The definition of traditional security technologies must evolve to meet new use cases. Networks that use virtual constructs to segregate traffic are just as air gapped as physical separation. In this episode, Tom Hollingsworth is joined by Carole Warner Reece, John Osmon, and Jason Gintert discuss why the standard for hyper secure systems has always been physical separation. They look at how the terminology is being changed to support new use cases with virtual separation and whether or not those new networks can meet the high standards of the older versions. They also discuss the need for precision in terminology and how to avoid falling back on marketing terms that can create confusion with unsuspecting consumers.
Key Takeaways from Networking Field Day 37: AI, Cybersecurity, and the Future of Networks
Tom Hollingsworth provides key insights from Networking Field Day 37, focusing on the latest advancements in AI, cybersecurity, and network technologies. He highlights how these sectors are intersecting more than ever, driving new strategies for network architecture and security. Watch this video for Tom’s overall Networking Field Day takeaways!
Meeting Community Needs With the USNUA
Tom Hollingsworth recently highlighted the impactful initiatives of the USNUA (United States Network Users Association), an organization dedicated to addressing the unique challenges and requirements of the networking community. Through collaborative efforts and shared knowledge, the USNUA aims to foster a supportive environment where practical solutions and advancements can thrive. For further insights into Networking Field Day 37, you can explore additional articles by Tom Hollingsworth on our site.
The Return of Networking Field Day
Tom Hollingsworth provides an overview of Networking Field Day 37, including presentations by BT, Versa, and Selector. He highlights the event’s focus on the latest trends in networking technology, including advances in SD-WAN, network security, and cloud networking. For a comprehensive exploration of Networking Field Day 37, see more coverage by Tom Hollingsworth on Gestalt IT.
Cisco Unveils Cloud-Native Zero-Trust Network Access Solution
At Cisco Live EMEA, Cisco introduced a new cloud-native solution for Zero-Trust Network Access, aimed at enhancing security frameworks for various organizations by leveraging cloud scalability and flexibility. This advancement underscores Cisco’s commitment to evolving cybersecurity measures by integrating more adaptive and robust access controls to protect network resources. For additional insights on this topic, explore coverage by Tom Hollingsworth on Gestalt IT.
Not All AI Infrastructure Is The Same
Enterprises require vastly different infrastructure for AI. When building your next network, you need to understand what is required in order to achieve specific outcomes. In this episode of the Tech Field Day podcast, Tom Hollingsworth is joined by Scott Robohn, Brad Gregory, and Ron Westfall to discuss the various different types of AI infrastructure. They talk about inferencing and models as well as how to effectively utilize what you currently have. They also discuss what to look for when buying new equipment and how best to put it to use in order to maximize return on investment.
Technical Management is Not Real Management
Being a manager of a technical team is harder than regular management because of the balance required to be both a leader and contributor. In this episode, Zoe Rose, Dominik Pickhardt, and David Penaloza join Tom Hollingsworth to discuss the challenges of being a manager of a technical team. They talk about promoting good talent into management and the shift in thinking required to be a team leader and not just a high performer. They also discuss the soft skills needed to be a good manager and how those can be developed through training.
Kicking Off The Year with Tech Field Day Extra at Cisco Live EMEA 2025
Tom Hollingsworth provides a preview of what to expect from the Tech Field Day Extra event at Cisco Live EMEA 2025. You can find additional coverage of Tech Field Day Extra at Cisco Live by the Tech Field Day delegates right here at Gestalt IT.
Data is Making the Enterprise Network Better
The amount of data that has been unearthed in the network over the past few years is astounding. We now have access to more information that we could ever hope to want about the status of packets transiting through the enterprise. But is this data causing networks to be more complex? In this episode of the Tech Field Day podcast, Tom Hollingsworth is joined by Pieter-Jan Nefkens, Matyas Prokop, and Dominik Pickhardt as they explore the rise in data-centric network design. They discuss the drivers behind the need for more focused deployments and how access to this amount of data is creating challenges for operations teams. They also look at how security plays a role in the amount of information gathered and what happens to it after it is collected.
6 GHz Will Help IoT Adoption
The expansion of wireless spectrum technologies is affording new opportunities for growth. Existing areas are becoming more crowded as devices become more prevalent. This includes not only user devices but Internet of Things (IoT) as well. In this episode of the Tech Field Day Podcast, Tom Hollingsworth is joined by Cheryl Connell, Ron Westfall, and Jason Beshara as they discuss how the growth of IoT has caused contention in the current Wi-Fi spaces. They also discuss how the opening of the 6 GHz spectrum band has the potential to create more room for growth, provided device manufacturers adopt these new areas with the guidelines the bring.
IoT Is Going to Make Things More Difficult
IoT devices are growing by the thousands every day. Networks are gaining millions of devices every year and the total number is expected to top 31 billion by the end of 2025. Each of these devices are going to create complexity issues for networking administrators and engineers the world over. In this episode, Tom Hollingsworth is joined by networking legends Peter Welcher and Denise Donohue as they discuss the challenges that IoT is imposing on us all. This discuss the skills gap as well as security concerns as well as how to stay ahead of the deployment process.
Wi-Fi Marketing Numbers are Lies
All marketing is aspirational. Quoted throughput and user counts are hopeful at best. All IT professionals know this. In this episode, Tom Hollingsworth is joined by Kerry Kulp, Scott McDermott, and Mark Houtz as they discuss the inflated claims of marketing teams and how they factor into buying decisions. They also discuss how Wi-Fi compares to other technologies and why the enterprise experience is vastly different from the consumer perspective. Lastly, they provide some ideas for keeping a grasp on reality when it comes to working with Wi-Fi numbers.
Insider Perspectives on NaaS
In this article for Gestalt IT, Sulagna Saha provides an insightful exploration into Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) based on a delegate roundtable discussion from Mobility Field Day 12. She discusses how NaaS is redefining enterprise networking paradigms, offering scalable, flexible solutions that can significantly lower operational costs and simplify network management. For more articles covering Tech Field Day events and roundtables, visit Gestalt IT.
Ground Rule of Cyber Hygiene: Keep Your Password Policy Up to Date
Sulagna Saha discusses the critical nature of maintaining up-to-date password policies as a fundamental aspect of cyber hygiene in her latest article on Security Boulevard. She emphasizes the risks associated with outdated policies, including increased vulnerability to breaches and cyber attacks. These insights came from a delegate roundtable discussion at Security Field Day 12; for more, read Sulagna Saha’s coverage on Security Boulevard.
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.
Snowflake Networks are Built to Break
Network engineers are notorious for doing whatever it takes to keep their customers and users happy. No reference architecture is safe from modification. However, these unique designs, commonly referred to as “snowflakes”, create challenges when unforeseen consequences occur. In this episode of the Tech Field Day podcast, Tom Hollingsworth is joined by Dakota Snow, Steve Puluka, and Bob McCouch as they discuss the challenges behind snowflake design and operations. They talk about the best way to build better systems and prevent the challenges caused by uniqueness.
WiFi isn’t Always the Best Solution
Wi-Fi is the most dominant client connectivity option on the market today. The growth of ubiquitous computing has only happened because of the mass deployment of Wi-Fi. However, Wi-Fi isn’t the only wireless solution and isn’t always the best way to connect devices. In this episode, Tom Hollingsworth is joined by Lee Badman, Troy Martin, and Ron Westfall as they discuss what other options exist and what workflows they can improve.
Making the Most of Mobility Field Day 12
Tom Hollingsworth emphasizes the value of participating in Mobility Field Day 12, highlighting the unique opportunity it presents for professionals in the wireless networking field to gather insights from leading technology companies. He discusses how this event fosters deep dives into new products, technologies, and strategies that are shaping the future of mobility. Watch live as Tom and the Tech Field Day delegates hear from Cisco, Nile, and more at Mobility Field Day 12 next week!
AI is the Enabler of Network Innovation
Artificial Intelligence is creating the kind of paradigm shifts not seen since the cloud revolution. Everyone is changing the way their IT infrastructure operates in order to make AI work better. In this episode of the Tech Field Day Podcast, Tom Hollingsworth is joined by John Freeman, Scott Robohn, and Ron Westfall as they discuss how AI is driving innovation in the networking market. They talk about how the toolsets are changing to incorporate AI features as well as how the need to push massive amounts of data into LLMs and generative AI constructs is creating opportunities for companies to show innovation. They also talk about how Ethernet is becoming ascendant in the AI market.