11 September 2020

The firewall is offered as a managed or co-managed service running as a VNF. This allows Windstream to eliminate the need for additional security appliances at the branch

Windstream Enterprise, the provider of managed communications solutions, is giving its VMware VeloCloud SD-WAN service a virtual next-generation firewall.

The Arkansas-based firm added next-generation firewall capabilities to is VMware VeloCloud-based SD-WAN service in early August. The new offering aims to fortify customers’ WANs from increasingly sophisticated security threats.

“A security breach can be costly and damaging to brand reputation. Even a single incident can inflict long-lasting damage to a company’s reputation,” said Layne Levine, president at Windstream Enterprise, in a statement. “This new VNF [virtual network function] firewall managed service gives CIOs another tool to secure the networks at all locations without having to endure the time-consuming process of installing and maintaining separate security hardware.”

Mike Frane, VP of product management at Windstream, said the firewall is based on a third-party offering, but he didn’t disclose which security vendor Windstream was working with.

The firewall is offered as a managed or co-managed service running as a VNF. This allows Windstream to eliminate the need for additional security appliances at the branch. Instead, the firewall will run in tandem with its existing VeloCloud-based SD-WAN offering on VMware’s SD-WANEdge appliances.

Furthermore, the firewall will work with Windstream’s WE Connect network management portal, which enables customers to manage their network from a single unified interface.

Levine also said that Windstream will continue to roll out new functionality to its managed SD-WAN service to meet customer demand.