VMware to acquire AI-based network analytics firm Nyansa

VMware wants to add Nyansa's AI and machine learning capabilities to its security and network portfolio

VMware is to acquire network analytics software firm Nyansa in a bid to bolster its flagship SD-WAN by VeloCloud platform.

The deal is expected to close in VMware's first quarter of its fiscal year 2021 - the quarter to the end of April 2020 - subject to customary closing conditions.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

VMware wants to add Nyansa's artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning capabilities to its existing security and network portfolio. The added capabilities will help customers operate and troubleshoot the Virtual Cloud Network, while also strengthening VMware's ability to offer "self-healing networks", the company said.

The acquisition of Nyansa will accelerate VMware's delivery of end-to-end monitoring and troubleshooting capabilities

Following the closing of the deal, Nyansa's cloud-based AIOps platform will be integrated with VeloCloud, VMware's SD-WAN platform.

"The acquisition of Nyansa will accelerate VMware's delivery of end-to-end monitoring and troubleshooting capabilities for LAN/WAN deployments within our industry-leading SD-WAN solution," said Sanjay Uppal, vice president and general manager for VMware's VeloCloud Business Unit.

Privately held Nyansa was founded in 2013 by Abe Ankuymah, Daniel Kan and Anand Srinivas. The company claims to specialise in "analysis of user network traffic from more than 20 million client devices across thousands of customer sites". The firm currently creates advanced IT analytics software technology for enterprise and managed service providers.

Some of the best-known customers of Nyansa include Uber, Tesla, Lululemon, Stanford University, GE Healthcare, and San Francisco International Airport.

Commenting on the deal, Nyansa CEO Abe Ankumah said that Nyansa's team would continue to develop their AI-driven network analytics platform under VMware's wing after the deal is closed.

VMware's latest announcement comes about a month after it completed the $2.7 billion acquisition of Pivotal Software.

In August, the company had disclosed that it was acquiring both Pivotal and security specialist Carbon Black in two separate deals valued together at $4.8 billion.

In the same month, VMware acquired San Francisco-based security start-up Intrinsic as part of its expansion into public cloud.

Prior to that, VMware acquired VeloCloud in 2017 in a bid to expand its range of software-defined wide-area networking products and services.

The company also rolled out its AWS-based cloud platform to customers across Europe in 2018 and announced that it was looking to "accelerate and simplify enterprise cloud migration and hybrid cloud deployments."