What is the Alkira and Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN integration?

The Alkira and Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN integration enables enterprises to seamlessly extend their Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN to any public cloud using Alkira’s industry-first Cloud Network as-a-Service (CNaaS) platform. This joint solution automates the onboarding of Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN virtual appliances into Alkira Cloud Exchange Points (CXP), providing unified, enterprise-grade networking and security across hybrid, single, and multi-cloud environments. For more details, visit the integration page.

How does Alkira simplify onboarding Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN into the cloud?

Alkira allows customers to onboard Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN virtual appliances into Alkira Cloud Exchange Points in just a few clicks. The process is fully automated, including deployment, maintenance, and lifecycle management, while still allowing full administrative control through Aruba Orchestrator. This eliminates the need for deep cloud expertise and manual configurations, making cloud extension fast and simple.

What are Alkira Cloud Exchange Points (CXP) and how do they work with Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN?

Alkira Cloud Exchange Points (CXP) are globally distributed, cloud-based network hubs that connect on-premises, branch, and cloud environments. When Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN virtual appliances are deployed in CXPs, they enable seamless peering with Alkira’s cloud network, allowing for optimized routing, integrated security, and end-to-end segmentation across LAN, WAN, and cloud.

What is the primary purpose of Alkira's platform?

Alkira’s platform is designed to simplify cloud networking for enterprises by providing Network Infrastructure-as-a-Service (NIaaS). It eliminates the need for traditional hardware, offers a unified control plane for hybrid and multi-cloud environments, and delivers integrated security, scalability, and comprehensive visibility. Learn more at Alkira's Platform Page.

What features does the Alkira and Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN integration offer?

The joint solution offers:

Automated onboarding and lifecycle management of Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN virtual appliances in Alkira CXPs
Integrated next-generation firewall security for traffic between SD-WAN and cloud workloads
End-to-end segmentation across LAN, WAN, and cloud environments
Intent-based traffic policy controls for optimized routing
Comprehensive monitoring, visibility, and troubleshooting tools
Standardized connectivity and security across AWS, Azure, and GCP

Does Alkira support intent-based traffic policy controls?

Yes, Alkira enables enterprises to use intent-based traffic policy controls to influence routing information exchange between Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN and cloud environments. This allows for optimized path selection and traffic segmentation, improving performance and security.

How does Alkira provide integrated security for SD-WAN and cloud environments?

Alkira automates the deployment of next-generation firewalls within its Cloud Exchange Points. Enterprises can use intent-based policies to forward specific cloud-bound application traffic from the SD-WAN fabric to these firewalls for inspection, ensuring standardized security across all connected cloud providers. For more on Alkira’s security features, visit Integrated Security and Network Services.

What monitoring and troubleshooting capabilities are available?

Alkira provides industry-leading visualization tools for deep operational insights into infrastructure health, application flows, and network availability. Enterprises benefit from full monitoring, visibility, governance, and troubleshooting capabilities through a single-pane-of-glass dashboard.

What integrations does Alkira support?

Alkira integrates with a wide range of technology providers, including Aruba SD-WAN, Cisco SD-WAN, Palo Alto Networks, Fortinet NGFW, F5, Splunk, ServiceNow, Infoblox, Terraform, and Itential Automation Platform. These integrations enhance connectivity, security, automation, and observability. For a full list, visit Alkira's Technology Partners Page.

Does Alkira offer an API?

Yes, Alkira provides APIs, including billing APIs that deliver real-time cloud network cost data for integration with cost management tools and dashboards. Learn more at this page.

How does Alkira ensure security and compliance?

Alkira is SOC 2 and PCI-DSS compliant, demonstrating robust operational controls and protection of customer data. Integrated security features include Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) and next-generation firewalls. Customers are encouraged to manage user access and follow security best practices. For more, visit Alkira's Compliance Page.

How does the joint Alkira and Aruba solution enhance security for multi-cloud environments?

The solution provides integrated, automated deployment of next-generation firewalls and supports end-to-end segmentation, reducing the attack surface and preventing lateral movement within the network. Security policies can be standardized across all cloud providers, ensuring consistent protection for distributed workloads.

What common pain points does Alkira solve for enterprises using SD-WAN and cloud?

Alkira addresses:

Cloud Networking Complexity: Abstracts cloud-native networking, eliminating the need for deep expertise and manual configuration.
Security Challenges: Integrates advanced security features to protect traffic between on-premises, cloud, and multi-cloud environments.
Visibility and Governance: Provides comprehensive monitoring and troubleshooting tools.
Deployment Speed: Reduces deployment times from months to minutes.
Operational Efficiency: Reduces cloud setup time by 96% and network management time by 47% (source: Alkira Cloud Insights).

How does Alkira help standardize connectivity across AWS, Azure, and GCP?

Alkira provides a standardized network solution that abstracts the complexity of connecting to multiple public cloud providers. Enterprises can use the same policies, security, and operational model across AWS, Azure, and GCP, eliminating the need for custom solutions for each cloud.

Who can benefit from the Alkira and Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN integration?

This solution is ideal for mid-to-large enterprises across industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, retail, telecommunications, financial services, biotechnology, software technology, media & entertainment, and aviation. It is especially valuable for organizations seeking to extend on-premises SD-WAN into cloud and multi-cloud environments with integrated security and simplified operations.

Can you share customer success stories using Alkira's solutions?

Yes. Notable examples include:

Michaels: Transformed its network across 1,400 stores in record time. Read the case study.
Koch Industries: Simplified multicloud networking and improved agility. Watch the video.
Warner Hotels: Enhanced networking efficiency and B2B connectivity. Watch the video.
Chart Industries: Improved agility, saved costs, and expanded globally. Watch the video.
SITA: Integrated on-premises and cloud environments for aviation. Watch the video.

For more, visit our customers page.

What industries are represented in Alkira's case studies?

Industries include manufacturing, retail, healthcare, telecommunications, financial services, biotechnology/life sciences, software technology, media & entertainment, and aviation. See more at Alkira Customers.

What business impact can customers expect from using Alkira?

Customers can expect:

Up to 40% lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) compared to traditional solutions
96% reduction in cloud setup time
47% reduction in network management time
Enhanced security and business resilience
Rapid scalability and improved operational efficiency

(Source: Alkira Cloud Insights)

What feedback have customers given about Alkira's ease of use?

Customers have praised Alkira for dramatically reducing deployment times and simplifying complex networking tasks. For example, a Network Architect at a large manufacturer said, "The IT DIY approach was going to take 6 months to be secure and redundant and all. Alkira did it for us in 3 days, and at very low cost." Matt Hoag, CTO at Koch Industries, noted, "We had gone from a mass of complexity and months of work to a dashboard that allowed us simply to draw our network and deploy it in a few hours." See more testimonials at Alkira Customers.

What is Alkira's pricing model?

Alkira offers both consumption-based (pay-as-you-go) and commitment-based pricing. Pricing is determined by the quantity and size of network elements (such as Alkira Cloud Exchange Points), connectors, next-generation firewalls, and data egress. Customers can view live pricing details from the portal or via APIs. For more, visit Alkira's Pricing Page.

How does Alkira compare to other SD-WAN and cloud networking solutions?

Alkira differentiates itself by providing a true abstraction layer leveraging cloud providers' infrastructure, automating onboarding and management, and offering integrated security and end-to-end segmentation. Unlike competitors such as Aviatrix (which focuses on orchestration overlays), Prosimo (application-centric networking), Nefeli (agent-based solutions), and Cato (SD-WAN focus), Alkira delivers full-stack networking and security for both cloud and traditional use cases, with single-click provisioning and no vendor lock-in. See detailed comparisons in the Alkira Solution Explainer.

Why choose Alkira over alternatives?

Alkira offers:

True abstraction layer for end-to-end solutions
Integrated security (ZTNA, next-generation firewalls)
Drag-and-drop interface for ease of use
Global backbone-as-a-service for rapid deployment
Vendor-agnostic approach with no lock-in
Comprehensive visibility and measurable ROI

For more, visit this page.

What technical documentation is available for Alkira solutions?

Alkira provides whitepapers (e.g., On Demand Next-Generation Cloud Firewalls), solution briefs, and a technical wiki. Access these resources at Solution Briefs and Wiki.

How long does it take to implement Alkira's solution?

Customers can implement a proof of concept in as little as 4 hours, with full production deployment typically taking about 8 weeks. The drag-and-drop interface and dedicated training resources make onboarding fast and accessible. Learn more at Alkira Training Platform.

What support and training does Alkira provide?

Alkira offers a dedicated training platform, 24×7 monitoring, proactive notifications for maintenance, a diagnostics dashboard for troubleshooting, and dedicated support via support@alkira.com. Customers can access detailed guidance, demos, and resources to ensure successful adoption.

How does Alkira handle maintenance, upgrades, and troubleshooting?

Alkira provides proactive notifications for maintenance, a diagnostics dashboard for live troubleshooting, 24×7 monitoring to meet SLA commitments, and dedicated support for issue resolution. These features minimize downtime and ensure smooth operations.

What is Alkira's vision and mission?

Alkira’s vision is to transform enterprise connectivity by simplifying cloud networking for the AI era. Its mission is to eliminate the complexity of traditional networking by providing a cloud-native solution that connects hybrid and multi-cloud environments through a unified control plane. Learn more at Alkira's Company Page.

Who are Alkira's customers?

Alkira serves Fortune 100 enterprises, leading system integrators, and global managed service providers. Notable customers include Michaels, Koch Industries, Warner Hotels, and SITA. See more at Alkira Customers.

What is Alkira Network: Cloud-Network Convergence?

Alkira Network: Cloud-Network Convergence refers to Alkira’s approach of unifying cloud and network infrastructure to deliver seamless, scalable, and secure connectivity for modern enterprises. For a visual overview, watch the Alkira Network: Cloud-Network Convergence video.

Blog

Alkira and Aruba Networks: Where SD-WAN Meets Cloud

January 7, 2022

Summarize with AI

Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN is one of the leading SD-WAN and WAN optimization solutions used by enterprises of all sizes. We are very excited to add support for Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN to the Alkira’s solution. The joint solution allows our customers to seamlessly extend their Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN to any public cloud leveraging Alkira’s industry-first cloud network as-a-service (CNaaS) offering.

Traditionally, MPLS has been the most common way of providing WAN services for branches and data centers, as it offered enterprise-grade connectivity with privacy, reliability, and quality of service guarantees. Over the years we have seen considerable improvements in Internet connectivity both from reliability and throughput perspective. However, security was still a major concern for enterprises leveraging the Internet as a transport. Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN (formerly SilverPeak SD-WAN) has capitalized on the opportunity and provided a solid alternative to MPLS, allowing enterprises to leverage a hybrid connectivity model integrating MPLS and Internet transports. Security has become an integral part of providing both application traffic privacy with strong IPSec encryption and CPE perimeter protection.

As enterprises migrate their workloads from on-premises data centers to one or multiple public cloud environments, they quickly realize the complexity of cloud-native networking options offered by the cloud providers. Extending on-premises networks to the public cloud is a fairly simple problem to solve, which is where SD-WAN solutions significantly excel above limited site-to-site VPNs and expensive colocations. However, getting enterprise-grade networking and security features inside the public cloud environment proves to be highly challenging, especially in multi-cloud deployments. Lack of cloud networking expertise, limited cloud-native capabilities and inconsistent operating model across multiple cloud providers forces enterprises to rethink traditional networking and security architectures.

In talking with numerous enterprise customers, we have identified a consistent set of requirements for successfully delivering networking and security services for the public cloud environments.

A standardized network solution for and across public cloud providers like AWS, Azure and GCP.
Simple network design for multi-region cloud deployments.
Cloud networking complexity is abstracted, no deep cloud expertise is required.
Integrated security for traffic between on-premises and cloud, between cloud regions and between multiple clouds.
Full monitoring, visibility, governance and troubleshooting capabilities for the cloud network.

Alkira and Aruba are breaking the boundaries of traditional thinking by bridging the best-of-breed SD-WAN solution powered by Aruba Networks and industry’s first cloud network as-a-service powered by Alkira.

Table of Contents

Integration Details

Keeping customer requirements top of mind, Alkira has designed the integration which allows seamlessly onboarding Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN virtual appliances inside the Alkira Cloud Exchange PointⓇ (CXP) in just a few clicks. Once the virtual appliances are onboarded, Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN is automatically extended to the public cloud environments attached to the Alkira Cloud Services ExchangeⓇ. The advantages of cloud networking agility and simplification brought forth by the joint solution extend across the hybrid cloud, single cloud and multi-cloud environments, eliminating the need to understand the specifics of cloud architectures.

As part of the integration, Alkira completely automates the deployment, maintenance and lifecycle of the Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN virtual appliances, yet allowing enterprises to maintain a full administrative control through the Aruba Orchestrator, just like other physical and virtual CPE (customer-premises equipment) devices in their SD-WAN network.

The distributed nature of SD-WAN networks and the cloud workloads allows Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN to peer with Alkira Cloud Services Exchange in multiple geographically distributed locations. This is achieved by regionalizing the deployment of Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN virtual appliances in multiple hub Alkira Cloud Exchange Points. Route exchange between the SD-WAN and the cloud network occurs at these hub locations. Enterprises can leverage Alkira intent-based traffic policy controls to influence routing information exchange between the two environments. Such controls allow optimizing the path between on-premises sites in the SD-WAN fabric and the workloads in the cloud network.

Figure: Alkira and Aruba Networks: Where SD-WAN Meets Cloud.

Security is paramount to the successful cloud deployment. With a joint solution, next generation firewalls deployed in the Alkira Cloud Exchange Points provide integrated security services for application traffic between the Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN fabric and the cloud workloads, as well as between the cloud workloads in single or multi-cloud environments.

Alkira network services marketplace completely automates the deployment of the next-generation firewalls in the Alkira Cloud Exchange Points. Alkira intent-based policies allow easily selecting cloud-bound application traffic of interest ingressing from the SD-WAN fabric to be forwarded to the firewalls for inspection. This allows enterprises to standardize their connectivity and security postures for all cloud providers instead of having differently tailored solutions for each one.

Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN business-intent overlays offer effective means of traffic segmentation, which is seamlessly integrated with Alkira’s cloud network segmentation capabilities, effectively creating an end-to-end segmented environment across LAN, WAN and cloud. Since the majority of security attacks originate from within the enterprise environment, rather than infiltrate through the external perimeter security, the joint end-to-end segmentation solution compartmentalizes resources and prevents lateral movement that minimizes the attack surface.

Ultimately, the joint solution allows enterprises to gain deep operational insights into the health and availability of the infrastructure elements, as well as the application and flow level details. Monitoring and troubleshooting made available through the industry-leading visualization makes sure that enterprises get the full breadth of operational controls.

Conclusion

The integration is a definite win-win for the organizations looking to extend their on-premises enterprise WAN powered by the Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN into the cloud and multi-cloud environment powered by the Alkira Cloud Services Exchange. The joint solution has the benefits of end-to-end enterprise-grade networking and security capabilities for LAN, WAN and cloud environments coupled with the extreme simplification and agility brought forth by the abstraction and as-a-service consumption.

If you want to learn more about the integrated solution, contact us at contact@alkira.com

Other Categories:

Integrated Security and Network Services

About the author

Misbah Rehman

Misbah Rehman is VP of Product Management and Compliance at Alkira Inc. He has more than 17 years of experience in networking with a passion in building and managing service provider scale networks and solutions. During his career, he has worked in different technical roles across engineering, sales, technical marketing and product management. Prior to joining Alkira, he was a Sr. Manager for Technical Marketing in the Enterprise Business unit at Cisco where he provided technical leadership to Tier I service providers and helped them create managed service using Viptela SDWAN solution. Misbah holds a Masters degree in Telecommunications from University of Colorado at Boulder.

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