CloudGenix Launches CloudBlades Platform to Enable the Cloud-Delivered Branch

CloudGenix, the category leader in enterprise SD-WAN, announced the launch of its CloudBlades platform for the secure delivery of best-of-breed branch infrastructure from the cloud. With the CloudBlades platform, network (SD-WAN), security, voice, multi-cloud access, and operational tools can be delivered without additional hardware or software. Companies no longer need to compromise by using legacy hardware routers hosting mediocre infrastructure services. Enterprises can, for the very first time, deliver the entire branch as a cloud-service with cloud-scale economics and agility. They have the freedom to use any WAN, any cloud, and any best-of-breed infrastructure service. 

As businesses look to transform their remote offices by taking advantage of digital, cloud and artificial intelligence, the old ways of delivering IT infrastructure simply don’t work anymore. Remote office IT infrastructure has to be reimagined to be cloud-delivered rather than based on complex hardware or software stacks across five important infrastructure categories:

• WANs have to be unconstrained and highly reliable
• Security has to be pervasive across multi-cloud, SaaS and data centers
• Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS), voice and video have to be highly reliable
• Multi-cloud access has to be high-speed
• IT Operations have to be proactive

CloudBlades enables one-click, high-performance delivery of the above infrastructure services from the cloud, using best-of-breed providers in each category.

Traditionally, enterprises have deployed “hardware-blades” in a multi-function router or multiple appliances to the remote office. This approach limits IT infrastructure to hardware refresh cycles and places the burden of integration on the customer. With multi-function routers, customers suffer from vendor lock-in and must compromise their infrastructure with products that invariably suffer from poor quality and limited features.

CloudBlades Platform

CloudBlades enables agile delivery of branch infrastructure services and includes the following components:

• The CloudBlades Platform enables API based integration of the branch CPE directly with various cloud infrastructure services. The Platform provides secure, authenticated API access to CloudGenix CPE and systems; a centralized API for programming the app-flow engine at the CPE; integration with the CloudGenix UI without any code; access to CloudGenix telemetry; and the hosting of approved CloudBlades.
• CloudBlades: Individual CloudBlades provide pre-integrated delivery of various best-of-breed cloud services to the branch CPE, eliminating the need for complex integration by customers. Individual CloudBlades are created by CloudGenix as well as by partners, customers and other developers.
• The CloudGenix Instant-On-Network (ION) is Intel x86-based, lightweight CPE at the branch, this serves as the branch enforcement point for CloudBlades, and can simultaneously host CloudGenix’s award winning SD-WAN products.

CloudGenix has developed a comprehensive set of more than twenty CloudBlades across various infrastructure services, including with Palo Alto Networks, Zscaler, CheckPoint, Symantec, Microsoft, Equinix, Amazon, RingCentral, ServiceNow, PagerDuty, Slack etc. Customers and Partners who would have the freedom to build their own custom CloudBlades through the company’s CloudBlade Developer Program.

Individual CloudBlades

With the CloudBlades Platform enterprises can compose their branch with best-of-breed services knowing that they are pre-integrated and can be turned on with one click.

Network

CloudBlades gives enterprises the freedom to use any WAN. When customers choose CloudGenix Autonomous SD-WAN, their WAN is unconstrained and highly reliable. CloudGenix Autonomous SD-WAN uses global intelligence to deliver performance and security SLAs for all applications over any WAN-type. By providing app-policies aligned to business intent, direct access to multi-cloud and dev-ops frameworks, CloudGenix SD-WAN delivers unparalleled productivity gains and cost savings compared to gen-1 SD-WAN alternatives.

Security

To enable the delivery of Cloud-based security solutions, CloudBlades extends the branch perimeter to the closest Cloud Security node with high performance. CloudBlades available today include solutions with Palo Alto Networks, Zscaler, CheckPoint and Symantec.

Voice and video

Enterprises can confidently migrate from on-prem voice to Cloud-delivered voice and video knowing that CloudBlades provides the best SLA. CloudBlades available today include solutions with RingCentral, Skype, Fuze and Zoom.

Multi-Cloud

To enable multi-cloud access, CloudBlades connects the branch to nearby high-speed multi-cloud backbones delivering the best performance. CloudBlades available today include solutions with Microsoft, Amazon, Google and Equinix.

IT Operations

To enable proactive IT, CloudGenix not only provides deep application and network visibility, but also provides diagnostics integrated with other analytics systems. CloudBlades available today include solutions with ServiceNow, PagerDuty, CloudGenix Clarity and Slack.
“As businesses take advantage of the tremendous opportunity at the branch, they need a new model for the delivery of infrastructure services,” said Kumar Ramachandran, founder and CEO at CloudGenix. “Our CloudBlades platform allows enterprises to reimagine what’s possible. Not only do customers get the agility and freedom to choose best-of-breed, they also get to take advantage of cloud-scale economics. The days of the multi-function hardware router are officially at an end.”