Masergy is introducing a "virtual engineer" to help enterprises optimize their networks. But does it require virtual coffee? [Editor's note: GREAT QUESTION!!]

The SD-WAN, cloud communications and security provider introduced Masergy AIOps on Tuesday. It's a console that uses the principles of AI for IT operations to allow enterprise customers to better manage their network connection using artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Masergy AIops provides a "digital assistant" for network, security and application optimization, the company said in a statement. "Masergy AIOps acts as a virtual engineer embedded into Masergy's Intelligent Service Control customer portal, supporting the administration and optimization of global software defined networks," the company said.

Masergy AIOps is designed to cut through the noise of network alerts and recommendations to deliver only what operators need to see to enhance application performance, predict bandwidth needs and optimize throughput based on anomaly detection and predictive analytics, Paul Ruelas, Masergy director of network products, tells Light Reading.

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Masergy monitors networks for optimization for 65 separate use cases, including: server characteristics -- when a server spontaneously changes functions, for example, becoming a fileserver, indicating a possible attack; network saturation; packet loss; and asymmetrical routing, Ruelas says.

Why this matters
Service providers are facing a business challenge to go beyond providing mere connectivity -- the "dumb pipe" challenge -- to provide greater value to enterprise and consumer customers. Masergy AIops addresses that challenge (in the enterprise market, in this case) by giving organizations the tools to optimize connectivity and ensure performance for mission critical cloud applications.

In a similar vein -- seeking to make itself invaluable to an enterprise's day-to-day operations -- Masergy introduced a managed WiFi service in February, adding support for WiFi management as well as applications, security and SD-WAN.

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— Mitch Wagner Executive Editor, Light Reading