AT&T VPN Service; AVTS; ANIRA; also MPLS PNT and Enhanced VPN
AT&T quietly continues to invest and expand its IP services and related capabilities. The carrier's ramped-up domestic and international Ethernet access options join global DSL access, and its dual-stack IPv4/IPv6 implementation is evolving. (8/5/2010)

Global Crossing MPLS IP VPN; Remote VPN Access
Global Crossing has a comprehensive converged IP portfolio and an extensive global reach. It has worked for years to build up a track record as an enterprise competitor, and is bringing on board a steady stream of customers. (12/22/2009)

PAETEC MPLS VPN, Dynamic IP
PAETEC builds its IP VPN portfolio around one core service, bolstered by a collection of access and value-added services. The result is a wide-reaching national service with essential functionality and a low price to target domestic enterprises. (7/27/2010)

Qwest iQ Networking; iQ Network Management Service; iQ Data Bundle; Managed Firewall-VPN
Qwest's addition of nationwide Ethernet access, plus its investment in transport and network-layer infrastructure upgrades, should pay dividends by providing flexible access and compelling features for its iQ Networking customers. (7/26/2010)

Sprint Nextel Global MPLS VPN, MPLS VPN over Peerless IP, MPLSoDSL
Through partnerships, Sprint has expanded its global reach to rival any global Tier 1 carrier. The carrier also has broadened its domestic and international Ethernet access options for customers, to keep pace as a global MPLS IP VPN contender. (7/27/2010)

Verizon Private IP; IP VPN Dedicated; IP VPN Broadband; Secure Gateway
Verizon's Private IP service continues to make gains, listing more countries in its global reach, steadily increasing customer ports in service, and adding an IPsec VPN encryption option for customers that insist on multiple layers of security. (8/5/2010)

XO VPN, MPLS IP VPN, IP Flex with VPN
XO's new service edge supports Internet/MPLS IP-VPN delivery over VPLS ports with simple pricing and consistent service delivery. Also noteworthy is XO's addition of IPv4/IPv6 dual-stack support. (7/29/2010)

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Report Contents

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

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IP VPN Services 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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IP VPN Services 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 Network