterprise environments. It focuses on enhancing data transmission efficiency across multiple locations by implementing technologies such as data compression, protocol optimization, and intelligent traffic management. The software aims to mitigate challenges related to bandwidth limitations, high latency, and packet loss, facilitating faster application delivery and reduced network costs. Sangfor WANO supports integration with various network infrastructures and enables centralized management of WAN resources to improve resource utilization, reliability, and user experience for distributed organizations.

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Logo of Cisco Intelligent WAN (IWAN) (Legacy)

Cisco Intelligent WAN (IWAN) (Legacy)

By Cisco Systems

3.9
(5 Ratings)

Cisco Intelligent WAN IWAN is a software designed to optimize wide area network connectivity for enterprises. It provides features such as transport-independent connectivity, intelligent path control, application optimization, and network security. The software enables organizations to manage bandwidth utilization and performance across multiple network links, addressing challenges related to increasing traffic demands and application diversity. IWAN facilitates secure, reliable WAN connections by supporting VPNs and integrated security functions. By automating network selection and path routing, the software improves application delivery efficiency and reduces complexities in branch office connectivity, assisting organizations in improving operational consistency and scalability for distributed environments.

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Logo of Cisco Wide Area Application Services (WAAS)

Cisco Wide Area Application Services (WAAS)

By Cisco Systems

5
(5 Ratings)

Cisco Wide Area Application Services (WAAS) is a software solution that enables optimization of application performance over wide area networks. The software provides features such as application acceleration, data compression, protocol optimization, and traffic management to support efficient delivery of business applications between data centers, branch offices, and remote locations. WAAS is designed to reduce bandwidth usage, improve response times for users accessing centrally hosted applications, and simplify branch infrastructure by enabling centralized management and monitoring of network traffic. The software addresses business challenges associated with slow application performance and inefficient network resource utilization across distributed enterprise environments.

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Logo of F5 BIG-IP Application Acceleration Manager (Legacy)

F5 BIG-IP Application Acceleration Manager (Legacy)

By F5

4.3
(4 Ratings)
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Logo of Internet & WAN Virtualization (Legacy)

Internet & WAN Virtualization (Legacy)

By Allot

3.7
(4 Ratings)

Internet & WAN Virtualization (Legacy) is a software designed to optimize and manage wide area network resources by enabling the virtualization of internet and WAN connections. This software provides traffic management, bandwidth allocation, and quality of service controls to support application performance across distributed networks. Internet & WAN Virtualization (Legacy) addresses challenges related to network congestion, latency, and inefficient use of bandwidth by intelligently routing and prioritizing traffic based on application requirements. The software helps organizations maintain consistent connectivity between remote sites and headquarters, supporting secure and efficient data transmission over both private and public network infrastructures. Its features include monitoring and visibility into network usage, policy-based traffic shaping, and support for multiple WAN links, enabling organizations to enhance service continuity and optimize resource utilization in multi-site deployments.

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Logo of VX Virtual WAN Optimization Software

VX Virtual WAN Optimization Software

By Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)

4
(4 Ratings)

VX Virtual WAN Optimization Software is designed to enhance the efficiency and performance of wide area network connections in distributed environments. The software provides traffic optimization by managing bandwidth utilization, reducing latency, and improving data transmission speeds across WAN links. It helps organizations address network bottlenecks and supports efficient access to applications and services over geographically dispersed locations. The software offers functionality such as data compression, protocol optimization, and advanced traffic management to ensure reliable connectivity and improved user experience. VX Virtual WAN Optimization Software is suited for businesses seeking to maintain consistent network performance across multiple sites.

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Logo of NX Physical WAN Optimization Appliances

NX Physical WAN Optimization Appliances

By Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)

3.3
(3 Ratings)

NX Physical WAN Optimization Appliances is a software designed to enhance the efficiency and performance of wide area network (WAN) infrastructure. The software provides features such as data deduplication, compression, protocol optimization, and caching to reduce latency and improve data transfer speeds across geographically dispersed locations. It addresses business challenges related to slow application performance and limited bandwidth by optimizing network traffic and ensuring reliable delivery of critical information. The software is used to streamline communications, support cloud and remote connectivity, and maintain consistent application responsiveness for organizations with distributed operations.

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Logo of SteelConnectEX (Legacy)

SteelConnectEX (Legacy)

By Riverbed

4.2
(3 Ratings)

SteelConnectEX (Legacy) is a software designed to enable secure and flexible networking across enterprise locations and cloud environments. It provides software-defined wide area networking features that help automate connectivity, streamline policy management, and enforce unified security protocols. The software supports integration with on-premises data centers and multiple public cloud platforms, enabling centralized orchestration and simplified configuration of network resources. By automating network operations and offering advanced traffic optimization and visibility, SteelConnectEX (Legacy) addresses the challenges of managing complex, distributed enterprise networks, aiming to improve application performance and network reliability.

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Logo of Symantec MACH5

Symantec MACH5

By Broadcom

4.6
(2 Ratings)

Symantec MACH5 is a software solution focused on wide area network (WAN) optimization by improving application performance and accelerating data delivery across distributed environments. The software utilizes techniques such as protocol optimization, compression, and caching to reduce bandwidth consumption and latency, enabling efficient data transfer and access for remote users and branch offices. It supports integration with existing network infrastructures and is designed to address business challenges related to slow application responsiveness and inefficiencies in WAN bandwidth utilization. Symantec MACH5 allows organizations to enhance productivity by enabling faster access to files, applications, and services across geographically dispersed locations while supporting secure data transmission.

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Logo of WAN Acceleration appliance

WAN Acceleration appliance

By FatPipe Networks

4.7
(2 Ratings)

WAN Acceleration appliance is a software solution designed to optimize wide area network performance by reducing latency, increasing data transfer speeds, and enhancing application responsiveness over the WAN. The software employs techniques such as data compression, protocol optimization, caching, and traffic shaping to minimize bandwidth usage and improve throughput for critical business applications. It is used to address challenges of data transmission over geographically dispersed networks by streamlining communication and reducing delays. The software is suited for enterprises requiring efficient access to centralized applications, file transfers, and cloud services across multiple branch offices or remote locations.

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Logo of Performance Hub (Legacy)

Performance Hub (Legacy)

By Equinix

5
(1 Rating)

Performance Hub (Legacy) software developed by Equinix is designed to enhance network performance for enterprises by integrating cloud services with private networks. The software enables organizations to optimize their applications and workloads by providing a centralized platform for managing connectivity between corporate and cloud resources. By facilitating direct and secure connections, Performance Hub (Legacy) software addresses the challenges of network latency and scalability often encountered in distributed infrastructures. It incorporates features that support improved data transfer efficiency and reliability, allowing businesses to streamline access to cloud environments and data centers. This software aims to solve the business problem of maintaining efficient and reliable network connections across hybrid and multicloud architectures.

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Logo of SonicWall WXA Series

SonicWall WXA Series

By SonicWall

5
(1 Rating)

SonicWall WXA Series is a software focused on optimizing wide area network (WAN) performance and reducing bandwidth usage for organizations. It integrates with SonicWall firewall appliances to provide WAN acceleration and de-duplication features, allowing data to move more efficiently between remote offices and central locations. The software accelerates application protocols and reduces repetitive data transmission using disk-based caching and compression techniques. This helps businesses enhance network responsiveness and improve employee productivity by addressing issues related to latency and limited bandwidth. It is designed to work with a range of applications such as web, email, and file transfers, supporting enhanced collaboration and reliable access to critical resources across distributed environments.

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Logo of Virtualized Overlay Networking

Virtualized Overlay Networking

By NTT Communications

4
(1 Rating)

Virtualized Overlay Networking is software that provides a virtual network infrastructure over existing physical networks, utilizing network virtualization technologies such as software-defined networking principles. This software enables flexible and scalable network configuration, allowing organizations to segment and manage traffic flow efficiently across geographically dispersed locations. Virtualized Overlay Networking software supports secure connectivity, multi-tenancy, and automated provisioning, which assists businesses in addressing challenges related to evolving infrastructure, cloud adoption, and complex network requirements. By abstracting the physical network hardware, this software simplifies network management and streamlines deployment of resources within enterprise environments.

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Gartner Client Insights

Magic Quadrant for WAN Optimization

Popular Product Comparisons

Blue Coat PacketShaper vs SteelHeadCisco ISR G2 vs SteelHeadBlue Coat PacketShaper vs Cisco 4000 Series Integrated Service Router with Application Experience (ISR-AX)Network Orchestrator vs SteelHeadCisco 4000 Series Integrated Service Router with Application Experience (ISR-AX) vs SteelHeadFatpipe WAN optimization vs SteelHeadBlue Coat PacketShaper vs Network OrchestratorBlue Coat PacketShaper vs Internet & WAN Virtualization (Legacy)SteelHead vs WAN Acceleration appliance

Gartner Peer Insights content consists of the opinions of individual end users based on their own experiences, and should not be construed as statements of fact, nor do they represent the views of Gartner or its affiliates. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in this content nor makes any warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this content, about its accuracy or completeness, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

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