QuickSDWAN: AI as the Control Plane, Not the Chatbot

Introduction

QuickSDWAN is a cloud-operated network platform built by Ollasoftware. It is designed to solve the slow and complicated nature of traditional network management tools. Unlike older systems where artificial intelligence is just a chatbot added to a complex interface, QuickSDWAN uses AI as the main way to control the network. This allows operators to create networks, set up firewalls, find problems, and fix threats using simple natural language instead of navigating through many screens.

Benefits

QuickSDWAN offers several key advantages that make network management faster and safer.

• Speed and Efficiency:The platform allows for a three-minute deployment per site using Docker. This eliminates the need for hardware shipping and on-site installation. Operators can complete a rollout for 20 sites in about three minutes total.
• Smart Dual-Model Architecture:The system uses two types of AI models to balance speed and safety. One model handles complex reasoning tasks like writing policies safely, while the other handles high-speed tasks like detecting anomalies in real time. This ensures the system is both fast and reliable.
• Predictive Anomaly Detection:The platform automatically checks every node every 60 seconds for issues like traffic spikes or packet loss. It uses a 14-day baseline to spot unusual patterns before they cause major problems.
• Auto-Remediation:Users can define rules in plain English, such as "If traffic spikes, reroute to backup path." The AI then automatically applies these fixes without human intervention, as long as they stay within the defined rules.
• Safety and Reversibility:Changes to firewall rules or traffic routing require explicit human confirmation. The system also takes a snapshot before every change, allowing users to undo any action within a five-minute window if something goes wrong.
• Natural-Language Firewall Policies:Instead of writing complex code, operators can describe what they want in English. For example, they can say "Block all social media during work hours," and the AI will generate the correct security rules.

Use Cases

QuickSDWAN is ideal for organizations with distributed networks that have outgrown manual VPN setups.

• Distributed Workforces:Companies with branch offices or remote workers can use QuickSDWAN to manage connections across many locations quickly. The platform is designed for customers who have both on-premises and branch-office presence.
• Rapid Threat Response:Security teams can use the auto-remediation feature to handle threats instantly. If a high-severity traffic spike is detected, the system can automatically reroute traffic to a backup path without waiting for a human to act.
• Large-Scale Rollouts:Businesses looking to expand their network can use the platform to deploy new sites in minutes. Multi-site rollouts can be parallelized using tools like Ansible or Terraform.
• Simplified Policy Management:IT teams that struggle with complex configuration interfaces can use the natural language surface to create and update firewall policies easily. This reduces the need for specialized network engineers for routine tasks.

Pricing

The article mentions that QuickSDWAN uses a competitive per-node tiered model. The AI control plane is available to all customers regardless of the tier they choose. Specific pricing numbers are not listed in the provided information.

Vibes

The article does not include specific customer reviews, testimonials, or direct quotes from users. However, the text positions QuickSDWAN as a strong alternative to established vendors like Cisco and mid-enterprise players like VeloCloud. It highlights the platform's ability to offer significantly higher operator throughput compared to traditional consoles.

Additional Information

QuickSDWAN is built by Ollasoftware, a company based in Bengaluru. The platform is part of a broader networking portfolio that includes QuickZTNA, MeshWG, OllavoVPN, and OllaDNS. The development team leverages their broader LLM-routing infrastructure called Ollima and Switchllm. The parent group is Networkers Home, a cybersecurity and networking training institute founded in 2007 with over 45,000 alumni. The future roadmap includes expanded AI tools for capacity planning and deeper integrations with IT service management platforms like ServiceNow and Jira.