Security is an ever-changing technology that requires constant vigilance. Traditional models face challenges in a modern world where bad actors have better tools and methods for avoiding detection. If security teams want to stay on top of threats today they need to be sure they’re using the latest solutions to address these challenges. In this episode, sponsored by Fortinet, Chris Grundemann, Michael Levan, and special guest Nirav Shah discuss the need for updated solutions and how Fortinet is changing the game with their Hybrid Mesh Firewall platform.

VMware just can’t stop talking about GenAI, which incorporates many different developments. The company is adding AI assistants to many products and is also introducing a new VMware Private AI offering with enabling generative AI processing on NVIDIA or open-source platforms for enterprise deployment. VMware is talking about security and data privacy while at the same time touting the performance and price benefits of on-premises GPUs. VMware NSX is even more exciting now! NSX+ is the new as-a-service offering focusing specifically on application visibility, network detection and response, and HCX+ Workload Mobility. The goal of the service is provide functionality that modern enterprises at a monthly cost for OpEx budgeting purposes. The other big piece of the NSX announcements is NSX VPC, which is modeled of the virtual private cloud (VPC) networking capabilities in public clouds. This and more from an on-premises version of the Rundown live from VMware Explore!

In this Tech Talk, John Osmon talks about his experience in the Wireless Internet Service Provider (WISP) space. He mentions the challenges with getting connectivity to remote users. He also discusses the various metrics that define the quality of service that your connection can have and why bandwidth isn’t always the best measure of how “good” your connection might be. He also discusses what the future of smaller ISPs will look like with federal funding and how consumers can ask the right questions to ensure good service to their location.

Do you love licensing drama? Last week HashiCorp made headlines with an announcement by CTO Armon Dadgar that they’re changing licensing models. HashiCorp is now adopting the Business Source License, or BSL, which was popularized by MariaDB and Couchbase. Under the BSL, HashiCorp code will remain freely available and usable for non-production use. You may be granted a license for production use if your project doesn’t compete with HashiCorp. If it does you’ll need to buy a commercial license. The move has generated a lot of discussion and speculation in the community given how prevalent projects like Terraform are. This and more on the Rundown.

Low Code and No Code automation solutions have been gaining significant popularity. Organizations are embracing them to kickstart or continue automation projects. But are they the right fit for every company? There are considerations to discuss and sizing issues that need to be addressed. You also need to understand the potential impact of having a team dedicated to a solution and not a methodology. In this episode, Carl Fugate, John Osmon, and Girard Kavelines discuss where Low Code and No Code make sense and where you should consider using a different tool.

In this Tech Talk, Girard Kavelines discusses XDR. He talks about the differences between XDR and EDR as well as how the technology has evolved since the early days of securing devices. Girard also brings up the integrations that XDR has with cloud security platforms and how it can be used to provide a more holistic approach to keeping users safe and secure. Also discussed is the automated nature of XDR and how AI can enhance and extend the capabilities of any XDR solution.

In this Tech Talk, Mohammad Ali discusses Private 5G. He talks about the origins of the technology and how it’s different from standard 5G available to consumers as well as Wi-Fi networking. He talks about the advantages of using this new protocol to cover large areas and which applications would benefit the most from deployment. He also talks about the challenges faced by client devices and how practitioners can ensure Private 5G installations work smoothly for operations teams and end users alike.

Live events are back, baby! It’s event season, and hotels are filling up for in-person tech events. But the pandemic has changed everything, including event participation. What should we expect from returning favorites like re:Invent, in-flux standbys like VMware Explore, and smaller events like Flash Memory Summit? This and more on this week’s Gestalt IT Rundown.

Network-as-a-Service is a new concept. Or is it? The ideas behind having someone else working on your network infrastructure are as old as the industry. With the advent of public cloud becoming the dominant form of IT consumption the industry is taking a second look at NaaS. In this podcast episode Drew Conry-Murray, Mohammad Ali, and Pat Allen discuss the definition of Network-as-a-Service, the various different kinds of adoption models that NaaS can take, and how enterprises small and large can find benefits.

In this interview, Tom Hollingsworth welcomes Roy Chua, the founder and Principal at AvidThink, as one of our newest Tech Field Day delegates. Roy shares his background starting as a network software engineer, moving into product management, and eventually transitioning into the analyst space. He discusses the challenges of staying up-to-date with the rapidly evolving technology landscape and how his company focuses on more targeted and cutting-edge areas to add value. When asked about his dream job, Roy expresses a fondness for books and mentions that running a small bookshop would be a really fun job for him. Thanks for joining us at Security Field Day, Roy!