Jeff Gray Introduces Glue Networks Software-Defined Wide-Area Networks

Jeff Gray, CEO of Glue Networks, introduced the company’s software-defined wide-area network (SD-WAN) solution, emphasizing its role in powering intelligent WAN architectures. Unlike many software-defined network (SDN) solutions that are still in the proof-of-concept or pilot stages, Glue Networks’ SD-WAN is already in global production, serving Fortune 500 and Fortune 100 companies. The company has been recognized by Gartner as a Cool Vendor in 2013 and has been highlighted at the Open Networking User Group (ONUG) for its significant contributions to reducing IT costs through SD-WAN. Glue Networks is also integrated into Cisco’s global price list, allowing Cisco’s account managers and channel partners to sell and support Glue’s solutions.

Gray explained that the traditional WAN market, valued at $120 billion annually, is still largely built manually, which is both time-consuming and complex. Enterprises have consolidated their data centers but face bottlenecks in legacy WANs that need to distribute content to various locations. Glue Networks aims to address this by providing an intelligent WAN orchestration engine that automates the provisioning, change management, and tuning of WANs. This engine allows for real-time, dynamic adjustments to network configurations, ensuring efficient use of bandwidth and prioritization of critical applications. For example, if an application like SAP needs priority for end-of-quarter book closing but the network is congested with voice and telepresence calls, Glue’s orchestration engine can dynamically adjust priorities to optimize network performance.

The presentation also highlighted Glue Networks’ approach to zero-touch provisioning and integration with Cisco’s APIC Enterprise Module Controller. Gray demonstrated how Glue’s engine can securely interact with network devices, build configurations layer by layer, and manage policies for traffic prioritization and encryption. The solution supports various deployment scenarios, including hybrid WANs with MPLS and internet connections, and can handle mobile routers using 3G/4G networks. Additionally, Glue Networks offers geolocation-aware security features to prevent unauthorized access to the network. The company’s focus remains on leveraging existing Cisco infrastructure, given Cisco’s dominant market share in WAN devices, while providing a scalable and automated solution to meet the evolving needs of enterprise networks.