Rob Steele, converged practice lead for RoundTower Technologies, a Cincinnati-based solution provider and Riverbed Technology partner, after Riverbed agreed to acquire wireless specialist Xirrus, saying it will give the channel more firepower in the fast-growing software-defined WAN market.

"SD-WAN is one of the fastest-growing technologies this year. Riverbed is obviously seeing the opportunity as well and this Xirrus acquisition adds some really great capabilities."