“Our raison d’être has been to deliver a new type of on-premises infrastructure, which we call True Private Cloud,” he told me. “Our position has been that to be able to do that, you need to take care of both the hardware and the software stack, and that’s what we have in our product HyperCloud, which we designed from the ground up. We manufactured those motherboards in-house and assembled the final product in our facilities.”

Why Custom Motherboards and Hardware?

I was curious why, with the wide range of motherboards and hardware off the shelf, the company didn’t just go with that approach.

“Our view has been that you want to have control of the entire piece of hardware,” Van der Schyff said. “In reality, today you can’t get that if you buy something off the shelf. You’re dealing with many vendors; they don’t always play nicely with each other, and you end up with this compatibility matrix nightmare.”

Van der Schyff pointed to hyperscalers like AWS that have been building custom hardware for specific purposes for some time.

SoftIron’s VM Squared Offering

So, what does the SoftIron VM Squared solution look like?

SoftIron designed VM Squared as an alternative to VMware’s legacy complexity:

• Installation: The company says VM Squared can install in a half hour or less.
• User interface: The company says it streamlined the UI with no config settings more than a couple of clicks away.
• Reducing complexity: SoftIron says VM Squared automates provisioning and deploying so a company can scale more efficiently without adding management overhead.
• Path to private cloud: The company’s private cloud offering, HyperCloud, sits alongside VM Squared, and there’s a simple private cloud upgrade path.
• Migration from VMware: The company offers a migration tool to shift a VMware vSphere estate.

Running Private Cloud Features from VM Squared

A number of HyperCloud features can run within VM Squared, gaining access to a virtualized environment, including:

• Multitenancy that can be ready to go out of the box, with the simple addition of new tenants, MSP-ready security compliance, and the ability to work at the edge.
• Centralized, integrated cloud billing with a chargeback dashboard and role-based access control.
• Cloud scalability with automated provisioning and deployment, lower overhead, a simpler deployment, and node-add process, the ability to scale out, and elastic resource allocation.
• Cloud resiliency that comes with high availability built-in, a distributed control plane and storage, and the ability to move VMs between hosts without downtime.

The company also touted simpler licensing and its marketplace, which it says includes “click-and-go images ready from Day 1” with installs of Linux, Windows, and partner appliances.

Bottom Line: SoftIron’s Ambitions are Considerable

SoftIron has taken a novel approach. Sometimes, a novel approach is good. Sometimes, it’s just a new way that might become accepted somewhere down the road. I’m not sure where SoftIron is. The company is taking on a lot. Custom hardware is something left to the big guys, so SoftIron must think it can punch way above its weight if it’s intent on playing that game.

But I applaud their audacity here and think the concepts are sound. Given Broadcom is changing everything about how customers buy and operate vSphere, IT pros are looking for alternatives, making the timing right for SoftIron.

For a deeper understanding of the cloud computing market, read our guide: Top Cloud Companies

The post SoftIron To Simplify Virtualization With VM Squared appeared first on eWEEK.

A new study from Tangoe delves into IT expense management practices, comparing fully in-house programs, external third-party solutions, and hybrid models.

The study, conducted in partnership with Vanson Bourne, is based on responses from 500 senior IT and finance professionals in the U.S. and UK, who work for organizations with annual global revenues ranging from $500 million to $50 billion. All the organizations have an IT expense management solution in place. Below are some of the study’s key findings.

Moving Forward Requires Investment

The challenge is that businesses need to move forward, and that requires continued investment.

As IT spending continues to climb, driven by the escalating costs of artificial intelligence, cloud, and mobile tools, organizations are feeling even more pressure on their budgets. This makes the ability to track and manage spending, govern expenses, and adjust IT budgets effectively a must.

The Tangoe study uncovered that third-party information technology expense management (ITEM) solutions foster more mature financial operations (FinOps) programs and offer faster business insights and savings than alternative approaches.

Furthermore, such solutions often incorporate automated processes that help reduce the risk and costs associated with IT outages. According to the data, this approach has proven to be five times more cost-effective than its alternatives, offering a superior method for managing IT expenses.

Cost Efficiency Disparity

One of the standout findings is the cost disparity between different expense management approaches.

Organizations using a fully external ITEM solution reported spending approximately $442,000 on average, which is remarkably lower than the $2.35 million incurred by those with a hybrid approach. By outsourcing, organizations not only save money but also free up internal resources.

Unlike in-house programs, which typically rely on vendor-provided tools, third-party providers offer specialized analytics platforms to identify cost optimization opportunities and managed services that help companies act on them quickly. This allows organizations to focus on critical investments and decision-making, rather than mundane tasks like invoice processing, expenditure analysis, and service adjustments.

Advanced FinOps Programs

Organizations that employ third-party solutions for managing IT expenses are more likely to have a mature FinOps practice, with 94 percent of organizations having a dedicated team for optimizing cloud spending.

Those using an external provider are more successful in deploying their FinOps practices, with 61 percent achieving full deployment compared to 53 percent of those using other methods. Having a FinOps program in place has also been shown to reduce spending on cloud infrastructure and software by 20 percent and 28 percent, respectively.

Improved Insights and Savings

Nearly all (99 percent) senior IT and finance decision-makers experienced significant benefits from outsourcing. Third-party ITEM solutions tackle common challenges related to data analysis, IT service inventory management, and manual processes.

Organizations using these solutions reported a 90 percent improvement in productivity and process efficiency, with 88 percent experiencing faster access to business insights and cost savings.

On average, organizations saved more than $10.5 million annually by outsourcing to third-party providers. Additionally, 88% of those with fully outsourced solutions achieved business insights and savings faster.

Automation is Necessary

Approximately 43 percent of IT expense management tasks are still performed manually. The consequences of manual dependency include service outages due to late payments, experienced by 85 percent of organizations. This can lead to substantial revenue losses and potentially halt operations completely.

According to the findings, automation decreased the frequency of regular outages from 41 percent in environments with mostly manual processes to 32 percent in those with automated processes—a 22 percent reduction.

Bottom Line: Third-Party ITEM Supports Cost Savings

As businesses expand and grow, IT expense management is a critical tool to boost profitability. Third-party ITEM solutions help organizations manage the complexities of modern IT expense management by supporting advanced FinOps practices, decreasing manual workloads, and providing considerable cost savings.

To learn more about how companies are driving digital transformation, see our guide: Digital Transformation Guide

The post Study: IT Expense Management Drives FinOps Maturity appeared first on eWEEK.

However, the rise in AI’s utility creates considerable concern about data security and transparency – an issue that Theta Lake aims to tackle.

Theta Lake Tackles AI Compliance and Oversight

Key concerns surrounding Artificial Intelligence (AI) involve the accuracy of its outputs and problems with misleading information, known as “hallucinations.” There is also apprehension about the types of queries users submit, such as requests for sensitive information, which pose ethical and security risks.

Organizations are growing interested in monitoring AI prompts to ensure compliance with ethical guidelines and security standards. To address this, Theta Lake builds solutions for organizations using communications and collaboration platforms, focusing on compliance to enhance user regulatory oversight.

Enhancing Compliance: Insights from Theta Lake’s Chief Product Officer

I spoke with Dan Nadir, Theta Lake’s Chief Product Officer, at Enterprise Connect 2024. Nadir discussed the benefits and challenges of advanced features in collaborative meeting products today. He also shared the company’s news from the show. Highlights of the ZKast interview, done in conjunction with eWEEK eSPEAKS, are below.

• Compliance requirements often lead to disabling functionalities like chat or video, which causes user dissatisfaction and potential violations. Theta Lake’s technology is an enabler by offering monitoring capabilities that help organizations maintain compliance and functionality. Through its integration with Zoom Compliance Manager (ZCM), for instance, users can access compliance tools directly within Zoom.
• Theta Lake supports a wide range of platforms with over 100 integrations and has established partnerships with companies like Zoom, Microsoft, Cisco, RingCentral, Salesforce, and Slack. For example, Theta Lake’s integration with Microsoft leverages the features in Purview, which includes numerous customization options. One key feature is the ability to use labels. Theta Lake automatically archives and retains labeled documents in Purview according to specified settings.
•  Theta Lake has broadened its integration capabilities beyond traditional chat applications to include platforms like Dialpad, Miro, and Mural. Theta Lake maintains close partnerships with these companies, allowing them to influence application programming interface (API) development and adapt to new beta APIs as they become available. Meanwhile, the user experience remains consistent across the platforms.
• At Enterprise Connect 2024, Theta Lake announced enhancements to its unified compliance communication services by adding more data sources. This includes new voice technology support for Webex, and an expanded partnership with RingCentral, specifically its new Ring CX intelligent contact center solution.
• Additionally, Theta Lake now supports Mural, Miro, and Zoom whiteboards. The whiteboard integrations allow users to replay their sessions, simulating the experience of watching someone write and make changes in real time. This includes tracking and displaying actions like writing and erasing.
• Theta Lake’s integrations improve communication management by linking different types of interactions—voicemails, calls, and emails—into a cohesive timeline. The communications are aligned in sequential order, so users get a comprehensive view. They can see messages across different platforms, get access to interconnected data, and adhere to regulatory guidelines.
•  Theta Lake unifies different communication forms in one place, simplifying data management and searchability. The company has broadened its functionality to include detailed tracking of communications across multiple platforms. This expansion encompasses complete language support, translating content into various languages for emails, text messages, and transcripts.
• Moreover, Theta Lake has developed a unified identity tool to address the issue of scattered user identities across various communication platforms. The tool consolidates important user information—such as phone numbers and employee numbers—into a single identity profile, and facilitates thorough searches across all associated data.

Bottom Line: What’s Next for Theta Lake?

The company is working on proactive compliance and real-time functionality. This capability will automatically alert users about potential risks or compliance issues, removing the need for manual checks.

Theta Lake will also deepen its AI use by generating summaries of data sourced from its partner platforms. The goal is to not only monitor but also actively guide users in managing their AI settings.

The post Theta Lake Extends Compliance Coverage To Enterprise Collaboration appeared first on eWEEK.

This move created massive speculation from Cisco watchers as to why the company was making such a bold move. The most obvious thought was that it could help the security business, which Cisco is currently revamping with its security cloud. There was also the possibility that it could add another dimension to its network business. Other advantages include full stack observability and using the data in Splunk’s services group to drive better business outcomes.

Until recently, Cisco and Splunk were mum on the topic as they couldn’t say much legally while the deal was closing. In March, Cisco completed the acquisition of Splunk, which gave the company the freedom to lay out its vision. Cisco recently held a roundtable with Splunk to discuss how the acquisition will be used to transform its business.

Cisco and Splunk: A Shared Strategic Vision

In the roundtable, Cisco EVP and Chief Customer Experience Officer Liz Centoni moderated a discussion with Tom Casey, SVP and general manager of Splunk products and technology, and Jeetu Patel, EVP and general manager of security and collaboration at Cisco. The panel discussed how the combined companies can offer unparalleled visibility across the entire digital landscape, leveraging their combined strengths in networking, security, observability, and artificial intelligence.

The session started with a discussion on Cisco’s motivation to acquire Splunk. The purchase was driven by a strategic vision that is based on three foundational pillars:

Data as a Differentiator

Both companies recognize that while AI tools and models are widely available, the true competitive advantage lies in the quality, trustworthiness, and actionable insights derived from data.

Cisco has access to extensive datasets through its networking, security, and operations. Meanwhile, Splunk has its own high-quality data and analytics capabilities.

Cisco’s Centoni underscored this importance in the artificial intelligence era when she stated, “When you think about AI, everyone has access to the same AI tools and models. It’s the data that’s the differentiator.” The combination of Cisco and Splunk gives Cisco more data than any other infrastructure provider.

Unified Security and Observability

Cisco and Splunk plan to offer more cohesive observability solutions, providing customers with a complete view of their digital infrastructure. This integration will reduce the time spent on troubleshooting problems by analyzing connected data to resolve them quickly.

Historically, observability and security were separate disciplines, but over the past few years, those industries have been on a collision course. In my discussions with Patel, he has continually talked about how the two areas go hand in hand and Cisco now has the data to support the vision.

Enhanced Digital Experiences

Cisco and Splunk will help customers deliver superior digital experiences by aligning their integrated offerings. Specifically, the integration with Cisco’s ThousandEyes will enrich the digital experience for existing Splunk customers by providing better insights into network routes and user behavior.

An Elite Partnership

Cisco is building on Splunk’s reputation as a top provider of security solutions for companies worldwide. Cisco’s advanced intelligence tools, like Talos, will further enhance Splunk’s offerings, making it an even more attractive option for businesses looking to boost their security setup.

For example, integrating Cisco’s cloud, breach, and user protection technologies with Splunk’s security information and event management (SIEM), security orchestration, automation, response (SOAR), and attack analytics solutions will be a potent combination.

“We take a unique approach to providing unified security and observability solutions because both are necessary for response to almost any kind of issue—whether it’s a bad piece of code that gets deployed, a ransomware attack, or even a beneficial spike in traffic,” Casey said. “With Cisco, we can provide unprecedented visibility across the whole digital footprint.”

Enhanced Security with AI

The merging of Cisco and Splunk is not just about combining technologies; it brings AI to the forefront of cybersecurity.

Cisco is deeply invested in artificial intelligence, leveraging it across all internal functions beyond product development, and integrating AI capabilities, models, and tools into its portfolio. One example is the creation of Silicon One, a new type of chip for powering AI workloads across both hyperscalers and enterprise networks.

With Splunk, Cisco adds security capabilities using data. Patel explained, “To be a world-class security company, you must be a world-class AI company. To do that, you must be a world-class data company, and Splunk will improve us on that front.”

AI in security can play a key role in addressing the talent gap in security. Patel mentioned that millions of security jobs go unfilled annually in the U.S. Approximately 90 percent of companies have multiple open positions, underscoring the complexity and demand within the field.

Generative AI and Cybersecurity

Generative AI shows promise in addressing three critical areas in security: improving efficacy, enhancing the user experience for both security and IT and reducing the total cost of ownership of security systems.

For example, integrating generative AI tools like the Cisco AI Assistant into various products would simplify user engagement with technology. Users can express their security intents in natural language, which the AI Assistant interprets and then helps set up policies, manage network configurations, and troubleshoot issues.

“Every single product that we have will be under the Cisco AI Assistant banner. It will be both embedded in the products as well as something that you can use to go to the system page and ask questions. Splunk will have their dataset also plugged into that over time, which is a very logical extension,” Patel said.

While AI can be incredibly helpful, especially in times of crisis, human judgment is still essential. Therefore, a balanced approach is needed, where AI helps but doesn’t replace human decision-making. Both companies understand the importance of ethical AI where enhancements are made responsibly while maintaining and building customer trust.

Bottom Line: Cisco’s Splunk Acquisition Integrates AI

For AI to be truly effective, it needs to be securely integrated into systems and supported by substantial volumes of data for training. Cisco is currently working on incorporating AI into its cybersecurity framework, with significant developments expected in the coming months.

The Splunk acquisition marks an exciting phase for the networking giant. Although integrations are still early, they show great innovation potential. Cisco and Splunk are working toward providing security and observability solutions that adapt to the changing requirements of modern organizations and their users.

For a full portrait of the AI vendors serving a wide array of business needs, read our in-depth guide: 150+ Top AI Companies 2024

The post Cisco’s Splunk Acquisition: A Data-First AI Company Transformation appeared first on eWEEK.

The survey targeted 300 senior IT, information security, and software development and operations (DevOps) managers working in organizations with more than 1,000 employees across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. The survey findings were published in the 2024 State of Digital Trust report, highlighting a stark contrast between top-performing companies (leaders) and lower-performing ones (laggards).

Higher Revenue and Increased Employee Productivity

The survey indicated that digital trust leaders, representing the top 33 percent of the respondents, have higher revenue, digital innovation, and increased employee productivity.

These leaders excel in responding to outages and incidents, show readiness for post-quantum computing, and effectively utilize the Internet of Things (IoT). They demonstrate a mature approach to administering digital trust through centralized certificate management and the use of email authentication and encryption (S/MIME) technology.

Conversely, the bottom 33 percent—the laggards—struggle in these areas, facing challenges in leveraging digital innovation and maintaining robust digital infrastructure and security practices. Notably, while leaders experienced few system outages, data breaches, and compliance issues, half of the laggards reported problems with IoT standards compliance, and many suffered from software trust mishaps.

Only one in 100 companies surveyed claimed to have highly developed digital trust practices, indicating a common problem in maintaining enterprise digital trust. Furthermore, 98 percent of reported outages and brownouts were attributed to digital trust issues like expired certificates or domain name system (DNS) problems. None of the respondents were confident in their ability to react promptly to such incidents.

For more information about how digital transformation is driving progress, see our coverage: Digital Transformation Guide

The Challenge of Quantum Computing

The looming growth of quantum computing adds another layer of complexity. Quantum capabilities are rapidly accelerating, driven by tech advancements like generative artificial intelligence.

The report uncovers a gap in preparedness for quantum-resistant technologies and the need for strategic action in the face of this evolving threat. According to the data, 61 percent of organizations find themselves underprepared for the post-quantum transition.

Leaders estimate a two-year timeframe to fully respond to the quantum shift, whereas laggards project three years or more. This discrepancy highlights the urgency of developing actionable plans, especially given the current five-year window before quantum computing becomes a more pressing concern. Therefore, immediate and strategic action is necessary in the face of uncertainty, said Brian Trzupek, Senior VP of Product at DigiCert.

“This quantum thing is a big deal. People are starting to get the visibility that this is a looming challenge. It’s greater than just a digital certificate replacement because it’s fundamentally the algorithm that has been attacked. All the libraries for the dependent client software, for the web servers, for the app servers, for the databases—all those things will need updates, including a certificate, to make that work,” said Trzupek.

Concerns Around SSH Protocols

Survey respondents are concerned on the reliance on the secure shell (SSH) protocol based on the Rivest-Shamir-Adleman (RSA) public-key encryption, which is used ubiquitously across cloud services for secure communication and authentication.

Additionally, hardware implementations of RSA, such as secure sockets layer (SSL) offloading and accelerators, present a significant challenge. Trzupek shared an example of one cloud provider that reported having 200,000 such devices, all potentially rendered obsolete by the shift to quantum-resistant algorithms.

Another surprising finding is that 87 percent of the respondents reported that their IoT devices transmitted personally identifiable information (PII) over unencrypted channels. This security loophole in IoT devices poses a threat to user privacy. Fortunately, businesses are now recognizing the significance of upgrading their digital infrastructure to protect users.

Issues in Software Trust

There are major developments happening in the realm of software trust, mainly in implementing software bills of materials (SBOMs) or detailed inventories of software components.

In the previous report, approximately three percent of organizations were aware of or working on SBOMs. In this report, the number has increased monumentally to 99 percent. While organizations recognize the importance of SBOMs, the actual deployment and meaningful use of SBOMs may not be as widespread as the numbers suggest.

Electronic signatures (e-signatures) have also emerged as a key area of interest, with a low percentage of respondents saying their e-signature practices are extremely mature. The business teams, such as legal, human resources, and procurement, usually handle them, not the IT department.

Only about one in eight organizations understand the difference between simple e-signatures and the more secure ones that use certificates. Nearly half (48 percent) use electronic seals on their documents, and most (86 percent) use digital signatures with certificates issued by trusted third parties.

“There are business processes for how you apply those signatures. We see a lot of customers still struggling to make use of cryptographically secure signatures on content like mortgage documents and healthcare documents. They’re definitely looking at making those processes very easy to use. From our survey here, you can see that that’s something they’re still trying to work on,” said Trzupek.

Bottom Line: How to Enhance Digital Trust

To enhance digital trust, DigiCert recommends that organizations thoroughly inventory their digital assets, define clear policies, centralize public key infrastructure (PKI) management, and prioritize their efforts based on business impact.

This can help mitigate security issues, build confidence among customers and partners, and improve operations. Effective digital trust management enables organizations to navigate regulatory challenges, ensuring compliance while protecting sensitive data and adapting to cyber threats.

To learn about the companies leading the way in digital transformation, see our guide: Top Digital Transformation Companies

The post Report: Digital Trust Boosts Productivity and Revenue appeared first on eWEEK.

Hosted by Brian Tobia, ThousandEyes’ Lead Technical Marketing Engineer, the webcast included a look at the anatomy of an outage. “It’s important to understand the different types of outages we see,” he said. “Understanding them can help you understand how to mitigate some of their impact.” He said outages could vary in the blast radius, whether they’re planned or unplanned, and their mean time to recovery.

Let’s take a look at what caused the year’s major cloud outages – and what we can learn from these unfortunate incidents.

Different Types of Cloud Outages

“The distributed architecture of today’s applications means there are a lot of different moving parts that need to be orchestrated for something to actually work,” Tobia said. “And a lot of these parts are often single points of failure. Because they’re reused in multiple applications, like an API or a common service, we can see the impact of an outage more widely felt, despite it being a single service.”

Tobia noted that tracking cloud computing outages can help teams identify patterns and prevent customer service disruptions.

Looking at the ThousandEyes report from 2023, Tobia said there were many different types of outages. “Overall, we still saw the most common type being ISP-related outages,” he said. “But we saw that there was an increase in CSP outages in 2023 compared to the previous years.”

In 2023, the number of US-centric outages increased from 34% to 37% and minor outages became more common. “We’re seeing that these smaller, more contained outages are becoming more common,” he said. “Before, there were traditionally a lot of bigger network outages—like really big ones—that would take down a whole bunch of services. But now we’re also seeing smaller ones.”

But even a cloud outage that starts in the US due to maintenance activity at night can cascade into other geographies in the middle of their business days.

Application Outages On the Rise

Tobia said that application outages, which continued to rise in 2023, can have a greater impact. A network outage will affect a single provider, but not so for applications. “The application outage really cascades because a bunch of people are relying on that one application,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what network you’re coming from.”

He then moved on to look at some outage examples from 2023, focusing on how ThousandEyes works. “We’re able to collect all this data through ThousandEyes,” he said. “Being able to correlate that and collect all this data, it’s really important to get the end-to-end picture of where an outage might occur. And then, also really important, correlate that across every layer.”

He added that ThousandEyes can show users every layer of a connection, whether it’s related to border gateway protocol (BGP), networks, applications, HTTP errors, or page load times.

Top Cloud Outages of 2023

Tobia detailed the list of 2023 outages, including:

• A 90-minute outage for Microsoft on January 25: This was due to BGP changes that caused network issues. “This was total chaos from a BGP perspective,” Tobia said.
• A two-hour outage for Outlook on February 7: This resulted in service unavailable/application errors. “The last outage was more around some changes on their ISP routers and other WAN routers,” he said. “This may have been more on the application side.”
• A seven-hour Virgin Media outage on April 4: This outage arose because of a BGP route withdrawal that caused network traffic loss. “It was kind of similar to what we saw on the on the Microsoft side, when those BGP changes were occurring,” he said. “Without a route to the Virgin Media UK network, a lot of the Internet and transit providers dropped the traffic.”
• A two-hour AWS cloud outage on June 14: This outage caused latency, server timeouts, and HTTP errors. “They eventually identified the issue as being part of their capacity management system located within US-EAST-1,” he said. “And this impacted services like Lambda API gateway, and the actual management console itself, Global Accelerator.”
• A two-hour Slack cloud outage on August 2: As a result of this outage, users couldn’t send or receive messages. “Network paths were totally fine,” he said. “We didn’t see any packet loss, latency, or anything like that. So it was purely an application or client issue.”
• An 18-hour Square cloud outage on September 8: This outage resulted in app errors and backend transactions failing. “This outage prevented it from processing transactions,” he said. “So end users were actually able to submit a transaction – some sellers who were using this to receive payments were successful, [but some users] reported connections dropping out or things not working.”
• A 36-hour Workday/Cloudflare outage that started on November 2: A complete power failure at a Cloudflare data center caused application and service issues. “Cloudflare was the provider and Workday was an application that runs on Cloudflare infrastructure,” he said. He noted that DR resources took 6 hours to come online. “So there was a complete outage until that facility came online,” he added. “It was able to serve requests at a diminished rate and then full resolution didn’t happen until more than 36 hours later.”

Bottom Line: Need for Monitoring to Prevent Cloud Outages

It was a busy year! Clearly, Tobia’s examples of cloud outages were sobering. Who thought a full power outage was possible today with the sophisticated data centers that providers like Cloudflare run? But they still had to deal with the arduous process of getting their DR up and running and working with a power company that may not move at the fastest pace.

Tobia’s presentation also underscored the importance of monitoring resources to understand what happens when a service goes down so that one can learn and avoid repeating the same mistakes.

Unfortunately, for most businesses, having a backup for every cloud service the organization uses would be fiscally challenging. For support, IT leaders can use data from companies like ThousandEyes to make uptime part of the evaluation criteria.

For a complete guide to the cloud computing sector, see our in-depth coverage: Top Cloud Service Providers and Companies

The post ThousandEyes Report: Top Cloud Outages of 2023 appeared first on eWEEK.

To explore this trend, Cisco recently surveyed 3,500 employees and 1,050 employers from companies of all sizes across seven European countries: France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Poland, Spain, and the UK. The findings were published in a report, The Race to Reimagine Workplaces and Workspaces for a Hybrid Future, released as part of the company’s Cisco Live EMEA activities.

Enthusiasm is High But Readiness Lags

The report sheds light on the current state of hybrid workspaces and work in Europe, revealing both enthusiasm and challenges. It also examines differences in responses to the technologies used by Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z, debunking common misconceptions about employee attitudes toward hybrid work.

The enthusiasm for returning to the office is clear, driven by the potential for enhanced productivity, collaboration, and a sense of belonging. However, the readiness of office spaces to support hybrid workspaces is lagging, with only a fraction of employers and employees considering their offices well-prepared for this new way of working. The report highlights a pressing need for office redesigns to accommodate a multi-generational workforce’s demands better.

Currently, nearly 80 percent of organizations in Europe employ at least 10 percent of their workforce in hybrid roles, with half reporting over 30 percent of their staff coming to the office three to four days a week. A significant aspect of this shift is that a third of all office interactions now involve remote workers, highlighting the need for collaboration technology. As we advance, 83 percent of employers anticipate that hybrid work will become the norm within two years.

The desire for personal flexibility and comfort largely drives employees’ preference to work from home. Notably, work preference varies by generation. Baby Boomers prefer office-based work, while Gen Z and Millennials prefer remote and hybrid arrangements. According to the findings, 68 percent of employers have received positive feedback on mandates for returning to the office, and 74 percent of employees express a positive view.

For more information about how companies are modernizing the workplace, see our article: Digital Transformation Guide

The Need for Collaborative Spaces and Tech Infrastructure

There’s a significant gap between what employees expect from their office environment and what is currently available, especially in areas critical for hybrid work, such as collaborative spaces and tech infrastructure.

Only 32 percent of employers and 37 percent of employees consider their office spaces well-prepared for hybrid work. The reason is that current office setups do not adequately promote in-office productivity, with most spaces consisting of workstations. Employees and employers find personal workstations and meeting rooms only moderately effective, highlighting the need for updated office space designs. This data should not be a shock as many European office spaces have not seen a significant technology upgrade in decades.

Redesigning office spaces to meet the expectations of a multi-generational workforce can be challenging due to varying perceptions of the effectiveness of meeting rooms. The key reasons for the perceived ineffectiveness of meeting rooms include:

• The absence of video and audio (42 percent)
• Poor audio-visual quality (37 percent)
• A lack of inclusivity and consistency for remote participants (26 percent)

Shockingly, less than half of the meeting rooms in office buildings are equipped with video and audio capabilities. Furthermore, employees and employers are concerned about the lack of seamless integration among collaboration tools, with only 10 percent of Gen Z employees considering the current tools seamless.

The report also points out a surprising underemphasis on sustainability in office redesigns despite the growing importance of eco-friendly practices in corporate strategy. Only 45 percent of employers and 36 percent of employees view eco-friendly practices as top priorities in workspace redesign. This lack of oversight may be contributing to the trend of increasing office footprints.

Despite this trend, employers remain focused on improving the employee experience through office redesigns. Most employers (90 percent) and employees (87 percent) believe a positive link exists between workspace design and employee satisfaction. Furthermore, over two-thirds of employers try to ensure a smooth transition between home and office environments.

Common support measures include:

• Flexible work arrangements (50 percent)
• Technology usage training (48 percent)
• Enhanced network infrastructure at both home and office (42 percent)

The technology tools provided to employees primarily include:

• Video conferencing platforms (54 percent)
• Instant messaging/team chats (52 percent)
• Cloud-based document sharing (49 percent)
• Project management (43 percent)
• Virtual meeting rooms (33 percent)

Simplifying the user experience remains a significant challenge in ensuring employees can effectively use these tools. In fact, 75 percent of employees lack proficiency with project management and collaboration tools, while 71 percent are deficient in video conferencing and 70 percent in cloud-based document sharing.

Advice for Hybrid Work Upgrades

Cisco makes several recommendations to companies with hybrid work models. This includes rejuvenating meeting spaces, implementing hybrid-friendly technology and network solutions, refreshing office layouts for improved collaboration, and embedding sustainability into workspace designs.

Companies of all sizes should be addressing connectivity issues and ensuring interoperability to provide a seamless, stress-free work experience. Moreover, Cisco recommends fast-tracking hybrid work strategies to align with technological advancements, workspace aesthetics, and corporate culture.

Companies must understand that technology alone is not enough. Adequate training and support are also necessary to ensure ease of use and improved productivity. Achieving an optimal hybrid environment requires a balanced approach that’s both productive and sustainable, where employees can thrive in the new era of work.

Bottom Line: The Need to Modernize Hybrid Workspaces

Over the past year, many businesses have mandated employees return to the office only to have to repeal the mandate a short time later. Before organizations lay the hammer down, they should look at the office’s technology to ensure it facilitates a best-in-class experience. Investing in this area will go a long way toward employee happiness, which cuts churn, improves morale, and makes everyone more productive.

For an in-depth list of today’s digital transformation leaders, see our guide: Top Digital Transformation Companies

The post Report: Europeans Return To The Office But Hybrid Workspaces Need Modernization appeared first on eWEEK.

The global system integrator World Wide Technology (WWT) recently hosted a tech talk with leaders from Cisco, Intel, and NetApp to discuss key considerations for adopting AI in business. They examined various AI investment options and outlined an effective AI investment strategy. This included ways to address the skills gap in AI, and tactics for incorporating security and sustainability into an AI strategy. Here are the key takeaways from that discussion.

Transforming Operations & Enhancing Security/Privacy With AI Investment

The impact of artificial intelligence on operational efficiency and security is significant, and its applications are diverse. Cisco leverages AI in security through predictive analytics and pattern recognition. This application of AI allows Cisco to identify potential cyber threats before they can cause harm proactively. By analyzing data patterns and detecting anomalies, Cisco’s AI-driven security approach enables faster response times and improved threat mitigation in networking.

NetApp focuses on AI’s ethical use and deployment to enhance security, particularly in protecting intellectual property (IP) and sensitive data. The company prohibits using public generative AI services within the internal network, having developed its own secure version. This ensures NetApp data, as well as that of its clients, remains protected.

“Looking at Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, I fear that AI can be weaponized,” said Paras Kikani, senior director of solutions engineering at NetApp. “So, we have to be responsible and ensure that we’re not only implementing AI the right way but also protecting ourselves simultaneously. The IP that you all hold just can’t go into the public domain.”

Intel works with partners to develop large domain-specific language models tailored to specific industries like finance, healthcare, and manufacturing. The goal is to make AI intuitive and practical, focusing on real-world problems and areas where customers genuinely need solutions.

For example, Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and Intel have teamed up to create an AI model trained on BCG’s confidential data, spanning over 50 years. BCG employees can now retrieve and summarize information that was previously difficult to find using a chatbot powered by Intel AI hardware and software while keeping the data private.

Cisco is also cautious, advising against the use of public generative AI services. For instance, Cisco has its own internal AI platform leveraging Microsoft’s Azure AI capabilities. This reflects a broader trend Cisco observed among its customers. Financial services firms tend to be wary of AI, whereas manufacturing companies are more open to it. Cisco believes providing employees with viable, secure alternatives to public AI tools is essential.

“You can’t say no,” said Eric Knipp, Cisco’s vice president of systems engineering, Americas. “Just like with security, they will find ways around it if you make it hard. Versus giving them a tool that they can work with, backed up by your own internal policies.”

To see the full discussion of AI investment by tech leaders, visit the WWT page.  

Sustainability & Cost Considerations for Deploying AI

Industry leaders are deeply aware of the sustainability challenges, notably the high energy consumption associated with generative AI. It requires extensive floor space and cooling in an era where there is a trend toward reducing power usage and creating smaller, hybrid environments.

Organizations risk being overly enthusiastic about AI investment, leading them to adopt it without fully understanding its purpose or impact on the environment. An AI investment strategy must therefore consider sustainability and cost-efficiency.

“GenAI is not exactly a green technology. A ChatGPT search takes about 100 times more power than a typical Google search. As we think about driving these types of solutions into our customers’ environments or into our enterprise environments, we need to be cognizant of the potential impact that’s going to make,” said Knipp.

AI implementation is costly due to the need for high-end graphics processing units (GPUs), high-performance storage, and extensive datasets. Balancing these expenses puts more strain on already tight IT budgets. According to Kikani, AI must prove its value in “helping the core business” by generating revenue, fueling growth, reducing risk, cutting costs, or optimizing resource use. It’s important to thoroughly understand AI, including its intended purpose and how to use it most efficiently, effectively, responsibly, and securely.

“Everybody is so enamored with AI that we’re getting ahead of ourselves without really understanding what AI is. It’s a tool. It’s a hammer, it’s a nail. It’s not going to replace everything,” said Travis Palena, Intel’s global channel sales director for data center and AI.

Future Workforce: Bridging the Skills Gap

People who have spent years in specific roles must now adapt to new demands and technologies, as evidenced by the recent layoffs at major tech companies. Cisco, Intel, and NetApp acknowledge an industry-wide need for apprenticeship programs, internships, and educational initiatives to help foster the next generation of tech-savvy professionals.

NetApp, for example, has a program called Sales, Support and Services (S3) Academy, which provides training to recent college graduates and those with a few years of experience. However, NetApp also recognizes the importance of continuous learning for midcareer professionals to succeed in today’s fast-paced tech world.

“As our corporate responsibility, we need to build programs to not only help our early career individuals but also people who have been in industry for five to 10 years and haven’t had a chance to learn something new,” said Kikani.

Cisco is approaching the skills gap by leveraging its existing Network Academy program to recruit people who may not have a four-year degree but can learn relevant tech skills. This initiative reflects a broader perspective on talent acquisition and the value of looking beyond conventional four-year degree holders. The Department of Defense’s SkillBridge is an example of a program that helps veterans transition to corporate jobs. Cisco has recruited more than 120 veterans through this program so far.

Bottom Line: AI Investment

The decisions about investing in AI are complex and challenging. But by focusing on early-career individuals, nontraditional talent pools, and veterans, organizations have the opportunity to broaden their recruitment strategies and invest in the current workforce to meet the challenges of rapidly evolving technologies like AI.

The post Businesses Investing in AI: An Industry Perspective appeared first on eWEEK.

To learn more about that, I recently spoke with Chip Suttles, VP of Technology for the Seattle Seahawks. We met at the team’s home turf, Lumen Field, known as CenturyLink Field before the rebranding by Lumen Technologies.

Suttles, entering his 12th season in this position, is responsible for overseeing both the traditional IT aspects and the technical operations of the stadium. We discussed Lumen Field’s massive network infrastructure and how it’s delivering the best fan experience possible. Video of the interview and key highlights are below.

Record Levels of Network Connectivity 

Managing large-scale events like NFL games, with thousands of attendees, requires a complex network infrastructure. Telecom company Lumen provides Lumen Field with everything from network/internet services to backend support and hardware provisioning.

The Seattle Seahawks network backbone is designed for high traffic and fast speeds, necessary to support approximately 70,000 on-site attendees and remote viewers.

The scope of the network infrastructure at Lumen Field is substantial, particularly in terms of Lumen Field’s Wi-Fi connectivity. Lumen implemented Wi-Fi 6 at the stadium in 2020, including 1,500 access points, with more than 750 located in the stadium bowl alone. The design combined under-seat and overhead access points to optimize coverage and performance. This approach has proven highly effective, resulting in record levels of data transfers and connectivity on game day.

Taylor Swift and Network Capacity 

The Seattle Seahawks network throughput is substantial but varies depending on the event and specific moments within a game. Lumen Field’s Wi-Fi network typically sees about 26,000 unique connections, with about 22,000 concurrent connections at any given time.

The amount of data traffic the network handles ranges from six to 10 terabytes (TB), depending on the game. Notably, during significant events like touchdowns, there is a spike in traffic, reaching eight to 10 TB.

Traffic volume is further amplified during special events, such as concerts. For instance, hosting a concert like Taylor Swift’s dramatically increases network usage, pushing the data traffic to high levels, sometimes reaching 24 to 26 TB. Such events significantly test the Seattle Seahawks network’s capacity and reliability, demonstrating its ability to handle exceptionally high traffic.

Constant Improvement for Modernization

Lumen Field is continuously improving the fan experience by adopting innovative technologies. For example, the stadium implemented Clear to expedite entry lanes. Also, in partnership with Amazon, food and beverage concessions have been transformed into stores, allowing fans to pay via biometric palm readers or with a credit card without using a traditional checkout counter. The result is a faster and frictionless service, which has increased revenue at concession sites and strengthened the stadium’s partnership with Amazon.

The upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 at Lumen Field will pose unique challenges. Although it’s still early and the specific IT requirements for the event are not fully defined, flexibility will be crucial in accommodating the event’s demands. This means being prepared to adapt operational spaces, typically used for storage or parking, for different purposes like Lumen Field security check-ins or ticket validation.

The 22-year-old stadium is undergoing improvements to ensure it remains a state-of-the-art facility. Key to this effort is the commitment to regular maintenance and modernization. Upcoming enhancements include transitioning the stadium’s audio system from analog to digital, which promises to significantly improve sound quality. Additionally, new loudspeakers will be installed to enhance the audio experience for fans. There are also plans to upgrade the bowl and other premium spaces with high-definition screens.

Bottom Line: AI and the Future of Networking

As for generative artificial intelligence, the NFL is cautious in its approach. There has been some experimentation with AI applications such as chatbots for game-day customer service, creating posters using AI-driven artwork, and even using AI for film study analysis in the sports science team. The next steps involve formulating a clear strategy for AI adoption, overseen by a newly formed committee comprising members from legal, data strategy, and other departments.

While AI will play a role in IT networks, even without this emerging technology it’s clear that network infrastructure will continue to face ever greater demands as its usage and bandwidth requirements are continuously challenged. As the experience of Lumen Field demonstrates, the future of enterprise IT will most certainly be network-centric for the foreseeable future.

For more information about generative AI providers, read our in-depth guide: Generative AI Companies: Top 12 Leaders

The post Seattle Seahawks Network Innovation: Redefining Stadium Connectivity appeared first on eWEEK.

Since the news was announced, I’ve had time to digest the implications. Below are my top five thoughts.

Kickstarting Juniper’s Growth

The acquisition was complimentary and consolidated. Much of the media focus was on the perceived high amounts of product overlap between the two companies. This is understandable, as Wi-Fi is at the heart of both companies’ network strategies. HPE Networking was built on the back of Aruba Networks, which started as a Wi-Fi company.

Similarly, it was Mist Wi-Fi that kick-started Juniper Networks’ enterprise growth. On a post-acquisition analyst call, HPE CEO Antonio Neri and Juniper CEO Rami Rahim did an excellent job showing the complementary nature of the deal.

While both companies do have Wi-Fi, campus and data center switching, and SD-WAN, HPE has the following products Juniper does not: Private 5G, Security Services Edge (SSE), and 5G RAN. Conversely, Juniper brings Enterprise and Telco routers, next-generation firewalls, and Tier 1 switches and routers.

Cybersecurity in Transition

Security is a significant component of the acquisition. When industry watchers pontificated on the news, strong attention was paid to all things networking with security rarely mentioned. This made me curious as to whether HPE planned to spin out the security, sell it off or some other action.

In the analyst Q&A, I asked Neri and Rahim about it, and they walked through the thinking. Rahim stated, “The opportunity to leverage security to make our portfolio more comprehensive and competitive is absolutely part of the thesis here.”

He then talked about the transition that security is going through and added, “Security is moving from on-premises, which Juniper has a broad portfolio in, to the cloud, which Axis Security (recent acquisition), brings to HPE. Although not the highlight of the acquisition, security will play a key role in its success.”

The HPE Full Stack

The combined company makes HPE stronger but moves the needle only slightly in the battle against Cisco.

One of the challenges all network vendors have in their battle against Cisco is the relative sizes of the networking businesses are tiny compared to Cisco. According to Gartner, at the end of 2022, Cisco Enterprise Networking was $24.1B in revenue, HPE was $3.7B, and Juniper $2.1. The combined HPE – Juniper is now $5.8, still miles behind Cisco. HPE had been the number share vendor in North America, and now they are a strong number two, but there is still a way to go to catch the leader.

One advantage HPE has over the field is its ability to bring a “full stack” solution to market, which includes ASICs (both companies have excellent ASICs), network infrastructure, computing hardware, software, AI, and services. For customers that want a one-stop shop, HPE has a marked advantage now over its biggest computing and services competitor, Dell, which has struggled with regard to networking.

For a full portrait of the AI vendors serving a wide array of business needs, read our in-depth guide: 150+ Top AI Companies 2024

The Network Drives Everything

HPE is now a network-first company. One of the interesting aspects of the acquisition is that when the companies are combined, networking will be 31% of revenue, making it HPE’s largest division. It will also account for a whopping 56% of operating profit, which shows how much higher margin networking is than computing. This dramatically changes HPE’s go-to market as they can now lead with networking, which is critical today as businesses have become network-centric.

All modern technology, from the cloud to mobility to IoT to AI, is dependent on the network for success. Mist AI is of particular interest. When Juniper Networks acquired Mist, it was primarily a Wi-Fi troubleshooting tool. It has since expanded to encompass the WAN, campus, and data center. If HPE can expand the use of Mist to span its entire portfolio, it could offer customers a single AI offer that spans all infrastructure and would be unique in the industry.

Likely Some Consolidation on the Way

Customers need not be concerned. When the acquisition was announced, several HPE customers contacted me with concerns about the fate of the HPE Aruba products. This is sensible as there is overlap in the product lines, so one could assume HPE will keep Juniper and end-of-life all competitive products.

Post-acquisition news, I talked with Phil Mottram, EVP and GM of HPE Networking, and asked him when we might expect some product rationalization. Mottram told me that any kind of move like that would be “commercial suicide,” and the company plans to keep both product lines around for the foreseeable future as that’s what’s best for the customer.

He also explained there was very little networking overlap between HPE Networking and Juniper, so HPE customers can continue to use what they have, as can Juniper customers. He did admit, long term, there will likely be some consolidation, but HPE has always been good about customer communications and provides at least five years notice when products are to be designated end of life.

Bottom Line: HPE and Juniper Networks

Like all business transactions, this one will all come down to execution. The best plans can be derailed by poor execution and HPE has a mixed track record. The ProCurve acquisition went well but 3Com was a mess. Aruba was fantastic but Autonomy was not.

How will Juniper fare? Only time will tell but the person that will lead the combined entity, Juniper CEO Rami Rahim, is an excellent visionary and execution machine. There are many issues to work out including channel overlap, sales, go to market, and product development but I believe Rahim gives HPE the best chance of success. Time will tell.

The post Juniper Networks Acquisition by HPE: 5 Key Insights appeared first on eWEEK.