Arista Networks to protect the edge, bolstering security SD-WAN stance

Arista Networks launched Edge Threat Management (ETM) for VeloCloud SD-WAN, an AI-infused security solution that packages zero trust branch office security with software-defined connectivity. The offering, which leverages Arista's generative AI assistant AVA, expands Arista's SD-WAN portfolio toward secure access service edge (SASE) capabilities, addressing what Dell'Oro Group analyst Mauricio Sanchez said was a 60% to 70% gap in Arista's SASE opportunity.

Arista Networks introduced an AI-infused edge threat solution to its SD-WAN suite. Edge Threat Management ETM for VeloCloud SD-WAN packages zero trust branch office security with software-defined connectivity, touting a common operating system, a uniform enforcement engine, and standardized end-to-end security policies. Arista also highlighted advanced firewall and threat prevention capabilities, zone-based segmentation, Geo-IP filtering, and domain name system DNS filtering. AI capabilities come from Arista's generative AI assistant Autonomous Virtual Assist AVA , which simplify complex security policies for security administrators. The offering expands upon Arista's VeloCloud acquisition from Broadcom https://www.sdxcentral.com/news/arista-buys-velocloud-from-broadcom/ with a security bent. Its ETM launch can be seen as a stepping stone to secure access service edge SASE offerings. Mauricio Sanchez, senior director for enterprise security and networking research at Dell’Oro Group, told this title last year that Arista needed to decide quickly whether to expand their SD-WAN market opportunity into a full SASE one. Sanchez claimed that as of last year, Arista covered 30% to 40% of the SASE opportunity. "That is net new for Arista, but that means that there's another 60% to 70% that is still there for them to take home," Sanchez added. Arista CEO Jayshree Ullal commented shortly after the VeloCloud deal wrapped https://www.sdxcentral.com/news/arista-cant-wait-to-tap-velocloud-channels/ that Arista would build more internally on "simple security, encryption, segmentation, firewall" while leaning on best-of-breed cloud partners so as to "not pretend to be something we're not.”