Masergy Communications

Masergy Communications was an enterprise technology and communications services company founded in 2000 and headquartered in Plano, Texas. It built its business around managed networking and communications rather than consumer connectivity, serving organizations that required centrally managed voice, data, application-performance, contact-center, and security capabilities across distributed offices and international operations. The company's portfolio included managed software-defined wide area networking, unified communications, cloud contact-center services, and managed security. These offerings were designed to bring network connectivity, communications applications, monitoring, threat protection, and operational control into an integrated service model. Masergy targeted enterprise customers in sectors including manufacturing, healthcare, entertainment, finance, broadcasting, and other industries with complex communications requirements. Its customer and partner ecosystem included organizations such as Huisman, Pattonair, PRGX, Eurostar, Dolby Laboratories, and the Hallmark Channel, according to the company's referenced profile. Masergy expanded both organically and through acquisitions. In 2012 it acquired Broadcore Communications, adding capabilities associated with business communications such as video calling and call recording. In 2014 it acquired Global DataGuard, broadening its managed-security offering for enterprise customers. The company also changed ownership several times during its development. ABRY Partners acquired Masergy in 2011, and Berkshire Partners acquired it in 2016. These transactions provided private-equity ownership during a period in which managed networking, cloud communications, and security services were increasingly converging. Leadership also changed as the company matured. Chris MacFarland joined Masergy as chief operating officer in 2008 and became chief executive officer in 2010. James Parker was appointed CEO in September 2018. Under this later phase of leadership, Masergy emphasized software-defined networking, artificial-intelligence-supported customer interaction, security integration, and partner-led growth. Product and service announcements from 2019 and 2020 included an AI-powered intelligent virtual agent, integrated SD-WAN and security bundles, an updated Intelligent Service Control portal, an expanded SD-WAN portfolio, and the Zenith Partner Program. Masergy was acquired by Comcast Business in 2021, with the transaction reported as completed on October 8. The acquisition placed Masergy's enterprise networking, communications, and managed-security capabilities within Comcast's business-services organization. The continuing status of Masergy as a standalone consumer-facing or corporate brand after the acquisition is not established by the supplied reference material.

Masergy Communications was established in 2000 in the United States and developed as a provider of managed enterprise communications and networking services. Its business model focused on delivering communications infrastructure and associated management through a service-provider relationship, allowing enterprise customers to obtain networking, voice, application, contact-center, and security capabilities without operating all of the underlying systems themselves. The company served organizations with geographically distributed operations and demanding communications needs. Its service portfolio eventually centered on managed SD-WAN, unified communications, cloud contact-center services, and managed security. This combination reflected the convergence of enterprise networking, cloud communications, and cybersecurity. Masergy's customer industries included manufacturing, healthcare, entertainment, finance, and broadcasting. A major stage in the company's development began with changes in ownership and leadership. Chris MacFarland joined Masergy as chief operating officer in 2008 and became CEO in 2010. ABRY Partners acquired the company in August 2011. Masergy subsequently expanded through acquisitions: Broadcore Communications was acquired in July 2012, adding business communications capabilities including video calling and call recording, while Global DataGuard was acquired in April 2014 to strengthen managed security for enterprise customers. Berkshire Partners acquired Masergy in 2016 after the earlier ABRY ownership period. In September 2018, James Parker was named CEO. During the following two years, Masergy announced a series of product and service initiatives. In March 2019 it launched an AI-powered intelligent virtual agent supporting virtual-assistant and chatbot functions. In July 2019 it introduced integrated SD-WAN and security bundles, including options related to unified threat management, threat monitoring and response, and managed security services. In August 2019 it updated its Intelligent Service Control portal to provide a more unified approach to network and application management. Masergy continued its market development in 2020. It published a report on cloud contact-center and unified-communications trends, announced the Zenith Partner Program, and expanded its SD-WAN portfolio. The company also promoted a broader range of SD-WAN choices and flexibility with built-in secure-access service-edge capabilities. The company's independent ownership ended when Comcast Business acquired Masergy in 2021. The transaction was reported as completed on October 8, 2021. Masergy's services and capabilities thereby became part of Comcast's business-services strategy. The supplied sources do not establish whether Masergy continued as a distinct standalone brand after integration into Comcast Business.

1. 2021Comcast Business completes acquisition

   Comcast Business acquires Masergy, with completion reported on October 8.

   Source
2. 2018James Parker becomes CEO

   James Parker is named chief executive officer.

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3. 2016Berkshire Partners acquires Masergy

   Berkshire Partners acquires Masergy following its earlier ownership by ABRY Partners.

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4. 2014Global DataGuard acquisition

   Masergy acquires Global DataGuard to broaden its managed-security portfolio.

   Source
5. 2012Broadcore Communications acquisition

   Masergy acquires Broadcore Communications, expanding its business communications capabilities.

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6. 2011ABRY Partners acquires Masergy

   ABRY Partners acquires Masergy in a private-equity transaction.

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7. 2010MacFarland becomes CEO

   Chris MacFarland is named chief executive officer.

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8. 2008Chris MacFarland joins Masergy

   Chris MacFarland joins the company as chief operating officer.

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9. 2000Masergy Communications is founded

   Masergy Communications is established as an enterprise communications and managed-networking services company.

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Enterprise-focused managed communications and networking provider combining SD-WAN, cloud communications, contact-center capabilities, application management, and security services in an integrated service model.

• Managed SD-WANEnterprise networking

  Masergy's managed SD-WAN service was designed to connect distributed enterprise locations while providing centralized control over network traffic, application performance, and service operations. The company expanded the portfolio in 2019 and 2020, emphasizing choice, flexibility, and integration with security capabilities.

• Unified CommunicationsCloud communications

  Masergy's unified-communications offering brought business communications functions into a managed service model. It formed part of the company's broader enterprise portfolio alongside networking and contact-center services, helping organizations manage communications across offices and distributed users.

• Cloud Contact CenterContact-center software and services

  The Cloud Contact Center offering provided contact-center capabilities through a cloud-delivered service model. Masergy also introduced an AI-powered intelligent virtual agent in 2019, supporting virtual-assistant and chatbot use cases associated with customer interaction.

• Managed SecurityManaged cybersecurity2014

  Masergy's managed-security services were aimed at enterprise customers seeking outsourced security monitoring and protection. The portfolio was strengthened through the acquisition of Global DataGuard and later integrated with SD-WAN offerings through bundles covering threat management, monitoring and response, and related security services.

• 2020Zenith Partner Program

  Enterprise networking · Channel partnerships

  Masergy announced the Zenith Partner Program as part of its partner-oriented growth strategy while expanding its SD-WAN portfolio.

  Source
• 2020SD-WAN and SASE portfolio expansion

  Enterprise networking · Managed security

  Masergy promoted a wider range of SD-WAN choices, flexibility, and built-in secure-access service-edge capabilities.

  Source

• 2021Acquisition by Comcast BusinessM&A

  Masergy's enterprise networking, communications, and security capabilities attracted the interest of Comcast's business-services organization.

  What changed. Comcast Business acquired Masergy Communications, with the transaction reported as completed on October 8, 2021.

  Aftermath. Masergy became part of Comcast's business-services structure; the supplied material does not clarify the long-term standalone brand status.

  Source
• 2019Launch AI-powered intelligent virtual agentProduct launch

  Masergy was expanding its cloud contact-center and customer-interaction capabilities.

  What changed. The company launched an AI-powered intelligent virtual agent supporting virtual-assistant and chatbot functions.

  Source
• 2019Integrate SD-WAN with security servicesStrategy

  Enterprise customers increasingly sought networking and security capabilities from coordinated service providers.

  What changed. Masergy introduced SD-WAN and security bundles covering threat management, monitoring and response, and managed security services.

  Aftermath. The move positioned the company around converged managed networking and security.

  Source
• 2014Acquire Global DataGuardM&A

  Masergy aimed to expand into managed security for enterprise customers.

  What changed. Masergy acquired Global DataGuard.

  Aftermath. The transaction broadened Masergy's managed-security portfolio.

  Source
• 2012Acquire Broadcore CommunicationsM&A

  Masergy sought to broaden its enterprise communications capabilities.

  What changed. Masergy acquired Broadcore Communications, whose services included video calling and call recording.

  Aftermath. The acquisition expanded Masergy's business communications portfolio.

  Source

• 2021Comcast Business acquires Masergy Communications

  Masergy was acquired by Comcast Business, with the acquisition reported as completed on October 8, 2021.

  M&A
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• 2020Masergy publishes a CCaaS and UCaaS trends report

  The company issued a report examining trends in cloud contact-center and unified-communications-as-a-service markets.

  Other
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• 2020Masergy launches the Zenith Partner Program and expands SD-WAN

  Masergy announced a partner program and broadened its SD-WAN portfolio.

  CampaignProduct launch
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• 2019Masergy launches an AI-powered intelligent virtual agent

  Masergy introduced an artificial-intelligence-powered virtual agent supporting virtual-assistant and chatbot functions.

  Product launch
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• 2019Masergy introduces integrated SD-WAN and security bundles

  The company announced bundled SD-WAN and security options covering unified threat management, threat monitoring and response, and managed security services.

  Product launch
  Source
• 2019Masergy updates the Intelligent Service Control portal

  Masergy released an updated Intelligent Service Control experience intended to simplify and unify network and application management.

  Product generation
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1. Masergy Communications