# Best WAN Optimization Software

## How Many WAN Optimization Software Products Does G2 Track?

**Total Products under this Category:** 30

### Category Stats (Jul 2026)

- **Average Rating:** 4.41/5 The average rating of products in this category, based on all submitted ratings
- **Top Trending Product:** Barracuda CloudGen Firewall (+0.2%) - Among all products in this category, Barracuda CloudGen Firewall recorded the largest rating increase compared to last month

_Last updated: July 31, 2026_

## How Does G2 Rank WAN Optimization Software Products?

**Why You Can Trust G2's Software Rankings:**

- 30 Analysts and Data Experts
- 200+ Authentic Reviews
- 30+ Products
- Unbiased Rankings

G2's software rankings are built on verified user reviews, rigorous moderation, and a consistent research methodology maintained by a team of analysts and data experts. Each product is measured using the same transparent criteria, with no paid placement or vendor influence. While reviews reflect real user experiences, which can be subjective, they offer valuable insight into how software performs in the hands of professionals. Together, these inputs power the G2 Score, a standardized way to compare tools within every category.

## G2 Grid® for WAN Optimization Software
 ![G2 Grid® for WAN Optimization Software plotting products by satisfaction and market presence](https://www.g2.com/categories/wan-optimization/grids.png?focus%5B%5D=1058&focus%5B%5D=71356&focus%5B%5D=68789&focus%5B%5D=71548&focus%5B%5D=99308)

Highlighted products: Barracuda CloudGen Firewall, WAN Optimization, Akamai Ion, Riverbed SteelHead, and HorizonIQ Network.

Underlying data: [Grid® JSON](https://www.g2.com/categories/wan-optimization/grids.json?focus%5B%5D=barracuda-cloudgen-firewall&focus%5B%5D=wan-optimization&focus%5B%5D=akamai-ion&focus%5B%5D=riverbed-steelhead&focus%5B%5D=horizoniq-network)

### [Barracuda CloudGen Firewall](https://www.g2.com/products/barracuda-cloudgen-firewall/reviews)

Barracuda's Cloud Generation Firewalls redefine the role of the Firewall from a perimeter security solution to a distributed network optimization solution that scales across any number of locations and applications, connects on-premises and cloud infrastructures, and helps organizations transform their business.

**Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0

**Total Reviews:** 52

#### Who Is the Company Behind Barracuda CloudGen Firewall?

- **Seller:** [Barracuda](https://www.g2.com/sellers/barracuda)
- **Year Founded:** 2002
- **HQ Location:** Campbell, CA
- **Twitter:** @Barracuda  
15,239 Twitter followers
- **LinkedIn® Page:** [www.linkedin.com](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bsource_type%5D=product_profile&secure%5Btoken%5D=f781b15d43db259998c089a305a16438e46ef7f458b40ed200cb81a2a683bea5&secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fcompany%2Fbarracuda-networks%2F&secure%5Burl_type%5D=linkedin_company_website)  
2,248 employees on LinkedIn®
- **Ownership:** Private

#### Who Uses This Product?

- **Top Industries:** Information Technology and Services
- **Company Size:** 58% Medium, 23% Large

#### What Do G2 Reviewers Say About Barracuda CloudGen Firewall?

_AI-generated summary from verified user reviews_

##### Pros

- Users value the **centralized management** capability, facilitating efficient control across on-premise and cloud environments.
- Users value the **advanced security features** and **centralized management** of Barracuda CloudGen Firewall, enhancing network efficiency.
- Users value the **network connectivity** of Barracuda CloudGen Firewall for its superior monitoring and control capabilities.
- Users value the **versatility** of Barracuda CloudGen Firewall, appreciating its integration in both on-premise and cloud environments.
- Users value the **advanced security features** of Barracuda CloudGen Firewall, enhancing protection through IPS, web filtering, and antimalware.

##### Cons

- Users find the **complex configuration** challenging, especially for those new to the Barracuda CloudGen Firewall.
- Users report **compatibility issues** with Barracuda CloudGen Firewall, causing frustration during setup and usage.
- Users often face **complex configuration** challenges, making it difficult for new users to navigate the Barracuda CloudGen Firewall.
- Users face **dependency issues** due to limited configuration software availability and lack of Wireguard support for integration.
- Users find the **licencing and subscription costs quite expensive** , impacting the overall value of the Barracuda CloudGen Firewall.

#### What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Barracuda CloudGen Firewall?

**["Amazing Firewall Device"](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/barracuda-cloudgen-firewall-review-5297478)**

**Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars

_— Nadim M._

[Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/barracuda-cloudgen-firewall-review-5297478)

**["Enterprise-Level Firewall at a Great Value, with Unmatched Barracuda Support"](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/barracuda-cloudgen-firewall-review-12804704)**

**Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars

_— Paul M._

[Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/barracuda-cloudgen-firewall-review-12804704)

#### What Are G2 Users Discussing About Barracuda CloudGen Firewall?

- [What is CloudGen firewall?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-cloudgen-firewall)
- [What does Barracuda software do?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-does-barracuda-software-do)
- [Is Barracuda a good firewall?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-barracuda-a-good-firewall)
- [What platforms does CloudGen firewall support?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-platforms-does-cloudgen-firewall-support)

### [WAN Optimization](https://www.g2.com/products/wan-optimization/reviews)

Accelerate your applications and optimize quality of experience for your users.

**Average Rating:** 4.3/5.0

**Total Reviews:** 10

#### Who Is the Company Behind WAN Optimization?

- **Seller:** [Cisco](https://www.g2.com/sellers/cisco)
- **Year Founded:** 1984
- **HQ Location:** San Jose, CA
- **Twitter:** @Cisco  
720,366 Twitter followers
- **LinkedIn® Page:** [www.linkedin.com](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bsource_type%5D=product_profile&secure%5Btoken%5D=476aeabc5a712d049453edd5c54ea0318890d9e60d93782e37fe028224df1cbd&secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fcompany%2Fcisco%2F&secure%5Burl_type%5D=linkedin_company_website)  
95,545 employees on LinkedIn®
- **Ownership:** NASDAQ:CSCO

#### Who Uses This Product?

- **Company Size:** 75% Large, 17% Medium

#### What Are Recent G2 Reviews of WAN Optimization?

**["Improves Network Performance"](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/wan-optimization-review-5237678)**

**Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars

_— shoeb a._

[Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/wan-optimization-review-5237678)

**["Amazing architectural solution."](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/wan-optimization-review-5272028)**

**Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars

_— Basudev K._

[Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/wan-optimization-review-5272028)

#### What Are G2 Users Discussing About WAN Optimization?

- [What is functionality of Riverbed SteelHead solution?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/wan-optimization-what-is-functionality-of-riverbed-steelhead-solution)
- [How do I optimize WAN bandwidth?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/how-do-i-optimize-wan-bandwidth)
- [Why do we need WAN optimization?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/why-do-we-need-wan-optimization)
- [What does WAN optimization do?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-does-wan-optimization-do)

### [Akamai Ion](https://www.g2.com/products/akamai-ion/reviews)

Automated acceleration to deliver the best website and mobile app experiences imaginable

**Average Rating:** 4.4/5.0

**Total Reviews:** 19

#### Who Is the Company Behind Akamai Ion?

- **Seller:** [Akamai Technologies](https://www.g2.com/sellers/akamai-technologies)
- **Year Founded:** 1998
- **HQ Location:** Cambridge, MA
- **Twitter:** @Akamai  
115,251 Twitter followers
- **LinkedIn® Page:** [www.linkedin.com](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bsource_type%5D=product_profile&secure%5Btoken%5D=ef68544ee0e5420e867683943b35e643907abf1267f09b35a34a6aca70d4db04&secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fcompany%2F3925%2F&secure%5Burl_type%5D=linkedin_company_website)  
10,552 employees on LinkedIn®
- **Ownership:** NASDAQ:AKAM

#### Who Uses This Product?

- **Company Size:** 58% Large, 21% Small

#### What Do G2 Reviewers Say About Akamai Ion?

_AI-generated summary from verified user reviews_

##### Pros

- Users highlight the **exceptional reliability** of Akamai Ion, ensuring consistent performance and minimal downtime for their applications.
- Users highlight the **fast and reliable performance** of Akamai Ion, significantly enhancing website speed and user experience.
- Users appreciate the **performance optimization** of Akamai Ion, enhancing user experience across devices and networks effectively.
- Users value the **real-time analytics** of Akamai Ion for optimizing online presence and improving user experience effectively.
- Users appreciate the **ease of use** of Akamai Ion, benefiting from seamless integration and reliable performance.

##### Cons

- Users find the **complex configuration** of Akamai Ion challenging, especially for small businesses seeking ease of use.
- Users feel Akamai Ion is **expensive** , making it challenging for small businesses to adopt and integrate effectively.
- Users find **integration complexity** and high costs challenging, particularly for small businesses implementing Akamai Ion.
- Users find the **hidden costs** of Akamai Ion challenging, especially concerning budget constraints and integration challenges.
- Users express frustration with **poor customer support** , citing long wait times for issue resolution while using Akamai Ion.

#### What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Akamai Ion?

**["Though Akamai is one of the oldest CDNs, it is considered as the largest, most reliable global CDN."](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/akamai-ion-review-9335147)**

**Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars

_— Koushik K._

[Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/akamai-ion-review-9335147)

**["Best online performance optimization platform"](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/akamai-ion-review-9418660)**

**Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars

_— Avadhesh S._

[Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/akamai-ion-review-9418660)

#### What Are G2 Users Discussing About Akamai Ion?

- [What is Akamai Direct Connect used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-akamai-direct-connect-used-for)
- [What is Akamai Ion used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-akamai-ion-used-for)
- [What is Akamai Cloud Wrapper used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-akamai-cloud-wrapper-used-for)

### [Riverbed SteelHead](https://www.g2.com/products/riverbed-steelhead/reviews)

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. In today’s hybrid world of cloud workloads, SaaS applications, Internet Broadband and MPLS, the SteelHead family of products and solutions is built upon 4 core principles required for any organization interested in making sure networks and apps perform reliably and securely while enhancing the user experience.

**Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0

**Total Reviews:** 10

#### Who Is the Company Behind Riverbed SteelHead?

- **Seller:** [Riverbed Technology](https://www.g2.com/sellers/riverbed-technology)
- **Year Founded:** 2002
- **HQ Location:** San Francisco, CA
- **Twitter:** @RIVERBED  
23,829 Twitter followers
- **LinkedIn® Page:** [www.linkedin.com](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bsource_type%5D=product_profile&secure%5Btoken%5D=c3efc6a53acbe57fa2c4058aa212b001a7413136793eb03da8dc83271940bf28&secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fcompany%2F7796%2F&secure%5Burl_type%5D=linkedin_company_website)  
1,589 employees on LinkedIn®

#### Who Uses This Product?

- **Company Size:** 69% Large, 23% Medium

#### What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Riverbed SteelHead?

**["A device that can do a big thing"](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/riverbed-steelhead-review-5322395)**

**Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars

_— Saad u._

[Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/riverbed-steelhead-review-5322395)

**["Steelhead is a world leader in Wan optimization"](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/riverbed-steelhead-review-5208799)**

**Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars

_— Niketan S._

[Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/riverbed-steelhead-review-5208799)

#### What Are G2 Users Discussing About Riverbed SteelHead?

- [What does Riverbed Technology do?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-does-riverbed-technology-do) - 1 comment
- [What is SteelHead CX?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-steelhead-cx) - 1 comment
- [What does SteelHead Mobile do?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-does-steelhead-mobile-do)
- [What is functionality of Riverbed SteelHead solution?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-functionality-of-riverbed-steelhead-solution)

### [HorizonIQ Network](https://www.g2.com/products/horizoniq-network/reviews)

HorizonIQ’s Connectivity services provide high-performance, enterprise-grade networking across data centers, cloud environments, and edge locations. Solutions include private transport, cloud on-ramps, IP transit, and direct internet access, all designed for low latency, high availability, and secure data transfer. Built on a redundant, nationwide backbone, our network infrastructure supports scalable and resilient connectivity for critical workloads.

**Average Rating:** 4.4/5.0

**Total Reviews:** 11

#### Who Is the Company Behind HorizonIQ Network?

- **Seller:** [HorizonIQ](https://www.g2.com/sellers/horizoniq)
- **Year Founded:** 1996
- **HQ Location:** Norcross, GA
- **Twitter:** @PoweredbyHIQ  
4,295 Twitter followers
- **LinkedIn® Page:** [www.linkedin.com](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bsource_type%5D=product_profile&secure%5Btoken%5D=94125c022ac4f9fa71aa66db48ccfea584a63f64b7f893fac49b871a3a80e446&secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fcompany%2Finap%2F&secure%5Burl_type%5D=linkedin_company_website)  
620 employees on LinkedIn®
- **Phone:** 1-877-843-7627

#### Who Uses This Product?

- **Top Industries:** Telecommunications
- **Company Size:** 55% Large, 36% Small

#### What Are Recent G2 Reviews of HorizonIQ Network?

**["INAP Network scales up the system."](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/horizoniq-network-review-7648065)**

**Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars

_— Harsh P._

[Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/horizoniq-network-review-7648065)

**["INAP’s ability to support the volume and scale we need helps us bring extraordinary ideas to life"](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/horizoniq-network-review-7552720)**

**Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars

_— Abhishek S._

[Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/horizoniq-network-review-7552720)

#### What Are G2 Users Discussing About HorizonIQ Network?

- [What is INAP Network used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-inap-network-used-for)

### [Lumen SD-WAN](https://www.g2.com/products/lumen-sd-wan/reviews)

CenturyLink® SD-WAN solutions integrate disparate connectivity types into a seamless hybrid software-defined WAN for complete visibility and enhanced performance of your entire network ecosystem through a centralized customer portal.​ CenturyLink was recently recognized with the Frost and Sullivan Innovation and Leadership Award for SD-WAN in North America to go along with our 2017 MEF Award as the Best SD-WAN Managed Service of the Year, Worldwide. CenturyLink® SD-WAN with hybrid connectivity is a complete WAN solution to support secure, scalable networks across a full range of connectivity types. Our SD-WAN solutions integrates disparate connectivity types into a seamless hybrid software-defined WAN. It utilizes aggregated and customer provided circuits including a mix of MPLS, Dedicated Internet, low cost Broadband Internet, LTE based on your site and application requirements.  SD-WAN gives you complete visibility of the entire WAN through a centralized customer portal.  Branches can get out to the internet/cloud directly without having to hairpin through a central HQ, for improved performance. CenturyLink SD-WAN can help improve application performance features like application-aware routing and QoS.​ CenturyLink was recently recognized with the Frost and Sullivan Innovation and Leadership Award for SD-WAN in North America to go along with the 2017 MEF Award as the Best SD-WAN Managed Service of the Year, Worldwide. We offer Complete Managed / Co- Managed Global Hybrid Network Solution​s including: • WAN design, deployment, initial configuration, site activation, 24/7 support​ • Multiple CPE options, including x86 with SD-WAN software provided ​ • Flexible transport options: MPLS, Broadband, LTE, Internet or BYON​ • Centralized administration control via CenturyLink portal​ Security​ • Authentication, key exchange and encryption​ • Advanced security options: Built-In next-generation firewall, Dashboards and analytics and Detailed event logs ​ Application Performance​ • Automatic, customer and pre-defined identification for 2,800+ applications for policy-based control​ • Application QOS: Prioritization, Policing and Shaping & Marking​ • Optimal Path Selection​ Analytics and Reporting Tools​ • Historical analytics and near real-time reporting​ • Appliance, circuit, policy, application and VRF utilization​ • SD-WAN availability, packet loss, jitter and latency performance​ • Near real-time visibility and troubleshooting tools

**Average Rating:** 3.3/5.0

**Total Reviews:** 10

#### Who Is the Company Behind Lumen SD-WAN?

- **Seller:** [Lumen Technologies](https://www.g2.com/sellers/lumen-technologies)
- **Year Founded:** 1930
- **HQ Location:** Monroe, LA
- **Twitter:** @lumentechco  
9,154 Twitter followers
- **LinkedIn® Page:** [www.linkedin.com](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bsource_type%5D=product_profile&secure%5Btoken%5D=bc4fef0fb816160b3c61d5e8cae1b60a9ba740ef91c8417ea60ca7d20f42ad59&secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fcompany%2Flumentechnologies%2F&secure%5Burl_type%5D=linkedin_company_website)  
49,367 employees on LinkedIn®
- **Ownership:** NYSE:LUMN

#### Who Uses This Product?

- **Company Size:** 80% Medium, 10% Large

#### What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Lumen SD-WAN?

**["Lumen has a solid network and a leader in ISP's"](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/lumen-sd-wan-review-5187627)**

**Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars

_— Justin J._

[Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/lumen-sd-wan-review-5187627)

**["Lumen is great but pricey"](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/lumen-sd-wan-review-5180049)**

**Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars

_— Verified User in Construction_

[Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/lumen-sd-wan-review-5180049)

#### What Are G2 Users Discussing About Lumen SD-WAN?

- [What is Lumen SD-WAN used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-lumen-sd-wan-used-for)

### [Fatpipe WAN Optimization](https://www.g2.com/products/fatpipe-wan-optimization/reviews)

FatPipe Networks WAN Optimization technology offers the highest performance level of WAN Optimization and optimization available using patented and patent pending technology. With FatPipe WAN Optimization, you can significantly boost your Wide Area Network performance. This is possible through acceleration of your applications, better utilization of your current WAN infrastructure that would ultimately result in saving you thousands of dollars a year on additional hardware, software and bandwidth costs. FatPipe WAN Optimization appreciably increases WAN utilization, providing effective use of WAN bandwidth by caching/compressing that sharply reduces redundant data on a WAN. FatPipe is the first to market and the only provider of WAN Optimization and optimization technology that can work across multiple WANs. Not only can you optimize your WAN traffic, you can achieve the highest level of WAN redundancy and reliability. Additionally, unlike other WAN optimization/acceleration products that provide WAN caching at the file level, FatPipe WAN caching works at the file as well as the byte level. Smaller granularity results in greater levels of detected redundancies, and more de-duplication and less retransmission, giving you the highest level of WAN optimization available.

**Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0

**Total Reviews:** 6

#### Who Is the Company Behind Fatpipe WAN Optimization?

- **Seller:** [FatPipe Networks](https://www.g2.com/sellers/fatpipe-networks)
- **Year Founded:** 1989
- **HQ Location:** Salt Lake City, Utah
- **Twitter:** @fatpipe\_inc  
1,086 Twitter followers
- **LinkedIn® Page:** [www.linkedin.com](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bsource_type%5D=product_profile&secure%5Btoken%5D=725cc2af2dd2ee4a824f71851f37a43cf3f3e2270d66b32c874e5f66da5379f7&secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fcompany%2F35943&secure%5Burl_type%5D=linkedin_company_website)  
269 employees on LinkedIn®

#### Who Uses This Product?

- **Company Size:** 50% Medium, 33% Small

#### What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Fatpipe WAN Optimization?

**["FatPipe has excellent performance, ease of use and great support!"](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/fatpipe-wan-optimization-review-10446451)**

**Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars

_— Keith E._

[Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/fatpipe-wan-optimization-review-10446451)

**["Performance Delivered"](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/fatpipe-wan-optimization-review-9696991)**

**Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars

_— Arnav R._

[Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/fatpipe-wan-optimization-review-9696991)

#### What Are G2 Users Discussing About Fatpipe WAN Optimization?

- [What is Fatpipe WAN Optimization used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-fatpipe-wan-optimization-used-for)

### [Ipanema SD-WAN](https://www.g2.com/products/ipanema-sd-wan/reviews)

Ipanema SD-WAN paves the way for unprecedented application performance on your network. Application intelligence that transforms your user experience.

**Average Rating:** 4.3/5.0

**Total Reviews:** 5

#### Who Is the Company Behind Ipanema SD-WAN?

- **Seller:** [Extreme Networks](https://www.g2.com/sellers/extreme-networks)
- **Year Founded:** 1996
- **HQ Location:** Morrisville, US
- **Twitter:** @ExtremeNetworks  
29,449 Twitter followers
- **LinkedIn® Page:** [www.linkedin.com](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bsource_type%5D=product_profile&secure%5Btoken%5D=12b04262945331ee3b986c3d252b6a61df053864cbb2e060c49e43a5fca6e683&secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fcompany%2F4761%2F&secure%5Burl_type%5D=linkedin_company_website)  
4,055 employees on LinkedIn®
- **Ownership:** NASDAQ: EXTR

#### Who Uses This Product?

- **Company Size:** 60% Medium, 40% Large

#### What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Ipanema SD-WAN?

**["Very efficient product, easy to deploy and operate"](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/ipanema-sd-wan-review-6870595)**

**Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars

_— Abdallah A._

[Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/ipanema-sd-wan-review-6870595)

**["Best WAN Optimization Solution for everyone"](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/ipanema-sd-wan-review-6486073)**

**Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars

_— Abhishek R._

[Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/ipanema-sd-wan-review-6486073)

#### What Are G2 Users Discussing About Ipanema SD-WAN?

- [What is Ipanema SD-WAN used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-ipanema-sd-wan-used-for)

### [Multi-Cloud SD-WAN Solution](https://www.g2.com/products/multi-cloud-sd-wan-solution/reviews)

Teridion is a superior cloud-based global connectivity platform. Teridion’s network delivers high-performance WAN as a service to enterprise customers worldwide. The company was founded 2013 by Internet routing and cloud veterans. Teridion is led by experienced leadership and backed by seasoned investors. The company prides itself on its patented technology (since 2015) that delivers superior performance and true innovation in the world of enterprise connectivity.

**Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0

**Total Reviews:** 4

#### Who Is the Company Behind Multi-Cloud SD-WAN Solution?

- **Seller:** [Teridion](https://www.g2.com/sellers/teridion)
- **Year Founded:** 2014
- **HQ Location:** Raanana, IL
- **LinkedIn® Page:** [www.linkedin.com](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bsource_type%5D=product_profile&secure%5Btoken%5D=628c3cc830f4a77dd8f86a94cff6607229e8c8ec25a9ed5a6ac1a079ddbc4ca9&secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fcompany%2Fteridion%2F&secure%5Burl_type%5D=linkedin_company_website)  
54 employees on LinkedIn®

#### Who Uses This Product?

- **Company Size:** 50% Small, 50% Medium

#### What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Multi-Cloud SD-WAN Solution?

**["Simplified Connectivity"](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/multi-cloud-sd-wan-solution-review-5222324)**

**Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars

_— Verified User in Online Media_

[Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/multi-cloud-sd-wan-solution-review-5222324)

**["Best network connectivity for all our global sites"](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/multi-cloud-sd-wan-solution-review-7536933)**

**Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars

_— Vivek V._

[Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/multi-cloud-sd-wan-solution-review-7536933)

#### What Are G2 Users Discussing About Multi-Cloud SD-WAN Solution?

- [What is Multi-Cloud SD-WAN Solution used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-multi-cloud-sd-wan-solution-used-for)

### [WAN Optimization](https://www.g2.com/products/wanos-wan-optimization/reviews)

Reduce bandwidth cost and Accelerate application speeds with WAN Optimization. Wan Optimization reduce network costs and accelerate network speeds through TCP Acceleration, Compression, Byte-Caching, Packet Loss Recovery, Caching and related techniques.

**Average Rating:** 3.9/5.0

**Total Reviews:** 4

#### Who Is the Company Behind WAN Optimization?

- **Seller:** [Wanos](https://www.g2.com/sellers/wanos)
- **Year Founded:** 2011
- **HQ Location:** Cape Town, ZA
- **Twitter:** @WanosNetworks  
118 Twitter followers
- **LinkedIn® Page:** [www.linkedin.com](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bsource_type%5D=product_profile&secure%5Btoken%5D=df4f592b9cb448d420f51da0c23560b335bd0fb59e5d91467283361c9406fea2&secure%5Burl%5D=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fcompany%2Fwanos%2F&secure%5Burl_type%5D=linkedin_company_website)  
2 employees on LinkedIn®

#### Who Uses This Product?

- **Company Size:** 75% Small, 25% Medium

#### What Are Recent G2 Reviews of WAN Optimization?

**["Wan optimization is really challenging issue every organisation."](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/wan-optimization-review-7353242)**

**Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars

_— Malliga A._

[Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/wan-optimization-review-7353242)

**["WAN Optimization with SDWAN"](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/wan-optimization-review-5264623)**

**Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars

_— Mike M._

[Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/wan-optimization-review-5264623)

### [Windstream OfficeSuite UC](https://www.g2.com/products/windstream-officesuite-uc/reviews)

100% cloud-based phone, mobility and unified communications system to give your businesses a collaborative edge.

**Average Rating:** 4.1/5.0

**Total Reviews:** 27

#### Who Is the Company Behind Windstream OfficeSuite UC?

- **Seller:** [Windstream Enterprise](https://www.g2.com/sellers/windstream-enterprise-265c93a8-4df1-40f4-8ece-367fef6faa72)
- **Year Founded:** 2006
- **HQ Location:** Little Rock, AR
- **LinkedIn® Page:** [www.linkedin.com](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bsource_type%5D=product_profile&secure%5Btoken%5D=86a076d3f65fb85643da3aeed27871a03b0a2a04aa1ea0410a7a9800e161c48a&secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fcompany%2Fwindstream-enterprise%2F&secure%5Burl_type%5D=linkedin_company_website)  
8,390 employees on LinkedIn®

#### Who Uses This Product?

- **Company Size:** 60% Medium, 57% Small

#### What Do G2 Reviewers Say About Windstream OfficeSuite UC?

_AI-generated summary from verified user reviews_

##### Pros

- Users appreciate the **ease of use** of Windstream OfficeSuite UC, enjoying reliable calls with good audio quality.
- Users appreciate the **excellent call quality** and user-friendly interface of Windstream OfficeSuite UC for smooth communication.
- Users value the **reliability** of Windstream OfficeSuite UC, finding it user-friendly and dependable for their needs.

##### Cons

- Users frequently face **access issues** with Windstream OfficeSuite UC, including being logged out and difficulties with the texting feature.
- Users often face **login issues and difficulties with the texting feature** , complicating their experience with OfficeSuite UC.
- Users experience **performance issues** with Windstream OfficeSuite UC, particularly regarding slow recovery after system downtime.

#### What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Windstream OfficeSuite UC?

**["Mostly Dependable"](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/windstream-officesuite-uc-review-6941861)**

**Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars

_— Michele H._

[Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/windstream-officesuite-uc-review-6941861)

**["Very Good Phone System Solution"](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/windstream-officesuite-uc-review-5235493)**

**Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars

_— Verified User in Insurance_

[Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/windstream-officesuite-uc-review-5235493)

#### What Are G2 Users Discussing About Windstream OfficeSuite UC?

- [How do I use my Windstream enterprise phone?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/how-do-i-use-my-windstream-enterprise-phone)
- [Does Windstream have VoIP?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/does-windstream-have-voip)
- [What is windstream OfficeSuite?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-windstream-officesuite)
- [What is OfficeSuite UC?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-officesuite-uc)

### [Aryaka WAN Optimization as-a-Service](https://www.g2.com/products/aryaka-wan-optimization-as-a-service/reviews)

Aryaka's WAN Optimization as-a-Service is a cloud-based solution designed to enhance network efficiency and application performance for globally distributed enterprises. By integrating WAN optimization technology with a global private network, Aryaka delivers accelerated access to both on-premises and cloud-based applications, ensuring seamless connectivity and improved user experience. Key Features and Functionality: - Global Private Network: Utilizes a private, low-latency backbone to bypass congested public internet routes, providing reliable and high-performance connectivity. - Multi-Segment TCP Optimization: Employs patented techniques to minimize latency and congestion, enhancing the performance of TCP and UDP traffic. - Application Proxies: Implements advanced proxies for protocols like SSL, CIFS, and SMB, reducing latency and improving responsiveness for WAN-intolerant applications. - Data Deduplication and Compression: Reduces file sizes before transmission, optimizing bandwidth usage and accelerating data transfer. - Intelligent Path Selection and Load Balancing: Dynamically selects optimal paths and balances traffic across multiple links to ensure consistent performance. - Packet Loss Recovery: Utilizes proprietary error correction algorithms to recover lost packets, maintaining data integrity and connection stability. Primary Value and User Solutions: Aryaka's WAN Optimization as-a-Service addresses common challenges faced by enterprises relying on traditional WANs, such as high latency, packet loss, and inconsistent application performance. By providing a cloud-native, fully managed solution, Aryaka enables businesses to: - Enhance Application Performance: Accelerate access to critical applications, including SaaS platforms and cloud services, leading to increased productivity and user satisfaction. - Achieve Cost Efficiency: Eliminate the need for expensive hardware appliances and reduce reliance on costly MPLS circuits, resulting in lower total cost of ownership. - Ensure Scalability and Agility: Rapidly deploy and scale network services to meet evolving business needs without the complexities associated with traditional WAN solutions. - Improve Network Visibility and Control: Gain comprehensive insights into network performance and application usage, facilitating proactive management and optimization. By leveraging Aryaka's WAN Optimization as-a-Service, enterprises can overcome the limitations of legacy WAN infrastructures, ensuring secure, high-performance connectivity that supports modern cloud-first environments.

**Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0

**Total Reviews:** 3

#### Who Is the Company Behind Aryaka WAN Optimization as-a-Service?

- **Seller:** [Aryaka Networks](https://www.g2.com/sellers/aryaka-networks)
- **Year Founded:** 2009
- **HQ Location:** Santa Clara
- **Twitter:** @AryakaNetworks  
12,071 Twitter followers
- **LinkedIn® Page:** [www.linkedin.com](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bsource_type%5D=product_profile&secure%5Btoken%5D=a86c67b8fe203d275d75f7cbcaf3b6657e336cf7facd11af03f63e92d7ee4161&secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fcompany%2F304863%2F&secure%5Burl_type%5D=linkedin_company_website)  
558 employees on LinkedIn®

#### Who Uses This Product?

- **Company Size:** 67% Large, 33% Medium

#### What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Aryaka WAN Optimization as-a-Service?

**["Excellent Optimization tool"](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/aryaka-wan-optimization-as-a-service-review-5274725)**

**Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars

_— Sweta S._

[Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/aryaka-wan-optimization-as-a-service-review-5274725)

**["This is 50 times faster application I have ever seen"](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/aryaka-wan-optimization-as-a-service-review-5273172)**

**Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars

_— Deepika ._

[Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/aryaka-wan-optimization-as-a-service-review-5273172)

#### What Are G2 Users Discussing About Aryaka WAN Optimization as-a-Service?

- [What is Aryaka WAN Optimization as-a-Service used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-aryaka-wan-optimization-as-a-service-used-for)

### [Exinda Network Orchestrator](https://www.g2.com/products/exinda-network-orchestrator/reviews)

Exinda Network Orchestrator is built for network managers and administrators who want one solution to handle the way users, traffic, devices, and applications behave on the network. With Exinda Network Orchestrator, you will be able to: • Ensure reliable performance for critical applications • Identify and control bandwidth hogs • Monitor and understand network activity Exinda Network Orchestrator empowers IT to ensure reliable performance for network dependent applications, reduce the impact of non-strategic internet traffic, and diagnose and resolve network problems quickly. Manage network performance by focusing on the user experience of key applications.

**Average Rating:** 4.7/5.0

**Total Reviews:** 3

#### Who Is the Company Behind Exinda Network Orchestrator?

- **Seller:** [Aurea SMB Solutions](https://www.g2.com/sellers/aurea-smb-solutions)
- **Year Founded:** 1992
- **HQ Location:** Austin, US
- **Twitter:** @GFISoftware  
29,625 Twitter followers
- **LinkedIn® Page:** [www.linkedin.com](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bsource_type%5D=product_profile&secure%5Btoken%5D=bf1b5abc1958327aa71d6caa3fcbbd586177e22419afc235da8bd5dbc22942fe&secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fcompany%2Fgfi-software&secure%5Burl_type%5D=linkedin_company_website)  
194 employees on LinkedIn®

#### Who Uses This Product?

- **Company Size:** 33% Large, 33% Medium

#### What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Exinda Network Orchestrator?

**["Get insights into your networking related key performance indicators."](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/exinda-network-orchestrator-review-5232356)**

**Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars

_— Gaurav S._

[Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/exinda-network-orchestrator-review-5232356)

**["Excellent Bandwidth Management"](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/exinda-network-orchestrator-review-5166709)**

**Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars

_— James C._

[Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/exinda-network-orchestrator-review-5166709)

#### What Are G2 Users Discussing About Exinda Network Orchestrator?

- [What is Exinda Network Orchestrator used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-exinda-network-orchestrator-used-for)

### [Riverbed Network Observability](https://www.g2.com/products/riverbed-network-observability/reviews)

Alluvio Network Performance Management makes it easy to monitor, troubleshoot, and analyze what’s happening across your hybrid network environment. With end-to-end visibility and actionable insights, you can quickly and proactively resolve any network-based performance issues. Alluvio unified NPM collects all packets, all flows, all device metrics, all the time, across all environments -cloud, virtual, and on-prem, providing enterprise-wide, business-centric monitoring of critical business initiatives.

**Average Rating:** 4.4/5.0

**Total Reviews:** 14

#### Who Is the Company Behind Riverbed Network Observability?

- **Seller:** [Riverbed Technology](https://www.g2.com/sellers/riverbed-technology)
- **Year Founded:** 2002
- **HQ Location:** San Francisco, CA
- **Twitter:** @RIVERBED  
23,829 Twitter followers
- **LinkedIn® Page:** [www.linkedin.com](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bsource_type%5D=product_profile&secure%5Btoken%5D=c3efc6a53acbe57fa2c4058aa212b001a7413136793eb03da8dc83271940bf28&secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fcompany%2F7796%2F&secure%5Burl_type%5D=linkedin_company_website)  
1,589 employees on LinkedIn®

#### Who Uses This Product?

- **Company Size:** 50% Large, 43% Medium

#### What Do G2 Reviewers Say About Riverbed Network Observability?

_AI-generated summary from verified user reviews_

##### Pros

- Users value the **comprehensive analytics** provided by Riverbed Network Observability, enabling detailed insights into network activity.
- Users value the **detailed network insights** from Riverbed Network Observability, enhancing their ability to monitor and analyze traffic effectively.
- Users benefit from the **detailed monitoring** capabilities of Riverbed Network Observability, enhancing network activity analysis.
- Users value the **comprehensive system monitoring** of Riverbed Network Observability, enabling thorough network activity analysis.

##### Cons

- Users face **device limitations** related to capacity and fluctuating traffic volume, leading to potential financial concerns.
- Users face **expensive capacity issues** that can lead to significant financial concerns based on traffic volume.
- Users face **capacity limitations** with Riverbed Network Observability, leading to potential financial concerns based on traffic volume.
- Users face **pricing issues** due to capacity and financial constraints influenced by traffic volume challenges.
- Users face **resource limitations** with Riverbed Network Observability, impacting performance based on traffic volume and financial constraints.

#### What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Riverbed Network Observability?

**["Your eye on the network"](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/riverbed-network-observability-review-10300532)**

**Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars

_— Esat Yasar C._

[Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/riverbed-network-observability-review-10300532)

**["Best Solution for Performance Analysis"](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/riverbed-network-observability-review-8207887)**

**Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars

_— Esat Yasar C._

[Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/riverbed-network-observability-review-8207887)

### [Sangfor WANO](https://www.g2.com/products/sangfor-wano/reviews)

Sangfor WANO (WAN Optimization) can be deployed in the WAN gateway of data centres and branch offices. Through traffic reduction, stream compression, stream cache, protocol acceleration and other leading technologies, Sangfor WANO can cut up to 70% of redundant traffic, reduce packet loss rate to below 1%, save 50 % of link costs and improve application speed by 3-10 times to achieve huge improvement for application performance & WAN speed.

**Average Rating:** 4.8/5.0

**Total Reviews:** 3

#### Who Is the Company Behind Sangfor WANO?

- **Seller:** [Sangfor Technologies](https://www.g2.com/sellers/sangfor-technologies)
- **Year Founded:** 2000
- **HQ Location:** Shenzhen, China
- **Twitter:** @SANGFOR  
13,224 Twitter followers
- **LinkedIn® Page:** [www.linkedin.com](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bsource_type%5D=product_profile&secure%5Btoken%5D=343d4c872dfb0dde0360ef5754cd25ded77b1383788eae3178db052f3985e7b5&secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fcompany%2Fsangfor-technologies%2F&secure%5Burl_type%5D=linkedin_company_website)  
2,316 employees on LinkedIn®

#### Who Uses This Product?

- **Company Size:** 67% Medium, 33% Large

#### What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Sangfor WANO?

**["G2 reviewing Sangfor WANO"](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/sangfor-wano-review-6867338)**

**Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars

_— Manideep P._

[Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/sangfor-wano-review-6867338)

**["Optimize Your Network Performance with Sangfor WANO: Ultimate Solution for Seamless Connectivity."](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/sangfor-wano-review-7662111)**

**Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars

_— Mahathee D._

[Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/sangfor-wano-review-7662111)

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 ![Bijou Barry](/assets/transparent-ad5be28fbcd25b7b08d2cebe1d957125437fb5407d75ee717965ad22c8808791.gif "Bijou Barry")
BB

Researched and written by [Bijou Barry](https://research.g2.com/insights/author/bijou-barry)

Updated October 3, 2024

WAN Optimization software provides features that allow users to improve the performance of their applications running on the wide area network (WAN).

To qualify for inclusion in the category, a product must:

- Helps businesses to improve performance of certain businesses applications.
- Provide users with a complete view of network traffic.
- Accelerate business applications to increase productivity.

Show More

* * *

## How Do You Choose the Right WAN Optimization Software?

### What You Should Know About WAN Optimization Software

### What is WAN Optimization Software?

Wide area network (WAN) optimization software improves network congestion and latency by implementing bandwidth optimization techniques such as compression, caching, data deduplication, and network prioritization. Businesses and customers do not want to wait for their web page to load. WAN optimization, also known as WAN acceleration, can help by reducing the time it takes for information to travel from a company’s data center to its remote locations. Instead of buying new bandwidth, businesses can use WAN optimization software to provide fast internet applications despite increased traffic demand. This helps to ensure that customers do not get frustrated with delays. 

Companies may determine which WAN optimization methods they want to use depending on connectivity, hardware locations, legacy application environment, and integration with other network types such as a local area network (LAN). Other times businesses may choose software-defined WAN (SD-WAN) which is a virtual WAN architecture. Regardless of the methods, it should address common issues such as latency, duplication, packet loss, and congestion in certain areas of the network. The end goal is to get faster data retrieval and web application performance for end users by improving network performance in real time.

### What are the Common Features of WAN Optimization Software?

The following are some core features within WAN optimization software that can help users to manage their network latency and congestion:

**Bandwidth optimization:** WAN optimization software tackles bandwidth latency and congestion by caching (save frequently used contents on local server), data deduplication (send hashes data instead of actual data), protocol optimization (reduce chatty protocol), path optimization (transfer data through a less congested connection such as Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) or SD-WAN), location optimization (based on branch offices), and so on. Other more advanced optimization techniques may require buying hardware or advanced features from vendors. 

**Flexible deployment:** WAN optimization solutions need to be easily deployed on major network virtual ware and hardware such as routers, servers, hypervisors, firewalls, and computers with high throughput (gigabytes level). Some solutions are also cloud ready or cloud natives. That means that they can be deployed in infrastructure as a service or platform as a service environment quickly. It should also be deployed in an SD-WAN environment. 

**IT control and visibility:** A complete WAN solution should also monitor infrastructure resources since it needs to know resource availability to determine how to optimize the network. With full visibility, IT teams can set up service policies with the WAN optimizer to automatically manage their network based on availability.

### What are the Benefits of WAN Optimization Software?

**Application acceleration:** WAN optimization software uses traffic shaping to indirectly accelerate application performance and reduce bandwidth consumption. By revamping existing network connections, the software can increase performance several times for on-premises and cloud applications in hybrid environments. Based on the applications, the WAN optimizer can distinguish which network traffic is critical to the applications and select an optimal routing path for the data transfer. In the end, clients will experience a rapid and secure user experience with WAN optimization appliances.

**Cost saving:** This type of software could reduce bandwidth utilization significantly and defers costly network bandwidth upgrades. The percentage of savings varies based on the infrastructure.

**Ease of management:** IT staff can designate custom policies and alerts to better manage their network performance. IT projects that heavily rely on WAN and data centers can be managed in a centralized platform. Problems will be resolved faster with high visibility into the application network and centralized dashboard.

### Challenges with WAN Optimization Software

Software solutions can come with their own set of challenges. 

**Network integration:** Although many WAN optimization vendors will mention that their software will be compatible with major brand software and hardware, there is no guarantee that it will run smoothly in the client’s environments. Modern network structure can be very complicated especially in hybrid environments with legacy systems, which is quite common nowadays. Even if it does run smoothly, there is also the potential problem with scalability for critical applications. Can the software perform load balancing on high throughput requirements to achieve WAN acceleration? Companies need to test the software in their own on-premise and virtualization environment before commitment.

**Data regulation:** Companies need to ensure that the WAN performance policies won’t transfer sensitive data into unsecured or unauthorized channels. Selecting a less congested path or protocols may be more efficient and save money, but that doesn’t mean that it is safe. Some WAN optimization software can automatically avoid this situation, but IT teams still need to establish network security rules to make sure that won’t happen or adopt SD-WAN for further customization.

**IT team alignment:** Companies should not automatically expect that their current IT team already has the necessary talent to manage WAN. The modern-day network is complicated and many IT personnel are specialized in specific layers of IT stacks. WAN optimization needs both lower layer (network and physical) and higher layer (application and transport) talents. Either different talents from different layers work together or companies need to hire new IT professionals who specialize in multiple layers (TCP acceleration). Otherwise, there will be a conflict of management as to who manages which part of the network from separate teams. This will slow down the time to solve important network issues.

### How to Buy WAN Optimization Software

#### Requirements Gathering (RFI/RFP) for WAN Optimization Software

The company’s needs when searching for WAN optimization solutions often relate to specific network performance issues. For example, the user may be most interested in improving performance for latency. Buyers should make a ranked list of the WAN optimization features that most directly address the problems they’re trying to solve, then reference G2 reviews to find the right fit.

Prioritizing the desired feature set can help narrow down the potential pool of WAN optimizers, allowing teams to then apply further considerations for budget, ease of integration with other systems, security requirements, and more. This holistic approach empowers buyers to move forward with a focused checklist, which can be used in conjunction with G2 scoring to select the best WAN optimization product for the business.

#### Compare WAN Optimization Software Products

**Create a long list**

Buyers should start with a large pool of WAN optimization software vendors. Keeping the desired must-have features in mind, buyers must perform consistent inquiries during demos so they can effectively compare the pros and cons of each software.

**Create a short list**

It helps to cross-reference the results of initial vendor evaluations with G2 reviews from other buyers, the combination of which will help narrow it down to three to five products. From there, buyers can compare pricing and features to determine the best fit.

**Conduct demos**

Companies should make sure to demo all of the products that end up on their short list. The basic step of the demo is to start with a basic optimization setup. It’s important to know if the product identifies network latency, specific congested areas, and performance metrics like packet and bandwidth data. It’s also helpful to test the policy configuration and reporting function. It is important that the selected product fully reflects the entire enterprise network ecosystem and topology.

#### Selection of WAN Optimization Software

**Choose a selection team**

Regardless of a company’s size, it’s important to involve the most relevant personnel when beginning the WAN optimization software selection process. Larger companies may include individual team members to fill roles such as system owners, IT professionals, and developers who will be working with the software closely. Smaller companies with fewer employees might overlap roles. 

**Negotiation**

Many companies offer full network-related platforms that go beyond WAN optimization to include application performance monitoring, cloud infrastructure monitoring, and more. While some companies will not budge on the configurations of their packages, buyers looking to trim costs should try to negotiate down to the specific functions that matter to them to get the best price. For example, a vendor’s pricing page where WAN optimization functionality is only included with a robust all-in-one monitoring package, whereas a sales conversation may prove otherwise. 

**Final decision**

After this stage, it is important to perform a trial run with a small selection of IT professionals or developers. This will help ensure that the software of choice integrates well with the company’s data centers, an IT administrator’s systems setup, or a developer’s day-to-day work. If the tool is well liked and well utilized, the buyer can take that as a sign that their selection is the right one. If not, reevaluation of the options may be necessary.