Fortinet’s FortiGate SD-WAN and Bigleaf are two different SD-WAN solutions that offer similar benefits but with some key differences.
Fortinet’s FortiGate SD-WAN is a security-driven networking solution that offers integrated security features such as next-generation firewall, intrusion prevention, and anti-malware protection. It is designed to optimize and secure cloud applications and services. It provides centralized management and visibility to simplify the deployment, management, and monitoring of distributed networks.
On the other hand, Bigleaf is a cloud-first SD-WAN solution that is designed to optimize Internet performance for businesses. It prioritizes traffic based on application requirements and offers a range of traffic optimization techniques such as packet loss mitigation, latency reduction, and bandwidth aggregation to improve Internet performance. It also provides centralized management and visibility to simplify the deployment and management of distributed networks.
The choice between Fortinet’s FortiGate SD-WAN and Bigleaf depends on the specific needs and requirements of the business. If security is a top priority, Fortinet’s FortiGate SD-WAN would be a better choice, as it offers integrated security features. On the other hand, if Internet performance optimization is a top priority, Bigleaf would be a better choice as it offers a range of traffic optimization techniques.
Fortinet SD-WAN Overview and Features
Fortinet’s Secure SD-WAN solution, FortiGate SD-WAN, is a comprehensive security-driven networking solution that simplifies the deployment and management of distributed networks while providing advanced security features to protect against cyber threats. Here are some key features and benefits of FortiGate SD-WAN:
- Integrated Security: FortiGate SD-WAN provides next-generation firewall, intrusion prevention, anti-malware protection, and web filtering capabilities to secure cloud applications and services.
- SD-WAN Optimization: FortiGate SD-WAN optimizes application performance by leveraging multiple WAN links, dynamically routing traffic based on the best available link, and providing visibility into application performance and bandwidth usage.
- Cloud Visibility: FortiGate SD-WAN provides end-to-end visibility into cloud applications and services, allowing network administrators to monitor and manage their entire network from a single console.
- Simple Management: FortiGate SD-WAN simplifies the deployment and management of distributed networks with centralized management, zero-touch deployment, and automated VPN connectivity.
- Cost-Effective: FortiGate SD-WAN reduces WAN costs by providing WAN link load balancing and optimizing the use of multiple WAN links.
- High Availability: FortiGate SD-WAN provides high availability and resiliency with automatic failover and link remediation, ensuring that critical applications are always available.
- Application-Aware Routing: FortiGate SD-WAN provides application-aware routing, allowing network administrators to prioritize traffic based on application requirements and ensure the best possible performance for critical applications.
- Scalable: FortiGate SD-WAN is scalable to support large distributed networks with hundreds or thousands of locations.
In summary, FortiGate SD-WAN provides a security-driven networking solution that simplifies the deployment and management of distributed networks while providing advanced security features and optimizing application performance.
Bigleaf Overview and Features
Bigleaf Networks is a cloud-first SD-WAN solution designed to improve Internet performance and reliability for businesses. Here are some key features and benefits of Bigleaf:
- Intelligent Dynamic Path Control: Bigleaf provides real-time intelligent routing that analyzes Internet conditions to automatically select the best path for each application’s traffic.
- Quality of Service: Bigleaf’s QoS prioritizes application traffic to optimize the performance of critical applications and prevent less important applications from hogging bandwidth.
- Bi-Directional Packet-level Load Balancing: Bigleaf provides load balancing at the packet level to ensure that all available bandwidth is utilized in both directions for improved application performance.
- Packet-level Outbound Optimization: Bigleaf optimizes packet flow to minimize packet loss, latency, and jitter, resulting in improved application performance.
- Traffic Optimization for Cloud Applications: Bigleaf optimizes traffic for popular cloud applications such as Microsoft 365, Salesforce, and Zoom to improve application performance and reliability.
- Seamless Failover: Bigleaf provides seamless failover to ensure that mission-critical applications are always available, even if an Internet link fails.
- Cloud-based Management: Bigleaf is a cloud-based solution that is easy to manage, configure, and deploy with a user-friendly web portal.
- Proactive Support: Bigleaf provides proactive support with real-time network monitoring and alerts, and a dedicated team of support engineers.
In summary, Bigleaf is a cloud-first SD-WAN solution that optimizes Internet performance and reliability for businesses with intelligent dynamic path control, quality of service, packet-level load balancing, traffic optimization for cloud applications, seamless failover, cloud-based management, and proactive support.
Conclusion
Bigleaf is not a security appliance whereas Fortinet is. Therefore, if you need both a security appliance and an SD-WAN solution but are looking for the most cost effective option, then you should choose Fortinet. If you have a firewall and need better control over your WAN, then you should choose Bigleaf.