128 Technology’s user-centric SD-WAN is the perfect complement to the Juniper AI-driven Enterprise, delivering game-changing insights and automation from client-to-cloud
“Game changing.”
It is a term often used, but rarely justified.
Apple changed mobility. AWS changed compute. Microsoft changed the desktop. These are just a few examples of completely disruptive technologies that altered the overall direction of industries.
There is a good argument to be made that Mist did the same. When the wireless industry was still talking about on-premises WLAN controllers and antennas, Mist was the first to introduce the concept of an AI-driven WLAN born in the modern cloud with unsurpassed insight into user experiences, self-driving AIOps and proactive support. Shortly after Mist’s acquisition by Juniper last year, Mist raised the bar even higher by bringing wired access under the Mist AI and cloud umbrella.
Last month, Juniper took a huge step toward our ultimate vision of client-to-cloud AI-driven automation, insight and actions – i.e. a common AIOps platform for unified WLAN/LAN/WAN visibility and troubleshooting. We announced what we believe to be the industry’s first WAN assurance solution with self-driving AIOps. As key analysts have pointed out, there is a market shift happening from SD-WAN to AI-Driven WAN and Juniper is intent on leading this industry transformation (in much the same way we did with AI-driven wired and AI-driven wireless.) In fact, in the recently published Gartner Magic Quadrant for WAN Edge Infrastructure (published September 2020), Gartner positioned Juniper Networks as a visionary based on its ability to execute and completeness of vision.*
Which brings us to today’s announcement – Juniper’s agreement to acquire 128 Technology. We are thrilled with the agreement to add another game-changing weapon to our AI-driven enterprise arsenal.
128 Technology’s unique session-smart networking enables enterprise customers and service providers to create a user experience-centric fabric for WAN connectivity. Unlike legacy competitive SD-WAN solutions, intelligent decisions are based on real-time user sessions and agile business policies instead of static network policies determined on a per tunnel basis. 128 Technology makes it much easier to scale WAN deployments and deliver superior performance for real-time traffic like voice over IP, 5G and collaboration applications. When session smart networking is deployed without tunnels, approximately 40% of WAN overhead is reduced automatically, which substantially lowers bandwidth utilization expenses and minimizes cloud hosting costs – in some instances, in fact, 128 Technology is 75% more cost effective than traditional SD-WAN solutions!
Combining 128 Technology’s groundbreaking software with Juniper SD-WAN, WAN Assurance and Marvis Virtual Network Assistant (driven by Mist AI) gives customers the clearest and quickest path to full AI-driven WAN operations – from initial configuration to ongoing AIOps, including customizable service levels (down to the individual user), simple policy enforcement, proactive anomaly detection, fault isolation with recommended corrective actions, self-driving network operations and AI-driven support. While “AIops” and “self-driving” are common buzzwords now in the SD-WAN industry, Juniper has a customer-proven solution, integrated AI engine that eliminates the need for overlay hardware and software, purpose-built cloud for agility and scale, AI-driven support with conversational Virtual Network Assistant, and unique ability to optimize user experiences (as well as network and application performance).
Furthermore, combining 128 Technology with Juniper wired and wireless assurance will give customers a unified platform for AI-driven WLAN/LAN/WAN, optimizing user experiences from client-to-cloud. Plus, Juniper offers integrated Connected Security that includes zero-trust access, next generation firewall, web/content filtering, real-time threat intelligence and advanced threat protection every step of the way.
If anyone knows how to apply AI to networking, it is Mist. (Just ask four of the Fortune 10, who recently switched to the Juniper AI-driven Enterprise for wired and wireless access.) And if anyone knows how to evolve WANs beyond traditional routing, it is 128 Technology. (One of those same F10 companies is using 128 Technology! So is a major national retailer with approximately 5,000 locations and a Fortune 500 health system serving sixteen states, among other marquee customers.)
By bringing these two game-changing solutions together under the leadership of Sujai Hajela, former co-founder and CEO of Mist and head of our AI-driven enterprise business unit, Juniper is doubling-down on our vision of automated, self-driving networks and demonstrating an even stronger commitment to delivering the best user experiences to our customers.
* Gartner, Magic Quadrant for WAN Edge Infrastructure, Jonathan Forest, Andrew Lerner, Naresh Singh, September 23, 2020.
Forward-Looking Statements
This blog contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, could be deemed forward-looking statements. Statements in this blog concerning Juniper Networks’ business, strategy and focus; our agreement to acquire 128 Technology; the results, savings and improvements made possible by 128 Technology’s technology, including as integrated with Juniper Networks’ solutions; and our overall future prospects are forward-looking statements that involve a number of uncertainties and risks. Actual results or events could differ materially from those anticipated in those forward-looking statements as a result of several factors, including, without limitation, our ability to close the contemplated acquisition in a timely basis or at all, our ability to integrate the acquired company and its technology, potential benefits of the transaction to Juniper Networks and our customers, the effectiveness of 128 Technology’s technology, and other factors listed in our most recent report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All statements made in this blog are made only as of the date of this blog. Juniper Networks undertakes no obligation to update the information in this blog in the event facts or circumstances subsequently change after the date of this blog.
