Mark Dellavalle, SVP Global Systems Engineering at Extreme Networks, highlights how the company is integrating AI to enhance cybersecurity, enabling automated threat detection, zero-trust enforcement, and real-time analytics to protect users, data, and networks across dynamic enterprise environments.
Can you tell us about your journey with Extreme Networks and how you joined the company?
Absolutely. I joined Extreme Networks in August 2019 when Aerohive Networks, where I was running the systems engineering team, was acquired. We brought over the cloud portfolio, and that set the stage for integrating our technologies into Extreme’s ecosystem. Prior to that, I was at Cisco and involved in the Meraki acquisition, so I have a strong background in cloud architectures and solutions. Unlike the Meraki case, where we kept it separate, this time we decided to integrate as quickly as possible. By the day after the acquisition closed, Aerohive Manager became ExtremeCloud IQ, and we started building universal hardware and enabling cloud across our portfolio.
How has this technological journey evolved for Extreme Networks since then?
It’s been exciting and challenging. Over the years, we built a collection of technologies—Site Engine, ExtremeCloud IQ, and SD-WAN Orchestrator—but these were not fully horizontal and lacked AI at the core. We decided to develop a unified AI-driven platform, called Platform One, which just went GA in July. This platform allows AI to interact with networks in a transformative way, enabling simplified operations and smarter decision-making for our customers.
What impact do these advancements have on customers?
The impact is significant. Networking is inherently complex—different experts know different layers, making it difficult to integrate knowledge. With AI, we can take a network error, analyze it, reference GTAC cases, provide workarounds, and even open support cases automatically. Tasks that previously took hours can now be done in minutes. Beyond troubleshooting, AI enables “human in the loop” automation where networks can self-optimize and enforce policies while keeping the human in control.
Can you explain the concept of agentic AI and how it benefits network management?
Agentic AI acts like an intelligent assistant for networks. For example, our service agent can detect a wireless issue, collect all necessary data, package it, and even recommend opening a support case—all autonomously. This is similar to how mobile apps added value to early smartphones. Agentic AI performs tasks that augment human expertise, allowing engineers to focus on higher-level strategy rather than routine troubleshooting.
Is this AI-driven approach limited to telecom operators, or does it apply to enterprises as well?
It applies to both, but especially to high-density enterprise environments—like stadiums, event venues, or campuses—where managing RF and Wi-Fi is extremely complex. AI-driven optimization improves network performance by dynamically adjusting channel and power settings, creating a more efficient environment without human intervention.
What other innovations has Extreme Networks introduced recently?
We focus on connectivity, hardware capacity, and scalability. We continue to expand our hardware portfolio across various tiers to meet different customer needs. On the software side, we now offer third-party device management in Platform One, allowing customers to manage multi-vendor environments—Cisco, Extreme, or others—from a single AI-powered platform. Additionally, our cloud analytics platform now provides real-time insights into network traffic, giving organizations actionable intelligence based on actual data rather than synthetic simulations.
How do you ensure cybersecurity and data protection within these advanced platforms?
Security is multi-layered. At the organizational level, we maintain ISO and SOC certifications. Hardware is encrypted to military-grade standards, and cloud solutions are certified globally under frameworks like FedRAMP, GovRAMP, C5, and ISMAP. At the network level, our Universal Zero Trust Network Access (UZTNA) ensures devices and users are authenticated and comply with policy. Combined with analytics and AI, this approach allows proactive anomaly detection and policy enforcement, safeguarding users and organizational data.
How critical is security in today’s networking infrastructure?
Security is absolutely essential—without it, nothing else works. The entire digital ecosystem depends on secure networks. As technology evolves, networks must not only connect devices but also protect users and data continuously. AI, analytics, and zero-trust policies are all part of maintaining this security while enabling agility.
