In an era where the complexity of network and security management continues to grow, Versa Networks introduced a groundbreaking solution named VersaONE that aims to integrate various secure access service edge (SASE) elements into a single platform. VersaONE brings together SASE, SSE, SD-WAN, and SD-LAN, providing a comprehensive and universal SASE platform designed to meet the networking and security needs of WAN, LAN, data centers, and the cloud. This consolidation seeks to simplify network management, reduce risks, and lower both infrastructure complexity and operational costs.
VersaONE enables users to manage their network and security functions through a unified console, facilitating a streamlined approach where a single set of policies can be applied across the entire network. This single interface securely and efficiently connects users, devices, branches, and workloads. Kelly Ahuja, President and CEO of Versa Networks, emphasized that this unified system offers flexibility in licensing individual components or as a complete package, ensuring secure connectivity through a shared AI engine and a zero-trust foundation.
The package includes essential SASE components such as SD-WAN, secure web gateway, cloud access security broker (CASB), zero trust network access (ZTNA), and firewall-as-a-service (FWaaS). Each module leverages common platform capabilities to provide robust security and network health analytics, enhanced by VersaAI for increased network visibility and advanced analytics about enterprise networks.
Versa Networks is positioning itself competitively within the single-vendor SASE market, a sector that includes notable players like Cisco, Fortinet, Palo Alto, and Cato Networks. The trend towards platformization is increasingly popular among enterprise IT buyers who aim to streamline various embedded components, including networking and security, into a single, manageable package. According to a survey by Extreme Networks, 88% of CIOs believe that platformization helps integrate these components efficiently and reduces the total cost of ownership.
Survey respondents also emphasized the critical need for a unified platform that supports a broad ecosystem of networking and security offerings to aid in transitioning networks to the cloud. This trend signifies the growing demand for solutions that simplify management and enhance IT efficiency.
Industry experts like Leandro Agion from Frost & Sullivan’s Information & Communications Technology-Network Services noted that a platform approach is incredibly appealing for organizations needing to manage and secure diverse environments, including WAN, LAN, data centers, and cloud edges. The alternative, which involves separate management centers and vendors, leads to increased complexity.
VersaONE products are available for deployment in shared, private, or sovereign infrastructures and can be managed in various models, ranging from fully managed to co-managed or self-managed. This flexibility aligns with the industry’s move towards comprehensive, centralized management solutions that address the complexities of modern network and security requirements.
In conclusion, Versa Networks’ VersaONE provides an integrated, streamlined, and flexible approach to managing and securing diverse network environments. By bringing together key SASE components under one umbrella, it addresses the growing need for simplified, cost-effective, and efficient network and security management solutions.
