Hybrid-multi-cloud applications have become part of the enterprise IT landscape, but they give me a headache. This episode of the Tech Field Day Podcast features Barton George, Mike Graff, Mitch Lewis, and Alastair Cooke discussing the dream of a single cloud provider being home to every application in the enterprise has long been morphed. The goal is to optimize applications by using both cloud and on-premises resources, but integrating different platforms is challenging. Services like AWS and Azure have distinct configurations, making a unified management console difficult to achieve. Some companies simplify by using a single cloud, but mergers or unique business needs often disrupt this approach. While hybrid multi-cloud setups improve efficiency, they also bring ongoing IT challenges.
We Are Still in the Early Innings of AI
Alastair Cooke explores the nascent stage of AI development following a delegate discussion at AI Field Day 6. The panel emphasized that while significant progress has been made, the technological journey is still in its early phases. They also discussed various advancements and challenges in the AI field, underscoring the potential and limitations currently faced by the industry. For more insights and detailed analysis, watch Techstrong AI.
Operations, Code or Die
Following a presentation by Ned Bellavance at Cloud Field Day 22, Alastair Cooke discusses the essential convergence of operations and coding, highlighting how today’s IT professionals must adapt to remain relevant in an evolving technology landscape. He asserts that mastery of both fields is crucial for effectively managing modern infrastructure and applications.
Trade Restrictions will Allow China to Out Innovate US AI Companies
China will out-innovate US AI companies because of the trade restrictions imposed on it. In this episode of the Tech Field Day Podcast features Ned Bellavance, Eric Wright, Justin Warren, and Alastair Cooke. They say that necessity is the mother of invention. US restrictions on AI chip exports have driven China to develop a sophisticated generative AI solution with older technology. Are the restrictions making Chinese companies more innovative than their US counterparts? DeepSeek was trained with far fewer resources than previous Large Language Models. On the other hand, DeepSeek isn’t groundbreaking, apart from the apparent censorship around taboo topics to the Chinese establishment.
The Network is Finally the Application
The network is, finally, the application in the public cloud. In this episode of the Tech Field Day Podcast, recorded before Cloud Field Day, features Jon Myer, Michael Levan, Larry Smith, and Alastair Cooke. Deploying applications across multiple clouds requires the network be the common connector to integrate applications across those clouds. Everything is an API, deploying networks on the cloud is software defined but every cloud has its own API and many on-premises networks have their own APIs. Observability across a multi-cloud application is far more complex than when everything was on-premises in our own data center, there are so many new places where issues might arise. The pace of change in modern applications makes analyzing and troubleshooting applications challenging too, when networks are built using a CI/CD pipeline the network configuration can change every day, with new software version deployment. Observability is vital; metrics, logs, and traces need to be fed into a single location where insights can be gained, without the insight there is no reason to collect the data.
Private Clouds are Coming Back
The public cloud is real; are private clouds real? Will we see more private clouds in 2025? Private cloud technology is far from the early days when on-premises virtualization was cloud-washed. In this episode of the Tech Field Day Podcast, Jon Myer, Allyson Klein, and Justin Warren join Alastair Cooke to examine why businesses deploy private clouds. The cloud operating model makes the private cloud more relevant in 2025 than ever.
Technology Silos Are a Thing of the Past
Enterprise IT has long been divided into silos. This is because of scarce resources and specialized knowledge required to perform some IT operations tasks. The world of today is much more focused on outcomes and the need for silos is waning. In this episode of the Tech Field Day Podcast, Stephen Foskett, Alastair Cooke, and Tom Hollingsworth discuss how enterprise IT has moved away from silos due to increased resource availability and cross training. They also look ahead to new challenges from advances like AI and quantum computing.
New Capabilities With Plenty of Citrix Heritage
Alastair Cooke recently discussed the evolving landscape of Citrix solutions, emphasizing the introduction of new capabilities while retaining the core heritage that many IT professionals trust. He explores how these advancements align with current enterprise needs, enhancing both functionality and user experience. Cooke’s insights highlight the importance of innovation balanced with reliable performance in Citrix’s offerings. Read more in this LinkedIn Pulse article inspired by the Citrix presentation at Security Field Day 12!
Qumulo Distributed Global Namespace and Filesystem
The Qumulo Distributed Global Namespace and Filesystem is designed to streamline data management across diverse storage environments, supporting a range of applications from data analytics to archival storage. With its scalable architecture, Qumulo allows enterprises to manage billions of files with ease, ensuring high performance and accessibility regardless of geographical distribution. This solution is particularly beneficial in environments requiring rapid access to large datasets, facilitating efficiency and collaboration across global teams. Read more in this LinkedIn Pulse article by Alastair Cooke following Qumulo’s presentation at Cloud Field Day 21.
Platform9 Delivers On-Premises Private Cloud as a Service
Alastair Cooke discusses Platform9’s innovative approach to simplifying cloud infrastructure by offering an on-premises private cloud as a service. This model combines the convenience of cloud computing with the security and control of on-premise solutions, catering especially to organizations wanting to leverage cloud capabilities while retaining their data onsite. Platform9’s service underscores a significant shift in how companies can now approach their IT infrastructure, emphasizing flexibility and efficiency without the complexities traditionally associated with private cloud deployments. Read more coverage of Cloud Field Day 21 on The Futurum Group website.
AI Doesn’t Make App Dev Any Better
Generative AI is transforming many industries where people create content. Software development is no different; AI agents are in almost every development platform. But is AI improving application development and software quality? This episode of the Tech Field Day Podcast looks at some of the issues revolving around AI and App Dev with Alastair Cooke, Guy Currier, Jack Poller, and Stephen Foskett. The ultimate objective of a software development team is to deliver an application that fulfills a business need and helps the organization be more successful. An AI that can recommend basic code snippets doesn’t move that needle far. More sophistication is needed to get value from AI in the development process. The objective should be to have AI handle the repetitive tasks and allow humans to focus on innovative tasks where generative AI is less capable. AI agents must handle building tests and reviewing code for security and correctness to enable developers to concentrate on building better applications that help organizations.
Edge Computing is a Melting Pot of Technology
Edge computing is one of the areas where we see startup vendors offering innovative solutions, enabling applications to operate where the business operates rather than where the IT team sit. This episode of the Tech Field Day podcast focuses on the melting pot of edge computing and features Guy Currier, John Osmon, Ivan McPhee, and host Alastair Cooke, all of whom attended the recent Edge Field Day in September. To accommodate the unique nature of the diverse and unusual locations where businesses operate, many different technologies are brought together to form the melting pot of edge computing. Containers and AI applications are coming from the massive public cloud data centres to a range of embedded computers on factory floors, industrial sites, and farm equipment. ARM CPUs, sensors, and low-power hardware accelerators are coming from mobile phones to power applications in new locations. Enterprise organizations must still control and manage data and applications across these locations and platforms. Security must be built into the edge from the beginning; edge computing often happens in an unsecured location and often with no human oversight. This melting pot of technology and innovation makes edge computing an innovative part of IT.
There are Too Many Clouds
Public Cloud computing is a large part of enterprise IT alongside on-premises computing. Many organizations that had a cloud-first approach and are now gaining value from on-premises private clouds and seeing their changing business needs leading to changing cloud use. This episode of the Tech Field Day podcast delves into the complexity of multiple cloud providers and features Maciej Lelusz, Jack Poller, Justin Warren, and host Alastair Cooke, all attendees at Cloud Field Day. The awareness of changing business needs is causing some re-thinking of how businesses use cloud platforms, possibly moving away from using cloud vendor specific services to bare VMs. VMs are far simpler to move from one cloud to another, or between public cloud and private cloud platforms. Over time, the market will speak and if there are too many cloud providers, we will see mergers, acquisitions or failures of smaller specialized cloud providers. In the meantime, choosing where to put which application for the best outcome can be a challenge for businesses.
More than web server certificates, digital identity
Alastair Cooke discusses the broader implications and applications of digital identity beyond merely securing web server communications with certificates. He highlights how digital identity serves as a foundational element in enhancing security across various networking domains, from user authentication to device validation. Cooke’s discussion underscores the vital role that comprehensive digital identity strategies play in safeguarding modern digital environments. Read more in this LinkedIn Pulse article inspired by the DigiCert presentation at Security Field Day 12.
Refocusing on Hybrid-Cloud at Cloud Field Day 21
At Cloud Field Day 21, there’s a noticeable shift in focus towards hybrid-cloud solutions, reflecting the industry’s recognition of their critical role in a diverse IT environment. Experts and vendors alike will discuss innovative tools and strategies that enhance the efficiency and security of hybrid-cloud architectures. This pivot underscores the continued evolution and prioritization of adaptable, scalable IT infrastructures that can support varied organizational needs. Watch this video as Alastair Cooke introduces Cloud Field Day 21 and the presenters, Qumulo, Platform9, and Cisco.
Edgy Hardware Matters – Orange boxes from OnLogic
Alastair Cooke discusses the significance of OnLogic’s new rugged hardware, highlighting its capability to perform consistently in challenging environments. He emphasizes the critical role such robust systems play in industries requiring reliable operation despite physical stresses. By blending modern design with industrial strength, OnLogic’s solutions ensure uninterrupted productivity and efficiency. This article was inspired by the OnLogic presentation at Edge Field Day 3.
You Don’t Need Post-Quantum Crypto Yet
With the advent of quantum computers, the likelihood that modern encryption is going to be invalidated is a possibility. New standards from NIST have arrived that have ushered in the post-quantum era. You don’t need to implement them yet but you need to be familiar with them. Tom Hollingsworth is joined by JJ MInella, Drew-Conry Murray, and Alastair Cooke in this episode to discuss why post-quantum algorithms are needed, why you should be readying your enterprise to use them, and how best to plan your implementation strategy.
Massively scalable, highly available, applications at the edge with Avassa
Alastair Cooke considers the significance of deploying applications at the edge, emphasizing the necessity for massive scalability and high availability provided by Avassa’s platform. He highlights how Avassa facilitates the management of applications directly at the edge, enhancing performance and resilience. Cooke’s analysis showcases the potential benefits in operational efficiency and user experience improvements in distributed computing environments. Read more in this LinkedIn Pulse article inspired by Avassa’s Edge Field Day 3 presentation.
GitOps at the VMware Software Defined Edge
Alastair Cooke highlights the integration of GitOps practices at VMware’s Software Defined Edge, focusing on enhancing operational efficiency and deployability. By leveraging GitOps, VMware aims to streamline the management of edge computing resources, ensuring more consistent, secure, and automated deployments. The approach underscores the company’s commitment to adopting modern development practices to optimize and secure edge computing environments. Read more in this LinkedIn Pulse article by Alastair Cooke following VMware’s presentation at AI Field Day 5.
Hyperscale AI networks with Arista at AI Field Day
Arista Networks highlighted the need for enhanced network infrastructures at AI Field Day, focusing on the challenges of supporting complex AI models with higher bandwidth and lower power consumption. They introduced innovative solutions like Distributed Etherlink Switches to manage congestion and low-power optics to boost bandwidth, aimed at large-scale AI networks prevalent in heavy GPU environments. Additionally, Arista showcased their Cloud Vision management system, which leverages AI to simplify network operations, proving their dedication to evolving network technologies in accordance with the growing demands of AI workloads. Read more in this LinkedIn Pulse article by Alastair Cooke, who attended the Arista presentation at AI Field Day 5.