Spain-based telecommunications giant Telefónica expanded its relationship with longtime security partner Fortinet today to deliver SD-WAN and secure access service edge (SASE) functionality to its Telefónica Tech customers.

According to Telefónica Tech, the pandemic has made hybrid and “cloud-centric” work models the new normal. Telefónica Tech's new flexWAN by Fortinet offering combines the security vendor’s SD-WAN and SASE security capabilities into a single managed service.

Telefónica claims the combination will enable secure connectivity to users regardless of whether they’re logging in from the branch, from their home, or remotely.

“This new converged network and security offering is essential for our clients so that their digital transformation and migration to the cloud is fast and secure,” said Hugo de los Santos, director of cyber security at Telefónica Tech, in a statement.

The service is initially available in Spain, however Telefónica plans to extend the platform across its footprints in Europe and Latin America in the near future.

Today’s update builds on a nearly five-year-long collaboration between Telefónica Tech and Fortinet. In early 2016, the service provider selected Fortinet’s Security Fabric architecture to power its managed security services. In 2020, the companies again partnered to secure IT, operation technology, and IoT devices.