Cogent SD WAN & Cybersecurity Solutions

Cogent SD WAN and Cybersecurity Solution: Comparisons, Review, Benefits, Use Cases, Pros & Cons

Author: Netify Research Team

If you have questions about Cogent and how their capability is aligned to your needs, email the Netify research team. UK: uk@netify.co.uk North America: northamerica@netify.com

(Please use the UK email for ROW - Rest of the World - questions or inquiries)

Netify Review

Cogent’s solution is ideally suited for single to large multi-site enterprises that require global, dedicated bandwidth backed by strong SLAs. As an ethernet-based solution, per bit/byte costs, remain competitive whilst maintaining high bandwidth speeds. Cogent’s high-capacity IP network allows high-speed (up to 100Gbps) connectivity to extensive bandwidth connections whilst staying at a competitive price. Cogent provides services for corporate and net-centric businesses with a facilities-based network spanning: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa.

About Cogent

Founded in 1999, Cogent is a network service provider headquartered in Washington, North America. They leverage their global Tier-1 optical IP backbone, which provides connectivity to over 48 countries with over 3,000 PoPs. Their offices are in North America, Canada, The Netherlands, Germany, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Spain, France, Sweden and Singapore. The company can cater for small-medium enterprises (SMEs) and large global corporations, as well as net-centric companies such as service providers. Cogent has been consistently ranked as one of the top 5 networks in the world. Cogent’s clients currently include 80 percent of the top 100 US law firms, top financial institutions and major stock exchanges. Cogent was ranked №1 amongst US competitive providers for Ethernet services in concurrent years between 2017 and 2020.

Cogent has announced a definitive agreement to acquire T-Mobile’s Wireline Business. The acquisition of the Wireline Business will allow Cogent to leverage the legacy Sprint US long-haul network as an owned network asset. It will complement and eventually function as a replacement for Cogent’s current leased network. This network change will allow Cogent to offer a broader product set to new and existing customers, expanding its product portfolio to include optical wave transport services. This acquisition will consist of more than 40 data centres and is expected to close in the second half of 2023.

What is the Cogent SD WAN Solution?

Cogent’s SD WAN solution is primarily fiber optic and focuses on DIA and data transport via their Global Tier-1 Optical IP Backbone. However, they also offer connectivity to AWS via their partnership with CloudHelix (see: How does Cogent access Cloud vendors?) In addition to fiber optic DIA and cloud, Cogent offers VPLS connectivity using ethernet ports. Colocation services are available with 54 internet data centres plus 1,309 carrier-neutral data centres worldwide. They have 1,187 PoPs worldwide, which can connect to cloud services such as AWS (see: How does Cogent access Cloud vendors?). SD WAN overlay is available via Cogent vendor partners. There are several key features: 

Configuration-Based Key Features:

• Integrated VPN and Internet/Cloud: Cogent route VPN, internet and cloud traffic via a common pipe, which is available with three classes of service.
• Local Loop: Dedicated connection to the nearest Cogent PoP.
• Cloud-Native: Clients can store data in the cloud, accessible via Cogent’s network.
• Off-Net services: Cogent offers services to off-net premises (those without fiber installed).
• Flexible Topology: Includes options for full mesh VPN, hub and spoke, or split tunnel.
• Ethernet Port: Cogent will deliver an ethernet port to customer suites, creating a fiber optic connection direct into Cogent’s network. 

Security-Based Key Features:

• IPsec: Cogent’s offering is fully encrypted with IPsec tunnelling (AES 128-bit). VPLS is optional, adding an encapsulation layer. 

Performance-Based Key Features:

• High Speeds: 85% of line speed is available via Cogent DIA and Ethernet VPLS.
• End-to-End Monitoring: offers constant monitoring via a cloud-based Portal to identify blackouts or brownouts before they happen. It also provides traffic analysis.

What is the Cogent SASE security solution?

Currently Cogent do not offer a SASE security solution, it is instead available via one of their vendor partners, such as Cisco Meraki.

How does Cogent access cloud vendors?

Cogent provides the connection between CloudHelix and AWS, creating a hybrid cloud solution ideal for clients looking to replicate data between two private networks without the complexity of a VPN.

Does Cogent offer WAN acceleration and optimization?

Cogent’s offering has multiple service classes and can support a throughput of 85% of total line speed. This solution leverages 1,309 carrier-neutral data centres to provide a symmetrical fiber internet connection. WAN is optimized and secured through IPSec/AES 128-bit encryption and VPLS encapsulation. VPN and Internet traffic are divided locally or via a hub due to split tunnel topology. The SD WAN topology is flexible and utilizes full mesh, hub and spoke or split tunnelling. Cogent’s ethernet services handle speeds from 100mbps to 1Gbps and offer support for electrical and optical ethernet ports.

How does Cogent support remote users?

Support for remote users is provisioned via third-party vendors, who often also provide an overlay solution to Cogent’s offering.

What is the Cogent managed, co-managed and DIY services solution? 

Cogent primarily provides internet access, data transport services, and colocation at their global data centres. The ability to offer DIY or Co-managed SD WAN should be discussed with a Cogent account manager, as this may require a third-party solution.

What Reporting and Management is available via the Cogent Portal?

End-to-end network monitoring and traffic analysis are available via Cogent’s cloud-based monitoring portal.

What is the Cogent SLA?

Below is a table displaying the main focus points of the Cogent Service Level Agreement (SLA).