Azure picks Aryaka for new SD-WAN managed services provider program

Microsoft Azure announced on Monday that it has selected Aryaka as one of it first partners for a new managed services provider program.

The Microsoft Azure Networking Managed Services Provider (MSP) Program, which launched today, is offering Aryaka's SD-WAN and global managed service to simplify SD-WAN connectivity to Azure.

Integrating SD-WAN with cloud service providers has become a core strategy for SD-WAN vendors, such as Aryaka. Last year, VMware/VeloCloud and Azure announced an SD-WAN partnership. Also last year, Versa Networks announced it was partnering with Amazon Web Services to offer SD-WAN to AWS partners. Citrix and Riverbed have also announced the availability of their SD-WAN offerings on Microsoft Azure and AWS.

"Cloud on ramps and integration with the leading cloud suppliers is a key part of the SD-WAN competitive landscape." said Lee Doyle, principal analyst at Doyle Research. "Anything Aryaka does to improve the integration or user experience with Microsoft is obviously a benefit to its customers."

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Aryaka said it was the only SD-WAN vendor that was included in today's launch of Azure's new MSP program. The managed service offering includes an optimized architecture that helps enterprises better scale their Azure VNET deployments. It also provides a simplified branch to Azure VNET connectivity and a faster response to service activation and change, according to a Aryaka CMO Shashi Kiran.

According to IHS Markit, Aryaka ranked third overall behind VMware and Cisco, respectfully, in regards to total market share for the SD-WAN sector.