Equinix helping Irish businesses to scale to global tech hubs in minutes

Equinix, Inc., the global interconnection and data centre company, has announced the next phase in the evolution of Platform Equinix^® with the unveiling of Network Edge services, a new product innovation enabling companies to modernise networks virtually, within minutes, by deploying network functions virtualisation (NFV) from multiple vendors to connect their digital supply chains at Equinix.

Designed to accelerate digital transformation for global businesses, Network Edge offers enterprises a new way to deploy network services on Equinix’s global interconnection platform, without a physical data centre deployment or hardware requirements. As an additional option within Equinix’s broad portfolio of physical and virtual interconnection services, Network Edge enables enterprises to reduce capital expenses and scale IT and network services globally by virtually deploying a digital-ready infrastructure.

Offered as a broad suite of vendor-neutral, virtual network services, Network Edge allows customers to select, configure and connect network and security devices in real time and from a choice of industry-leading vendors including Cisco, Juniper Networks and Palo Alto Networks. By bringing seamless, ultra-low latency network services closer to end users, clouds and valuable ecosystems in more locations, Network Edge can dramatically improve network optimisation efforts in an economical way.

Network Edge also includes built-in integration to Equinix’s global on-demand, SDN-enabled interconnection service, Equinix Cloud Exchange Fabric™ (ECX Fabric™). By combining Network Edge with ECX Fabric, customers can deploy virtual edge devices and interconnect them to clouds and network providers located in new global markets, extending their reach to potentially thousands of new business partners around the world. This empowers companies to be everywhere they need to be to interconnect everyone and integrate everything that matters to their businesses.

As global businesses digitally transform, they require modernised global IT infrastructures in proximity to digital services in order to succeed. They also require high levels of data security and the ability to connect globally with multiple partners across various business ecosystems.

With Network Edge, enterprises can deploy virtual network services within Equinix International Business Exchange™ (IBX^®) facilities without upfront capital expenses for additional equipment and infrastructure. Network Edge is also compatible with existing physical deployments on Platform Equinix, further accelerating the path to digital business on a global scale.

Network Edge offers customers the choice of virtual network services from multiple vendors. Current Network Edge devices available include the Cisco^® Cloud Services Router 1000v, the Juniper^® vSRX Virtual Firewall, and Palo Alto Networks^® VM-Series Firewall, with additional edge devices, including the Cisco SD-WAN, being added soon onto Platform Equinix.

Maurice Mortell, Managing Director for Ireland and Emerging Markets, Equinix, said: “This is great news for businesses in Ireland. We know that FDI is important for our own economy and likewise, Irish firms are of huge importance to global economies. In fact, Ireland is the ninth-largest source of FDI in the United States.

“From MedTech to IoT, Irish companies are major contributors to some of the greatest technological advancements of today and it’s important that we give more businesses here the opportunity to succeed globally. Investors look for companies with scalability and that is what Network Edge Services will give Irish businesses. By providing a fast, cost-efficient route to some of the world’s leading economies, we are giving businesses the interconnection platform they need to grow and thrive.”