Interview: Splunk Brings Machine Data to Higher Education

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As the Internet of Things (IoT) marches on, machine data from servers, applications, sensors, web feeds and more will need to be monitored, analyzed and put to use. Splunk saw the need to bring these types of transformational insights to the higher education world.  We sat down with Rob Reed, Education Evangelist at Splunk, to shed more light on this topic.

insideBIGDATA: I understand that Splunk has some exciting news regarding an alliance to bring operational intelligence to higher education. How did this come about?

Rob Reed

Rob Reed

Rob Reed: Splunk and Internet2 both realize a need to provide universities with effective data analytics tools that would help them manage their complex IT infrastructures. Internet2 approached Splunk about becoming a NET+  service offering about two years ago because they saw big demand for Splunk from universities, and had success with other vendors like Box in providing a unique and effective offering specifically for higher education.

insideBIGDATA: What does the Splunk platform do?

Rob Reed: Splunk Enterprise is a platform for machine data. The technology delivers powerful and fast analytics to quickly unlock the value of machine data to IT and other users throughout an organization. In short, it’s a simple, effective way to collect, analyze and secure the massive streams of machine data generated by all IT systems and technology infrastructure.

insideBIGDATA: Who is Internet2 and what do they bring to the program?

Rob Reed: Internet2 is a member-owned advanced technology community founded by the nation’s leading higher education institutions in 1996. Internet2 provides a collaborative environment for U.S. research and education organizations to solve common technology challenges, and to develop innovative solutions in support of their educational, research, and community service missions. More than 250 universities are part of the US Internet2 network.

The agreement allows all not-for-profit U.S. universities or colleges to get the NET+ Splunk offering with a pre-negotiated contract and subscription pricing.

insideBIGDATA: What does being able to analyze Big Data mean to the universities? What sort of benefits will they get?

Rob Reed: According to Shelton Waggener, SVP, Internet2: “Through Internet2’s Splunk offering, universities will have uniquely simplified access to valuable insight from the real-time analysis of machine data. Member universities manage some of the most complex IT infrastructures, with many already using Splunk software to enhance security, lower costs, increase IT efficiency and improve operations.”

According to Rob Reed, worldwide education evangelist: “Splunk Enterprise can help to transform the way universities operate. Our customers consistently report that Splunk technology helps them to do much more with less, and we are delighted to make it even easier for other institutions to benefit from the power of Splunk Enterprise”

insideBIGDATA: This seems like a pretty big undertaking. What will this mean for Splunk and its university customers down the road?

Rob Reed: Splunk deployments can have a profoundly positive impact on an enterprise’s operational intelligence, delivering increased efficiencies and large returns on their Splunk investment. Both Internet2 and Splunk worked very hard to deliver this Net+ service offering to universities so that they have an easier and cheaper way to get these benefits. In the long run, we hope that the NET+ Splunk offering contributes to the health and productivity of the entire higher education community.

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