Bell is enhancing its SD-WAN-as-a-service capabilities by adding Fortinet’s security platforms to its enterprise tech service solutions suite.
As part of this collaboration, Bell will integrate Fortinet's Secure SD-WAN technology into its managed SD-WAN-as-a-Service, improving security and network performance for Canadian businesses.
Using Fortinet's technology, Bell will manage and deliver SD-WAN functionalities on a subscription basis, giving businesses access to Bell's end-to-end support and Fortinet's advanced infrastructure. As a result, Bell will eliminate the need for enterprises to deploy and manage SD-WAN infrastructure in-house.
What is SASE?
SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) is a cloud-based architecture consolidating networking and security functions into a single service. The SASE architecture aims to deliver security and network connectivity directly to the source, whether a user, device, or IoT device, instead of relying on a data center. SD-WAN is increasingly viewed as a key component of SASE (Secure Access Service Edge), which offers broader network and security services.
The new joint platform also supports the growing SASE and SD-WAN trend, which focuses on integrating network and security, enhancing threat detection with AI, and adopting zero-trust security.
SASE leverages SD-WAN capabilities while incorporating security features like secure web gateways and firewalls.
Also, businesses can optimize network performance while benefitting from enhanced security and simplified management without the burden of extensive IT resources.
Bell's Managed SD-WAN service offers several key benefits to customers: eliminates upfront hardware and software costs; simplified network management and scalability; geo-redundancy and enhanced security measures.
Costa Pantazopoulos, Bell's VP of product, said its partnership with Fortinet “underscores Bell's and Fortinet's shared objective—to enable secure connectivity for businesses with distributed employees and hybrid, digital work styles."
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SD-WAN growth to continue
SD-WAN is poised for greater growth. A recent Virtue Market Research report forecasts that its development will be driven by adopting cloud services and the need for centralized network management systems. Likewise, Dell’Oro Group forecast that the Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) market will grow to $17 billion by 2029, representing a 12 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR). The research firm said the increasing presence of vendors offering SD-WAN and SSE capabilities, which defines single-vendor SASE, is projected to account for 90 percent of the total SASE market by 2029. A key element of this growth will come from enterprises seeking integrated networking and security solutions that streamline operations and reduce complexity.
Sean Buckley
Sean is responsible for establishing and executing the editorial strategies of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report across their websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products.