Itential + Alkira: Bringing Simplicity, Agility and Order to Cloud Networking

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Overview

A technical alliance between Alkira and Itential brings simplicity, agility and order to cloud networking. The joint solution enables customers to deploy, manage, and operate enterprise grade networks for cloud and on-premises environments with full end-to-end automation, reducing time to market for business-critical services.

By integrating these two platforms at the API level, network teams can build automations that combine Alkira’s unique cloud features with Itential’s ability to ensure compliance and consistency across physical and cloud infrastructure. The partnership provides a holistic and comprehensive solution for customers to automate their entire network ecosystem.

The Challenge

Enterprises turned to the cloud because it promised to cut the time and costs of deploying new services. Cloud has delivered on that promise for compute and storage but failed to deliver the same speed and simplicity for networking.

The Reality Gap:

  • DevOps teams can build great new services in days, but thanks to the complexity of networking in the cloud it could take months to roll out
  • CIOs continue to complain that cloud delivers less than they hoped
  • The 2023 Flexera State of the Cloud report shows an average 18% cloud spend over budget with 28% of cloud investment wasted
  • 87% of enterprises already use multiple clouds and 72% use a mixture of public and private clouds

Complexity Equals Cost + Delay:

  • Building DIY networks in the cloud is challenging even with a single cloud provider
  • Adding multiple clouds, security and business continuity guardrails increases the challenge exponentially
  • Even after successful deployment, DIY cloud networks have complexity baked in, leading to ongoing operational challenges and higher costs
  • Networks needed to connect applications securely to customers and partner ecosystems are slow to deploy, costly to manage and difficult to adapt

Benefits

Simplified Cloud Networking
 Abstract the complexity of cloud networking through hyperscale infrastructure that connects remote users, cloud regions, multiple clouds, SaaS applications, data centers and existing SD-WAN fabrics.

Accelerated Deployment
 Cut the time taken to build networks that unify clouds and on-premises from months to minutes using point-and-click graphical interfaces.

End-to-End Automation
 Deploy, manage, and operate enterprise networks with full automation, reducing manual operations and delivering services faster.

Unified Management
 Single management console provides end-to-end visibility, simplifying day-2 operations across the entire network infrastructure.

Cost Optimization
 Pay only for what you use with near-infinite capacity access, eliminating waste and reducing operational overhead.

Solution

The Alkira and Itential partnership delivers comprehensive network automation across hybrid and multi-cloud environments through integrated platforms that address the full spectrum of enterprise networking needs.

Alkira Capabilities:

  • Network Infrastructure-as-a-Service: Hyperscale infrastructure delivered entirely as a service with no hardware or software to install
  • Simplified Provisioning: Networks provisioned using point-and-click graphical interface with automatic network plumbing
  • Service Insertion: High-level network services including firewalls, WAN optimization and directory services
  • Global Connectivity: Connects remote users, cloud regions, multiple clouds, SaaS applications, and data centers

Itential Capabilities:

  • Hybrid Automation: Cloud-native automation solution built to support both network and cloud infrastructure
  • Low-Code Platform: Itential Automation Platform (IAP) seamlessly connects IT systems with network technologies
  • Comprehensive Integration: End-to-end network configuration, compliance, automation, and orchestration
  • Self-Service Networking: Helps organizations evolve from manual processes to automated networking

Joint Solution Features:

  • API-First Integration: Teams can integrate with entire ecosystem and deliver federated source of truth for the entire network
  • Cloud Service Provider Automation: Automate deployment of CSP assets and provision on-demand networking platform
  • Third-Party Service Deployment: Deploy services within Alkira’s Cloud Exchange Points including Next Gen Firewalls, DDI Services, and monitoring solutions
  • Day-2 Operations: Comprehensive management of services in CXP as well as on-premises devices

Key Use Cases:

  • Cloud Onboarding and Internet connectivity
  • Cloud Security and on-premises to cloud connectivity
  • Multicloud Connectivity and Cloud Backbone (inter-region connectivity)
  • Extranet as a Service

Conclusion

Cloud networking is complex, but Alkira and Itential have teamed up to ensure that’s no longer your problem. Networks are constantly changing, and by integrating these two platforms at the API level, network teams can build automations that combine Alkira’s unique cloud features with Itential’s ability to ensure compliance and consistency across physical and cloud infrastructure. This partnership delivers the promise of cloud networking – reducing complexity, accelerating deployment, and enabling organizations to focus on business outcomes rather than infrastructure management.

For more information or to speak with a network specialist, contact us.