WedgeOS Support for SDN/OpenFlow Delivers a Streamlined Approach to Network Security Services in Next Gen Architectures

CALGARY, Alberta, Sept. 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Wedge Networks, the leader in unified, real-time content security and intelligence for high-performance networks, today announced that it has joined SDNCentral, the independent community for software-defined networking and network virtualization. Software Defined Networking (SDN) is an emerging architecture in computer networking that opens up the internal mechanism of switches and routers that were previously closed and proprietary.

Historically, adding security services into a user network required downtime to orchestrate a topology change while the network was being reconfigured. However, with the advent of software-defined networking, OpenFlow-enabled switches, combined with WedgeOS's network-services platform, provide a streamlined approach for the introduction of such security services in a non-intrusive manner with almost zero-integration time.

WedgeOS's support for SDN/OpenFlow provides an alternative pathway for cloud service providers and enterprise data centers to insert valuable security services into the data stream. As a provider of disruptive L4-7 security services, Wedge Networks has delivered one of the earliest demonstrations of a viable technique for the insertion of transparent services using SDN and OpenFlow.

Unlike Web Cache Communication Protocol (WCCP), policy-based routing, direct insertion or proxies, the SDN method has advantages over traditional methods. Bringing unparalleled value for cloud providers and data centers, the SDN method is:

• Transparent: Non-intrusive insertion of value-added security services.
• Efficient and high performing: Ability to pick up only relevant flows, direct them to the platform, while leaving other flows untouched. Using high-performance switches with fast fabrics means no unnecessary load on routers, compared to WCCP and policy-based routing (PBR).
• Dynamic and flexible: Service providers can dynamically decide which flows to direct to the platform and reconfigure them on the fly as required on a
  per-customer basis, alleviating the need for heavy engineering/integration with business and operations systems.

Supporting Quotes:

• Hongwen Zhang, president and CEO, Wedge Networks, said: "SDN takes the virtualization of servers, desktops and networking a step further whereby components of a switch or router can be virtualized. This allows the insertion of other networking services beyond pure routing and switching. By incorporating the WedgeOS content services platform, cloud and telecommunications service providers and enterprises now have the ability to leverage services like anti-malware, anti-spam and data loss prevention without the need for network downtime, redesign or re-architecting."

• Roy Chua, co-founder of SDNCentral, said: "SDN represents the next wave of innovation in networking. At SDNCentral, we are always on the lookout for interesting use cases and new capabilities that SDN enables. We welcome Wedge Networks to the community and look forward to them showcasing their approach to service insertion using SDN and their platform."

About Wedge Networks
Wedge Networks is the leader in real-time Content Security and Compliance solutions for enterprises and service providers. Our patented WedgeOS platform provides the next generation security infrastructure to detect, protect against, and control threats, information leaks, and allows future security functions to run on the network. At its core is our Deep Content Inspection technology, which moves beyond the application layer to allow full access to all content passing through the network in real time. It uniquely provides the most depth in scanning without compromising performance, loading clients, and remaining completely transparent to network traffic. Software systems and hardware appliances running on WedgeOS are deployed globally, delivering security protection for tens of millions of users in Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, internet service providers, and across all industry verticals. For more information, visit www.wedgenetworks.com.

About SDN Central
SDNCentral is an independent community for network virtualization and software‐defined networking (SDN). With over 20,000 members, SDNCentral is also one of the largest communities in the SDN space. SDNCentral's mission is to connect people, share information, and provide education and training for everyone interested in next generation networking. SDNCentral does this by offering services that expand the SDN community and accelerate SDN adoption including: events and webinars, live and online training, consulting, news aggregation, jobs exchange and referral services for connecting users and technology providers. SDNCentral is located on the web at http://www.sdncentral.com and on Twitter at @sdn_news and @sdn_tech. For media inquiries, contact [email protected] .

Contact:
Kim Dearborn
Nadel Phelan, Inc.
[email protected]
+1-831-440-2407

SOURCE Wedge Networks