Why WAN optimization should be integrated with branch office routers, Part 2

Wide Area Networking This newsletter is sponsored by Symantec Stay ahead of stealth security threats Reduce the propagation of malicious code, lower your risk profile, provide greater network availability and much more with Symantec Network Access Control. Network World's Wide Area Networking Newsletter, 10/25/07 Why WAN optimization should be integrated with branch office routers, Part 2 By Steve Taylor and Jim Metzler In the last newsletter we began a discussion of the pros and cons of integrating WAN optimization with routers. We’ll continue the “pro” side of this discussion with more comments from Mark Weiner, director of product marketing, Cisco application networking services, with comments focusing on understanding security and VoIP benefits realized through router integrated WAN optimization. Mark commented: “According to Infonetics market research firm, the top branch IT trend of recent years has been the integration of security technologies such as firewalls, VPNs, and intrusion detection systems (IDS) into routers. This is validated by the rapid adoption of embedded security into more than 3 million Cisco ISRs shipped. Taneja Group reached the same conclusion through its May 2007 Branch Office survey, where 250 IT directors mandated that WAN optimization preserves their integrated branch security investment. Their top IT priority for a remote-office and back-office (ROBO) solution is data security, with WAN and application optimization the next priority. “Cisco router-integrated WAN optimization allows organizations to protect their branch security investment. The WAAS WAN optimization solution offers ISO 15408 certification, PCI 1.1 compliance regulation support through strong disk encryption, and support of router-based and stand-alone stateful firewall inspection and intrusion prevention. Executive Guide:Virtualization Meets Reality Virtualization is being used to make the most out of everything from applications and servers to desktops and storage. But as companies expand their reliance on the technology, challenges mount. Read this guide authored by a host of Network World editors and review this timely topic. Click Here for More Information “Finally, integrating WAN optimization logically and/or directly in the router also offers the follow VoIP benefits: - Better VoIP quality and performance through transparent integration with QoS: Integrated WAN optimization allows the router to tag the VoIP QoS once correctly, rather than creating two sets of conflicting QoS policy. - Higher VoIP reliability through out of path deployment: Unlike in-path deployment that processes all traffic whether or not it needs optimization, out of path deployment does not introduce single point of failure, and does not introduce processing delay for VoIP that needs no optimization. - Optimized Internet route selection: Router integrated WAN optimization offers not only application layer acceleration, but also provides Internet route optimization by selecting optimal routes to circumvent Internet congestions. This leverages the available Performance Routing (PfR) software on organizations’ existing Cisco routers, and optimizes specific applications on a link with higher security, lower cost, lower latency, or higher priority (QoS). “By focusing on the economic, security, and VoIP benefits created through router-integrated WAN optimization, Cisco has successfully implemented its solution at thousands of sites at hundreds of customers globally.”   What do you think? Post a comment on this newsletter

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Contact the author: Steve Taylor is president of Distributed Networking Associates and publisher/editor-in-chief of Webtorials. For more detailed information on most of the topics discussed in this newsletter, connect to Webtorials, the premier site for Web-based educational presentations, white papers, and market research. Taylor can be reached at taylor@webtorials.com Jim Metzler is the Vice President of Ashton, Metzler & Associates, a consulting organization that focuses on leveraging technology for business success. Jim assists vendors to refine product strategies, service providers to deploy technologies and services, and enterprises evolve their network infrastructure. He can be reached via e-mail. This newsletter is sponsored by Symantec Stay ahead of stealth security threats Reduce the propagation of malicious code, lower your risk profile, provide greater network availability and much more with Symantec Network Access Control. ARCHIVE Archive of the Wide Area Networking Newsletter. BONUS FEATURE IT PRODUCT RESEARCH AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Get detailed information on thousands of products, conduct side-by-side comparisons and read product test and review results with Network World’s IT Buyer’s Guides. Find the best solution faster than ever with over 100 distinct categories across the security, storage, management, wireless, infrastructure and convergence markets. Click here for details. PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE You've got the technology snapshot of your choice delivered to your inbox each day. Extend your knowledge with a print subscription to the Network World newsweekly, Apply here today. International subscribers, click here. SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES To subscribe or unsubscribe to any Network World newsletter, change your e-mail address or contact us, click here. This message was sent to: networking.world@gmail.com. Please use this address when modifying your subscription. Advertising information: Write to Associate Publisher Online Susan Cardoza Network World, Inc., 118 Turnpike Road, Southborough, MA 01772 Copyright Network World, Inc., 2007