Aviatrix CEO: Cisco And VMware Cloud Security Shortcomings, Palo Alto Networks’ Price ‘Gouging’

Ushering In A New Era of Distributed Cloud Firewalls

Aviatrix CEO Steve Mullaney says the launch of the company’s new Distributed Cloud Firewall once and for all exposes the traditional network firewall as a “bad security” solution that is “horribly expensive” with a nagging “performance bottleneck.”

The Aviatrix Distributed Cloud Firewall – which is aimed at redefining network security for the cloud era- for the first time distributes firewall functionality into the fabric of the network, said Mullaney.

“This is the only way to provide security in a perimeter-less zero trust environment,” said Mullaney. “Networking and network security have to be integrated into the fabric of the network. It is just something that the network does. It is what we call secure cloud networking. It is not two things. It is not a network where you share traffic with security. The network is secure. It is secure cloud networking.”

Mullaney said the Aviatrix Distributed Cloud Firewall opens the door for dramatic cost savings, improved security and better performance for customers compared with last generation network firewalls.

“It is not as expensive because you are not moving traffic around,” he said. “And when we add that functionality it is a heckuva lot cheaper than when you go to what I call a last-gen firewall not a next-gen firewall. You can’t call something next-gen when it is 15 years old and it’s built for a different time. It should be called LGFW – Last Generation Firewall.”

Customers are anxious to take advantage of the cost savings that come with the new Aviatrix Distributed Cloud Firewall, said Mullaney.

“One of the taglines we have is ‘Save a lot of money. Improve your Security,’” said Mullaney. “People – especially now in the recession- are coming back and telling us you had me at saving money. They are all getting mandated to cut cloud costs, some by as much as 30 percent. Customers are telling us they have to optimize their cloud. We go in and tell them we can optimize your cloud costs and improve your security. That’s a winning combination.”

Mullaney – a high profile former Palo Alto Networks, Nicira and VMware top executive who came out of retirement four years ago to take the helm at Aviatrix– said the launch of the Distributed Cloud Firewall amounts to the official launch of Aviatrix as a force to be reckoned with in cloud networking.

“What I have been doing the last four years is building that networking infrastructure, building a reliable, resilient, fault tolerant, highly capable cloud networking solution,” he said. “Distributed Cloud Firewall is the announcement of Aviatrix.”

As for solution providers, Mullaney said the message is: “Do you want to be on the LGFW (Last Generation Firewall) track or do you want to jump on to the new innovation. You are looking at the emergence of a powerhouse in networking and network security with Aviatrix. This is a Cisco circa 1992.”