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!


Making the Most of Mobility Field Day 12

We’re closing out 2024 with one last look at the mobility and wireless space at Mobility Field Day 12. This year has seen some huge changes in the market, from new technology releases to massive vendor mergers. While 2025 is going to be a banner year from those that work without wires we wanted to make sure to give the stage to a couple of big names that are hoping to make waves soon.


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.


Advancing the Industry at Networking Field Day 36

Tom Hollingsworth announces Networking Field Day 36, which spotlights key innovations and strategies in the network technology industry. Watch live on Wednesday and Thursday as Meter, Arista, Itential, Aviz, Path Solutions, and Elisity present to our panel of delegates.


Advancing the Industry at Networking Field Day 36

Networking Field Day is back to advance the education in the enterprise networking industry. November 6-7 will be full of great presentations from Arista, Elisity, Itential, PathSolutions, Meter, and Aviz Networks. Read on for more details about the schedule and information about how to join the conversation on social media.


Automation Is Progressing, but at a Less-than-Breakneck Speed – A Conversation with Nokia

In a recent conversation featured on Gestalt IT, Sulagna Saha explores the state of automation within the tech industry, focusing on insights from the delegates who attended the Networking Field Day Exclusive event with Nokia. While automation is undoubtedly advancing, the pace is described as steady rather than rapid, reflecting a careful approach to integration and development. This discussion highlights the nuanced progression of automation technology and its implications for the future of network management and efficiency. Read more, and watch the video of this important roundtable discussion!


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.


Nokia EDA Under the Hood with Erwan James

If you’re going to build an automated data center fabric management system, you need a solid foundation. In this interview, Tom Hollingsworth talks to Nokia’s Erwan James about the three pillars that form the basis for Nokia Event Driven Automation (EDA) and how they ensure that operations teams have the right tools and talent to make data center automation attainable.


Understanding Security Needs at Security Field Day 12

Writing for Security Boulevard, Tom Hollingsworth looks forward to Security Field Day 12, highlighting the evolving challenges and solutions in enterprise security. He emphasizes the importance of adapting to new threats and the necessity for businesses to continually update their security strategies to protect valuable data. Look for live streaming video on October 16 and 17 and more coverage from Security Field Day on Security Boulevard.


Automation Sustainability with Nokia Event-Driven Automation

Tom Hollingsworth recently highlighted the significance of Nokia’s Event-Driven Automation in achieving sustainable network operations. By leveraging automation, businesses can ensure optimal network performance with enhanced efficiency and reduced operational costs. This innovative approach by Nokia allows for real-time responses to events, which improves both the agility and resilience of network infrastructures. This Gestalt IT article was inspired by our recent Networking Field Day Exclusive event with Nokia.


The Brave New World of Security Field Day 12

In this Gestalt IT video, Tom Hollingsworth highlights the engaging discussions and innovative technologies to be showcased at Security Field Day 12. The event brings together thought leaders and experts from companies like Dell, SonicWall, Citrix, and Digicert to explore the latest trends in cybersecurity, focusing on the importance of proactive security measures and advanced threat detection strategies. Tune in for Security Field Day on October 16 and 17 and watch for more coverage here!


The Brave New World of Security Field Day 12

Security Field Day is coming your way October 16-17, 2024 in San Francisco! Read on to learn more about the presentation lineup and topics of interest from DigiCert, Dell, SonicWall, and Citrix.


Network Automation Is More Than Just Tooling

The modern enterprise network automation strategy is failing. This is due in part to a collection of tools masquerading as an automation solution. In this episode, Tom Hollingsworth is joined by Scott Robohn, Bruno Wollmann, and special guest Mike Bushong of Nokia to discuss the current state of automation in the data center. They discuss how tools are often improperly incorporated as well as why organizations shouldn’t rely on just a single person or team to affect change. They also explore ideas around Nokia Event-Driven Automation (EDA), a new operations platform dedicated to solving these issues.


The Promise of Automation with Michael Bushong of Nokia

At our recent Networking Field Day Exclusive event with Nokia, Michael Bushong from Nokia described the transformative potential of automation in network operations. He discussed how automation could not only streamline processes but also significantly enhance the robustness and agility of network infrastructures. The session underscored how automation stands to redefine the future of networking, promising more efficient and dynamic systems. Read more in this Gestalt IT article and video featuring Tom Hollingsworth.


Rethinking the Data Center with Nokia

Tom Hollingsworth introduces our special Tech Field Day event with Nokia. Nokia’s advanced networking solutions are redefining connectivity and efficiency in data center environments, enabling better scalability, manageability, and sustainability. Watch Networking Field Day Exclusive with Nokia live on September 24!


Rethinking the Data Center with Nokia

The landscape of the data center is being transformed. Applications like AI are forcing design and operations teams to understand the new usage patterns for users. Shrinking budgets mean management has to do more with less. How can companies get ready for complex new ideas while also keeping their existing data center infrastructure running in prime condition? Join Tech Field Day and Nokia for a special look at some exciting new automation technologies on September 24th.


Ethernet is not Ready to Replace InfiniBand Yet

AI networking is making huge strides toward standardization but Ethernet isn’t ready to displace the leading incumbent InfiniBand yet. In this episode of the Tech Field Day Podcast, Tom Hollingsworth is joined by Scott Robohn and Ray Lucchesi to discuss the state of Ethernet today and how it is continuing to improve. The guests discuss topics such as the dominance of InfiniBand, why basic Ethernet isn’t suited to latency-sensitive workloads, and how the future will improve the technology.