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Forward Networks’ foundational technology is a “digital twin of the network,” which serves as a behavioral source of truth. This software platform connects to all network devices, collecting configuration and state data to build a behaviorally accurate model. It transforms raw, vendor-specific data into a queryable, vendor-independent model, analyzes all possible network behaviors, and proactively traces every conceivable packet path to determine delivery, drops, and the underlying causes. This capability goes beyond mere monitoring by enabling the network’s properties to be provably validated, including connectivity readiness and security isolation between regions. The platform collects extensive multi-vendor, multi-protocol data at scale, including tens of thousands of devices, and organizes it into a hierarchical stack of raw, normalized, behavioral, and contextual data to enable deep insights.
The company identified an “operational gap” in which network and security teams struggle to translate their goals into actionable information from disparate sources and to manage complex, multi-step workflows. Envisioning “agentic operations” where AI assists with routine tasks, Forward Networks emphasizes the critical need for robust data and trustworthy AI outputs. To address this, they introduce Forward AI, a conversational agentic system powered by the network digital twin. Forward AI provides a plain English interface, allowing operators to ask questions about devices, hosts, subnets, packet paths, and vulnerabilities, effectively bridging the gap between human intent and the complex underlying network data. While designed with agentic capabilities, the initial focus is on enabling users to gain trusted insights necessary for informed actions.
Personnel: Nikhil Handigol
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