Oracle to Buy SD-WAN Pioneer Talari

Oracle is buying SD-WAN provider Talari Networks, to enhance SD-WAN reliability and predictability, Oracle announced Thursday.

Talari's proprietary Failsafe technology enhances SD-WAN reliability and predictability, "while maintaining security for site-to-site and site-to cloud connectivity and application access over any IP network," Oracle Corp. (Nasdaq: ORCL) said in a statement announcing the deal. Oracle expects the deal to close in 2018, and did not disclose terms.

Talari's technology will complement Oracle Communications' Session Border Controller (SBC), which secures and manages data across fixed and mobile IP networks, as well as enhancing Oracle's network management infrastructure, Oracle says. Talari will integrate into Oracle's Communications business unit, where it serves service provider customers. (See Oracle on Cloud, Virtualization Progress & Customer Adoption.)

Talari serves more than 500 enterprise customers in more than 40 countries, across industries including public sector, financial services, insurance, retail and manufacturing, Oracle says.

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Talari is an SD-WAN pioneer, more than ten years old. Total funding is $53.5 million in five rounds, according to Crunchbase.

The acquisition follows two others by Oracle last month: DataFox, for AI-based company data management for cloud apps, and goBalto, which makes cloud software to accelerate clinical drug trials.

Talari hired a new CEO in November, 2017: former SonicWall executive Patrick Sweeney. (See Talari Gets a Refresh With a New CEO & SD-WAN Strategy and SD-WAN Provider Talari Hires SonicWall VP as New CEO.)

The past two years has seen both growth and consolidation for SD-WAN, with Cisco Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: CSCO) buying Viptela and VMware Inc. (NYSE: VMW) buying VeloCloud last year. (See Cisco Snaps Up Viptela and VeloCloud 'Pours Gas' on VMware's Carrier Ambitions.)

The acquisitions make both those companies SD-WAN leaders, and SD-WAN has become fundamental to their networking strategies.

Cisco this week enhanced its SD-WAN services by building up security, performance and programmability, to help telcos and other communications service providers build business by customizing SD-WAN and making it more useful for enterprises. (See Cisco Secures & Sweetens SD-WAN.)

SD-WAN is also integral to VMware's plan to partner with telcos and other service providers. (See VMware Sees 'Enormous' Telco Opportunity.)

— Mitch Wagner Executive Editor, Light Reading