Gluware in the News

The FBI issued a warning Aug. 20 that the Russian Federal Security Service’s (FSB) Center 16 has exploited a vulnerability in Cisco Smart Install and for the past year has been targeting critical infrastructure sectors in the U.S. and worldwide.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) stated it identified a sophisticated cyber espionage operation targeting critical infrastructure of U.S. and global entities through exploitation of Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) and end-of-life (EOL) networking devices running an unpatched flaw in Cisco Smart Install (SMI).

The FBI and Cisco Talos have issued fresh warnings about a Russian cyber espionage campaign that has quietly compromised network devices around the world. The threat actor, tracked as Static Tundra, is linked to the Federal Security Service’s (FSB) Center 16 unit and has been active for more than a decade.

In our 24/7 always-on world, networks have become the lifeblood of business, driving how we work, operate, and communicate. Much like the revolutionary impact of cars and mass transit on our physical landscape, networks shape our digital realm, underpinning every aspect of our increasingly connected lives. As the backbone of our digital infrastructure, networks are now as crucial as any physical utility, powering innovation, commerce and communication across industries and continents.

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.

Jeff Gray, CEO of Gluware, highlights the company’s recent venture capital investment and its impact on advancing intelligent network automation. He discusses how AI-driven platforms are transforming enterprise operations by improving agility, security and operational efficiency.

Take a Network Break! We start with serious CVEs for Perl and Ivanti. On the news front, the FCC wants to license spectrum to raise money to help US telcos rip out Chinese network equipment–even though there’s no evidence Chinese equipment led to telco intrusions by Chinese attackers.

Verizon boasts of 5.5Gbps download speeds on its 5G network (in the lab), Intel chases the AI desktop market with new chips, and network automation vendor Gluware gets bought by a private equity company. Blue Origin prepares for a big step in the billionaire space race, and TSMC rides the AI infrastructure boom to a huge Q4 revenue jump.

We’re joined this week by guest co-host Tom Hollingsworth, Event Lead for Tech Field Day and writer of The Networking Nerd blog.

Sacramento network automation company Gluware has been acquired by a Santa Barbara private equity firm focused on enterprise software, which wants to support Gluware’s growth globally.

As part of APMdigest’s 2025 Predictions Series, industry experts offer predictions on how NetOps, Network Performance Management, Network Observability and related technologies will evolve and impact business in 2025.

AI NETWORKING – In 2025, enterprises will begin to make strides towards more intelligent networks, driven by advancements in the availability of AI. As global data volumes continue to rise, organizations will start to explore moving from reactive network management to proactive and predictive self-operating networks. However, traditional network management approaches may still be prevalent as enterprises gradually deploy AI applications that demand low-latency, high-bandwidth connections for real-time processing. Those organizations that do not begin the process of evolving their network infrastructure may encounter bottlenecks, impacting their ability to fully leverage AI technologies over time.

In our hyperconnected world, the reliability of digital infrastructure is no longer just an IT concern—it’s a critical business imperative. Yet, as network outages and infrastructure failures continue to plague organizations across industries, many business leaders have inadvertently normalized a crisis that demands immediate attention. This complacency is not just costly; it’s dangerous, threatening to erode public trust, hinder innovation, and compromise our digital future.

The cascading effects of critical infrastructure failures have become intolerable. We’re not merely talking about temporary inconveniences or isolated incidents. These disruptions, which occur daily, represent a systemic problem that ripples through our economy, affecting everything from customer satisfaction to national security. The financial losses and reputational damage incurred during these outages are just the tip of the iceberg. The real cost lies in the ongoing loss of confidence in our digital systems and the constant disruption to business operations that stifle growth and innovation.

The latest CyberTech Interview with Gluware’s CEO Jeff Gray is an interactive Q&A-styled conversation. With a background rooted in the semiconductor and networking industries, Jeff has built a career around solving complex technological challenges and transforming how enterprises manage their networks. As a visionary leader, he co-founded Gluware, where the focus is on automating the intricate and often siloed infrastructures of modern networks. Jeff shares insights on the evolution of network automation, Gluware’s groundbreaking innovations, and how intelligent automation can drive efficiency, security, and scalability for global enterprises. With organizations increasingly relying on multi-vendor, multi-platform environments, Jeff discusses the critical role that platforms like Gluware play in simplifying network management and enabling businesses to stay ahead in a rapidly changing technological landscape.

Join us as we delve into Jeff’s journey, the transformative potential of intelligent network automation, and how Gluware is reshaping the future of network operations.

The increasing complexity, scale, and diversity of today’s enterprise network infrastructures demand more efficient, agile, and error-free management approaches. As organizations strive to meet these demands, network automation has emerged as an increasingly critical strategy. However, not all automation approaches are created equal. While many organizations still rely on traditional scripting for network automation, more advanced methodologies like intent-based data model driven automation have emerged, offering significant advantages in managing modern networks.

For years, network engineers have leveraged scripts to automate repetitive tasks and configurations. While scripting has undoubtedly improved efficiency compared to manual processes, it comes with inherent limitations. As networks grow, maintaining and updating scripts becomes increasingly complex and time-consuming, creating scalability issues.