Software virtualisation company, VMware, has disclosed their plan to buy start-up company Avi Networks for an unannounced price in a plan to bridge the gap between NetOps and DevOps.

VMware provide platform virtualisation software and services as well as cloud computing and were founded in 1998. Whilst Avi Networks is a load balancing service that “delivers a 100% software approach to multi-cloud application services”.

As a start-up company, Avi’s aim is to do what it can to provide a solution to load baring appliances that were created in an age when appliances didn’t have higher workloads and that relied on various platforms like we have today, such as Google Cloud Platform, Azure and AWS.

The company has created a tool that enables a balance between software resource requirements (which is based on need or location) and keeping an eye on the results and the data behind the requirements needed.

How will the collaboration work?

There is already an integration of VMware technologies on Avi’s radar, which includes VMware NSX and VMware vCenter. However, part of the work that VMware does is to assist businesses with managing their infrastructure in a consistent way, which they do on-prem or through the cloud. By working with Avi, they will be able to work more on the load-baring side of things, making it easier for them and their clients to handle work.

Senior VP and GM for VMware, Tom Gillis, spoke of the ultimate aim of the collaboration to be of simplicity and efficiency. This is because one major issue that currently affects the deployment of an application outside of public cloud computing is that it can take days or even sometimes weeks.

He commented on the partnership through a statement by saying: “This acquisition will further advance our Virtual Cloud Network vision, where a software-defined distributed network architecture spans all infrastructure and ties all pieces together with the automation and programmability found in the public cloud.

“Combining Avi Networks with VMware NSX will further enable organisations to respond to new opportunities and threats, create new business models, and deliver services to all applications and data, wherever they are located.”

As well as dealing with more of a load balancing software, part of VMware’s aim is also to include a Web Application Firewall (WAF) as well as a service mesh to its pre-existing visualisation software. WAF technology will then be used to further secure data centre traffic.

Avi’s co-founders also expressed their excitement for the partnership in a blog post that reads: “The decision to join forces with VMware represents a perfect alignment of vision, products, technology, go-to-market, and culture. We will continue to deliver on our mission to help our customers modernise application services by accelerating multi-cloud deployments with automation and self-service.”

Avi was founded in 2012 and according to CrunchBase Data, have already raised $115 Million through investors such as Greylock and Lightspeed Venture Partners.

The new deal is thought to take place anytime between now and August.