Mako Networks 2020

Mako Networks continues to grow in a challenging year.

Mako Networks’ strong growth trajectory continued throughout 2020, seeing more than 40% sales revenue growth over 2019. By the close of Q1 2020, it became clear that the COVID-19 pandemic would disrupt basic aspects of how business is conducted. With shelter-in-place orders enacted around the world and a wide range of enterprises rapidly decentralizing network infrastructure and related policies, Mako’s combination of secure, broadband-based, cloud-managed networking products and services allowing for cellular backup and cost-effective SD-WAN proved well-positioned to assist companies in responding to the challenges of the pandemic. Mako rapidly delivers solutions with zero-touch deployment, taking advantage of centralized security and access templates controlled by corporate IT departments to create secure, supportable, segmented networks at homes and remote sites while compromising neither productivity nor security standards.

Early 2020 additions to the Mako product line were 8- and 24-port managed switches. Offering fine-grained control of networks of any size, Gigabit Ethernet, full VLAN support, and Power over Ethernet on all ports, these new switches are fully PCI compliant, with all management performed exclusively within the Mako Central Management System (CMS). Later in the year, the Mako 4500 and 4600 debuted. These smaller appliances can be deployed as a secure edge router, zone router, or wireless access point. This flexibility makes them suitable for applications ranging from securing a small home office or IoT product to securing a LAN or wireless segment of a large global network. The Mako 4600 is the first Mako appliance to deliver next-generation Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) performance.

This year also saw the introduction of the Mako VPN Cloud Partner Program which enables distributed retailer networks to connect securely, reliably, and easily to partner networks. Partners deploy physical or virtual Mako VPN concentrators to make services in their environments directly available to retail locations equipped with Mako appliances. Mako technology provides retailers with a way to access third-party service providers using a secure Mako VPN Cloud tunnel that bypasses the public Internet, maintaining compliance with PCI DSS and other security standards.

Mako VPN Cloud Partner Umojo’s groundbreaking Park On Call system delivers industry-leading parking automation. Offering a multitude of SD-WAN connectivity options allows for fast failover configurations that react so quickly there is zero packet loss in a failover event. This is critical to systems that demand continuity, including payment processing, VoIP, and streaming security cameras.

Also joining the Mako VPN Cloud Partner program this year is Tecmark, making their customer loyalty programs easier to deploy to C-stores without compromising security or site-level adherence to brand or corporate policies. C-store retailers using Mako appliances can connect to Tecmark’s network simply by selecting it in the appropriate Mako CMS dropdown menu and following the prompts.

In 2020, Mako named reseller EvolveODM as its first Platinum Partner. EvolveODM’s managed network solutions incorporate Mako technologies at thousands of large-brand locations including KFC, Subway, Burger King, Starbucks, Costa Coffee, Esso, Shell, and BP. These secure, enterprise SD-WAN solutions blend EvolveODM’s own GDPR-compliant Wi-Fi management platform, Mako network management, Mako Cloud VPNs, and 24×7 network support to deliver fully managed and always-on networks to customers around the world.

As a certified MNSP for both Verifone and Gilbarco, Mako has been active throughout 2020 in assisting convenience and fuel retail customers with upgrades and installations to meet an April 2021 deadline imposed by credit card brands for outdoor smart payment card compatibility. Mako appliances modernize network security by combining a managed firewall and zone router, eliminating the need for a separate zone router.

With 2020 winding down, Mako released an updated and enhanced user interface for the Mako CMS that brings a clean new look to the platform. Users are finding the redesigned UI to be more appealing and easier to use than ever before. This update also lays the foundation for an exciting series of CMS functionality enhancements and additions that are scheduled for release throughout 2021.

In addition to the continued evolution of the CMS and product line, Mako Networks has filled 2021 with plans for optimizing existing opportunities while growing into new relationships and new markets. We thank our expert team and our loyal customers for the year behind us, and we look forward to another year of shared success.