Cato Networks, the cloud-native carrier, announced Hands-free Management for Cato Cloud, the only secure managed SD-WAN service built with the global reach and agility of the cloud. With Cato Hands-free Management, enterprises can offload network and security configuration and change management onto Cato or its partners. The new offering is the latest addition to Cato’s global SD-WAN service recently named†as a non-NSP representative vendor†in Gartner’s May 2019 Market Guide for Managed SD-WAN Services*. With Hands-free management, Cato becomes the first provider to bring self-service, co-managed, and fully managed options for its global SD-WAN service.††
“Cato gives companies the agility†and self-service†of the cloud with the predictability and performance of a managed service.†Cato Hands-free Management is a natural extension of that philosophy.†Enterprises can leave behind rigid, telco services and†advance to flexible†global SD-WAN services†where†management†models are customized to†meet†their†requirements,” says†Shlomo†Kramer, co-founder and CEO of Cato Networks.††
The Right Management Model to Meet Customer Needs†
IT leaders†have long appreciated the†ease†of†fully managed services†but have been frustrated by the†responsiveness of†legacy†telcos†to changing†business needs.†Cato†Hands-free†Management†brings†the†ease†of a fully managed services†to†Cato’s†global SD-WAN,†letting†organizations move†responsibility for†networking and security†configuration†to the expert staff at Cato or its partners.††
At the same time, enterprises can retain control of their networks through the self-service and co-management models already included with Cato Cloud. With self-service, enterprises realize unsurpassed agility by configuring and troubleshooting the networks themselves, doing in seconds what otherwise required hours or days with legacy†telcos.†For additional assistance, co-management allows customers to rely on ongoing support from Cato or its partners without relinquishing control for overall management.††
Along with†Cato†Hands-free†Management,†Cato Managed Services†include three other†offerings:†††
- Managed Threat Detection and Response (MDR)†continuously monitors†the network for compromised, malware-infected endpoints. Cato MDR uses a combination of machine learning algorithms†that†mine network traffic for indicators of compromise, and human verification of detected anomalies. Cato experts then guide customers on remediating compromised endpoints††
- Intelligent Last-Mile Management†provides†24√ó7, last-mile monitoring.†In case of an outage or performance degradation, Cato will work with the ISP to resolve the issue, providing all relevant information and keeping the customer informed on the progress.††
- Rapid†Site Deployment†provides†customers†with remote assistance in†deploying†Cato Sockets, Cato’s†zero-touch, SD-WAN device.††
Regardless†of the management model†in use,†Cato†retains responsibility for†the underlying Cato Cloud†infrastructure,†so customers do not need to upgrade, patch, or otherwise maintain Cato software†or hardware.†
Cato Brings†Managed†SD-WAN†Services†into The Digital Era†
Traditionally,†managed†network services†tied†the overlay (SD-WAN or MPLS) to the underlay (last-mile and backbone services).†Packaging the two together†simplified troubleshooting but also†limited IT agility,†leaving†enterprises†subject to the†telco’s†high costs and protracted deployment times.†Such an approach†is incompatible with†the†digital business†looking to be leaner and more agile, particularly as†the†network must increasingly connect†clouds,†mobile users, and†branch†locations†situated†outside of the†telco‘s operating area.††
Cato Cloud was uniquely designed for the needs of the digital business. Enterprises bring their†last–mile†access to Cato or procure last–mile services through Cato partners. They then connect to Cato’s global backbone through†any†local Internet access, freeing them from the lock-in of traditional telco services.† As a globally distributed cloud service, Cato seamlessly connects mobile and cloud resources, without being chained to specific geographical location or physical infrastructure.††
With Cato, organizations get the best of both worlds: the†peace†of mind of a managed service†with the speed and agility of self-service.†Cato†Hands-free†Management and the rest of Cato Managed Services are†currently†available.
