WashingtonExec had the opportunity to interview Tony Ayaz, Vice President of Splunk Federal. Splunk, with the tagline “Listen To Your Data,” is a machine data company headquartered in San Fransisco California, with offices in Bethesda, Maryland. In his interview with WashingtonExec, Ayaz described his company’s work with Big Data as well as the company’s overarching business plan for 2012 and beyond.
WashingtonExec: As a newer company in the federal IT space, relatively speaking, what do you think your biggest challenge will be within the upcoming years?
Tony Ayaz: We are not exactly new to the federal space, but we do have a disruptive technology that is changing not only how agencies address cybersecurity but also how they manage big data. Most IT solutions are silo-based and further create barriers to gather all IT-related data into a single view. Splunk changes that and does it in real time. Cybersecurity is one of the most important use cases for this single view into data because with this insight we can quickly analyze multiple data sources.
Our greatest challenge is educating potential customers on the versatility of Splunk and that it can do many things beyond the realm of security. Because of the flexibility of our solutions, many federal agencies think of Splunk as predominantly a security solution, but it really is much more.
We also offer application management, compliance and web analytics capabilities. We have customers using us to manage 10s of Terabytes of machine-generated data in real time, which helps them eliminate redundant legacy solutions that take months to deploy and configure.
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“Simply put, geeks love us and C-level executives are not always aware of the major problems we are helping them address on a daily basis.”
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WashingtonExec: What can you tell us about Splunk, an up and coming government contracting company? What sets Splunk apart from its competitors?
Tony Ayaz: There is no other solution that can be equated to Splunk’s software technology in an exact “apples to apples” comparison. What sets us apart in the market is the fact that we deliver immediate value at a much lower cost than other providers.
You can download our enterprise level software from our website, and we even have a free version. We have seen instances in which a federal worker will go to his or her manager and ask specifically for Splunk—not another data mining or security solution.
WashingtonExec: What is your strategy to win government contracts? How will you compete against others?
Tony Ayaz: Our strategy is simple: to help agencies and systems integrators do more with big data. Our product scales to meet the IT demands of big data, which makes us complimentary to cybersecurity solutions that cannot handle large amounts of machine-generated data, like SIEMs. Furthermore, we have hundreds of customers in the public sector that can validate our value to IT, which helps us remain competitive and successful.
WashingtonExec: What is the most difficult challenge about your position as VP?
Tony Ayaz: The most difficult challenge I face is hiring great talent in engineering and sales. The second most difficult challenge is communicating Splunk’s message to C-level executives and policymakers in addition to cyber analysts and system administrators. Those who work day-in and day-out trying to address big data management challenges understand the value we provide. Those who operate a bit further away from the “frontlines” are a completely different audience. Simply put, geeks love us and C-level executives are not always aware of the major problems we are helping them address on a daily basis.
WashingtonExec: Who is someone that you admire, personally or professionally?
Tony Ayaz: I have respect for a few key people professionally and Richard Branson is one of them. I consider myself an entrepreneur and think Mr. Branson sets a great example of how to combine all your knowledge into multiple areas for success and teaches the importance of not limiting yourself in business. Just look at all of the companies he has started or funded.
WashingtonExec: What is your vision for Splunk Federal in the future?
Tony Ayaz: Ultimately, we want to have Splunk become standard across DoD, intelligence and civilian agencies for big data analysis and true operational intelligence. Our technology can tackle a number of problems associated with redundant and outdated technologies, reduces costs and streamlines IT processes. We remain steadfast in our mission and truly believe we’re helping government become more efficient and secure.
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“It is time for a technological revolution that eliminates unnecessary information silos and responsibly allocates government funding to efficient IT projects.”
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WashingtonExec: What is the most important big data consideration for agencies today?
Tony Ayaz: Government needs a big data first policy that sets guidelines and best practices for agencies. A government-wide initiative would modernize agency data centers and allow them to scale effectively to the increasing volumes of machine-generated data that exist today. It is time for a technological revolution that eliminates unnecessary information silos and responsibly allocates government funding to efficient IT projects.
WashingtonExec: What is something most people might not know about you?
Tony Ayaz: I like to cook seafood and you can often find me on the Crescent Trail with my two girls, when weather permits.