AT&T is giving its business customers more virtualization choices by adding Cisco's 500 Series Enterprise Edge Compute System (ENCS) to its edge solutions, noting that it does more with virtual functions.
While traditional network hardware usually performs a single function, Cisco ENCS offers a library of virtual network functions (VNFs), including routing, switching, firewall and WAN optimization VNFs.
ENCS is part of Cisco's Enterprise Network Function Virtualization (NFV) architecture, which means it works only with a Cisco-based infrastructure. By replacing hardware with Cisco's NFV-based ENCS platform, business customers can dynamically upgrade or change their services as needed.
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"No business has the same network needs, and our expanded relationship with Cisco is helping us support more businesses that need managed services," said Josh Goodell, vice president, edge solutions, AT&T Business, in a statement. "As companies continue to transform their businesses to digital models, having more choices becomes more important than ever."
Subject to conditions, AT&T said the multiple configurations and library of VNFs from ENCS were available in nearly 90 countries and territories.