Cloudflare, Inc., a leader in Internet security, performance, and reliability, introduced Magic WAN Connector, a free, open-source software-defined networking package that streamlines the process by which any business may connect its entire internal network to Cloudflare and strengthen its security posture. With the addition of Magic WAN Connector, Cloudflare One is now a fully-fledged SASE-integrated security and networking solution, ready to safeguard and speed up the operation of enterprise-level devices, applications, and communications networks. In addition, Cloudflare has introduced additional Network On-ramp partner programs and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to provide clients with more options for connecting to Cloudflare’s network.
Workplaces of the future will need adaptable information technology systems.
Cloudflare co-founder and CEO Matthew Prince has said that when he talks to CIOs about supporting modern workforces, they all want the same thing: to work with a single vendor that can provide everything they need. IT departments shouldn’t have to compromise on either speed or security to link distributed workers, offices, data centers, and even multi-cloud installations without negatively impacting business output. By integrating Magic WAN Connector into Cloudflare One, we have created one of the most feature-rich SASE options on the market.
Because of the difficulty and expense of collaborating with hundreds of different security and networking providers, businesses have had a hard time making the transition from disjointed and patchwork old infrastructures to contemporary zero-trust networks. Research firm Gartner predicts that “by 2025, one-third of new SASE installations will be based on a single-vendor SASE solution, up from 10% in 2022.”
Magic WAN Connector is an open-source software-defined software package that automatically configures secure tunnels and routing policies, directing traffic to Cloudflare’s global network. This software can securely connect any network, whether it is physical, such as an office, manufacturing facility, or retail store; or virtual, such as a private cloud property. Magic WAN Connector was developed by Cloudflare and is available for download on GitHub.This enables access to a full range of security capabilities, including Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), Data Loss Prevention (DLP), Intrusion Detection System (IDS), Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB), and many more, as part of the comprehensive Cloudflare One SASE solution. It is compatible with other on-ramps to the Cloudflare network, such as the WARP device client, the Cloudflare Tunnel application-layer connector, and direct connections made through the Cloudflare Network Interconnect, and it may be utilized seamlessly with all of these.
By allowing clients to connect to Cloudflare’s global network in a variety of ways, including as a virtual machine on a physical device, a cloud service, or with original equipment manufacturer (OEM) hardware, Magic WAN Connector provides an unprecedented level of flexibility and freedom of choice. Cloudflare has announced alliances with OEMs that produce certified bare metal hardware. To facilitate the rollout of Magic WAN Connector and the management of OEM partner hardware lifecycles, customers can collaborate with additional channel partners in the Cloudflare One Partner Program ecosystem.
