BT has expanded of its managed secure software-defined wide area networking (SD-WAN) solution for business and public sector customers in the UK with new security service edge (SSE) capabilities, using technology from Fortinet.
The expanded SD-WAN service will help customers seamlessly transition from managed SD-WAN to secure access service edge (SASE) and protect access to their applications and data in the cloud.
BT’s existing managed SD-WAN service already provides customers with the flexibility to mix different connectivity options for each of their sites with a next-generation firewall. The company is now partnering with Fortinet to enhance this with new AI-powered SSE capabilities to provide a firewall-as-a-service, secure web gateway, cloud access security broker and zero-trust network access to provide a complete, managed SASE solution.
This will improve customers’ oversight of their networks backed with AI-powered proactive threat detection and data protection via BT’s unified monitoring services in the UK. It can also help customers create a zero-trust infrastructure by continuously interrogating the credentials of users and devices attempting to access the network either on the edge or out and about.
“Our partnership with Fortinet is another signal to customers that BT has their back as they invest to become even more successful, creative, digital businesses,” said Matt Swinden, director, digital connectivity, BT. “Our new managed service enables them to provide consistent, seamless and secure experiences to their users of cloud-hosted digital services regardless of where they are accessing them from. This will help customers manage risk as they innovate with the latest connected technologies from IoT to AI.”
Nirav Shah, vice president, products and solutions, Fortinet, said, “Building upon our decade-long partnership, we’re proud to collaborate on the new SASE service with BT to enable its UK customers to converge networking and security. SASE complements the cybersecurity platform approach to delivering integrated security and secure network access regardless of where users are located.
“By combining Fortinet’s cutting-edge SASE and secure networking solutions with a leading choice of fixed and 5G access networks from BT, customers can have a nimble, robust, and more secure network to help them get the best from the cloud.”