Verizon Goes Deeper with Cisco SD-WAN Managed Services

Verizon and Cisco just expanded their relationship around SD-WAN.

Verizon has been offering solutions based on Cisco’s SD-WAN offerings for a number of years, but the companies on Thursday announced three new managed service opportunities.

First, Verizon customers can now consume Cisco SD-WAN powered by Viptela in a co-managed fashion. Customers can determine security and application policies while still relying on Verizon’s support for day-to-day network operations.

Second, Verizon and Cisco have made the Viptela offering available for the Cisco ISR1100 Series router platform. As a result, customers can deploy SD-WAN at small branch offices.

Third, they rolled out new managed service tiers for Cisco Meraki-based SD-WAN. That includes the ability to manage Cisco Meraki MV smart cameras.

Scott Harrell, senior vice president and general manager of Cisco’s Intent-Based Networking Group, said the companies are supporting a “growing distributed mobile workforce and the accelerated adoption of cloud services.”

Cisco’s Scott Harrell

“As businesses modernize their networks to enable the best user application experiences, Verizon’s new Cisco SD-WAN managed services can help them quickly and easily transition to SD-WAN with flexible options to help deliver business agility and secure connectivity to applications across multiple clouds,” Harrell said.

Verizon-Cisco Partnership

Aamir Hussain is Verizon Business’ senior vice president of business products. He said Cisco and Verizon launched the new services as a reflection of their joint research and development investments.

Verizon’s Aamir Hussain

“Global enterprises are taking a hard look at their digital transformation agendas to find ways to win coming off one of the more challenging years in recent history,” Hussain said. “Working with Cisco, we continue to provide innovative solutions that can give customers the choice and tools they need to enhance efficiencies and grow.”

Verizon has significantly expanded its SD-WAN portfolio in recent months. The company last December added Silver Peak. Verizon has partnered with Cisco around SD-WAN since 2015 and also teams with Versa Networks.