Google and Cisco extend SD-WAN, cloud network-management integration
Google and Cisco have extended their technology development relationship to make it easier to marry cloud-based resources with SD-WAN command and control.
The expanded technology agreement is centered around a cloud-based network-management system Google rolled out this week that promises to let customers configure and manage multiple on-prem- and public-cloud networks. The new service, called Network Connectivity Center, offers a central console for connecting and watching over multiple networking aspects, including traffic flows, performance metrics, and VPN connectivity.
"Network Connectivity Center delivers a unified connectivity experience by allowing enterprises to use Google's global infrastructure, leveraging new or existing partners and dedicated interconnects, Cloud VPN connections, and third-party routers/SD-WAN to transfer data reliably across on-premises sites and cloud resources," wrote Rohith Ramkumar, product manager, cloud networking with Google Cloud, in a blog about the news.
Cisco will tie into Google's Network Connectivity Center to integrate SD-WAN access and control in two ways. First, the companies will deliver the SD-WAN site-to-cloud package they have been developing for about a year.
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SD-WAN Cloud OnRamp is part of Cisco's overarching SD-WAN software package, and it allows customers to set secure tunnels to SaaS application platforms, multi-cloud platform services, and enterprise data-center resources.
The idea is to give customers the choice of using Google Cloud for providing a highly reliable, high-performance global cloud network for site-to-site connectivity that can simplify the overall infrastructure and be deployed in minutes, JL Valente stated.
Easing enterprise cloud connectivity is a growing trend that vendors are rushing to address, experts say.
"Because many workloads are shifting to cloud and SaaS–Office 365 is the tipping point for many customers–it no longer makes sense to replace the legacy hub-and-spoke WAN routers with just new SD-WAN routers," said Neil Anderson, senior director of network solutions at World Wide Technology, a technology and supply chain services provider. "We advise customers to take a look at where their users are, where their applications are now and in the future, and architect the interconnection fabric that gives users the best experience."