Versa Networks sees moves on three Gartner Magic Quadrants

Secure access service edge (SASE) vendor Versa Networks has received recognition in Gartner's Magic Quadrant for its ability to execute and completeness of vision.

Versa, who has been included in three technology categories, is one of only three vendors and the only privately held, solely-SASE focused vendor to be included in all three Magic Quadrant SASE reports.

The categories are 2021 Magic Quadrant for WAN Edge Infrastructure (subsequently SD-WAN), 2021 Magic Quadrant for Network Firewalls, and the 2022 Magic Quadrant for Security Service Edge.

Gartner describes SASE as a platform that converges networking (such as SD-WAN and L4 stateful firewall) and network security services (for example, SWG, CASB and ZTNA) into a single vendor product sold as an integrated service, rather than as separate products.

"We believe Versa Network's inclusion in these three important Magic Quadrant reports validates Versa's wealth of SASE capabilities delivered today," Versa Networks CEO Kelly Ahuja says.

"Versa SASE is architected in a completely unique way, and we deliver a truly superior secure networking platform that is aligned with where the market is today, and headed in the future.

Gartner acknowledges vendors that lack the broad suite of capabilities required for SASE will fall behind in the market, and their services will only be primarily suitable for the tactical needs of a small number of end-user organisations.

Additionally, IT vendor goals of maximising revenue and account control by delivering a single, end-to-end solution are enabled with an SASE offering.

Versa says it operates with a combination of extensive security, advanced networking, SD-WAN, genuine multitenancy, and cloud analytics, on-premises, or as a hybrid combination of both to meet SASE requirements for small to substantial businesses and service providers.

Gartner adds that while some SASE use cases (such as SD-WAN's dynamic application steering between access links and basic firewall) still require local deployment for a portion of the service, SASE mandates the use of cloud edge for the majority of security and networking provided.

More established and robust SASE offerings provide a greater portion of the service hosted from the cloud edge, and SASE mandates an integrated multiservice offering with a single policy and enforcement construct for security.

"Our purpose-built SASE solutions power enterprise networks globally for connecting users to applications anywhere, anytime," Ahuja adds.

"Our platform is differentiated with tightly integrated security, superior application and network performance, sophisticated analytics, and advanced software-defined and network functionalities for cloud and on-premises deployments.

The Gartner recognition comes after Cerebo Networks signed as a Versa ACE Partner with Versa Networks in December.

Under the agreement, Cerebo is set to deliver telco-independent SASE services to international enterprises.

The company states this can help to accelerate their digital transformation efforts and flexibly enable secure work-from-anywhere models and multi-cloud application deployments.

Cerebo is a telco-independent service provider, delivering fully managed SD-WAN and SASE services to international enterprises.