In a significant move to bolster the Internet’s overall health, Cisco has acquired startup CodeBGP. This acquisition aims to amplify Cisco’s BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) monitoring capabilities, aiding in real-time detection of BGP issues. The integration of CodeBGP into Cisco’s ThousandEyes network intelligence product portfolio promises to expand BGP monitoring and incident analysis.
Cisco and CodeBGP: A Perfect Fit
Cisco’s ThousandEyes
CodeBGP will seamlessly slide into Cisco’s ThousandEyes network intelligence product, further enriching a cloud-based platform that maintains an inventory of IP address prefixes, peerings, and outbound policies of an organization via configured BGP feeds.
“BGP is an essential technology that enables the Internet to function,” Joe Vaccaro, vice president of products for Cisco’s ThousandEyes, wrote in his blog about the acquisition. However, he continued:
“the complex nature of BGP makes detecting and troubleshooting incidents difficult—particularly at the scale at which they occur.“
Cisco, recognizing the critical role BGP plays in routing Internet traffic, has been striving to create real-time detection features. This year alone, more than 6,000 incidents of BGP hijacks, route leaks, and other issues have occurred across the Internet.
The Challenges of BGP
The acquisition emphasizes the necessity of BGP visibility for organizations that rely on the Internet for customer, employee, and business system connectivity. Vaccaro stressed that “navigating these incidents requires quick detection and remediation to avoid downtime and protect users.”
Cisco’s Recent Acquisitions
Cisco’s purchase of CodeBGP is the fourth since June and the eighth this year. These acquisitions, including the intent to acquire security startup Oort, privately held broadband-network monitoring company SamKnows, and Accedian Networks, align with Cisco’s aggressive growth strategy. You can read more about their other acquisitions such as Armorblox, Smartlook, Lightspin, and Valtix in the Cicso newsroom.
Cisco’s acquisition of CodeBGP is more than a business transaction; it’s a strategic move towards building a safer and more efficient Internet landscape. By enhancing BGP monitoring, Cisco is not only addressing immediate issues but also future-proofing the Internet against potential threats. As Cisco continues to lead in technological advancements, we can expect more exciting innovations in the near future.
We would love to hear your thoughts on this acquisition. Do you think this will significantly impact the future of BGP monitoring? Please leave your comments below!