Sheer Networks

Sheer Networks, established in 1999 by co-founders Sunil Kishen, Sharon Barkai, and Ariel Noy, carved a niche in the network and service management sector. The company operated with a dual presence, having employees in both San Jose, California, and Petach Tikva, Israel. Sheer Networks catered primarily to service providers and large enterprises, offering software solutions designed to simplify the monitoring and maintenance of complex, multi-vendor network environments.

The core of Sheer Networks' offering was its intelligent software that aimed to reduce the operational costs associated with running and expanding large-scale networks. Its flagship product line was branded as DNA (Dynamic Network Abstraction), which created a software-based virtual network layer. This technology effectively shielded operational and billing systems from the underlying complexity of physical network hardware. By abstracting network elements, the software enabled management applications to access more accurate data and function more efficiently, allowing for easier integration and interoperability between different hardware and software vendors. The platform was designed to adapt to network changes and scale efficiently, a key benefit for large operators looking to deploy new services without a proportional increase in management staff.

The company's trajectory culminated in a significant milestone on July 26, 2005, when Cisco Systems announced a definitive agreement to acquire the privately-held firm. The deal was valued at approximately $97 million in cash and assumed options, with an additional potential of $25 million based on meeting specific development and product milestones post-acquisition. Having raised a total of $47 million over four funding rounds, with investors including Star Ventures, JVP, and Nokia, the acquisition marked a successful exit for the company. The acquisition was completed on September 16, 2005, and the Sheer Networks team was integrated into Cisco's Network Management Technology Group.

Keywords: network management, service management, service provider, network abstraction, multi-vendor network, network monitoring, OSS/BSS, Cisco acquisition, Dynamic Network Abstraction, network automation, operational support systems, telecom software, enterprise network, virtual network, network maintenance, Petach Tikva, Sunil Kishen, Sharon Barkai, Ariel Noy