Mako Networks is celebrating 25 years of innovation, industry leadership and customer-first connectivity. With over 50,000 retail site deployments across over 40 countries — including over 30,000 fueling stations in the U.S. alone — Mako has redefined how convenience stores and fuel retailers connect, protect and control their operations.
“We built our first prototype using an old TV set-top box and parts from my mum’s PC,” recalled Chris Massam, Mako co-founder and chief technology officer. “Today, our systems power tens of thousands of retail sites with unmatched security, uptime and control.”
Mako’s platform powers the majority of Chevron, bp, Sinclair and Sunoco sites and is approved by ExxonMobil, Marathon, Citgo, P66, Valero and others. These brands rely on Mako not only for secure payment processing, point-of-sale (POS) integrations and scalable enterprise templates but also for the operational value it delivers to retail operators.
Mako Networks delivers a turnkey, high-performance connectivity platform engineered for the speed, scale and complexity of modern distributed retail. Its integrated hardware and software enable retail-ready features and cloud-managed everything with battle-tested
reliability. Key innovations include:
- VPN Cloud: Mako’s patented SD-WAN architecture enables direct, hyper-redundant connections from retail sites to data centers, delivering unmatched speed and reliability. First deployed in 2016, it has never experienced an outage.
- Makoverse: Mako’s SD-WAN ecosystem seamlessly connects Mako-equipped sites to internal systems, cloud services and retail apps like payments, loyalty, kiosks and more. Operators simply choose the tech they need from Mako’s growing partner network and activate it with a click — no complex setup, just instant integration.
- Periscope: Mako’s award-winning remote access tool enables operators (or their service providers) to securely dial into any web-enabled device behind a Mako gateway. Each Periscope session uses a unique, time-limited URL with automatic expiration and full audit trails — streamlining remote management of POS systems, CCTV, HVAC and other equipment while reducing on-site service costs.
- SmartATG: As the connectivity hub for 30,000 fueling sites, Mako responded to customer demand for simple, secure remote access to automatic tank gauges. SmartATG auto-detects any ATG on the network — no IP setup required — and delivers fuel data like inventory and leak alarms via Mako’s portal or via webhooks to third-party apps.
In 2005, the average c-store managed just five connected devices — by 2030, that number will soar past 50. As connectivity demands explode, retailers need secure, scalable and simplified networks more than ever. Mako is ready. With a bold vision and cutting-edge
technology, Mako continues to push boundaries, reduce costs and deliver the performance modern retailers demand, for retail petroleum as well as for other distributed retail verticals like quick-serve restaurants, health care and hospitality.
Launching in early 2026, the Mako 6700 Series is Mako’s next-generation firewall, featuring artificial intelligence (AI)-powered local processing, containerized app deployment and high-capacity performance — all in a compact, zero-touch appliance built for the future of retail.
Mako Networks will be at the NACS Show in Chicago this October at South Building Hall A Booth #S3458 in the Technology section. Mako will be celebrating 25 years of innovation with an anniversary offer: $25 Professional Install (normally $599) for booth visitors who sign up within 25 days of the show.
