Itential Boosts NetDevOps with Automation Service
Itential has released the Itential Automation Service, a new version of its software that is designed to streamline network orchestration and automation for NetDevOps teams at scale.
Let’s unpack that a bit. Itential cites research that shows that while most enterprises use a commercial network automation solution, 95% also engage in do-it-yourself (DIY) tools. Both options work, Itential says, though DIY limits scalability due to the laborious process of scripting and debugging automations geared to a specific organization’s requirements, while commercial products too often lack the flexibility users need.
"While engineers are naturally inclined to build and customize automations to fit their environments, scaling these efforts across the enterprise requires a different approach. Engineers need the flexibility to build without constraints, but enterprises must also ensure these automations are secure, manageable, and scalable," said Peter Sprygada, Vice President of Product Management at Itential, in a press release.
Itential Simplifies NetDevOps Automation
Itential has long specialized in network orchestration and automation. Its Itential Cloud enables network engineers to automate the complexities of configuring and provisioning networks, tasks that have become crucial to keeping networks running smoothly given the explosive growth of data, apps, and hybrid environments.
Making use of the growing universe of APIs, Itential's tools enable infrastructure as code (IaC) and platform engineering to support NetDevOps, or the ability to build network automation into the application development process, so that an application can understand the infrastructure needs and be programmed to create networking resources on demand. The solution works in cloud environments that incorporate multiple networks.
A view of Itential's Automation Service. Source: Itential
What’s New
With the general availability of its Automation Service, Itential is extending the availability of its automation capabilities to teams that include network operators and developers—eliminating the need to coordinate, update, and secure automations among these groups. This saves time and increases the efficiency of the network.
For example, the service consolidates Ansible Playbooks, Python Scripts, and OpenTofu Plans into a single environment. From there, automations can be executed from a place that stays in sync with Git, supports concurrent services, and enables workload scheduling without the need to manage servers, Itential says. Other features includes the following:
- Control Access, Minimize Risk: Manage access efficiently with role-based permissions and comprehensive auditing, ensuring the right users can view, manage, and execute automations securely.
- Self-Service Automation: Package automations as self-service solutions to be shared across teams, allowing engineers to focus on development while others use automations.
- API-Driven Integration: Easily integrate automations into pipelines, orchestration tools, and platforms like ServiceNow with API-based access.
- Distributed, Scalable Architecture: Scale automation with distributed architecture and high-availability clustering, ensuring operational resilience and seamless growth — whether for one user or a million.
Teams Supported at Scale
Itential’s new Automation Service brings the above features and functions together in support of greater efficiency for NetDevOps teams. It also leverages the network orchestration capabilities inherent in Itential Cloud. The combination offers a way to ensure the security, accuracy, and efficiency of complex network configurations.
The Automation Service should help support multicloud networking (MCN), a trend that is growing substantially, according to Futuriom’s research. MCN will grow as the popularity of AI increases, as shown below:
Futuriom Take: Itential’s Automation Service is a novel approach to commercialize the growing segment of network automation, helping customers further automate network configuration and maintenance of hybrid networks at scale.
