Steelhead vs Versa Unified Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) Platform comparison

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Steelhead and Versa Unified Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) Platform based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out in this report how the two WAN Edge solutions compare in terms of features, pricing, service and support, easy of deployment, and ROI.
To learn more, read our detailed Steelhead vs. Versa Unified Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) Platform Report (Updated: March 2024).
770,292 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Featured Review
Quotes From Members
We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use.
Here are some excerpts of what they said:
Pros
"Scalable data referencing is a great feature.""It is very easy to install the solution.""I find the most valuable to be the compression and exchange replication.""The connectivity to speed is the valuable feature.""TCP optimization... caches a particular TCP connection and the next time a user uses that connection he will reach the destination easily.""The compression of Riverbed is very powerful. It can also handle large quantities of traffic.""One of our most valuable features is Steelhead's cloud migration optimization. Moving to the cloud helped optimize our workflow, improving performance for end-users.""The most valuable feature of Steelhead is its optimization capabilities."

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"The solution is stable and suitable.""Their dashboard is also a good point for us and the customer. The solution is very clean and easy.""The necessary enhancement pertains to the controller segment, specifically addressing the issue of frequent flapping when a link is left. In the case of Versa Unified, if a link experiences frequent flapping within an entire branch, it triggers instability. Hence, it is imperative that the overall routing system is not contingent solely upon the active dial branches.""The initial setup is simple.""Our customers are very satisfied with this solution. They have not mentioned any areas for improvement.""The flexibility is a great feature.""The division of Control Plane and Data Plane is most valuable. It can be deployed anywhere, and you can control it and configure it from anywhere. This is one of the good features of this solution.""Versa is a good centralized solution, where you're setting up your infrastructure in a data center type thing."

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Cons
"Steelhead's handling of encrypted traffic could be improved because it requires some complex configuration to optimize encrypted traffic, especially when working with Microsoft protocols for mail servers and VPN services""They should include a network switch in a future release.""The application response time of the solution can be improved.""The product needs improvement in its integration with SDN.""Application response time and network performance could be improved.""The solution needs to have alert notifications.""I would like to see improvement in the solution’s configuration and protocol aspects. We have got some configurations that are not set. I would also like to simplify the call detection of some protocols.""One area for improvement is related to monitoring and visibility."

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"The VPN feature is relatively new. It came out two releases ago, and they're still fixing that up.""The security should be improved.""The support needs to be improved.""The solution's current customer support is not that good. So, they need to improve that. Also, the solution's UI is quite complex, so they need to simplify it.""We've had the odd occasional stability issue with software upgrades.""Another thing that should be improved in Versa are their firewall features.""With the pandemic and changing work models, it would be ideal if the product more accessibility options or more diversity within the solution itself.""The UTM features can be improved. It should offer better functionality."

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Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "The solution is expensive and the service contacts are costly too. The cost of the device makes the value proposition borderline acceptable for us. The service contract fees we pay is approximately $30,000 annually."
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  • "The price is expensive but it makes sense for the market."
  • "It is not very expensive because of the white box support. Its hardware is much cheaper than other products. With the support for x86 and white box, it is one of the most cost-effective platforms that are currently available."
  • "While I cannot provide too much commentary on the price, I feel it to be fair for the moment."
  • "We provide subscriptions for our customers on a yearly, not monthly, basis."
  • "Price wise, it's more expensive than is the competition. I would give pricing a rating of three out of five."
  • "It is neither cheap nor expensive. I rate the pricing a five out of ten on a scale where one is cheap and ten is expensive."
  • "I find Versa a little more expensive than VMware in terms of remote access and secure web gateway elements."
  • More Versa Unified Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) Platform Pricing and Cost Advice →

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    Questions from the Community
    Top Answer:We just did an assessment for our 47 datacenters around North America. The top two enterprise-level network monitoring solutions were ExtraHop first, Riverbed SteelCenter second. Their negotiated cost… more »
    Top Answer:The connectivity to speed is the valuable feature.
    Top Answer:The application response time of the solution can be improved.
    Top Answer:Versa is a good centralized solution, where you're setting up your infrastructure in a data center type thing.
    Top Answer:Both Versa and VMware are cheap in terms of the router. I find Versa a little more expensive than VMware in terms of remote access and secure web gateway elements.
    Top Answer:We've had the odd occasional stability issue with software upgrades, etcetera. They don't support certain other third-party applications, which can be a bit limiting at times, whereas VMware seems to… more »
    Ranking
    15th
    out of 26 in WAN Edge
    Views
    1,395
    Comparisons
    752
    Reviews
    2
    Average Words per Review
    232
    Rating
    8.0
    9th
    out of 26 in WAN Edge
    Views
    3,719
    Comparisons
    2,775
    Reviews
    9
    Average Words per Review
    562
    Rating
    7.7
    Comparisons
    Also Known As
    RIverbed Steelhead
    Versa FlexVNF, FlexVNF, Versa Titan
    Learn More
    Riverbed
    Video Not Available
    Overview

    Steelhead is the leading network optimization and application performance solution chosen by over 30,000 organizations worldwide. The performance of networks and applications directly impacts business productivity. Riverbed draws from nearly two decades of experience in driving network and application performance over Wide Area Networks with its flagship offering, SteelHead. SteelHead delivers the underlying technology that helps enterprises of all sizes maximize the efficiency and performance of the networks and applications used to run modern business. 

    SteelHead is proven to dramatically speed up the performance of applications anywhere in the organization while delivering the best end-user experience even under sub optimal network conditions. Reduce bandwidth utilization by up to 95%, deferring costly network bandwidth upgrades. Increase performance by up to 100x for on-premises applications.

    The Versa Unified Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) Platform is a comprehensive solution that provides secure access to cloud applications and services. It combines networking and security functions into a single platform, making it easier for organizations to manage their network infrastructure. The platform includes features such as SD-WAN, VPN, firewall, web filtering, and more. It also offers advanced security capabilities such as intrusion prevention, malware protection, and threat intelligence. With the Versa SASE Platform, organizations can ensure secure access to their cloud applications and services from any location, while also reducing costs and simplifying network management.

    Sample Customers
    ElAraby, SFK Leblanc, Bobst Group, Northwest Pipe Company, Halkbank, Tradebridge, EFG Hermes
    CenturyLink, RCN Business, Colt Technology Services
    Top Industries
    REVIEWERS
    Government29%
    Energy/Utilities Company18%
    Construction Company6%
    Media Company6%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company17%
    Financial Services Firm13%
    Manufacturing Company11%
    Government11%
    REVIEWERS
    Comms Service Provider71%
    Construction Company14%
    Media Company7%
    Recreational Facilities/Services Company7%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company18%
    Financial Services Firm10%
    Manufacturing Company8%
    Retailer7%
    Company Size
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business14%
    Midsize Enterprise27%
    Large Enterprise59%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business19%
    Midsize Enterprise16%
    Large Enterprise64%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business37%
    Midsize Enterprise21%
    Large Enterprise42%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business26%
    Midsize Enterprise11%
    Large Enterprise63%
    Buyer's Guide
    Steelhead vs. Versa Unified Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) Platform
    March 2024
    Find out what your peers are saying about Steelhead vs. Versa Unified Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) Platform and other solutions. Updated: March 2024.
    770,292 professionals have used our research since 2012.

    Steelhead is ranked 15th in WAN Edge with 23 reviews while Versa Unified Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) Platform is ranked 9th in WAN Edge with 20 reviews. Steelhead is rated 8.2, while Versa Unified Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) Platform is rated 8.0. The top reviewer of Steelhead writes "Exceptionally stable and reliable but costly". On the other hand, the top reviewer of Versa Unified Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) Platform writes "A flexible, stable and scalable solution ". Steelhead is most compared with Fortinet FortiGate, Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN Platform, Citrix SD-WAN, Noction IRP and WAAS, whereas Versa Unified Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) Platform is most compared with Cisco SD-WAN, Fortinet FortiGate, VMware SD-WAN, Cato SASE Cloud Platform and Meraki SD-WAN. See our Steelhead vs. Versa Unified Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) Platform report.

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    We monitor all WAN Edge reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.