Network Automation
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Software |
| Founded | July 2004 |
| Founder | Dustin Snell |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
| Products | AutoMate, AutoMate BPA Server |
| Parent | HelpSystems |
Network Automation was a privately held software firm located in Los Angeles that specialized in developing business process automation tools aimed at simplifying repetitive IT operations on both desktops and servers. Following its acquisition by HelpSystems, headquartered in Minneapolis, it continues to function as an independent division.
History
Established in July 2004 by Dustin Snell in Los Angeles, Network Automation experienced Snell’s return to the CEO role in September 2012 after his tenure as Chief Software Architect. In April 2014, the company was purchased by HelpSystems, an IT software provider concentrating on systems and network management, business intelligence, security, and compliance solutions across IBM i, Unix, Linux, and Windows environments.
Products
The company’s primary offerings included AutoMate and AutoMate BPA Server, Windows-centric applications engineered to automate IT workflows through a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface that eliminated the need for coding. Their capabilities encompassed job scheduling, automated FTP transfers, batch processing, backup operations, scripting, automated testing, event log surveillance, and comprehensive reporting.
- AutoMate – Available in Professional (standard) and Premium (advanced) versions, AutoMate delivered GUI-based IT process automation.
- AutoMate BPA Server – Provided centralized management of enterprise-wide processes with Standard and Enterprise editions; the Enterprise version supported deployment on over 10 machines.
In 2012, these products were enhanced to incorporate support for cloud services such as Windows Azure and Amazon Web Services, along with integration options for third-party software like Microsoft CRM.
Landmark legal ruling
The 2011 California legal case Network Automation, Inc. v. Advanced Systems Concepts, Inc. concluded with a ruling favorable to Network Automation. The decision by the Ninth Circuit Court upheld the right of businesses to utilize strategic keywords within Internet search advertising, influencing practices within digital marketing.
Awards
AutoMate earned accolades from Windows IT Pro, CNET, and NetworkWorld, notably receiving the 2012 Windows IT Pro Gold award for Best Task Automation Product. Additionally, Redmondmag honored it as the "Best Scripting Tool."
Network Automation was recognized among the fastest-growing software companies in the United States by being listed on the Inc. 5000 in 2009, 2011, and 2012.