SD-WAN Leaders in the 2024 Gartner Magic Quadrant: Shaping the Future of Networking

In the fast-evolving world of enterprise networking, Software-Defined Wide Area Networks (SD-WAN) have become a cornerstone for organizations seeking agility, security, and performance in their networks. The 2024 Gartner Magic Quadrant for SD-WAN identifies six key Leaders that are driving innovation and adoption in this space: Broadcom (VMware), Cisco, Fortinet, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), Palo Alto Networks, and Versa Networks.

This blog provides an in-depth look at these vendors, exploring their strengths, cautions, and how they are influencing the future of SD-WAN.

 

Broadcom (VMware): A New Leader through Acquisition

Broadcom entered the SD-WAN market with its acquisition of VMware, inheriting the VMware VeloCloud SD-WAN product. This offering includes edge appliances, cloud-based orchestration, and optional gateways, serving over 21,000 enterprise customers globally.

Strengths

1. Comprehensive Product Offering: Broad and deep SD-WAN capabilities that address diverse enterprise use cases.
2. Competitive Pricing: Market share leadership paired with cost-effective pricing.
3. Market Understanding: Strong understanding of SD-WAN needs due to VMware’s enterprise experience.

Cautions

1. Lower Market Investment: Limited focus on expanding SD-WAN investments could hinder innovation.
2. Customer Concerns: Below-average customer experience due to concerns over Broadcom’s acquisition of VMware.
3. Narrow Product Roadmap: Focus on incremental improvements, like fixed wireless access, limits its competitive edge.

Cisco: A Dual-Offering Powerhouse

Cisco maintains its leadership position with two distinct SD-WAN solutions: Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN, for advanced use cases, and Cisco Meraki SD-WAN, for ease of use. With a global presence and 55,000 enterprise customers, Cisco is a dominant player in the market.

Strengths

1. Global Sales Channels: Robust reach and strong sales execution.
2. Innovative Product Roadmap: Focus on AI assistants, security integration, and analytics through Splunk.
3. Market Visibility: High brand recognition and marketing effectiveness.

Cautions

1. Customer Experience: Below-average satisfaction due to perceived complexity and support issues.
2. Marketing Strategy: A generalist approach may miss targeting specific SD-WAN buyer needs.
3. Horizontal Strategy: Lack of vertical-specific solutions could overlook niche use cases.

Fortinet: Security and Performance Innovator

Fortinet’s Secure SD-WAN integrates physical and virtual appliances with a focus on security, managed through FortiManager. With 40,000 customers globally, it remains a favorite among enterprises prioritizing cost-effectiveness and security.

Strengths

1. Competitive Pricing: Affordable yet feature-rich solutions.
2. Aligned Product Strategy: Focus on Generative AI (GenAI), Digital Experience Monitoring (DEM), and machine learning for adaptive network performance.
3. Strong Customer Experience: High satisfaction rates based on customer feedback.

Cautions

1. Networking Limitations: Questions over its ability to handle complex WAN configurations.
2. Limited SSE Integrations: Lack of third-party Security Service Edge (SSE) support reduces dual-vendor flexibility.
3. Tactical Sales Strategy: Focus on internal efficiency over aggressive enterprise outreach.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE): Versatile SD-WAN Solutions

HPE’s Aruba Networking EdgeConnect SD-WAN and EdgeConnect SD-Branch solutions are managed via Aruba Networking Central, serving 6,000 enterprise customers globally.

Strengths

1. Strong Performance Optimization: Features include cloud onramp and partner-integrated security.
2. Effective Marketing Execution: Clear value proposition with solid market visibility.
3. Sales Strategy: Investment in simplifying pricing models and scaling sales capabilities.

Cautions

1. Customer Experience: Below-average ratings due to challenges with product usability and support.
2. Multiple Offerings: Having separate SD-WAN products may confuse customers.
3. Horizontal Focus: Lacks vertical-specific strategies, potentially missing tailored use cases.

Palo Alto Networks: Driving SASE Integration

Palo Alto Networks offers Prisma SD-WAN, complemented by its PAN-OS branch firewall. This vendor excels in security-focused SD-WAN but faces challenges in balancing product simplicity with functionality.

Strengths

1. Comprehensive Sales Strategy: Targeted go-to-market approach that effectively expands its customer base.
2. Future-Ready Vision: Focused on single-vendor SASE solutions and seamless security integration.
3. Market Responsiveness: Proactive in adapting to trends, such as SASE and AI.

Cautions

1. High Pricing: Cost is a barrier for wider adoption among budget-conscious enterprises.
2. Customer Experience Issues: Below-average satisfaction due to product complexity and support limitations.
3. Dual Products: Maintaining separate SD-WAN offerings can confuse buyers.

Versa Networks: Flexibility and AI Leadership

Versa Networks delivers two offerings: Versa Secure SD-WAN for comprehensive use cases and Versa Titan for simpler deployments. With 20,000 customers globally, it stands out for its innovation in AI networking and multicloud connectivity.

Strengths

1. Feature-Rich Products: Strong routing, application steering, and on-premises security capabilities.
2. Future-Ready Strategy: Investment in AI-driven features like Versa AIEdge and multicloud networking.
3. Customer Experience: Above-average satisfaction rates based on user feedback.

Cautions

1. Complex Deployments: Some enterprises find Versa’s solutions challenging to implement.
2. Limited Brand Recognition: Compared to larger competitors, Versa’s visibility is lower, particularly in certain regions.
3. Pricing Complexity: Cost structures can appear opaque for first-time buyers.

 

Comparative Snapshot of the Leaders

Vendor	Strengths	Cautions
Broadcom (VMware)	Comprehensive features, pricing	Limited innovation, customer concerns
Cisco	Global reach, innovation	Complex support, horizontal strategy
Fortinet	Security, customer satisfaction	Networking limits, SSE integrations
HPE	Performance optimization, marketing	Usability, multiple product offerings
Palo Alto Networks	SASE focus, market responsiveness	High cost, dual-product confusion
Versa Networks	AI and multicloud, flexibility	Deployment complexity, recognition gap

Final Thoughts

The 2024 Gartner Magic Quadrant Leaders in SD-WAN are redefining networking by integrating AI, enabling hybrid work, and prioritizing security. Enterprises choosing a solution should carefully assess vendors’ strengths and weaknesses to align with their specific needs.

Whether you prioritize cost-efficiency, innovation, or robust security, these Leaders offer a diverse range of options to future-proof your network while enabling business growth in an increasingly cloud-driven world.

If you’re considering deploying SD-WAN, schedule a free consultation with our experts to explore the best options tailored to your business needs and discover which vendor aligns perfectly with your requirements. Book your discovery call today at: https://digitalcarbon.io/book-a-discovery-call/.