Happy Friday, everyone! Miss the news? Don't worry, the SDxCentral weekly news roundup is here to deliver the news bits surrounding software-defined networking (SDN), network functions virtualization (NFV), and more. Get ready, 'cuz it's coming atcha:

SCUTTLEBUTT

Nebula has collapsed, winnowing the OpenStack herd. The startup's April 1 announcement that it was ceasing operations and ending support for deployments was no joke. Founded in 2011 as a service for managing OpenStack cloud infrastructure, Nebula was backed by $38.5 million in venture capital and $3.5 million in debt financing. Observers say the company may have been too early to market, and predict further consolidation in the OpenStack ecosystem.

RUNNING THE NUMBERS

The software-defined data center market will balloon to $77 billion by 2020, projects Markets and Markets. The forecast predicts a five-year compound annual growth rate of 29 percent, from a little over $21 billion in 2015.

Eighty-five percent of enterprise network teams are involved with security investigations, according to a new study from JDSU.

LAUNCH PAD

F5 unveiled its new security operations center (SOC), based in Seattle. The center is aimed at supporting Silverline customers with 24/7 access to F5 security experts who monitor global Layer 4-7 attacks in real time.

Meru Networks is offering a new promotion for Aruba and HP customers, giving them up to a 50 percent discount when upgrading wireless networks to Meru. The promotion called "Adios Aruba" (a moniker that's most of the reason for including in the roundup) will include five access points, a controller, software licensing, support, and a free 100-user Meru Connect on-boarding product. The promotion will run through September 21st.

On.Lab released the second version of of its ONOS network controller. Called Blackbird, the release comes with a new set of benchmark specifications that On.Lab proposes for measuring network controller performance.

JOINING FORCES

Palo Alto Networks and VMware expanded their partnership to focus on mobile security needs. The two will integrate their enterprise security and mobile management technologies to offer businesses a combination of mobile device management and advanced threat prevention for secure enterprise BYOD support.

Facebook tapped Infinera to light what Infinera says is the world's longest terrestrial optical network.

Midokura joined the OpenStack Foundation as a sponsor this week, a move that follows Midokura's move last fall to open source its OpenStack networking product, MidoNet.

FINDING FUNDING (SECURITY EDITION!)

Cloud security firm CipherCloud has acquired the core assets of Anicut Systems, a security analytics firm. Terms were undisclosed.

Tanium, an enterprise network security-software firm, landed an additional $52 million round of venture funding from Andreessen Horowitz, reports Fortune.

HyTrust, a cloud security automation firm, raised $25 million in new venture funding in a round led by Accelerate-IT Ventures. The Mountain View-based startup also took on $8 million in debt financing.

Here's what else you might have missed this week:

• The Optical White Box Is Coming
• Mirantis Joins Cloud Foundry but Keeps Focus on OpenStack
• Arista’s New CFO Is Some Kid Named Andy Bechtolsheim
• Juniper & VMware Back Off from OpenDaylight
• Cisco to Acquire Embrane, Adding Layer 4-7 to ACI
• CloudRouter Launch Brings New Open Source Virtual Router
• Arista EOS Gets a Subscription Pricing Option
• Akanda Hires OpenStack Board Director Sean Roberts
• Aryaka Raises $16M More for the Software-Defined WAN
• Telefónica Releases OpenMANO Code for NFV