Silver Peak Unity EdgeConnect (Aruba) - Short Review

Product Overview: Silver Peak Unity EdgeConnect (Aruba)

The Silver Peak Unity EdgeConnect, now part of the HPE Aruba Networking portfolio, is a robust SD-WAN solution designed to meet the complex network and security needs of modern, cloud-first organizations. This platform integrates advanced SD-WAN capabilities with comprehensive security features, forming a foundational element of a Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) architecture.

Key Features and Functionality

Unified SASE Architecture

Unity EdgeConnect tightly integrates with HPE Aruba Networking’s Security Service Edge (SSE) to create a unified SASE platform. This integration ensures that the security requirements of digital organizations are met, providing a cohesive and secure network environment.

Zero-Touch Provisioning

The platform offers a plug-and-play deployment model, enabling rapid and simplified installation. Unity EdgeConnect devices can be deployed in seconds and automatically connect to other devices in branches, the data center, or the cloud.

Tunnel Bonding

This feature allows the formation of bonded tunnels by combining two or more physical WAN links into a single overlay connection. This aggregation enhances the overall performance and reliability of the network.

High Availability

Unity EdgeConnect ensures high availability by providing fault tolerance against hardware, software, and transport failures. This feature is crucial for maintaining uninterrupted network operations.

Advanced Security

The solution includes comprehensive security services such as next-generation firewalls, fine-grained segmentation, Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS), and Unified Threat Management (UTM). These features consolidate branch network and security functions, eliminating the need for legacy firewalls and routers.

WAN Optimization

With the optional Unity Boost software performance pack, EdgeConnect integrates WAN optimization technologies to enhance performance for latency-sensitive applications and those that transfer large amounts of data. This can be activated for critical applications without affecting less-sensitive ones.

SaaS Express

This feature provides real-time updates of WAN routes to ensure the quickest paths to Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications. It leverages synthetic polling to identify the best paths, optimizing SaaS application performance.

Orchestrator Management

Unity Orchestrator is a central management tool that allows enterprises to assign business intent policies, secure, and control applications across the WAN. It offers full visibility, control, and management of enterprise-wide SD-WAN deployments, including real-time and historical application visibility and reporting capabilities.

LTE Integration

Enterprises can easily add primary or backup high-speed LTE links using a plug-and-play HPE Aruba Networking USB LTE modem. This ensures optimal connections to critical applications even if primary connections fail or become unreliable.

Cloud Integration

Unity EdgeConnect is designed for cloud-first organizations, allowing for deployment in leading cloud providers such as AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and Equinix. It optimizes SaaS application performance and enforces security policies through intelligent traffic steering and real-time monitoring.

In summary, the Silver Peak Unity EdgeConnect is a powerful SD-WAN solution that combines advanced network management, robust security, and optimized performance, making it an ideal choice for organizations seeking to enhance their network infrastructure and security posture.