Cisco launches the new Catalyst series of WAN edge platforms

Cisco released some new updates for its software-defined WAN (Wide Area Network) SD-WAN portfolio. The updates include the launch of new edge platforms that the company has said represents the first enterprise routing platform of its kind from Cisco in almost ten years.

Cisco said that the platforms seek to combine SD-WAN with cloud security for enhanced integration and secure access to cloud apps.

The company went on to say that the new Catalyst 8000 Edge Platforms are great for those seeking cloud adoption, solutions for secure connectivity, and visibility to apps across the cloud, edge, and data center.

The Catalyst Family

The Catalyst 8000 Edge family is foundational to the intent-based networking portfolio it supports. It included the Catalyst 8000 Series Edge Platform, which Cisco designed for data center, colocation, and aggregation websites.

Related: Cisco needs time to make Intent-Based Networking successful

There’s the Catalyst 8300 Series Edge Platforms that deals with edge connectivity at branch sites and the Catalyst 8000v Edge Software that delivers all the software capabilities.

Cisco says that it is calling the devices ‘edge platforms’ instead of ‘routers’ because the way we define routers has changed in the past few years, to become more of a WAN edge device that connects through distributed locations, data centers, and the cloud.

Security, performance, and flexibility

With the increasing use of apps, workloads, and services across the edge-cloud continuum, organizations face the changing face of WAN edge.

With the Cisco Catalyst 8000 Edge Platforms bridging the WAN edge and cloud edge, they can now enjoy secure, high-performance connections for all users on any cloud while enjoying IT visibility and flexibility in doing business.

The Cisco Catalyst 8300 and 8500 models and Cisco Cellular Catalyst Gateways are available for purchase, while the Cisco Catalyst 8000v will be available a month from now in December.