Viptela Connects Branch Networks To Cloud Viptela Inc. has launched a new service that extends its network fabric from branch networks to cloud platforms, including Amazon Web Services Inc. Cloud onRamp, the company’s new service, was launched last week. It promises to expand the reach of Viptela Fabric, which offers software-defined wide area network (SDWAN) and other services. Cloud onRamp can connect branch networks to Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) — AWS and Microsoft Azure — or Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) offerings — Salesforce, Microsoft Office 365 and NetSuite — in the cloud. It can create virtual instances of Viptela’s vEdge cloud router within the AWS and Azure cloud platforms. Viptela stated in a statement that these instances transform the cloud into an extension to the enterprise branch (as well as an extension to the datacenter). This optimizes the user-experience. Cloud onRamp allows you to create multiple VPNs over a single fabric by allowing you to segment public cloud workloads. The infrastructure is centrally managed for connectivity and security as well as policy and access control. [Click on the image to see a larger view.] The Viptela Cloud OnRamp IaaS Solutions (source: Viptela). Ariful Huq, Viptela’s blogger, provided more information on this aspect of the service. He stated that the traditional approach of making public clouds an extension of the datacenter has been abandoned and branches can now be connected directly to public cloud providers. Cloud onRamp uses vEdge Routers to work with SaaS applications such as Office 365 and Salesforce. They are installed in branch locations, regional colocation centers, or datacenters. This allows for performance monitoring and dynamically determining the best route on the Internet to reach the applications. According to the company, the vEdge routers are cloud gateways to SaaS resources. They provide real-time network optimization and application optimization in response to changing network conditions. Huq stated that Cloud onRamp for SaaS provides enterprises visibility into the availability, performance, and availability of SaaS applications from specified Internet exit points. These exit points could be the branch vEdge to Direct Internet Access (DIA), or remote Internet gateways that are hosted in the datacenter, regional DMZ. A Viptela Quality of Experience score (vQoE), which is available for more than 20 well-known applications, provides visibility to SaaS performance. The vQoE score is calculated using performance data from real time probes sent by designated vEdge routing agents towards the SaaS provider. Viptela’s Cloud onRamp can be used in the AWS Marketplace offering “Viptela vEdge Cloud Router.” It is described as an “Industry-leading virtualized SDWAN router with a centralized provisioning tool and management tool that can manage both on-premise and cloud deployments.” The marketplace entry includes pricing information and this description: Viptela vEdge cloud is a software router that supports all the capabilities of Viptela’s industry-leading SD-WAN platform. Customers can connect all branch and data center endpoints to the vEdge cloud router seamlessly and securely into public cloud environments. The vEdge Cloud Router’s value proposition includes: