{"id":24454,"date":"2025-08-05T18:36:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-05T22:36:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.tmcnet.com\/blog\/rich-tehrani\/?p=24454"},"modified":"2025-08-05T18:36:00","modified_gmt":"2025-08-05T22:36:00","slug":"riverbed-expands-ai-observability-with-new-platform-xx90-appliances-and-flex-licensing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.tmcnet.com\/blog\/rich-tehrani\/networking\/riverbed-expands-ai-observability-with-new-platform-xx90-appliances-and-flex-licensing.html","title":{"rendered":"Riverbed Expands AI Observability with New Platform, XX90 Appliances, and Flex Licensing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Key Takeaways:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Riverbed\u2019s new AI-powered intelligent observability platform introduces the XX90 appliance family with up to 3\u00d7 performance and enhanced energy efficiency.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The platform leverages AI across the application, network, and endpoint to enable real-time insights and automated remediation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Observability bookings have grown 92% year-over-year, reflecting market demand for Riverbed\u2019s unified approach to data and automation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Flex licensing allows deployment in hybrid, cloud, or on-prem environments, giving customers greater control and cost optimization.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Riverbed\u2019s roadmap includes self-healing systems, synthetic testing, and broader integration of predictive and agentic AI.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>Riverbed Technology has officially <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tmcnet.com\/usubmit\/2025\/08\/05\/10234120.htm\">launched<\/a> its next wave of AI-driven observability solutions, marking a major milestone in its evolution from a hardware-focused company to a full-stack enterprise software platform. At the center of this initiative is Riverbed\u2019s newly unified intelligent observability platform, enhanced with the XX90 series appliances, expanded AI automation, and deployment-flexible licensing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The announcement follows a series of aggressive product rollouts and corporate repositioning efforts under the leadership of CEO Dave Donatelli, who joined the company after holding senior roles at Oracle and HP. In a recent interview, Donatelli explained how Riverbed has taken its legacy in network performance and extended it to meet the needs of today\u2019s data-intensive, AI-enabled enterprise environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhat really excited me about Riverbed is what it does with data,\u201d Donatelli said. \u201cAI is based on data, and Riverbed figured out how to collect data in real time at scale, feed it into our Data Store, and enable real operational intelligence across the business.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">AI in Production\u2014Not Just Theory<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Donatelli emphasized that Riverbed\u2019s use of AI is not experimental. \u201cEverything I\u2019m talking about is GA and deployed at scale in large enterprises,\u201d he said. That includes embedded AI in every Riverbed product, driving practical results for customers such as reducing mean time to repair (MTTR), predicting issues before they escalate, and automatically resolving problems when they arise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Riverbed\u2019s AI engines work across networks, applications, and endpoints\u2014from phones and tablets to servers and PCs. The unified telemetry powers Riverbed\u2019s platform to help customers consolidate tools, lower software costs, and make AI part of their day-to-day infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Rich Tehrani Interviews Dave Donatelli, CEO Riverbed Technology  a leader in AIOps for observability\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/2m8eUeEgTl0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>A notable metric backing up this strategy: Riverbed\u2019s observability business has grown 92% year-over-year so far in 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Intelligent Network Observability: Platform Overview<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The new intelligent network observability platform expands Riverbed\u2019s visibility into modern IT environments by combining telemetry ingestion, AI-based analytics, and intelligent automation under a single architecture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It offers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>AI-powered anomaly detection and prediction.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Automated remediation of performance issues.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Integration with ITSM platforms like ServiceNow.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Unified dashboards for real-time and historical analysis.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This platform unifies what are traditionally separate monitoring stacks\u2014network performance, endpoint analytics, and application tracing\u2014into one system. The result is simplified operations, fewer alert storms, and faster root cause analysis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Riverbed\u2019s support for tools like Grafana and other customizable dashboards adds flexibility for teams looking to tailor observability to their business needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">XX90 Appliances: Built for Performance and Scale<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A core component of this release is the new XX90 appliance family, purpose-built to handle increased data loads driven by AI and cloud adoption. Compared to previous generation hardware, the XX90 delivers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Up to 3\u00d7 faster performance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Smaller physical footprint.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reduced energy consumption.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Higher scalability for data-rich environments.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The new appliances are designed to support the growing telemetry needs of enterprises running hybrid or fully cloud-native environments. According to Donatelli, customers are moving more data than ever, and these systems help them scale without inflating costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThese appliances are built to help organizations scale efficiently while doing more with less\u2014less power, less space, and less time,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Addressing Zero Trust and UC Challenges<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Riverbed also continues to invest in specific areas where traditional monitoring tools fall short\u2014such as zero trust networking and unified communications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Its NPM+ solution is tailored for zero trust architectures, providing insight into segmented or encrypted environments where legacy tools often fail. Another key feature is real-time monitoring of collaboration tools, including the ability to preemptively detect and resolve video conferencing issues before users are impacted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cProblems always seem to happen at the worst time,\u201d Donatelli noted. \u201cSo we built in automation to identify, diagnose, and resolve collaboration issues\u2014often before the user knows something\u2019s wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Flex Licensing: Enabling Cloud and Hybrid Deployments<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the more strategic changes is Riverbed\u2019s introduction of Flex Licensing, which decouples software licenses from physical appliances. This allows customers to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Deploy observability software in the cloud, on-prem, or hybrid environments.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Swap out hardware without losing software investment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pay for only what they use and adapt as their needs evolve.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMost customers want more flexibility, not less,\u201d said Donatelli. \u201cFlex gives them deployment and budgetary freedom.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This change also reflects Riverbed\u2019s evolution into a software-first company, with a growing share of revenue now coming from SaaS and recurring license models.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s Next: Self-Healing and Synthetic Testing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Looking ahead to the next 12\u201324 months, Donatelli previewed additional innovations coming to the platform:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Self-healing capabilities that go beyond automated remediation to fully autonomous resolution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Synthetic testing tools that simulate user activity to preempt potential issues.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>More generative and predictive AI tools designed to improve visibility, reduce alerts, and streamline workflows.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Donatelli said the goal is to keep IT teams ahead of problems, rather than constantly responding to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ve unified this under one platform to make it easy for customers to adopt new technologies at their own pace,\u201d he said. \u201cBut from a development perspective, pedal to the metal\u2014we have a lot more coming.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Summary<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Riverbed\u2019s release of its AI-powered intelligent observability platform, along with the XX90 appliances and Flex Licensing model, represents a clear effort to modernize how enterprises manage their digital infrastructure. With unified telemetry, actionable insights, and automation baked into every layer, the company is helping organizations move from reactive troubleshooting to proactive control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Backed by strong adoption metrics and a steady product cadence, Riverbed is positioning itself not just as a player in observability\u2014but as a key partner in enabling enterprise transformation in the age of AI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark>Le<em>arn how AI Agents can supercharge your company\u2019s profits and productivity at&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.tmcnet.com\/\">TMC\u2019s&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aiagentevent.com\/\">AI Agent Event<\/a>, Sept 29-30, 2025 in DC.<\/em><\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.tmcnet.com\/blog\/rich-tehrani\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-10.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"299\" height=\"136\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.tmcnet.com\/blog\/rich-tehrani\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/image-10.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-20657\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>If you liked this post, you\u2019ll love one of the the leading global business communications and technology events since 1999, the&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.itexpo.com\/\">ITEXPO #TECHSUPERSHOW<\/a>, Feb 10-12, 2026 Fort Lauderdale, Florida.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t forget the collocated&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.mspexpo.com\/\">MSP Expo<\/a>&nbsp;\u2013 just for managed service providers!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Aside from his role as CEO of&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.tmcnet.com\/\">TMC<\/a>&nbsp;and chairman of&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.itexpo.com\/\">ITEXPO<\/a>&nbsp;#TECHSUPERSHOW Feb 10-12, 2026,&nbsp;Rich Tehrani is CEO of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rt-advisors.com\/\">RT Advisors<\/a>&nbsp;and a Registered Representative (investment banker) with and offering securities through&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.4pointscapital.com\/\">Four Points Capital Partners LLC&nbsp;<\/a>(Four Points) (Member FINRA\/SIPC). He handles capital\/debt raises as well as M&amp;A. RT Advisors is not owned by Four Points.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The above is not an endorsement or recommendation to buy\/sell any security or sector mentioned. No companies mentioned above are current or past clients of RT Advisors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The views and opinions expressed above are those of the participants. While believed to be reliable, the information has not been independently verified for accuracy. Any broad, general statements made herein are provided for context only and should not be construed as exhaustive or universally applicable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Portions of this article may have been developed with the assistance of artificial intelligence, which may have contributed to ideation, content generation, factual review, or editing<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways: Riverbed Technology has officially launched its next wave of AI-driven observability solutions, marking a major milestone in its evolution from a hardware-focused company to a full-stack enterprise software platform. At the center of this initiative is Riverbed\u2019s newly unified intelligent observability platform, enhanced with the XX90 series appliances, expanded AI automation, and deployment-flexible<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":24457,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[164],"tags":[],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tmcnet.com\/blog\/rich-tehrani\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24454"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tmcnet.com\/blog\/rich-tehrani\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tmcnet.com\/blog\/rich-tehrani\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tmcnet.com\/blog\/rich-tehrani\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/44"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tmcnet.com\/blog\/rich-tehrani\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24454"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tmcnet.com\/blog\/rich-tehrani\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24454\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24458,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tmcnet.com\/blog\/rich-tehrani\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24454\/revisions\/24458"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tmcnet.com\/blog\/rich-tehrani\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24457"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tmcnet.com\/blog\/rich-tehrani\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24454"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tmcnet.com\/blog\/rich-tehrani\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24454"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tmcnet.com\/blog\/rich-tehrani\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24454"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}