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Steelhead Reviews

Vendor: Riverbed
4.1 out of 5
Badge Ranked 1
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What is Steelhead?

Steelhead is designed to optimize WAN performance by reducing data load and enhancing network efficiency. It utilizes advanced data compression and caching techniques to improve speeds and manage bandwidth, crucial for cost reduction.

Get the Steelhead Buyer's Guide and find out what your peers are saying about Steelhead, Fortinet FortiGate, Cato SASE Cloud Platform and more!
Steelhead is the #1 ranked solution in top WAN Optimization solutions and #13 ranked solution in top WAN Edge solutions. PeerSpot users give Steelhead an average rating of 8.2 out of 10. Steelhead is most commonly compared to Fortinet FortiGate: Steelhead vs Fortinet FortiGate. Steelhead is popular among the small business segment, accounting for 40% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a manufacturing company, accounting for 15% of all views.
Buyer's Guide
Steelhead
April 2026
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Steelhead mindshare

Product category:
WAN Optimization
As of May 2026, the mindshare of Steelhead in the WAN Optimization category stands at 14.7%, up from 13.9% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
WAN Optimization Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
Steelhead14.7%
Cato SASE Cloud Platform14.4%
Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN Platform13.9%
Other57.0%
WAN Optimization

PeerResearch reports based on Steelhead reviews

TypeTitleDate
CategoryWAN OptimizationMay 9, 2026Download
ProductReviews, tips, and advice from real usersMay 9, 2026Download
ComparisonSteelhead vs Cato SASE Cloud PlatformMay 9, 2026Download
ComparisonSteelhead vs Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN PlatformMay 9, 2026Download
ComparisonSteelhead vs CloudflareMay 9, 2026Download
Suggested products
TitleRatingMindshareRecommending
Fortinet FortiGate4.2N/A92%591 interviewsAdd to research
Cato SASE Cloud Platform4.514.4%100%31 interviewsAdd to research
 
 
Key learnings from peers

Valuable Features

Steelhead's most valuable features include WAN optimization, data compression, TCP window optimization, and scalable data referencing. Its ability to compress and streamline data boosts efficiency and communication speed while reducing bandwidth usage and costs. Real-time monitoring, reporting, and traffic shaping with QoS are also highlighted. Users appreciate the user-friendly interface, ease of management, and powerful technical capabilities for enhancing network performance, especially in low-bandwidth scenarios.
  • "Without Riverbed WAN Optimization, it took one hour to send one gig of traffic, but with Riverbed, one gig of traffic was sent in five minutes."
  • "We've been very pleased with the solution and its capabilities over the years."
  • "Scalable data referencing is the most valuable feature developed by Riverbed."

Room for Improvement

Steelhead struggles to handle simultaneous traffic efficiently, with calls for improved application response times and enhanced encrypted traffic handling. Users find Quality of Service configuration unintuitive. The upgrade process, as well as monitoring and detailed traffic insights, is seen as needing refinement. Scaling and integration issues are noted, along with a high cost. There is demand for better alert notifications, professional support, and simplified GUI navigation.
  • "If we lose the primary Steelhead that handles the optimization, the secondary Steelhead cannot handle the same High Availability."
  • "Currently what we have in the system can not support the software-defined networks, so I won't say it's scalable."
  • "The application response time of the solution can be improved."

ROI

Steelhead provided substantial ROI by reducing bandwidth usage and eliminating the need for costly network upgrades. With devices implemented, organizations observed bandwidth increases up to tenfold at peak times, leading to yearly savings exceeding £50,000. WAN optimization occurred without additional tools or increased internet capacity requirements. The significant reduction in bandwidth expenses and marked improvement in user experience underscored the value gained through Steelhead's implementation, highlighting efficient use of IT resources.

Pricing

Steelhead's pricing is generally seen as high, yet the performance justifies the cost for many users. Licensing can be confusing and often applies to a single machine, which users suggest could be improved. While initial hardware costs are significant, some find maintenance and licensing fees reasonable, spending around $150k annually across multiple data centers. Support quality contributes positively to the overall value despite costs being higher than alternatives like SolarWinds.
  • "Across our 12 data centers, we spend around $150k annually."
  • "The solution is expensive and the service contacts are costly too. The cost of the device makes the value proposition borderline acceptable for us. The service contract fees we pay is approximately $30,000 annually."

Popular Use Cases

Steelhead is primarily used for optimizing WAN traffic, improving data throughput and application performance. Organizations utilize it for data replication between data centers, branch connectivity, reducing bandwidth use, and optimizing international connections. Users report significant reductions in traffic, which leads to cost savings in bandwidth. It is applied in various sectors, including banking, retail, and finance, making it essential for scenarios with limited bandwidth and high latency issues.

Service and Support

Steelhead receives high marks for customer service and technical support, with quick and efficient responses noted. While general technical support is efficient and resolves issues swiftly, complex problems may take longer. Knowledge transfer and local support could improve, but interaction with knowledgeable engineers via remote sessions enhances problem-solving. Some users mention challenges reaching support, yet they rate Steelhead's support positively, praising the expertise and professionalism of the team.

Deployment

Steelhead's initial setup is described as straightforward by most users; it requires assigning IP addresses and may involve managing several branches if optimizing a wide area network. Some users indicate minor complexities due to configuration specifics or different interfaces. Deployment usually involves multiple team members, particularly when setting up in data centers, and additional configuration may be needed for traffic optimization. Setup times vary, typically ranging from a few hours to a full day.

Scalability

Steelhead’s scalability experiences vary. Some describe it as straightforward with no significant issues when deploying in small to large environments. Others face challenges due to limited licensing options and hardware upgrade constraints. Users appreciate the potential for easy system expansion in multi-site deployments, though certain models limit bandwidth capacity. For projects involving thousands of users, some find it manageable while others note compatibility limitations with newer network technologies.

Stability

Steelhead is highly stable, with most praising its reliability and resilience during power outages. Some noted issues related to specific data flows that require bypass rules. A few mentioned technical challenges, such as RAM leaks, but support provides rapid assistance. With features like High Availability mode for uninterrupted traffic, Steelhead maintains stable operation without visible lag, crashes, or downtime, even during hardware failures. The tool excels in large data transfers, ensuring reliable communications.
These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.
Download our Steelhead Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business5
Midsize Enterprise6
Large Enterprise12
By reviewers
By visitors reading reviews
Company SizeCount
Small Business55
Midsize Enterprise30
Large Enterprise53
By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews
Manufacturing Company
15%
Computer Software Company
11%
Construction Company
11%
Outsourcing Company
9%
Financial Services Firm
8%
Comms Service Provider
7%
Healthcare Company
4%
Educational Organization
4%
Legal Firm
4%
Government
4%
University
3%
Performing Arts
3%
Marketing Services Firm
2%
Energy/Utilities Company
2%
Media Company
2%
Retailer
2%
Logistics Company
1%
Recreational Facilities/Services Company
1%
Wholesaler/Distributor
1%
Insurance Company
1%
Transportation Company
1%
Real Estate/Law Firm
1%
Renewables & Environment Company
1%
Hospitality Company
1%
Wellness & Fitness Company
1%

Compare Steelhead with alternative products

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Learn more about Steelhead

Steelhead offers enhancements in data throughput and network optimization with its ability to improve TCP and WAN efficiency. Organizations benefit from scalable data referencing and adaptive transfer schemes that simulate LAN-like speeds over WAN. Its monitoring features provide insights into network dynamics, although potential improvements are noted in areas like QoS configuration and handling encrypted traffic. Users also recognize challenges in upgrading, GUI design, and monitoring tools.

What are Steelhead's key features?
  • Data Compression: Reduces data size for efficient WAN usage.
  • WAN Optimization: Enhances network speed and lowers costs.
  • TCP Optimization: Improves data flow over WAN connections.
  • Scalable Data Referencing: Encourages efficient data transfers.
  • Real-Time Monitoring: Offers insights into network performance.
  • Local Caching: Stores data locally to speed up access.
  • QoS Management: Prioritizes critical traffic effectively.
What benefits can organizations expect from Steelhead?
  • Cost Reduction: Decreases expenses related to bandwidth usage.
  • Improved Network Performance: Enhances application and data transfer speeds.
  • Bandwidth Management: Allows prioritization for critical tasks.
  • Reduced Latency: Mitigates delay issues in data transmission.

Steelhead is widely used in industries like banking and distribution for optimizing traffic between data centers and ensuring efficient branch connectivity. It addresses latency problems, boosts application performance, and helps reduce data traffic. In environments with limited bandwidth, its features ensure critical data is prioritized, creating significant cost savings.

Steelhead was previously known as RIverbed Steelhead.

Steelhead customers

ElAraby, SFK Leblanc, Bobst Group, Northwest Pipe Company, Halkbank, Tradebridge, EFG Hermes

Related questions

  • 20
How can I replace Steelhead with minimal impact?
  • 31
Which is the right tool to perform domain/application/IP/protocol based routing across WAN links?
  • 49
Blue Coat PacketShaper alternatives & competitors
  • 38
When evaluating WAN Optimization, what aspect do you think is the most important to look for?
  • 36
With bandwidth prices getting cheaper, is a WAN optimization solution still relevant and worth the investment?
  • 37
Why is WAN Optimization important for companies?

Product Categories

Product Categories
WAN Optimization
WAN Edge

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Steelhead Reviews Summary
Author infoRatingReview Summary
Senior manager at a tech services company with 201-500 employees3.0I've used Riverbed Steelhead primarily for WAN optimization and replication, which significantly reduced bandwidth costs, though it's expensive and struggles with Oracle traffic; setup was complex, but overall stability and real-time monitoring features are strong.
Director, Head of Networks at MUFG, EMEA4.5We use Riverbed Steelhead for WAN optimization, saving on international bandwidth costs. Features like keeping data on devices and acting as an NTP server enhance efficiency. However, updates can challenge service quality, and AI support would be beneficial.
Commercial Manager at IT-Experience4.5I’ve noticed that Steelhead excels in WAN optimization by effectively hashing and caching data, boosting network efficiency and communication speed. Despite Chile’s reliable networking, it remains beneficial for satellite communications and industries needing bandwidth conservation.
Senior manager at a tech services company with 201-500 employees3.0I use Steelhead to optimize data replication between our bank's primary and backup data centers, benefiting from its strong optimization capabilities. However, improvements are needed in monitoring traffic on separate channels for clearer insights.
Network Support Engineer at Nigeria LNG Limited4.5Steelhead is beneficial for optimizing WAN traffic, especially in bandwidth-limited scenarios, enhancing cloud migration, and improving workflow performance. It reduces bandwidth needs and costs, though integration with SDN could be improved. Overall, it optimizes our return on investment.
Datacenter & Infrastructure Senior Engineer at BMB3.5Steelhead's WAN optimization is its most valuable feature. However, handling encrypted traffic needs improvement due to complex configurations, particularly with Microsoft protocols for mail servers and VPN services. No other solutions were considered or previously used.
Consultant at Edge Tech Providers4.0I use SteelHead to optimize Amazon traffic for customers needing up to 33K. It helps with application performance, though I find the configuration and protocol detection could improve. Its effectiveness depends on specific enterprise applications and port accounts.
Network Support Engineer at Nigeria LNG Limited4.0I use this reliable, stable, and easy-to-install solution for WAN optimization, appreciating the good support. However, it's expensive, lacks integration, and isn't scalable for SDNs. Despite these points, I am pleased with it and recommend it.