December 13, 2024
What is it?
Riverbed is a leader in AI observability and their primary focus is on optimizing their users’ experiences by preventing, identifying, and resolving IT issues before they impact the organization.
Recently, Riverbed announced a partnership with Intel to extend visibility into peripheral devices using Intel Thunderbolt and Wi-Fi technologies. The announcement introduced a new module for their Unified Agent platform — Riverbed Aternity for Intel Thunderbolt and Wi-Fi.
Powered by Intel Connectivity Analytics, Riverbed Aternity for Intel Thunderbolt and Wi-Fi will improve the user experience by extending observability into connected devices configured with Intel Thunderbolt™ and Intel Wi-Fi technologies.
This new Riverbed Aternity for Intel Thunderbolt and Wi-Fi Technologies module is the first third-party module available as part of the Riverbed Unified Agent, which enables organizations to confront agent fatigue challenges by allowing IT teams to capture more data without the need to add more agents. This will allow organizations to enjoy deep telemetry that proactively monitors and resolves connectivity performance, configuration, and other issues for Thunderbolt-connected peripherals and Intel Wi-Fi.
With this and future connectivity modules, Riverbed is positioned to continue extending the breadth of its industry-leading telemetry and AI-enabled insights.
Why should you care?
Today, a large majority of enterprise work happens on laptops and desktops with Intel processors, and Intel Thunderbolt and Wi-Fi technologies have become essential for high-performance computing — whether in data-intensive industries or for daily office and remote work. Employees globally rely on Thunderbolt to connect peripheral devices like keyboards, monitors, storage, and cameras, and they use Wi-Fi everywhere—from home to airports to corporate offices.
Yet IT teams face significant challenges in managing these systems. Limited visibility into the performance of Thunderbolt connected peripherals and Wi-Fi networks creates a “black box” situation, making it difficult to diagnose and resolve issues. This results in time-consuming manual troubleshooting that frustrates users and reduces productivity.
How does it work?
Aternity has access to Intel ’s specialized code that provides below-the-OS-metrics visibility. Combining Intel ’s code metrics with Aternity’s real-time data collection, analysis, and user sentiment, IT can proactively identify and resolve digital experience issues.
Aternity, in collaboration with Intel, delivers real-time visibility into Thunderbolt and Wi-Fi performance using below-the-OS telemetry. This means IT teams can now monitor connectivity and configuration issues, such as bad Wi-Fi coverage, latency, interference, and hardware malfunctions.
Features of the Intel Thunderbolt and Wi-Fi technologies model
- Telemetry source: Leverages the Intel Connectivity Analytics SDK, which enables deep analysis of critical metrics, events and configuration data from employee devices configured with Intel Thunderbolt and Intel Wi-Fi solutions
- DEX capabilities: Works together with the Riverbed Aternity EUEM solution to deliver enhanced DEX capabilities
- Advanced analytics and automation: Includes a suite of capabilities specifically tailored to address employee experience use cases related to Thunderbolt and Wi-Fi, including unique dashboards and automated remediations
Differentiation in the market
While many organizations use end-user device management tools like Riverbed Aternity to see what is happening across their employees’ laptops and PCs, they don’t have real-time visibility into the performance of connected devices with Intel Thunderbolt or Wi-Fi technologies. With Riverbed Aternity for Intel Thunderbolt and Wi-Fi, they now have that visibility.
How do you position and sell this solution?
Introduce Aternity for Intel Thunderbolt and Wi-Fi to your customers having any of these challenges:
- Manual troubleshooting impacts productivity of end users and service desk agents
- Regular interruption of workflow affects the organization's business results
- Limited ability to process information, analyze graphical files, conduct simulations or make predictions
- Hard to assess and ensure fit-for-purpose deployments/investments that maximize employee productivity
Discovery questions to ask your customers:
- How do you assess the performance of employees' Thunderbolt connected peripherals?
- Do you have the visibility you need to ensure your Wi-Fi access network provides high performance to your entire workforce?
- How frequently do you receive complaints from employees that their Thunderbolt connected devices are not working as expected?
- When remote employees complain that they're experiencing poor performance over their Wi-Fi how do you respond?
Key selling points to share with your customers:
- Riverbed now offers organizations the ability to extend their observability to connected devices with the Aternity for Intel Thunderbolt and Wi-Fi technologies module in the Riverbed Unified Agent.
- Aternity benefits operations teams who need more granular levels of observability, so they can consistently deliver great digital experiences to all their employees.
- IT teams will be armed with comprehensive information that allows them to proactively manage user experiences across a broader range of devices, drive higher levels of productivity and accelerate troubleshooting activities.
- Aternity ensures simplified connectivity and consistently positive experiences to the workforce regardless of location.
More information
For more information on how Arrow can help build your business with Riverbed and its Aternity solutions, please contact your Arrow representative today!
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