Mako Networks

Mako Networks is a network solutions vendor headquartered in Elgin, Illinois. The company was founded in New Zealand in 2000. The company's flagship product is the Mako System, a cloud-managed network creation and management platform targeted towards distributed enterprises. The Mako System is a PCI DSS certified solution and Mako sells a range of cloud-managed appliances that connect to the Internet via broadband and are designed to help merchants set up secure network environments.

History

In 2000, Mako began development of a centrally managed firewall solution that would allow users to administer many firewalls from a single location. This combination of network appliances and hosted central management system (CMS) is the backbone of the Mako Networks technologies, where many devices on disparate networks can communicate with the CMS for command and control.

The first Mako Networks appliance became commercially available In 2004: the Mako 1030.

Launch and expansion

By 2005, Mako 1030 appliances were purchased by Telecom, the largest telecommunications provider in New Zealand, for use at their commercial customer sites as a security layer. With commercial viability established, the company began a series of expansion efforts to the Middle East and United Kingdom, opening channels and offices in each location.

Concurrently, the Ministry of Health (MoH) in New Zealand began a comprehensive overhaul of its information technology systems, commencing the Connected Health initiative ^[1] which would securely link healthcare providers and patient records in a central repository. The MoH selected the Mako Networks system as the primary connection method for use at pharmacies, doctors and hospitals to securely connect to the system.

In early 2007, NetComm signed with Mako Networks as a channel partner in Australia, marking a third international market for the company. Later in 2008, Mako began its first exploratory forays into the North American market.

PCI DSS

In early 2010, Mako Networks became PCI DSS-certified following a comprehensive business audit by Deloitte,^[2] and began selling their PCI DSS-compliant network management appliances globally. Mako's PCI DSS certification simplifies the creation and maintenance of secure cardholder data environments at retail locations.

Voluntary liquidation and acquisition in 2015

Mako Networks New Zealand companies were put into voluntary liquidation on August 20 2015, by its directors. Mako Networks reportedly owed Spark NZ$26 million.

On October 6, 2015, US telecommunications service provider and Mako distribution partner D&S Communications acquired the assets of Mako Networks from the company’s receivers. Earlier in 2015, D&S Communications had become Mako’s primary North American distribution partner assisting with logistics and implementation for Mako's North American customers.

D&S restructured the assets and acquired companies to continue delivering products and providing support to distribution partners and enterprise customers, and operates wholly owned trading subsidiaries in each of its four territories: Mako Networks New Zealand, Mako Networks Australia, Mako Networks UK and Mako Networks USA. D&S continues to base research and development and compliance in New Zealand. It retained several of Mako’s senior managers, including company founders Chris Massam and Simon Gamble. ^[3]

Mako Networks 2.0

Post acquisition Mako Networks has expanded its presence in the UK, AUS and US markets and has developed new technologies around enhanced SD WAN functionality. Mako is used by distributed enterprises globally including many Fortune 500 companies.

Services and functionality delivered across Mako System

Hosted Central Management System (CMS)

Mako Networks provides a hosted CMS where all interaction with Mako appliances takes place.

PCI DSS compliance

The Mako System segregates a merchant’s payment network from the rest of their computer system and continually enforces some of the most technical components of PCI DSS compliance. The systems also prevent the introduction of non-approved payment terminals into merchants payment ecosystem. Mako’s QSA is Verizon Business.

SD-WAN

Mako's SD-WAN technology delivers a high quality software defined wide area network service utilizing its MultiWAN and VPN Cloud technologies.

MultiWAN

Mako appliances can connect a site to multiple broadband connectivity types at once (cable, xDSL, cell) and users can choose priority and enable load balancing.

VPN Cloud

Mako's VPN concentrators can be arranged into "clouds" of concentrators spread across multiple data centers to deliver customer-configurable resiliency and redundancy when connecting many small sites into a data center or corporate network.

Detailed usage reporting

The Mako CMS lets authorized users view detailed usage analysis on traffic entering and leaving their remote locations.

Automated system security updates

The Mako System updates security and features automatically including:

• Software updates
• Security patches
• Product enhancements

Proactive alerting

Email-based alerts are sent to authorized users on events such as online, offline, cellular failover, overheat, worm/malware detection.

Content filtering

Mako's Mako Guardian content filtering function provides control over what web content can be accessed from Mako-protected locations.

Appliances

Mako Networks offers two types of networking equipment: routers installed on-site at customer locations, and Virtual Private Network concentrators, which can be managed on- or off-site and can be virtualized in AWS.

Product range

Mako end-user appliances are based on the 6500 series hardware platform^[4] and offer the choice of multiple connection interfaces including 3G, Ethernet and ADSL2+. Mako 7582 and 8875 VPN concentrators link a number of remote sites back into a corporate network utilizing the company's VPN Cloud technology.

References

External links

• Mako Networks
• Mako Networks Guards SMEs Against Internet Threats
• Kiwi firm expands into US
• Voluntary Liquidation