Engineering the future of Deep Packet Inspection

Transformed a legacy DPI product into a next-gen platform through end-to-end engineering ownership
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Our client is a renowned American Fortune 500 multinational technology conglomerate and a global leader in networking hardware, software, telecommunications equipment and advanced technology services. Their expansive portfolio spans cloud computing, cybersecurity, collaboration tools and infrastructure innovation. The client has long relied on HCLTech as a 360-degree strategic partnership across , and go-to-market initiatives.

We recently assumed an end-to-end ownership of the client’s Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) product — an advanced network traffic analysis solution. Leveraging our expertise, we have driven the transformation of the DPI platform, from seamless transition and platform sustainability to continuous enhancement and next-gen innovation. Our efforts spanned both physical and virtual deployments, culminating in a future-ready solution that includes its next-generation avatar.

The Challenge

A strategic engineering ownership transition

The client sought to divest inhouse engineering for its standalone DPI product – central to application visibility and network intelligence. They needed a trusted partner to ensure seamless ownership transfer, maintain platform stability and accelerate modernization to meet evolving market demands.

HCLTech was chosen as the engineering partner to take full ownership of the product lifecycle, uphold service continuity and accelerate feature innovation, ensuring long-term end-customer satisfaction and platform relevance.

Challenge

The Objective

Balancing continuity with transformation

The core goal was two-fold and clear: to transition full product engineering ownership of the DPI appliance — both hardware and software — from the client’s internal teams to our teams. Simultaneously, the engagement aimed to balance ongoing investments in the legacy DPI platform while accelerating the development of an integrated, next-generation DPI solution – both physical and first of it’s kind of virtual flavour back then, ensuring future readiness and scalability.

Engineering the future of Deep Packet Inspection

The Solution

A phased, collaborative ownership model

Our team of experts designed and executed a comprehensive transition plan rooted in precision, collaboration and engineering excellence. The process was carried out in well-orchestrated stages:

Solution
  1. Planning and readiness
    1. Assembled core engineering teams
    2. Migrated lab infrastructure and equipment
    3. Established agile engagement frameworks
  2. Knowledge transfer and enablement
    1. Conducted intensive bootcamps (onsite and remote)
    2. Expanded teams to ensure role continuity and redundancy
    3. Took over the Engineering ownership in a very short time
  3. Dual-phased transition: From backend support to primary ownership
    1. Secondary phase: Our team performed the Product Engineering – planning, development with insertion into client-facing role as we progressed. Rapid capability building and delivery excellence-built trust and confidence.
    2. Primary phase: We took full DPI product ownership, including engineering, independent software releases and support, becoming the face to the client’s end customers.
  4. Feature enrichment and market responsiveness
    1. Enabled IPv6 to expand the market reach
    2. Delivered bi-monthly protocol packs to detect new and updated applications
    3. Enhanced signature matching for improved detection accuracy
    4. 200+ features developed over a period of 5 years
    5. Two new additions to platform family were added – next generation physical hardware performing software based DPI with higher throughput and a virtual flavour

The Impact

Business value - Innovation, IP and customer delight

Our DPI engineering team delivered consistent results that surpassed expectations and drove transformational impact:

Impact
  • $45M in value creation through major enhancements
  • 25% of new features ideated and implemented independently by our engineers
  • 40+ innovations integrated into the product roadmap
  • 15 patentable ideas submitted, underscoring a strong culture of innovation
  • Launched high-throughout physical and scalable virtual DPI editions
  • Enabled entry into cloud-native and hybrid network markets

Looking Ahead

Engineering for next-gen DPI

At HCLTech, we are deeply embedded in the DPI product lifecycle, leading roadmap planning, customer requirement gathering and next-gen architecture design. Through end-to-end engineering, continuous enhancements and accelerated go-to-market, we’re driving the future of network traffic intelligence for our global technology client.

Together, we transformed a legacy product into a future-ready platform, empowering the next generation of network intelligence and redefining what’s possible in deep packet inspection.