AT&T VPN Service; AVTS; ANIRA; also MPLS PNT and Enhanced VPN

AT&T is strong with reach and features for its global VPN services, including monitoring and management options. Packet services are slowly starting their phase-out; in the U.S., AT&T is discontinuing new DIA orders over frame relay/ATM access. (8/9/2011)

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CenturyLink Private Port/VPN; Internet Port; Enhanced Port; Network Management Service; Data Bundle; Delta Port; Managed Security Service

CenturyLink closed its Qwest acquisition, adding that carrier's comprehensive IP services to its own assets. The company followed that deal with the complementary Savvis acquisition, bolstering CenturyLink's data center services portfolio. (8/9/2011)

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Global Crossing MPLS IP VPN; Remote VPN Access

Global Crossing's pending acquisition by Level 3 will bolster overlapping footprints in the U.S. and Europe. Meanwhile, Global Crossing has made security and data center investments of its own that complement the company's IP VPN services. (8/24/2011)

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PAETEC MPLS VPN, Dynamic IP

PAETEC has one flagship MPLS VPN product in its IP VPN arsenal, bolstered by many options. The company does not have a deep well of legacy services, but it does have the components to build fairly complete packages with a personal touch. (8/16/2011)

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Sprint Nextel Global MPLS VPN, MPLS VPN over Peerless IP, MPLSoDSL

Sprint has bolstered its Ethernet access reach, and the carrier has a strong wireless portfolio that it can combine with IP VPNs. Sprint relies on third-party partners for data center services to pair with its comprehensive IP networking portfolio. (8/10/2011)

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Verizon Private IP; IP VPN Dedicated; IP VPN Broadband; Secure Gateway

Verizon has a strong data center presence and cloud services strategy, and leverages these assets with its network through a Cloud Services Interconnect option. It is also making progress in global IPv6, and in 100 Gbps core network wavelengths. (7/25/2011)

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XO MPLS IP VPN, IP Flex with VPN, Managed Security

XO is strengthening its data center hand with new cloud services. The company's U.S. network footprint is at both comprehensive and yet somewhat spotty, relying on domestic and international partners outside its own solid U.S. metro coverage. (7/25/2011)

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Report Contents

• Current Perspective Rating
• Product Strengths and Weaknesses
• Product Buying Criteria
• Product Metrics

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Verizon - Private IP; IP VPN Dedicated; IP VPN Broadband; Secure Gateway - Buying Criteria

• Bandwidth and CPE
  • The amount of bandwidth available to customers.
• Security
  • Security is always a major source of concerns, although the rise of IPSec has reduced them somewhat thanks to the high confidence the data service community has in this encryption protocol.
• Ease of Use
  • Ease of use is a significant concern, as defining security relationships between nodes can be a giant headache. Initiatives such as public key infrastructure (PKI) are intended to ease this burden; PKI allows VPN managers to configure VPN users from a single centralized database. Tools that facilitate the management and monitoring of VPNs are major selling points.
• SLAs
  • Service level agreement. A standard guarantee from the vendor of a certain level of performance, usually with credits against the bill for failure to achieve the metrics. Having SLAs with standards is a strong sign of confidence in performance.
• Pricing Principles
  • Pricing is not the primary factor and is highly complex for VPNs, but it can make a significant difference in landing the sale.
• Reach
  • Regions where services are available, and networks that support them.
    
• Internetwork Connectivity

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Verizon - Private IP; IP VPN Dedicated; IP VPN Broadband; Secure Gateway - Product Metrics

• Network
  • PoPs
  • Platform
  • Backbone
• Service
  • Service in Top 25 MSAs
  • International Service
  • Dynamic Bandwidth Alloc.
  • Voice Support
  • Network-Based VPN
  • MPLS
• SLAs
  • Proactive or Reactive
  • Delay (ms, roundtrip)
  • Network Availability
• Security
  • Tunneling Protocol
  • Network-Based Firewalls
  • Public or Private Networ