Juniper Networks is advancing its initiative to drive enterprise integration of AI technologies by introducing educational programs and pricing innovations. The company has launched its Blueprint for AI-Native Acceleration, providing enterprises with a suite of options designed to simplify the adoption process, enhance skills, and highlight real-world challenges related to AI’s commercial, technical, and operational aspects.
According to Manoj Leelanivas, Juniper’s executive vice president and chief product officer, AI holds boundless potential for economic expansion, improving productivity, and creating jobs. In a blog post introducing the new initiative, Leelanivas discusses the substantial obstacles such as skills shortages, complex implementations, the need for dependable solutions, and significant costs, which often challenge businesses engaging with AI.
The Blueprint aims to arm customers with a comprehensive guide and tools for achieving success through Juniper’s AI-Native Networking Platform, ensuring a smoother, more effective journey in harnessing the benefits of AI, while navigating typical challenges with minimal disruption, as per Leelanivas’s explanation.
Juniper’s AI-Native Networking Platform, central to the company’s strategy, integrates its various networking products—from campus to branch and data center—under a unified AI framework. This platform heavily features Juniper’s cloud-driven Mist AI and its Marvis virtual network assistant (VNA) technology. These tools play a critical role by analyzing extensive network data to spot irregularities and provide practical solutions effectively.
Specifically, the blueprint will offer an “AI in Networking for Business Leaders” course that investigates how AIOps is used to optimize network operations. Topics of the course include AI networking fundamentals, how AIOps can aid in network management, and the benefits of using a VNA with natural language processing, according to Leelanivas. Other AI classes teach skills that can lead to certifications to accelerate AI career and business opportunities.
Streamlined licensing is another component of the Blueprint. “To get the most from your AI investment, we’re offering a variety of free trials, special offers, and promotional bundles across our AI-Native Networking Platform,” Leelanivas stated. “These initiatives provide effective and cost-efficient opportunities for businesses to explore and embrace our AI technology.”
Juniper’s programs offer access to a number of incentives, including: a free access point and 90-day trial of Juniper’s wireless assurance software; access to the Ops4AI Lab, hosted by Juniper, to validate performance and functionality of their AI models and workloads; free service credits that can be applied to migration services and training; and a free three-year trial of the Juniper Paragon Automation platform.
“Disparate licenses, varied terms, and unpredictable costs can hinder operational efficiency and become a significant burden,” wrote Mathias Kokot, vice president of cloud-ready data center at Juniper, in a blog about licensing. “To address these challenges, we’ve developed Enterprise Agreements (EA) that simplify the purchase, consumption, and management of software licenses and SaaS under a single, straightforward contract.”
Customers can benefit from reductions on critical services such as Juniper Care and Juniper Mist AI Accelerate. The program also simplifies the buying process by allowing combined procurement across various products and scenarios, Kokot articulated.
Included in the initiative are Juniper Validated Designs (JVD). JVDs provide essential data center designs which are based on best practices, along with prescriptive blueprints and measures to decrease risks. These include detailed guides about products, features, and tools necessary for setting up repeatable data center fabric designs, which are crucial for powering dependable and proven deployments, as highlighted by Juniper.
The Blueprint for AI-Native Acceleration represents one of several recent AI-centric enhancements introduced by Juniper. The company has also unveiled other product and corporate developments recently.
