Fortinet, Masergy Launch Co-Created ‘Turnkey’ SD-WAN Solution; Ingram Micro To Distribute

The two vendors co-created a managed SD-WAN solution to be distributed by solution provider giant Ingram Micro as security and networking converge and partners build manage services practices, the three companies tell CRN.

Fortinet and Masergy have joined forces with solution provider giant Ingram Micro to launch a new, managed SD-WAN solution with a built-in distribution route for channel partners, the companies revealed Tuesday.

The unlikely trio is bringing each of its strengths to the table with the creation of an offering that combines networking, security, and managed services as the security and network spaces continue to converge. The packaged solution includes Fortinet Secure SD-WAN solutions with network and security management services from Masergy. Ingram Micro will be handling distribution, according to the three companies.

“The three of us coming together solves a lot of complexity and really expands all our reach. We’re delighted to be a part of this [relationship],” said John Tonthat, executive director for Irvine, California-based Ingram Micro.

[Related: ‘Channel Powerhouse’ Masergy Communications Buy A Big Win For Comcast, Partners Say]

Sunnyvale, California-based Fortinet brings its secure SD-WAN offering to the new solution, which includes next-generation firewall, advanced routing, and Zero Trust Network Access proxy functions, said Jon Bove, vice president of channel sales for Fortinet.

Comcast-owned Masergy, on the other hand, is coming through with its Guardian Portfolio, which gives resellers and MSPs the resources they need to sell fully managed SD-WAN services, with Masergy handling the management piece, or co-managed services that put the solution provider in charge of Tier 1 and Tier 2 client support, said Bill Madison, Masergy’s vice president of Global Channel Alliances.

Masergy and Fortinet have been longtime partners and Fortinet has added valuable security services over Masergy’s network. “When the opportunity presented itself for us to solve a challenge that many of our partners have, and working with Ingram and working with Masergy, I think it made a lot of sense,” Fortinet’s Bove said.

The SD-WAN offering is a good fit for solution providers that may not have service operations, SD-WAN certifications, and limited technical resources. It also addresses the market opportunity that exists for partners as security and networking converge, Bove said.

“I couldn’t be happier where we are today, it’s a really a great example of three companies coming together around a carefully-crafted go to market, Masergy’s Madison said. “I think it solves some issues with scalability for certain resale partners that want to expand their business and sell into managed SD-WAN where they couldn’t before.”

The partnership solves a bevy of different challenges that Ingram sees its partners and customers struggle with right now, including addressing hybrid cloud environments, remote workers, and distributed security architectures, said Karl Connolly, chief technologist for Ingram Micro.

The co-created SD-WAN solution with security baked in offers Ingram partners a turnkey solution, Connolly said. “In a market where IT resources are incredibly constrained, our partners don’t have to invest in developing their own in-house expertise around the security of the network and they can essentially just use this solution as a service,” he said. “That will really help them out in a big way.”