Jeff Gray is the CEO and co-founder of Gluware, the leading provider of Intelligent Network Automation. As CEO, he oversees business operations and strategy, as well as the development of enterprise-leading intent-based network automation technologies adopted by some of the largest Global 2000 enterprises from Pharma to Finance. Gray has been a networking industry leader for decades, starting with the commercial development of innovative high-bandwidth networking solutions as a student at California Polytechnic State University. Gray is credited with bringing the industry’s first SDN orchestration platform to market and achieving significant blue-chip enterprise adoption.
What were the primary factors that led to Gluware’s decision to partner with Cuadrilla Capital?
Our decision was driven by a shared vision for the future of intelligent network automation and the immense potential it holds for transforming enterprise networks globally. First and foremost, Cuadrilla’s clear understanding of where the market is headed and their recognition of Gluware’s vital role in this evolution was crucial. They saw the true value in our groundbreaking technology and world-class team, and how we’ve positioned ourselves in the compelling network automation market.
Secondly, this partnership provides us with the strategic growth investment needed to accelerate our penetration into the Global 2000 market. With the surge in IT, OT, and IoT devices placing unprecedented demands on network infrastructure, we recognized the need to fast-track the transition from manual network operations and scripted network operations. Cuadrilla’s support enables us to meet this rapidly growing demand head-on.
Furthermore, Cuadrilla’s expertise in driving accelerated growth for SaaS companies with strong product-market fit made them an ideal partner for us. Their track record and strategic approach complement our goals for long-term success and accelerating growth.
How will the investment from Cuadrilla Capital accelerate Gluware’s growth and market penetration, particularly in the Global 2000 segment?
The investment from Cuadrilla Capital is a game-changer for Gluware’s growth and market penetration, especially in the Global 2000 segment. This partnership provides us with the resources and strategic support needed to significantly scale and expand our global reach. With Cuadrilla’s backing, we’re accelerating our product development initiatives, including regular platform enhancements and the creation of cutting-edge offerings like our GenAI-powered Co-Pilots for network operators and automation developers. Our forward-thinking approach has gotten us to where we are today and it will keep us at the forefront of the intelligent network automation market.
The investment also enables us to double down on customer success initiatives, ensuring our clients can fully leverage our platform’s capabilities and achieve optimal results. Cuadrilla’s expertise in scaling SaaS companies will provide invaluable strategic guidance as we optimize our go-to-market strategies and scale our operations. This partnership comes at a critical juncture in the industry, and our enhanced capabilities will help Global 2000 companies make the switch they need to compete in today’s environment.
By combining our innovative technology with Cuadrilla’s strategic vision and support, we’re poised to drive transformative change in enterprise networks worldwide, solidifying Gluware as the go-to technology for solving the greatest IT pain points across industries.
Can you explain the significance of Gluware’s DIAL technology and how it differentiates your platform from other network automation solutions?
Our DIAL (Device Interaction and Automation Layer) technology truly sets us apart in the network automation landscape. DIAL is the cornerstone of our platform, revolutionizing how networks are automated by providing a unified intelligent API layer for multi-vendor networks. This groundbreaking approach enables hands-off network automation, full remediation, and near real-time compliance auditing for configuration and security policy across diverse network environments.
What makes DIAL unique is its ability to replace the need for hundreds of scripts for thousands of devices with a single intent-based data model and intuitive drag-and-drop navigation. This dramatically reduces the time and complexity involved in automating networks while accelerating network transformation. For our customers, this means they can achieve flawless network automation without the burden of extensive coding. DIAL’s capabilities extend to supporting 56 operating systems across 22 vendors, making it an incredibly versatile solution for the complex, multi-vendor network ecosystems that are common in today’s enterprises. This technology is not just about automation; it’s about empowering enterprises to build and manage better, more secure, and AI-ready networks, ultimately driving the industry towards Downtime Zero.
With the increasing complexity of IT, OT, and IoT networks, how does Gluware’s platform address the unique challenges posed by these environments?
While each environment is unique and brings its own set of hurdles, there are common challenges and use cases across every network. This includes managing configurations – such as detecting and remediating drift, and keeping operating systems current to prevent exposures – patching at scale with 0% defects, reducing network outages by 95%, and more.
Our team understands the critical challenges organizations face with the exponential growth of connected devices across IT, OT, and IoT networks. The digital transformation landscape is becoming increasingly complex, with enterprises struggling to manage diverse network infrastructure that spans multiple vendors, technologies, and operational domains. Our platform is specifically engineered to provide a comprehensive solution that breaks down these traditional silos, offering unprecedented visibility, control, and automation across heterogeneous network environments.
The proliferation of network devices has created a perfect storm of complexity that traditional network management approaches simply cannot address. Gluware’s intelligent network automation platform represents a paradigm shift, enabling organizations to transform their network operations from reactive, manual processes to proactive, intelligent systems. By leveraging our advanced technology, companies can now seamlessly integrate and manage networks that were previously considered too complex or disparate to automate effectively.
We’ve recently announced GenAI-powered Co-Pilots for Network Operators and NetDevOps, as well as integrations with tools like NetBox and GitHub, to provide a comprehensive solution that caters to both pre-built automation needs and custom development requirements. This flexibility allows organizations to adapt to the unique challenges of their specific IT, OT, and IoT environments while maintaining consistency and compliance across their entire network infrastructure. With Gluware, enterprises can achieve impressive results such as a 95% reduction in network outages, 100% network security policy compliance, and the ability to implement self-operating network capabilities in just three months – and see ROI within a year.
What role does intent-based automation play in Gluware’s overall strategy, and how does it improve network operations for your customers?
Gluware powers the world’s most complex enterprise networks with enterprise-grade, intent-based, multi-vendor, intelligent network automation – ready out-of-the-box or as a unifying developer platform. The leading choice of the Global 2000, Gluware’s self-operating and auto-remediating platform handles millions of network changes simultaneously, flawlessly, and in minutes, saving businesses significant time and resources. Gluware is the only turnkey, intelligent network automation software platform for NetOps and NetDevOps that automates enterprise networks in as little as 30 days.
Within our intelligent network automation platform, intent-based automation plays a central role. This approach allows us to address the growing complexity of modern networks while delivering significant improvements in network operations for our customers.
At Gluware, we’ve developed our platform around the concept of intent-based networking (IBN), which allows us to automate network operations based on high-level business objectives. Our DIAL technology is a key component of this strategy, providing a unified intelligent API layer for multi-vendor networks.
Our intent-based automation strategy also addresses key challenges in network management. It allows for faster troubleshooting, reduces manual tasks and misconfigurations, minimizes network downtime, and enhances security. For example, our platform can automatically identify and remediate issues before they impact network performance, reducing the need for manual intervention.
Looking ahead, we’re committed to advancing our intelligent network automation suite to meet evolving customer needs and build a faster path to hyperautomation and self-operating networks. Our focus on intent-based automation, coupled with ongoing innovations in AI, positions Gluware to continue delivering unprecedented value and operational simplicity to our customers.
Said Ziouani, founder of Ansible, recently joined Gluware’s board. Why is this a good match for Said and Gluware?
Said joining Gluware’s board represents a strategic alignment of vision and expertise that promises to drive significant innovation in network automation. As the founder of Ansible, Said brings an unparalleled depth of experience in server automation that directly complements Gluware’s mission to revolutionize network operations. His proven track record of identifying and capitalizing on emerging IT technology trends makes him an ideal strategic advisor, particularly as Gluware continues to push the boundaries of intelligent network automation. His appointment also underscores Gluware’s commitment to working more closely with open-source leaders to drive the next evolution of network automation.
Said’s journey with Ansible, from its inception to its successful acquisition by Red Hat, provides Gluware with invaluable insights into scaling a transformative automation technology company. During his 10-year tenure at Red Hat, he helped grow the company from $0 to $1 billion in revenue, demonstrating his exceptional leadership and strategic scaling capabilities. His deep understanding of DevOps and DevSecOps practices aligns perfectly with Gluware’s approach to creating intent-based, intelligent network automation. Moreover, his strategic advisory role with Cuadrilla Capital further enhances the value he brings to Gluware’s board, offering a comprehensive perspective on market trends, technological innovation, and strategic growth.
Said’s expertise in transforming server automation through Ansible mirrors Gluware’s ambitions in the network automation space. By bringing his strategic vision, industry knowledge, and entrepreneurial experience to Gluware’s leadership, he is positioned to help accelerate the company’s growth and solidify its position as a leader in intelligent network automation.
