Forward Networks
{{Infobox company
| name = Forward Networks
| logo = File:Forward-networks logo RGB.png
| industry = Computer software
| founded = July 23, 2013
| founder = David Erickson, Nikhil Handigol, Brandon Heller, Peyman Kazemian
| hq_location_city = Santa Clara, California
| website = https://www.forwardnetworks.com/
}}
Forward Networks, Inc. is an American company founded in Palo Alto, California and headquartered in Santa Clara, California. The company develops enterprise software for network management and software-defined networking.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/company/1314286D:US|title=Forward Networks Inc - Company Profile and News|website=Bloomberg}}
History
Forward Networks was founded by David Erickson, Nikhil Handigol, Brandon Heller, and Peyman Kazemian, who met as Ph.D researchers at Stanford University. While operating software-defined networking deployments running OpenFlow{{Cite web|url=https://www.networkcomputing.com/data-centers/startup-aims-simplify-network-management|title=Startup Aims To Simplify Network Management|date=2016-11-14|website=IT Infrastructure Advice, Discussion, Community - Network Computing|access-date=2019-08-15}} at the university,{{Cite web|url=https://www.networkworld.com/article/3140941/startup-forward-networks-helps-search-protect-and-predict-network-behavior.html|title=Startup Forward Networks helps search, protect and predict network behavior|last=Butler|first=Brandon|date=2016-11-14|website=Network World|access-date=2019-08-15}} Erickson, Handigol, Heller, and Kazemian built a software platform based on Kazemian's research at Stanford for his electrical engineering dissertation.{{Cite web|url=https://www.insightssuccess.com/forward-networks-accelerating-de-risking-network-operations/|title=Accelerating and De-Risking Network Operations {{!}} Forward Networks {{!}} David Erickson|date=2018-01-16|website=Business Magazine|access-date=2019-08-12}} Kazemian's research enabled the use of configuration data and operational state information from devices on a network to create a virtual copy of that network.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fiercetelecom.com/telecom/forward-networks-creates-digital-twins-to-assures-network-performance|title=Forward Networks creates digital twins to assure network performance|website=FierceTelecom|access-date=2019-08-12}}
Until November 2016, the company operated in stealth mode{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/08/23/forward-networks-nets-16m-to-help-prevent-network-outages/|title=Forward Networks nets $16M to help prevent network outages|website=TechCrunch|access-date=2019-08-12}} and raised $16 million in funding by DFJ,{{Cite web|url=https://medium.com/dfj-vc/fast-forward-with-forward-networks-38ca91a38222|title=Fast Forward with Forward Networks|last=DFJ|date=2017-08-23|website=Medium|access-date=2019-08-15}} with participation from Andreesen Horowitz.{{Cite web|url=https://a16z.com/2016/11/14/forward-networks/|title=Déjà Vu All Over Again with Forward Networks|last=Krause|first=Bill|date=2016-11-14|website=Andreessen Horowitz|access-date=2019-08-15}}
In October 2019 the company raised $35 million in Series C funding led by Goldman Sachs, also a customer of the company.{{Cite web|url=https://fortune.com/2019/10/08/term-sheet-tuesday-october-8/|title=The Wave of Digital Media Consolidation Isn't Over Yet|website=Fortune|access-date=2019-10-18}}
In January 2023, following 139% year-over-year growth, Forward Networks announced it closed $50M in Series D funding.{{Cite web |last=Lunden |first=Ingrid |date=2023-01-24 |title=Forward Networks raises $50M for digital twin technology to help model, manage and secure complex enterprise networks |url=https://techcrunch.com/2023/01/24/forward-networks-raises-50m-for-digital-twin-technology-to-help-model-manage-and-secure-complex-enterprise-networks/ |access-date=2023-01-24 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}} The round was led by MSD Partners with support from new investors, Section 32 and Omega Venture Partners.{{Needs citation|date=May 2024}}
Forward Networks' other customers include PayPal, Ubisoft, and Telstra.{{Cite web|url=https://www.forwardnetworks.com/|title=Network Verification Software|website=Forward Networks|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-18}}
Intent-based networking
Intent-based networking (IBN), a term coined by Gartner in 2017 describes a system designed to automate a network lifecycle from design and implementation to deployment and validation.{{Cite web|url=https://www.networkmiddleeast.com/84677-intent-based-networking-the-next-big-thing|title=Intent-based network: the next big thing?|website=Network Middle East|access-date=2019-10-18}}
Forward Networks' technology focuses on verification with regards to intent-based networking. The platform generates a mathematical model of the network to perform functions such as composing timestamped collections of network configurations and state information of a network infrastructure.{{Cite web|url=https://www.esg-global.com/validation/esg-technical-review-verifying-network-intent-with-forward-enterprise|title=ESG Technical Review: Verifying Network Intent with Forward Enterprise|last=Arcilla|first=Alex|website=www.esg-global.com|access-date=2019-08-15}} The product is marketed as a network assurance platform{{Cite web|url=https://netcraftsmen.com/nfd13-forward-networks-comes-stealth-impress/|title=NFD13: Forward Networks Comes Out of Stealth to Impress|date=2016-12-22|website=NetCraftsmen|access-date=2019-10-18}} called Forward Enterprise.{{Cite web|url=https://gartner.com/market/network-automation/vendor/forward-networks|title=Forward Networks Network Automation Software Reviews|last=Inc|first=Gartner|website=Gartner|language=en|access-date=2019-10-18}}{{dead link|date=December 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}