Versa Unveils its Vision for the SD-WAN

Versa Networks, a start-up based in Santa Clara, California, introduced its software-defined WAN portfolio and outlined its vision to transform how enterprises build their WAN and branch office networks. The Versa solution leverages virtualized network functions (VNF), programmability and dynamic provisioning to re-architect the WAN and branch network for much greater agility, cost efficiency and simpler operations.

The Versa VNF solution consists of three components that together create next generation WANs and branch networks:

• Versa FlexVNF: The core building block for Versa VNF solutions, which includes a broad set of virtualized network and security functions with carrier-grade multi-tenancy, programmability, service chaining, service elasticity and cost-effective deployment choices
• Versa Director: Single point of centralized control and management for both connectivity and services
• Versa Analytics: A real-time analytics engine that provides control, visibility, prediction and a feedback loop for adaptability

By eliminating proprietary hardware and truck rolls, the company estimates it can cut the total cost of ownership by up to 80%. For service providers and large enterprises, Versa said its solution changes the game by enabling multi-tenancy with the ability to provision and manage hundreds of individual customers or business subsidiaries.  Versa supports multi-service capabilties with automatic service chaining, enabling complex managed services and branch network architectures with multiple networking and security functions. The Versa VNFs run on commodity-off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware.

In its launch materials, Versa cited Orange and Colt.

http://www.versa-networks.com/products/

• Versa Networks was founded in 2012 by Kumar (CEO) and Apurva Mehta (CTO), who are credited with the development of the MX series routers at Juniper Networks.
• The company has raised $43 million in funding to date.  Investors include Sequoia, Verizon Ventures and Mayfield.