Juniper Networks Announces Intent to Acquire Apstra to Transform Data Center Operations with Leading Intent-Based Networking and Automated Closed Loop Assurance

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Dec. 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Juniper Networks (NYSE: JNPR), a leader in secure, AI-driven networks, today announced that the company has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Apstra, a leader in intent-based networking and automated closed loop assurance. Juniper’s strategy is to change the way networks are built, operated and secured in the cloud era by using AI-driven automation. Apstra accelerates this by combining next generation network automation based on an open, multivendor architecture with Juniper’s Data Center networking portfolio based on Junos, the proven open, programmable and high-scale operating system for next generation data centers and cloud networks. The combined solution helps public and private cloud builders optimize operations for application experience as they accelerate on the path toward the self-driving network™.

The Apstra solution does far more than automate repeated operations steps. With Apstra, architects describe how the data center should behave in terms of outcomes and the system implements and continuously assures that the network operations and experience match the intent. These capabilities make Apstra stand apart in providing proactive insights, along with automated root cause identification and remediation. While safeguarding the network, Apstra also enables self-service delivery, with its advanced automation accelerating time to market along with lowering data center outages and OpEx.

The richness of intent-based operations from design to everyday management relies on the performance and programmability of the underlying infrastructure. Recognized as a leader in the 2020 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Data Center and Cloud Networking and The Forrester Wave™: Open, Programmable Switches for a Businesswide SDN, Q3 2020, Juniper provides the industry’s most modern fabrics and 400G scalability with programmable access and real-time telemetry. Juniper switches, differentiated in their EVPN-VXLAN fabric capabilities, integrate to Apstra today to automatically deploy services and safely implement changes, advancing fabric management and simplified operations in the automated data center.

Apstra’s multivendor integrations extend its closed loop automation and analytics to customers independently of their underlying infrastructure, including those running SONiC (Software for Open Networking in the Cloud). The acquisition expands Juniper’s commitment to open programmability, adding to its portfolio of solutions that includes powerful switching platforms with native SONiC integration and a deployment-hardened, cloud-native routing stack for the SONiC ecosystem.

Juniper does not expect the acquisition of Apstra to materially impact revenue in 2021. While the acquisition is expected to be approximately breakeven to non-GAAP earnings for the full-year 2021, it will likely be dilutive during the first half of the year. The acquisition is expected to be accretive to revenue growth and non-GAAP earnings in 2022.

“Juniper’s Data Center portfolio is consistently recognized by both analysts and customers as industry leading, with top marks for performance, scale, security and simplified operations through automation. Adding Apstra’s intent-based networking and automated closed loop assurance advances our vision to transform data center operations. With the combination of Juniper and Apstra, customers get the best infrastructure and fabric management with integrated design, deployment and automated root cause identification and remediation to satisfy any Data Center environment. This is networking for the modern cloud era.”

• Rami Rahim, CEO, Juniper Networks
  

“The heart of our business is delivering outstanding customer experiences within the data center. Our success depends on rapidly introducing new services, quickly scaling to new demand and delivering the assured experiences our customers count on every day. Juniper Networks and Apstra joining forces as one company helps T-Systems, a subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom, deliver powerful software solutions for continuous automation, open programmability and AI-driven operations in the multivendor environments we must have – without compromise.”

• Adel Al-Saleh, CEO, T-Systems
  

“We founded Apstra to automate the data center as a holistic system from its initial design to all aspects of its operation and maintenance. Our automation allows valuable network engineers to focus on strategic issues and avoid spending time on network configuration and troubleshooting, particularly with the attendant risk of human error. Joining Apstra with Juniper's strong reputation in networking and its commitment to open networking removes the long-standing tradeoff between manageability and vendor lock-in and advances the industry toward the true self-driving network.”

• David Cheriton, CEO and Co-Founder, Apstra
  

“Juniper continues to show strong commitment to the enterprise IT segment through both internal innovation and acquiring technology leaders to deliver powerful solutions and new business outcomes to their customers. As the industry transitions to new IT infrastructure focused on automated operations and optimized user experiences, Juniper has positioned themselves as a leading business and technology partner in the market.”

• Zeus Kerravala, Founder and Principal Analyst, ZK Research
  

Additional Resources:

• Blog: Juniper and Apstra: The Best Actions Come From Good Intentions
• Blog: Juniper Networks and Apstra Usher in a New Era of Automated Data Center Operations: The Next Step Beyond Simple IT Automation
• 2020 Magic Quadrant for Data Center and Cloud Networking: View Report
• The Forrester Wave™: Open, Programmable Switches for a Businesswide SDN, Q3 2020: View Report
• Top 10 Technologies That Will Drive the Future of Infrastructure and Operations: View Report
  

About Juniper Networks
Juniper Networks challenges the inherent complexity that comes with networking and security in the multicloud era. We do this with products, solutions and services that transform the way people connect, work and live. We simplify the process of transitioning to a secure and automated multicloud environment to enable secure, AI-driven networks that connect the world. Additional information can be found at Juniper Networks (www.juniper.net) or connect with Juniper on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Juniper Networks, the Juniper Networks logo, Juniper, Junos, and other trademarks listed here are registered trademarks of Juniper Networks, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United States and other countries. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Gartner Disclaimer
Gartner, Magic Quadrant for Data Center and Cloud Networking, Andrew Lerner, Evan Zeng, Jonathan Forest, 30 June 2020

Gartner, Top 10 Technologies That Will Drive the Future of Infrastructure and Operations, Arun Chandrasekaran and Andrew Lerner, 29 October 2019

Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, could be deemed forward-looking statements. Statements in this press release concerning Juniper Networks' business, strategy and focus; our agreement to acquire Apstra; the expected impact to revenue and non-GAAP EPS in fiscal year 2021 and 2022; the results, savings and improvements made possible by Apstra’s technology, including as integrated with Juniper Networks’ solutions; and our overall future prospects are forward-looking statements that involve a number of uncertainties and risks. Actual results or events could differ materially from those anticipated in those forward-looking statements as a result of several factors, including, without limitation, our ability to close the contemplated acquisition in a timely basis or at all, our ability to integrate the acquired company and its technology, potential benefits of the transaction to Juniper Networks and our customers, the effectiveness of Apstra’s technology, and other factors listed in our most recent report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All statements made in this press release are made only as of the date of this press release. Juniper Networks undertakes no obligation to update the information in this press release in the event facts or circumstances subsequently change after the date of this press release.