Extreme Networks Unveils AI-Powered Platform ONE to Simplify Network Management

Extreme Networks rolls out its platform to simplify network operations - SiliconANGLE

Extreme Networks rolls out its platform to simplify network operations Networking and complexity go hand in hand, like chocolate and peanut butter. Though this has been the norm, it's playing havoc with business operations. A recent ZK Research/Cube Research study found that 93% of organizations state the network is more critical to business operations than two years ago. In the same period, 80% said the network was more complex. Increasing complexity leads to blind spots, unplanned downtime, security breaches and other issues that affect businesses. Extreme Networks Inc. today announced its Extreme Platform ONE connectivity platform to combat this. The back-end data lake combines data from networks, security tools and third parties such as Intel Corp., Microsoft Security and ServiceNow Inc. The platform is built on an artificial intelligence core to deliver conversational AI and autonomous networking. The goal is to automate wholly or at least partially many of the complex tasks associated with operating and securing a network. The platform is flexible enough to serve multiple audiences. It includes a composable workspace that enables cross-team workflows. Although network engineers will most likely work with Extreme, the company has added security functionality and capabilities for that audience. Extreme also offers workflows, services and data for procurement and financing teams. The latter audience often needs to be reminded about network infrastructure. As a former information technology executive, I am all too familiar with the pains of managing subscriptions, service contracts and licenses. This is often done on spreadsheets, which is time-consuming and error-prone and can frequently lead to overspending. Extreme has built a dashboard that shows all relevant financial information, including contracts and renewal dates. This can help the customer better understand current and future trends and plan for upgrades. For the network practitioner, the AI capabilities are targeted at troubleshooting complicated problems, which networks are filled with. Wi-Fi problems are the hardest to solve as there are so many variables. With a wired network, virtual local-area networks, duplex mismatches and other settings can often cause unexpected performance issues. Finding these can take days, weeks, or even months, as replicating them can be challenging. AI sees all data across the network and can connect the dots that people can't. There is also an AI Policy Assistant that administrators can use to create, view, update and remove application policies. Policy administration is necessary but time-consuming and error-prone. Setting up policies initially is straightforward but keeping them up to date as people and devices move around the network or as applications change can be difficult, particularly in dynamic environments, which most companies are today because of the internet of things, cloud and work-from-home. The rollout of Extreme Platform ONE is the culmination of many acquisitions and years of work. Today's Extreme is a rollup of many network vendors, including Enterasys, Brocade, Avaya Networking and Motorola/Zebra. The purchase of Aerohive brought the company the cloud back end that is being leveraged in the current platform launch. Along the way, the company rationalized its product set and implemented "Universal Hardware," which lets customers choose between different operating systems. Extreme Platform ONE is well-timed with the current AI wave. The concept of the network platform has been bandied about for years but has yet to catch on. Last week, I talked to Extreme Chief Technology Officer Nabil Bukhari (pictured), about the platform and why now. He told me this is the direction the company has been moving in since he took the role in 2020. AI makes a platform's value proposition compelling today, as it requires a single set of data to deliver the best insights. Companies that run one vendor for the WAN, another for Wi-Fi, and another for the campus network will have three sets of data, likely siloed, three AI engines leading to fragmented insights. For most companies, AI for operations is the way forward, and that will push more companies toward a platform approach. Other vendors have followed the platform path. What I like about Extreme's approach is that it uses AI as more than a troubleshooting tool. Though that's a core function of the platform, it addresses issues at every step of the network lifecycle: planning, deployment, operations, optimization, security and renewals. It as taken Extreme years to combine multiple products and unify the data set, but that's done, and customers should see the benefits with the new Platform ONE.

Extreme Networks launches Extreme Platform ONE to simplify enterprise networking and security - SiliconANGLE

Extreme Networks launches Extreme Platform ONE to simplify enterprise networking and security Networking company Extreme Networks Inc. today unveiled Extreme Platform ONE, a new technology platform that is designed to reduce enterprise complexity by integrating networking, security and artificial intelligence solutions. The new platform also offers automation with coverage for conversational, interactive and autonomous AI agents to assist, advise and accelerate the productivity of networking, security and business teams. The aim is to reduce the time to complete complex tasks. Platform ONE simplifies complex tasks, reducing completion times from days to hours and hours to minutes. The platform does so through its delivery of unified experiences through a workspace that integrates workflows, services and data across domains, offering customizable real-time insights for different teams like network, security, finance and procurement. The platform itself is accompanied by Extreme AI Expert, a feature that is claimed by Extreme Networks to go beyond traditional chatbots by providing deep automation and flexibility. The AI core of the feature adapts to organizational trust levels to enable conversational, interactive and autonomous agents to enhance efficiency in planning, management and governance processes. The platform also addresses licensing complexity by offering a simplified subscription model. The model includes comprehensive network management, AI capabilities and support services while also allowing optional purchases or bundles for security functionality to ease the burden on stakeholders and procurement teams. Overall, Platform ONE offers a streamlined design that reduces inefficiencies and enhances productivity for networking, security and business teams. The platform supports integration with partners, including Intel Corp., Microsoft Security and ServiceNow Inc., to allow organizations to extend platform capabilities to ensure adaptability and innovation. "Today, IT leaders face mounting challenges -- balancing increasing complexity and costs while driving innovation through digital transformation, cloud migrations and AI," said Ed Meyercord, president and chief executive officer of Extreme Networks. "With Extreme Platform ONE, we've reduced the complexity of networking in isolation, fulfilling the broken promises of automation through AI." Platform ONE will be generally available in the third quarter of 2025. Extreme Networks was previously in the news in October when it announced new features within ExtremeCloud Universal ZTNA, the company's identity-based network access solution. The new features simplify and strengthen network security across remote and campus environments.

Extreme Networks Unveils AI-Infused Platform ONE For A 'Composed' Network Management Experience

Alongside the new platform, Extreme is also simplifying networking and security product licensing for enterprises and channel partners. Extreme Networks has launched a brand-new platform that takes networking and security management to the next level as the definition of networking expands and more stakeholders are involved in network management and analytics, including SecOps and C-level executives, according to the networking specialist. The company is also by extension making buying and licensing much simpler by decreasing the amount of applications needed, Extreme said. "The network has become more and more important for non-core networking things ... There's [also] too many apps required to manage this broadened definition of networking [because] it's not just networking, it's network security, it's analytics, and so forth. When you add so many apps, it leads to too many licenses, too much complexity in buying, and then it also leads to loss in productivity," Nabil Bukhari, Extreme's chief technology and product officer, told CRN. [Related: Extreme Networks CEO: We Will Be 'The Fastest-Growing' Networking Vendor In 2025] Extreme Platform ONE brings together networking and security tools, including products from third-party networking and security vendors, such as Microsoft, with AI to radically simplify the network management experience by "composing" a workspace unique to the user, with every application they need in one place, Bukhari said. "We believe in a composable workspace that provides the information that you need in real time," he said. "If you are a networks person, it will show the information from networks, topology, or network status. It will show you your alerts and messages from your networking devices. If you're a SecOps person, it will show you your security policies. It will show you the integration between security and networking. [And] if you're a CFO or a procurement person, it will show you all of your subscription licenses and service contracts in one place." The typical networking or security professional logs into four to seven different applications, Bukhari said. As networking and security have increasingly become more connected, moving between different applications only ups the risk factor for a security event because there is more room for human error, he added. At the same time, AI that's siloed within these applications has limited value. The greater the access to data, the more value that AI has, Bukhari said. "Our view is that we are bringing in AI as a core competency of the platform so that it is built from the ground up, including all data management, all AI services management, and all guardrails and safety. When we do that, AI is not a chatbot. AI is not a separate product. AI is an inherent capability of the platform that can be applied to any and every workflow," he said. It's an important distinction because in networking so far, AI has been considered more of an AI Ops function to help with troubleshooting or find anomalies easier, Bukhari said. "Obviously, we have done that before. Some of our competitors have done that as well, but we are taking a completely different look at AI," he said. Simplifying Licensing And Value For Enterprises, Partners C1, a Bloomington, Minn.-based solution provider and Extreme partner is planning on being an early adopter of Platform ONE for its simplified licensing benefits and for the platform's ability to expose a full stack of networking and security capabilities in a very "simplistic" model for customers, said Kyle Wewe, executive vice president, U.S. sales, major accounts for C1. "Our clients are continually looking for avenues to better leverage the intrinsic values of a platform that aren't always visible to them. We see this as a great Trojan horse for our customers," he said. "Typically, we see a lot of customers only leveraging 10 to 15 percent of the full capabilities, or particular licenses, [but] in selling it as a platform, we're able to expose them to Platform ONE and really get them to leverage more of the capabilities within the solution set across their entire environment." The consolidation of product licensing is a big win for customers who until now, have been used to a separate console and licensing structure for each IT product or service, said Wendy Munnell, director of Palo Alto and Extreme Networks Alliances for C1. "That consolidation is just going to make it much more efficient ... solutions like this also help with employee morale. If we help make their lives easier at work, [employees] want to come to work. Historically, IT [has been] a very stressful environment," she said. The amount of applications that many enterprises have today for networking and often point security products makes licensing a very difficult experience, Extreme's Bukhari said. "I know our customers have told us that sometimes they have two or three people just dedicated to managing their licensing and compliance," he said. These users are increasingly asking Extreme and channel partners for one platform and a simplified licensing structure. At the same time, the platform will reduce costs and "massively" simplify the buying process for partners, too, he added. "With Platform ONE, we are simplifying the entire journey ... Now we are bringing that simplified license into networking, network security and AI. We are also bringing in a super optimized buying experience from the time that you buy, to the time that you renew," he said. Partners will be able to more easily build a high value service on top of the platform, rather than build services on top of disparate cloud applications, he said. Extreme Networks will be making more of the details around its simplified licensing closer to when Platform ONE will become generally available in the second half of 2025, Bukhari said. In time, end users will migrate from ExtremeCloud IQ to Extreme Platform ONE, Bukhari said. Extreme Platform ONE can run on public cloud or private cloud environments, according to the company.

Extreme Introduces Extreme Platform ONE: Integrated AI-Powered Automation That Radically Simplifies the Customer Experience in Enterprise Networking and Security

Extreme Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXTR) today unveiled Extreme Platform ONE™, a groundbreaking technology platform that reduces the complexity for enterprises by seamlessly integrating networking, security and AI solutions. The platform's AI-powered automation includes conversational, interactive and autonomous AI agents -- to assist, advise and accelerate the productivity of networking, security and business teams -- effectively reducing the time to complete complex tasks from hours to minutes. Extreme Platform ONE also offers the industry's simplest licensing. "Today, IT leaders face mounting challenges -- balancing increasing complexity and costs while driving innovation through digital transformation, cloud migrations and AI. With Extreme Platform ONE, we've reduced the complexity of networking in isolation, fulfilling the broken promises of automation through AI. We're delivering on the demands of our customers and partners to help drive their businesses forward with unprecedented efficiency and innovation," said Ed Meyercord, President and CEO, Extreme Networks. Designed to simplify complex tasks from days to hours, and hours to minutes, Extreme Platform ONE delivers several key benefits to networking, security and business teams, including: "Extreme has challenged the status quo at every step in our journey -- from leading the charge in cloud networking to simplifying licensing with Universal hardware. Now, Extreme Platform ONE offers cutting-edge technology and human-centric experiences that transform potential into reality -- helping our customers embrace efficiency at every level. For example, in our internal benchmarking, we've reduced troubleshooting and remediation times by up to 95 percent. AI is at the core of this platform, but AI adoption will move at the pace of trust, and with Extreme Platform ONE, customers can take advantage of AI no matter where they are in that trust journey," said Nabil Bukhari, Chief Product and Technology Officer, GM of Subscriptions, Extreme Networks. What Customers are Saying about Extreme Platform ONE Andrew Smith, Head of Digital Service Delivery, West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust "Extreme Platform ONE is an excellent step forward and will give us a better understanding of what's happening in the network and how we can improve it so that our doctors and staff can continue using technology to deliver best-in-class healthcare services. The simplified licensing and easy way to see what we might need for a future deployment or upgrade also gives us an easier way to sync with our procurement team." Michelle Okoro, Executive Director of Network Infrastructure, Aldine ISD "As networking and security continue to converge, we're prioritizing solutions that give our IT team valuable time back in their day. We can't have our IT team 'swivel chairing' between network management, multiple security apps, multiple support portals, learning portals, etc. We need solutions like Extreme Platform ONE that put all of that into one place and give us an easy way to solve problems and support all the technology our schools rely on." Expert Insights Brandon Butler, Senior Research Manager, Enterprise Networks, IDC "Recent IDC research shows growing interest in platform-based approaches to AI-powered networking for enabling more integrated visibility, management and user experiences across disparate domains of networking and security. Extreme Networks' launch of Extreme Platform ONE addresses the need for advanced networking platforms that emphasize efficiency, automation and streamlined experiences, all driven by AI. Extreme Platform ONE leverages native AI capabilities to provide experiences that are interactive, conversational and autonomous, making Extreme Platform ONE a significant advancement in the networking industry." Pricing and Availability Extreme Platform ONE will be generally available in calendar Q3 2025. Pricing details will be announced at a later date. Join Extreme's Chief Marketing Officer Monica Kumar and Chief Product and Technology Officer Nabil Bukhari today at 11 a.m. ET for a special unveiling of Extreme Platform ONE. To watch the livestream, click here. Extreme will announce further details about Extreme Platform ONE at Extreme Connect, taking place in Paris, France from May 19-22, 2025. For more information about Extreme Connect and how to attend, click here. Additional Resources About Extreme Networks: Extreme Networks, Inc. (EXTR) is a leader in AI-driven cloud networking, focused on delivering simple and secure solutions that help businesses address challenges and enable connections among devices, applications, and users. We push the boundaries of technology, leveraging the powers of artificial intelligence, analytics, and automation. Tens of thousands of customers globally trust our AI-driven cloud networking solutions and industry-leading support to enable businesses to drive value, foster innovation, and overcome extreme challenges. For more information, visit Extreme's website at www.extremenetworks.com or follow us on LinkedIn, YouTube, X, Facebook or Instagram. Extreme Networks, Extreme AI Expert, Extreme Platform ONE, and the Extreme Networks logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Extreme Networks, Inc. in the United States, and other countries. Other trademarks shown herein are the property of their respective owners.