AT&T NetBond is giving its cloud users more options by providing access to over 100 additional cloud software and service providers hosted on Amazon Web Services’ (AWS) platform, a move that reflects business’ shift towards cloud-based software as a service (SaaS) applications.
These new capabilities are part of the AT&T NetBond Direct Connect (DX) bundle the service provider is offering to business customers and reseller partners.
AT&T’s timing for the new service capability could not be better. A recent IDC report expects the worldwide SaaS market to reach $123 billion in 2020.
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For business customers, the benefit of this service is that it is focused on enhancing network performance.
“With NetBond for Cloud, users can bypass the public internet to connect to cloud solutions through a highly secure connection to a growing number of SaaS providers via AWS Direct Connect,” said Mo Katibeh, SVP of advanced solutions for AT&T, in a release.
Additionally, AWS software and solution providers can join the AT&T NetBond for Cloud Solution Provider program.
This program gives service providers a way to attract new customers by identifying AT&T NetBond for Cloud as a secure connectivity option when used with AWS Direct Connect (DX) Bundles.
AT&T is extending its NetBond cloud platform to solution provider partners via its Partner Exchange unit, reflecting the telco’s ongoing movement to virtualize more of its network functions with software.
NetBond joins a lineup of recent program and product updates made in AT&T Partner Exchange. The technology will be included in AT&T Partner Exchange's certification program.
Already, the NetBond for Cloud service is being adopted by AT&T customers like the Brazos River Authority.
David Thompson, CFO of Brazos River Authority, said that while it saw value with SaaS and the cloud overall, it needed a way to provide “end users a consistent, predictable and highly secure connection” and NetBond for Cloud fit that bill.
“With NetBond for Cloud we can connect in minutes to the AWS Cloud and our enterprise resource management application, knowing that our network connection is private and delivers predictable performance when we need it, with the ability to scale on demand,” Thompson said.