Enterasys Networks
Encyclopedia
Formed in March 2000 as a spin-off of Cabletron Systems
, Enterasys Networks is a networking
company catering almost exclusively to large enterprises. The company designs and manufactures all types of networking equipment including routers, switch
es, and 802.11
wireless access points and controllers.
In addition to networking hardware
such as switches, routers and wireless solutions, the company also builds software for managing and securing enterprise-class network
s such as Intrusion Prevention System, Network Access Control
and Security Information Management
.
The company's headquarters are in Andover
, Massachusetts
.
and Tennenbaum Capital Partners in a going-private,$386 million transaction. In April 2006, The Gores Group named network security veteran Mike Fabiaschi as the newly-private company's CEO. Fabiaschi was tasked with leading the company out of the challenges caused by the fraud trial and renewing trust relationships with customers. His first act as CEO was to speak directly to Enterasys employees and express his mission to "fix the company." His strategy to revive Enterasys included an initiative to establish the company as a leader in customer service, resulting in the new company tagline "There is nothing more important than our customers." His plan also included strengthening the company's global vendor partner relationships within the networking and security markets, and expanding the company's customer base to include the higher education, healthcare, financial and government verticals. In 2008, under Fabiaschi's guidance, Enterasys sought to increase revenue to $1 billion and make one or two strategic acquisitions.
On September 22, 2008, Fabiaschi died suddenly. His death came at a time when the seeds of his plan to renew Enterasys were coming to fruition - the company had just entered a new joint venture with Siemens Enterprise Communications. Mark Stone, Enterasys Chairman of the Board, was named interim CEO and completed the joint venture transaction. Chris Crowell currently serves as the CEO and President of Enterasys.
to acquire the German company's enterprise communications business, known as Siemens Enterprise Communications. The Gores Group acquired a 51% stake in Siemens Enterprise Communications (SEN). As part of the $550 million transaction, Gores Group offered the contribution of two of its top assets: Enterasys and SER Solutions, a Virginia-based contacts management solutions provider. Integration of Enterasys enterprise networking solutions with SEN's telephony and wireless solutions is already underway.
Cabletron Systems
Cabletron Systems was a major New Hampshire, USA-based provider of networking computer equipment throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Cabletron's design and sales methodologies dramatically reduced the cost of Ethernet networking equipment, covering a wide range of Layer 1 and Layer 2 networking...
, Enterasys Networks is a networking
Computer network
A computer network, often simply referred to as a network, is a collection of hardware components and computers interconnected by communication channels that allow sharing of resources and information....
company catering almost exclusively to large enterprises. The company designs and manufactures all types of networking equipment including routers, switch
Network switch
A network switch or switching hub is a computer networking device that connects network segments.The term commonly refers to a multi-port network bridge that processes and routes data at the data link layer of the OSI model...
es, and 802.11
IEEE 802.11
IEEE 802.11 is a set of standards for implementing wireless local area network computer communication in the 2.4, 3.6 and 5 GHz frequency bands. They are created and maintained by the IEEE LAN/MAN Standards Committee . The base version of the standard IEEE 802.11-2007 has had subsequent...
wireless access points and controllers.
In addition to networking hardware
Networking hardware
Networking hardware typically refers to equipment facilitating the use of a computer network. Typically, this includes routers, switches, hubs, gateways, access points, network interface cards, Networking cables, network bridges, modems, ISDN adapters, firewalls and other equipments.In the most...
such as switches, routers and wireless solutions, the company also builds software for managing and securing enterprise-class network
Computer network
A computer network, often simply referred to as a network, is a collection of hardware components and computers interconnected by communication channels that allow sharing of resources and information....
s such as Intrusion Prevention System, Network Access Control
Network Access Control
Network Access Control is an approach to computer network security that attempts to unify endpoint security technology , user or system authentication and network security enforcement.-Background:Network Access Control is a computer networking solution that uses a set of protocols to define and...
and Security Information Management
Security Information Management
Security information management is the industry-specific term in computer security referring to the collection of data into a central repository for trend analysis...
.
The company's headquarters are in Andover
Andover, Massachusetts
Andover is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. It was incorporated in 1646 and as of the 2010 census, the population was 33,201...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
.
The Gores Group Acquisition and New Leadership
In November 2005, Enterasys was acquired by The Gores GroupAlec Gores
Alec E. Gores is an American businessman who made his fortune through leveraged buyouts of technology firms. His personal wealth was estimated at roughly $1.5 billion by Forbes magazine in 2008.-Early life and education:...
and Tennenbaum Capital Partners in a going-private,$386 million transaction. In April 2006, The Gores Group named network security veteran Mike Fabiaschi as the newly-private company's CEO. Fabiaschi was tasked with leading the company out of the challenges caused by the fraud trial and renewing trust relationships with customers. His first act as CEO was to speak directly to Enterasys employees and express his mission to "fix the company." His strategy to revive Enterasys included an initiative to establish the company as a leader in customer service, resulting in the new company tagline "There is nothing more important than our customers." His plan also included strengthening the company's global vendor partner relationships within the networking and security markets, and expanding the company's customer base to include the higher education, healthcare, financial and government verticals. In 2008, under Fabiaschi's guidance, Enterasys sought to increase revenue to $1 billion and make one or two strategic acquisitions.
On September 22, 2008, Fabiaschi died suddenly. His death came at a time when the seeds of his plan to renew Enterasys were coming to fruition - the company had just entered a new joint venture with Siemens Enterprise Communications. Mark Stone, Enterasys Chairman of the Board, was named interim CEO and completed the joint venture transaction. Chris Crowell currently serves as the CEO and President of Enterasys.
Joint Venture with Siemens Enterprise Communications
On July 29, 2008, The Gores Group announced its partnership with SiemensSiemens
Siemens may refer toSiemens, a German family name carried by generations of telecommunications industrialists, including:* Werner von Siemens , inventor, founder of Siemens AG...
to acquire the German company's enterprise communications business, known as Siemens Enterprise Communications. The Gores Group acquired a 51% stake in Siemens Enterprise Communications (SEN). As part of the $550 million transaction, Gores Group offered the contribution of two of its top assets: Enterasys and SER Solutions, a Virginia-based contacts management solutions provider. Integration of Enterasys enterprise networking solutions with SEN's telephony and wireless solutions is already underway.