Aryaka Learns to Love SD-WAN Over the Public InternetAryaka Learns to Love SD-WAN Over the Public Internet

Aryaka is rolling out HybridWAN, a managed SD-WAN service that runs over the public Internet, complementing the service provider's existing private SD-WAN network, for cases where private connectivity is overkill, the company said Tuesday.

Aryaka's existing, private SD-WAN network, Aryaka Global Core, provides predictable, reliable connectivity with guaranteed service level agreements (SLAs) for Aryaka's customers' mission-critical applications, according to the service provider. The new HybridWAN service, running over the public Internet, is for applications where "best effort" connectivity is sufficient.

Aryaka has pitched its private network as a competitive advantage -- and still does. But Aryaka says SD-WAN over the public Internet has its place.

"This gives the enterprise customer additional flexibility, depending on their use case, the types of data and applications they want to run over the infrastructure," David Ginsburg, Aryaka VP of product and solutions marketing, tells Light Reading.

For example, a customer might choose the Aryaka Global Core for mission-critical applications, but run SD-WAN over the public Internet for backups after hours, Ginsburg says.

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In addition to providing SD-WAN connectivity, Aryaka manages the relationship with local telcos for enterprise customers' first-mile connection.

"We're taking up the burden of managing contracts," Ginsburg says. "Enterprises don't necessarily have the background with ISPs. We take that under our wing."

And Aryaka is adding security capabilities to its services. It supports zones and microsegmentation to separate applications and users based on their level of trust.

Aryaka trails Cisco, VMware, Silver Peak and Nokia Nuage in SD-WAN market share. However, it's a fast-growing market, where a competitive upstart can gain ground.

Aryaka's SD-WAN services are delivered through Aryaka Network Access Points (ANAPs) located on customer premises. The Aryaka Global Core service connects to a global network with more than 30 physical points of presence linked by the service provider's own Layer 2 transport infrastructure. POPs are located within 30 milliseconds of 90% of the world's "knowledge workers," Ginsburg says.

Of course, other SD-WAN providers, such as AT&T, Verizon and CenturyLink, also have their own networks. But Aryaka says it can beat those competitors because it provides both the transport and global infrastructure, whereas telco competitors get their SD-WAN technology from third parties such as Cisco, VMware and Versa. Simply put, Aryaka offers an integrated stack; its competition doesn't, Ginsburg says.

"There is an overlay/underlay aspect [with Aryaka's competitors] that makes it more difficult to guarantee end-to-end SLAs on a global basis. We own and operate our own global infrastructure," Ginsburg says.

Update: The new HybridWAN service expands Aryaka's addressable market, says Heavy Reading analyst Sterling Perrin. "There's a place for both high availability and best effort in SD-WAN, which is why MPLS is not disappearing and why Hybrid WAN is such an important use case for SD-WANs. Enterprises need both."

He adds, "By specializing in the high end, Aryaka was missing out on the large public Internet opportunity, so this move expands their addressable market and puts them in play for Hybrid WAN builds. They can still differentiate as SD-WAN specialists – offering all types of SD-WAN."

The new enhancements are a significant extension of Aryaka's core mission, says Heavy Reading analyst Jennifer Clark. "Aryaka has always focused on making life easier and less expensive for multinationals that need stable, reliable global connectivity without the price of a private network, or the hassle of negotiating connectivity with dozens of service providers." Aryaka previously focused on its private SD-WAN offering, the new extensions allow Aryaka to take on the remainder of its customers' WAN traffic, Clark says.

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— Mitch Wagner Executive Editor, Light Reading