Ciena launched a cloud-based analytics as-a-service offering to enhance network visibility and optimize its own packet optical networks and networks with third-party transport equipment. It relies on asset identification, topology discovery, and routing configurations to provide visibility and enable network optimization.

Named the Ciena Insights Service, the analytics offering provides visibility and insights into Layers 0-2 of the network. It consolidates analytics-based capabilities — including Ciena’s team of data scientists and network infrastructure experts as well as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning software — into a single, multi-tiered service.

It's sold as a subscription-based service in three tiers: discover, analyze, and predict. The discover tier collects raw performance data and availability metrics of the network assets and topology. The analyze tier uses machine learning to process trend information to provide actionable insights. The predict tier allows network operators to take preventive action based on the data and metrics.

Customers can choose from the tiers depending on the level of visibility they require and each tier builds upon the one prior. Ciena also offers services to customize the tier they selected. These include network audit, operational insights, geo-analysis, high-touch engineering, optimization capabilities, and IT service management integration.

Ciena already has an analytics framework included in its Blue Planet software portfolio. The portfolio includes multi-domain service orchestration (MDSO), NFV orchestration, a network health predictor, route optimization and assurance, virtual WAN, and SDN-based domain control for Ciena packet and optical networks.

The Blue Planet analytics framework is deployed as an on-premises software for closed-loop, multi-domain automation. It complements the new analytics-as-a-service offering.