The new integration enables end-to-end service assurance, and lets service providers and their customers see health, stability and load across both their Meraki overlay networks, and underlay connectivity on which the SD-WAN relies, such as 4G/5G cellular, broadband and ethernet. Users can also bring in LAN elements such as Wi-Fi and ethernet switching, with the platform’s new Grid View feature visualising these alongside the WAN to enhance the managed service further and provide complete network visibility.
Martin Saunders, product director at Highlight (pictured above), said, “SD-WAN portals are not designed for service providers. They cannot manage the multiple levels of commercial relationship and the secure multi-tenancy structure required by providers.
“Our new service takes data from the Meraki SD-WAN dashboard and combines it with data from underlying connectivity services, enabling service providers to set contractual SLA targets, thresholds, and alerts, and then report against these measures, all with complete transparency to the end customer. This increases the relevance and efficiency of communication between the two and builds trust on both sides.”
Maintel has chosen Highlight as the SD-WAN service assurance tool alongside its managed Cisco Meraki solutions. With its easy-to-understand view across the whole network, including SD-WANs, underlying connectivity, and LAN Wi-Fi, Maintel has usable and timely insights to facilitate its customers’ business needs.
Paul Bulmer, director of product management at Maintel, added, “We’re delighted to be partnering with Highlight and its Service Assurance Platform for both our ICON Underlay connectivity services and now our comprehensive managed SD-WAN services.
“Together with Highlight we’re delivering a service that takes all the worry away from the customer in running and depending on an advanced network, giving them the freedom to focus on what’s important to them, their business.”
