Cisco and Microsoft Join hands for Revolutionary User Experience

“As organizations modernize their network with software-defined WAN to support cloud-based digital transformation, Microsoft is excited to announce a deeper partnership with Cisco to integrate Cisco SD-WAN, Azure Virtual WAN, and Office 365.” Says Yousef Khalidi, Corporate Vice President of Microsoft Azure Networking.

The recent meeting between these leading technology giants Microsoft and Cisco turned out to be a fruitful one. The Senior Vice President, Product Management Cisco Enterprise Networking writes, “I am happy to announce that Cisco and Microsoft are extending their existing partnership to improve network connectivity to cloud-based applications to create a better user experience, seamlessly enable direct Internet access to trusted applications such as Office 365 and enable customers to leverage Azure Virtual WAN to route and secure traffic.

Together, the two industry-leading companies will help customers improve connectivity from branch offices to Microsoft by integrating Cisco’s SD-WAN with Microsoft’s Azure Virtual WAN and Office 365. This integration will enable customers to extend their WAN to Microsoft Azure Cloud seamlessly and, in parallel, deliver optimized Office 365 experiences.

In the previous year, Cisco launched an application to connect Cisco SD-WAN to Microsoft Office 365 by up to 40 percent. It directs Office 365 traffic from the customer site to the closest Microsoft network points of presence using the optimal path, enhancing user experience.

But with the recent partnership, the companies have plans to develop new capabilities that allows IT to seamlessly connect branch offices to Microsoft Azure Virtual WAN directly, Cisco will also work on integrating an application which will enable it to manage optimal network paths more effectively.