Riverbed upgrades SteelConnect platform

1 min readUpdated May 28, 2025Apr 26, 20181:32 AM

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Riverbed Technology has announced major updates to its SteelConnect SD-WANand cloud networking solution.

Riverbed claims that SteelConnect is currently the only SD-WAN solution that provides unified connectivity and policy-based orchestration spanning the entire distributed network fabric – hybrid WAN, branch LAN/WLAN, data centers, and the cloud.

With the latest upgrades to SteelConnect, Riverbed aims to expand the power of one-click connectivity and optimization into AWS and Microsoft Azure with added support for AWS Direct Connect and Azure ExpressRoute.

Riverbed is also introducing seamless integration between SteelConnect and Riverbed Xirrus Wi-Fi with zero-touch provisioning of Riverbed Xirrus access points, and is providing new deployment flexibility with the addition of LTE wireless options for SteelConnect SD-WAN gateways.

Customers can manage SD-WAN and Wi-Fi together through a centralized cloud console, including zero-touch provisioning of Riverbed Xirrus Wi-Fi Access Points, creation of Wi-Fi networks, and Wi-Fi monitoring.

The platform now also supports LTE uplinks for a variety of use cases including back-up network connectivity in retail stores, pop-up stores, rural sites, or mobile retail. By leveraging LTE, retailers can maximize reach and productivity while increasing resiliency and agility of the network.

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What this means

Riverbed's enhanced SteelConnect, particularly with its LTE and unified Wi-Fi management, represents a pragmatic evolution. This directly addresses the agility and reliability demands of modern retail, including mobile and temporary sites, a market where rapid deployment and resilience are paramount. By integrating with major cloud providers and offering zero-touch provisioning, Riverbed positions itself as a streamlined, single-vendor solution. This move puts pressure on rivals like Huawei, which has expanded its footprint through stake changes, to offer similarly integrated, user-friendly network management. Competitors must now demonstrate comparable ease of deployment and unified control, particularly as cloud migration accelerates.

Maria Santos · Retail News Asia newsroom

Questions & Answers

What specific cloud services does the updated SteelConnect platform now support for one-click connectivity?

The latest upgrades expand one-click connectivity and optimisation into AWS and Microsoft Azure. This is achieved with added support for AWS Direct Connect and Azure ExpressRoute services.

How does Riverbed's SteelConnect integrate with its Xirrus Wi-Fi products?

There is now smooth integration between SteelConnect and Riverbed Xirrus Wi-Fi. This includes zero-touch provisioning of Xirrus access points and the ability to manage both SD-WAN and Wi-Fi from a centralised cloud console.

Which new deployment option has been added for SteelConnect SD-WAN gateways?

The platform now offers new deployment flexibility with the addition of LTE wireless options for SteelConnect SD-WAN gateways. This enables use cases such as back-up network connectivity in various locations.

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