A big cyberattack attributed to groups backed by the Chinese government has telecom providers worried. In this new report, investigators have determined that the group, known as Salt Typhoon, has had months-long access into the network infrastructures of companies like AT&T, Verizon, and Lumen Technologies. That access includes visibility over the infrastructure used for lawful intercept, which is the Internet version of tapping a phone. Per the report, the Salt Typhoon hackers appeared to be engaged in a data collection mission, trying to obtain as much data as possible from US businesses as well as those that they do business with.

Network automation projects seem to stall after some early successes. Improper framing of time saved is one issue. But so too is the lack of proper training for the operations teams that will support the framework you’ve installed. Tom Hollingsworth takes a look at how Nokia Event-Driven Automation (EDA) is a new platform for operations teams that can help solve the issues around custom automation projects.

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.

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.

Tom Hollingsworth interviews Michael Bushong of Nokia to talk about why automation projects feel so stuck right now and why we haven’t made much progress in the past two decades. They discuss how to succeed and which platforms are enabling users to make headway.

Microsoft has revamped its AI-powered Recall feature, shifting from automatic to opt-in use with enhanced security measures like full encryption and Windows Hello authentication, addressing privacy concerns. California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed SB-1047, which aimed to regulate AI models, citing concerns that smaller models outside the regulation’s scope might pose greater risks. Meanwhile, OpenAI is facing a leadership shakeup as CTO Mira Murati and other key executives depart, coinciding with a shift in the company’s focus toward a more traditional startup model under Sam Altman’s leadership. This and more on the Gestalt IT Rundown.

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.

We have talked at length this year about Intel’s efforts to turn the ship and add more profitability to the ledger. One of the crown jewels in that portfolio is the foundry business. It has been the recipient of a large amount of government funding through the CHIPS Act. But it is also playing catch up with TSMC and others. New broke yesterday that Intel has announced that the foundry business will be spun off into separate subsidiary entity. The new unit will have it’s own board and be free to seek outside funding, perhaps even going public at some point. Intel stock jumped 8% in after hours trading on the news. This follows a long string of changes for the company during Pat Gelsinger’s tenure.

AT&T has decided enough is enough. They have filed a lawsuit over the tactics they claim are putting first responders and critical government services at risk. AT&T is claiming breach of contract because of the new support policy enacted by Broadcom after the VMware acquisition. The key point comes in an amendment in their support agreement that says that AT&T can renew their current support contracts for up to two more years provided they do so before the expiration of their current contract. They are exercising that option now but VMware by Broadcom is not honoring the renewal. AT&T stated they don’t have an issue with the business model change, just that it affects them right now and is making them pay more.

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.