Metadino: The Key to the IT Network of the Future

The complexity of IT networks continues to grow due to the increasing diversity of devices, users, and protocols. For organizations where uptime and security are critical, managing these networks presents a significant challenge. Metadino offers an innovative solution by combining big data and AI technologies into an advanced platform that stands out with its AI-driven ontology. This enables organizations not only to structure data but also to uncover hidden connections and generate automated recommendations for faster and better decision-making. In this article, we introduce Metadino, feature insights from its two founders, share a case study of a successful client, and demonstrate how our approach empowers organizations to future-proof their IT networks.

The Vision behind Metadino

A Unified IT Solution

Erik Witte, founder of Umbrio in 2013 and co-founder of Metadino in 2024, states: “Metadino started in 2020 as a business unit within Umbrio, a Dutch Elite Splunk partner, and became an independent spin-off in 2024. The name Metadino stands for Meta Data Informed Next-gen Ontology and reflects the essence of our approach: developing an AI-driven ontology for IT.” The ontology is the logical successor to taxonomy, the model upon which current tools and methodologies are based.

Jeffrey Nelissen, co-founder and visionary of Metadino, adds: “Our ontology provides organizations with a structured framework that combines facts and logical rules. By applying reasoning rules, new facts can be generated. This completely solves the traditional challenges of manual data management and process discipline. The result is a consistent and accurate overview of the IT environment, which we have given the honorary title 'Golden Source.'” A consolidated ‘single source of truth’ also forms an excellent foundation for advanced and extensive automation possibilities within IT and cybersecurity functions.

Metadino makes big data insights accessible and practically applicable for IT networks. For example, an organization can immediately identify connections between vulnerabilities and network segments, enabling faster prioritization and risk mitigation. This allows organizations to detect vulnerabilities more quickly, solve problems more efficiently, and optimize their network performance.

A Case Study

Client Challenges and Approach

A major Dutch government agency faced a significant challenge when replacing critical equipment in two data centers. Twenty-eight firewalls from three different brands needed to be consolidated into sixteen firewalls on a completely new platform. The primary challenges were:

• Maintaining real-time oversight during the migration.
• Transitioning to a dynamic policy system for improved scalability.
• Resolving fragmentation in address books and firewall policies.

Metadino provided a structured model that made this complexity manageable. Thanks to our modular approach and automated insights, the migration was flawless. Even after the migration, Metadino continued to add value. Jeffrey adds: "The client now uses the insights daily for operational tasks, making our solution indispensable."

Results and Successes 

Flexible, fast and without disruption

The migration was completed three times faster than planned, saving over €500,000. Thanks to a formula-based approach, strategies could be adjusted during the project without disruption. Within two weeks, a new target platform was designed, tested, and successfully implemented. Erik Witte adds: "They gave us a truly fantastic compliment. What we literally heard them say was: 

"We’ve never seen anything like this, from any vendor, under any circumstances!" 

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Significant progress was also made in IT asset management. By automating and optimizing processes, 50% less time was spent on IT inventory. This allowed the client to allocate freed-up resources to strategic projects.

In addition, MetaCheck resolved a large number of network issues at lightning speed. In just six weeks, 2,116 zone issues were resolved—33 times faster than usual. This not only saved more than €600,000 but also significantly minimized downtime.

Finally, firewall management was drastically simplified. Over 1,000 outdated firewall rules were eliminated, resulting in improved data quality, enhanced compliance, and lower operational costs. The team reported a noticeable reduction in ‘firefighting’ incidents, contributing to a calmer and more efficient work environment.

Conclusion

Metadino opens the door to AI4IT

Metadino’s approach demonstrates how big data and AI based on ontology revolutionize the management of complex IT networks. Organizations gain not only better insights and efficiency but also a robust foundation for the future.

Moreover, Metadino opens the door to AI4IT: a tailored AI system for organizations, comparable to a ‘ChatGPT’ for IT and cybersecurity challenges. What sets AI4IT apart from other AI solutions is its ability to fully rely on consistent, validated data that is specifically tailored to the organization’s IT environment. Through the unique combination of ontology and reasoning rules, AI4IT not only responds to queries but also provides in-depth analyses and proactive solutions. This is made possible only with reliable, crystal-clear data as a training base. Implementing Metadino ensures precisely that, optimizing the network while preparing it for the next step in technological innovation.