Riverbed’s NetProfiler has long been a trusted solution for network flow analytics, providing organizations with the tools needed to monitor, diagnose, and optimize network performance. The release of NetProfiler 10.27 brings exciting new features and enhancements that continue to expand its capabilities, particularly in the areas of SD-WAN and cloud integration. In this blog, we delve into the key functionalities, highlight the new features, and summarize the benefits of this latest release. 

Key functionalities of NetProfiler 

NetProfiler is a powerful network observability solution designed to provide proactive monitoring, detailed dependency mapping, and broad visibility across hybrid and multi-cloud environments. Utilizing behavioral analytics, NetProfiler can detect performance issues before they impact users, while its comprehensive mapping of application transactions to underlying infrastructure ensures accurate service delivery and streamlined troubleshooting.

The platform’s flexibility allows deployment across on-premise, virtual, and cloud environments, integrating seamlessly with other Riverbed solutions like AppResponse and SteelHead to offer a unified view of network and application performance. 

Highlights of the new release 

The latest release of NetProfiler (version 10.27) introduces several enhancements and new features that cater to the evolving demands of network operations.

One of the most significant updates is the expanded support for SD-WAN, specifically the addition of VeloCloud by VMware and improvements to Cisco Viptela visibility. These enhancements include on-demand vManage configuration polling, better SD-WAN query response times, and adds support for bidirectional flows as used by VeloCloud. These updates solidify NetProfiler’s leader position in the SD-WAN monitoring space, addressing competitive pressures and providing valuable insights to customers using these technologies. 

Another notable addition is the integration with Microsoft Azure Blob storage, allowing NetProfiler to consume Azure Virtual Network (VNET) flows. This capability is particularly beneficial for government customers and organizations with significant cloud investments, as it extends the platform’s visibility into major cloud storage solutions, complementing NetProfiler’s existing support for Amazon S3 buckets.  The integration with Microsoft Hyper-V Stack further enhances NetProfiler’s cloud capabilities, enabling improved network analysis, management, and security in environments using Hyper-V, such as Azure Stack HCI. 

Advance network performance monitoring with NetProfiler 10.27

The NetProfiler 10.27 release represents a significant step forward in network performance monitoring, with enhancements that address key industry trends such as the growing adoption of SD-WAN, multi-cloud environments, and hybrid infrastructures. By expanding support for leading SD-WAN vendors like VeloCloud and Cisco Viptela, integrating with major cloud storage platforms, and strengthening security features, NetProfiler continues to evolve as a comprehensive solution that meets the complex needs of modern network operations. 

For businesses seeking to enhance their network visibility, speed up problem identification, and mitigate cybersecurity risks, NetProfiler’s latest release offers a compelling set of tools. With its proactive monitoring capabilities, robust integration options, and commitment to security, NetProfiler remains an indispensable asset for IT organizations striving to maintain optimal network performance in an increasingly complex digital landscape. 

The new release is set to further cement Riverbed’s position as a leader in network observability, ensuring that organizations can continue to rely on NetProfiler for comprehensive visibility and proactive network management in the years to come. 

Check out NetProfiler webpage here for more details.

Riverbed’s position in the market 

Riverbed stands out in the Maturity/Platform Play quadrant of the GigaOm Radar for Network Observability. This position signifies Riverbed’s advanced development and comprehensive solution suite tailored for complex network environments. GigaOm recognized the company’s ability to dynamically discover network elements, analyze traffic patterns, and troubleshoot issues in real time. These capabilities help make Riverbed an indispensable tool for enterprises seeking end-to-end network visibility and performance optimization.

Key capabilities and features

Riverbed excels in several critical areas that are essential for effective network observability:

1. Dynamic Discovery: Riverbed’s platform can automatically discover network devices and their interconnections, providing a real-time map of the network topology. This capability is crucial for maintaining an up-to-date understanding of the network’s structure and identifying any changes or anomalies promptly.
2. Traffic Analysis: The ability to monitor and analyze network traffic in detail allows organizations to identify bottlenecks, understand usage patterns, and optimize traffic flow. Riverbed’s traffic analysis tools are sophisticated, offering deep insights that are necessary for proactive network management.
3. Troubleshooting and RCA (Root Cause Analysis): Riverbed provides advanced tools for diagnosing network issues and determining their root causes. This feature significantly reduces the mean time to recovery (MTTR) and helps prevent recurrence by addressing the underlying problems.

Analyst perspective

GigaOm praised Riverbed for its comprehensive approach to network observability. The platform’s integration of AI and machine learning capabilities enhances its ability to provide actionable insights, automate routine tasks, and predict potential issues before they impact network performance. This proactive approach not only improves operational efficiency but also aligns network management with business objectives, ensuring that IT investments deliver maximum value.

Key statistics

• Sector Adoption Score: The companion GigaOm Key Criteria Report for Network Observability graded the network observability sector with an overall adoption score of 4.2 out of 5, indicating strong industry recognition and the critical need for these solutions.
• Flexible Licensing: Riverbed offers perpetual and subscription-based licenses, tiered licensing based on volume, and a variety of support options with different levels of SLA which can offer cost savings for businesses with large complex networks

Riverbed’s fit with evaluation criteria

The GigaOm report outlines several key criteria for evaluating network observability solutions, including:

• Functional Capabilities: Riverbed meets and exceeds the fundamental requirements with its robust feature set, including dynamic discovery, traffic analysis, and comprehensive troubleshooting tools.
• Non-Functional Requirements: These encompass business criteria such as scalability, flexibility, ease of use, ecosystem and cost. Riverbed scores highly in these areas, offering solutions that are not only technically sound but also aligned with business goals.

View the full report

Riverbed’s position as a Leader in the network observability market is well-deserved, thanks to its advanced capabilities and strategic focus on comprehensive network visibility and security observability. The GigaOm Radar report highlights Riverbed’s strengths in dynamic discovery, traffic analysis, and troubleshooting, making it an ideal choice for enterprises seeking a robust and scalable observability solution.

As businesses continue to evolve and adapt to new technological landscapes, having a reliable network observability solution like Riverbed’s will be crucial. Its ability to provide actionable insights and support proactive decision-making ensures that enterprises can maintain optimal network performance and achieve their business objectives efficiently.

For more detailed insights, you can access the full GigaOm Radar report here.

On May 7, Riverbed unveiled NPM+, a new cloud observability service designed for both edge and cloud network observability, and enhancements to Riverbed IQ, our AIOps-driven automation solution. The EMA Impact Brief 2024 highlights the need for such solutions and discusses advancements in AI-driven automation and network observability solutions that address these challenges.

Here are the highlights of the brief: 

NPM+: Next-gen network observability 

Riverbed NPM+ is a SaaS-delivered observability solution designed to offer granular visibility into network performance from any client or server endpoint. Leveraging the new Riverbed Unified Agent, NPM+ passively monitors IP and TCP connections before and after data gets encrypted, providing IT managers with detailed insights into all network traffic. This includes monitoring remote users, cloud traffic, and traffic within zero trust network access service edges.

Key features include: 

• Comprehensive Visibility: NPM+ illuminates critical blind spots in network performance, particularly for remote users and cloud-based services. 
• Granular Monitoring: IT managers can monitor performance by user, system name, application process, and more. 
• Reduced Administrative Overhead: By utilizing the Riverbed Unified Agent, NPM+ offers a streamlined approach to network performance monitoring, eliminating the need for additional agents and reducing complexity. Unified agent is an innovative common agent strategy to streamline deployment, management, and updates of Riverbed’s agent-based offering. The only agent management solution to support endpoint monitoring for both end user experience and network observability. 

Riverbed IQ: AI-driven automation 

Riverbed IQ, an AIOps solution introduced in 2022, has been enhanced with a new runbook editor for no-code/low-code automation. This tool analyzes telemetry from Riverbed’s observability solutions and third-party tools, detects anomalies, correlates events, and conducts root-cause analysis. The runbook editor allows IT operations teams to automate actions based on AI-derived insights through a drag-and-drop interface. Key components include: 

• Triggers, Actions, and Outputs: The interface is centered on these concepts, enabling IT professionals to build workflows that respond to AI insights. 
• Prebuilt Integrations: Riverbed IQ includes numerous integrations with third-party systems, extending its capabilities across various platforms and tools. 
• Proactive Issue Resolution: The automation capabilities of Riverbed IQ enable prompt response to incidents, minimizing downtime and enhancing operational efficiency. 

Addressing modern IT challenges

Riverbed’s updates cater to the needs of modern IT operations teams. According to Enterprise Management Associates (EMA), 87% of IT organizations are allocating budgets to improve network experience monitoring for remote workers. Traditional tools like remote desktop access and endpoint monitoring fail to provide comprehensive network visibility. Riverbed’s NPM+ and Aternity endpoint monitoring solutions, leveraging the new Unified Agent, offer a streamlined approach with less administrative overhead. 

Moreover, 57% of network teams expressed a desire for AIOps solutions with low-code interfaces to build runbook automation. Riverbed IQ directly addresses this need, supporting intelligent alerting, escalations, and self-healing networks, making it a valuable asset for IT operations seeking efficiency and reliability. 

Learn more 

Riverbed’s introduction of NPM+ and enhancements to Riverbed IQ represent significant strides in network observability. These tools address critical blind spots, enhance AI-driven automation, and provide comprehensive visibility and control over modern, dynamic network environments. By integrating these advanced solutions, organizations can ensure efficient and reliable network performance, improve security, and drive operational efficiency. As networks continue to evolve, Riverbed’s cutting-edge solutions and innovative approach establish us as a leader in delivering seamless digital experiences and robust network observability.

The future of network management lies in comprehensive, intelligent observability, and Riverbed is at the forefront of this transformation. Download the EMA impact brief here for more information.