Riverbed SteelConnect is the cornerstone of Riverbed’s strategy for next-generation, application-defined enterprise networking. SteelConnect is a complete SD-WAN system for securely connecting users and business to the applications they need, wherever they reside - on a remote LAN, in a data center, or in the cloud. SteelConnect offers several differentiators - ubiquitous and unified connectivity across LAN, WAN, and the Cloud; business aligned orchestration for fast, agile, and secure application delivery; and unique cloud-centric workflow, easy menu-driven network design of sites, zones, uplinks, and rules, and centralized, business intent-based policy management—all within a simple graphical user interface - for ease of use and greater business agility. SteelConnect provides:

• WAN optimization and SD-WAN capabilities
• Identification and classification of over 1300 applications with deep packet inspection
• Optimization and acceleration of applications—on-premises and cloud—leveraging data (scalable data referencing or SDR), transport, and application streamlining
• Centralized network management capabilities based on a single intent-and user-based “plain-language” global business policy
• The ability to enforce application policy (path quality, path selection, network QoS, and security)
• Pre-defined Application Groups (for example, business critical) for traffic path rule and security policy creation, as well as scalability with fewer policy rules. Add custom applications and leverage a constantly updated catalog of public applications to identify applications for advanced classification
• Instant, single-click provisioning to the cloud with SteelHead™ CX for Cloud to automate cloud networking and accelerate cloud performance
• Automated zero-touch provisioning of devices
• Dynamic Native Routing – branch-  and WAN-side—to eliminate routers and reduce complexity
• Path monitoring and quality-based, Hybrid WAN path selection
• Integrated and third-party security providers
• Scalability (up to 1000 branches/sites)
• Cloud (AWS and Microsoft Azure) and self-hosting in a physical or virtual data center (for example, VMware)
• End-to-end visibility with unified views, plus reporting and troubleshooting of application and network performance

With SteelConnect, Riverbed is integrating its centralized, policy-based management and core SD-WAN capabilities with its industry-leading network and application optimization, enterprise-class scalability and end-to-end visibility into clouds, thus extending Riverbed’s Application-Defined Networking and End-to-End Unified Visibility for large-scale enterprises. Benefits:

• Agility: Faster IT response times based on deep automation and intuitive GUI design.
• Efficiency: High ROI and quick payback delivered through network infrastructure savings and operational ease.
• Security: Native security capabilities supplemented with deep automation with 3rd party security vendors for cloud-first security.
• Flexibility: Ability to integrate into complex, secure, enterprise environments while catalyzing successful digital transformations.

SteelHead offers industry leading secure optimization of all applications, across hybrid networks to users everywhere so you can leverage global resources and access applications and data from anywhere - all while reducing the cost of running your business. Functions of Riverbed SteelHead: 1. Reducing traffic 60% -95%, depending on the structure and type of traffic. • Release and prioritize bandwidth for more critical traffic types; • Reduced operating costs by paying traffic and (or) lease of communication channels; • No need to expand communication channels up to 3 years. 2. Accelerating Enterprise Applications • CIFS (windows file sharing) - up to 25 times or more; • MAPI (MS Exchange) - up to 20 times or more; • HTTP / HTTPS (intranet, portals) - up to 10 times or more