The News: Cloud-native application networking company Solo.io announced the general availability (GA) of Gloo Network for Cilium. Read the full press release on the Solo.io website.
Exploring eBPF and Cilium: A Foundation for Cloud-Native Networking
Analyst Take: In the fast-evolving landscape of cloud computing, the Extended Berkeley Packet Filter (eBPF) and the Cilium project stand out as critical technologies. eBPF, a revolutionary technology integrated into the Linux kernel, significantly expands the kernel’s capabilities, allowing for safe, high-performance programs that run in response to a variety of events. This capability enables deep insights and advanced manipulation of data directly in the kernel, enhancing performance monitoring, network packet filtering, and security.
Cilium leverages eBPF to provide a highly efficient and flexible networking solution for cloud-native environments. By acting as a Container Network Interface (CNI) plugin, Cilium ensures seamless integration with Kubernetes, facilitating advanced load balancing, fine-grained network policies, transparent encryption, and in-depth observability features. This makes Cilium a pivotal tool for enterprises looking to optimize their Kubernetes-based applications in terms of networking, security, and scalability.
Solo.io’s Strategic Move with Gloo Network for Cilium
With the groundwork laid out regarding eBPF and Cilium, we turn our attention to Solo.io. This company stands at the forefront of cloud-native application networking and has recently unveiled the general availability of Gloo Network for Cilium. As an enterprise-grade network management solution that leverages the power of eBPF, its primary goal is to make the adoption of Cilium much more straightforward by addressing the various challenges that come with deploying upstream Cilium. By effectively simplifying the adoption process and ensuring seamless integration with Gloo Mesh Core, Solo.io plays a pivotal role in aiding organizations as they transition toward more sophisticated service mesh architectures.
Gloo Network for Cilium skillfully combines exceptional networking, scalability, and observability tools into an integrated solution that significantly boosts the performance of cloud-native infrastructure. It stands out by offering unparalleled ease of use, substantially reducing the complexity often encountered in network management, enhancing performance through intelligent design, providing deep insights, ensuring operational efficiency, mitigating risks effectively, and offering the scalability that modern businesses require. This strategic move by Solo.io does more than just reaffirm its dedication to pushing the boundaries of cloud-native networking technologies forward. It strategically positions Gloo Network for Cilium as an indispensable asset for any organization keen on maximizing the capabilities of cloud networking to its fullest extent.
By focusing on these key aspects, Solo.io’s Gloo Network for Cilium addresses a critical need within the cloud computing sector for tools that not only simplify complex processes but also enhance the overall infrastructure on which businesses rely. This development is a testament to Solo.io’s innovative approach and its commitment to providing solutions that meet the evolving demands of cloud-native networking, ensuring that organizations can navigate the complexities of modern cloud environments more efficiently and effectively.
Looking Ahead
As cloud-native networking technologies evolve, the competitive landscape, featuring players like Isovalent, the company behind Cilium, becomes increasingly significant. Isovalent’s focus on eBPF-based solutions has positioned it as a key player, yet the broader adoption of such technologies hinges on community contributions, code submissions, and support from hyperscalers.
The open-source nature of projects such as Cilium encourages a vibrant ecosystem of developers and enterprises to contribute, enhancing the technology’s capabilities and fostering innovation. Moreover, as hyperscalers such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure continue to integrate eBPF and Cilium into their offerings, they not only validate the technology’s importance but also lower the barrier to entry for enterprises embarking on cloud-native transformations.
The collaboration between these entities, combined with strategic offerings such as Solo.io’s Gloo Network for Cilium, catalyzes market adoption by addressing key enterprise needs: simplicity, performance, and security. As organizations navigate their cloud-native journeys, the synergy between advanced eBPF-based solutions and the robust support ecosystem will be instrumental in shaping the future of cloud-native computing.
In conclusion, the journey of eBPF and the Cilium project, amplified by Solo.io’s recent announcement and the dynamic competitive landscape, underscores a pivotal moment in cloud-native networking. The focus on community-driven development, coupled with enhanced support from industry giants, sets the stage for a future where cloud-native environments are more accessible, secure, and efficient. As we look ahead, the continued evolution and adoption of these technologies will undoubtedly play a crucial role in the advancement of cloud computing.
Disclosure: The Futurum Group is a research and advisory firm that engages or has engaged in research, analysis, and advisory services with many technology companies, including those mentioned in this article. The author does not hold any equity positions with any company mentioned in this article.
Analysis and opinions expressed herein are specific to the analyst individually and data and other information that might have been provided for validation, not those of The Futurum Group as a whole.
Other Insights from The Futurum Group:
Cisco to Acquire Cloud-Native Networking & Security Leader Isovalent
Cisco Makes a Strategic Move in Acquiring Isovalent
Author Information
Regarded as a luminary at the intersection of technology and business transformation, Steven Dickens is the Vice President and Practice Leader for Hybrid Cloud, Infrastructure, and Operations at The Futurum Group. With a distinguished track record as a Forbes contributor and a ranking among the Top 10 Analysts by ARInsights, Steven's unique vantage point enables him to chart the nexus between emergent technologies and disruptive innovation, offering unparalleled insights for global enterprises.
Steven's expertise spans a broad spectrum of technologies that drive modern enterprises. Notable among these are open source, hybrid cloud, mission-critical infrastructure, cryptocurrencies, blockchain, and FinTech innovation. His work is foundational in aligning the strategic imperatives of C-suite executives with the practical needs of end users and technology practitioners, serving as a catalyst for optimizing the return on technology investments.
Over the years, Steven has been an integral part of industry behemoths including Broadcom, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), and IBM. His exceptional ability to pioneer multi-hundred-million-dollar products and to lead global sales teams with revenues in the same echelon has consistently demonstrated his capability for high-impact leadership.
Steven serves as a thought leader in various technology consortiums. He was a founding board member and former Chairperson of the Open Mainframe Project, under the aegis of the Linux Foundation. His role as a Board Advisor continues to shape the advocacy for open source implementations of mainframe technologies.
At The Futurum Group, Paul Nashawaty, Practice Leader and Lead Principal Analyst, specializes in application modernization across build, release and operations. With a wealth of expertise in digital transformation initiatives spanning front-end and back-end systems, he also possesses comprehensive knowledge of the underlying infrastructure ecosystem crucial for supporting modernization endeavors. With over 25 years of experience, Paul has a proven track record in implementing effective go-to-market strategies, including the identification of new market channels, the growth and cultivation of partner ecosystems, and the successful execution of strategic plans resulting in positive business outcomes for his clients.
