Altitude: The Unsung Heroes of Cloud Transformation

In this insightful episode of Altitude, Woody welcomes Joe Davolos, a distinguished network security expert and global solutions architect at Aviatrix, to discuss the importance of applying zero trust principles inside the cloud network rather than just at the edge. Joe offers many valuable insights on how enterprises can implement zero trust inside the cloud network and improve security, including leveraging tags as strong forms of identity and using distributed security enforcement to improve mean time to response. Joe and Woody also explore the benefits of merging the Network Operation Center (NOC) and Security Operation Center (SOC), suggesting this convergence could lead to more cohesive and effective security strategies that drive the business forward. Learn more about the power of a distributed approach to cloud security: https://resources.aviatrix.com/home/aviatrix-distributed-cloud-firewall?utm_medium=in_app&utm_source=altitude&utm_campaign=altitude-podcast-2024&utm_content=distributed-cloud-firewall-whitepaper Connect with Joe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-davolos-296b8596 Timestamped Overview: 00:00 Joe’s background at Palo Alto Networks and why he chose to work at Aviatrix. 03:50 The convergence of networking and security. 06:31 Understanding users, applications, data, and security. 10:14 Challenge, look inward, think critically, leverage cloud. 12:14 Tags can be useful but potentially dangerous. 17:03 Tags enrich security platform, strong dynamic identity, build control based on the objective of each tag. 18:41 Challenges with cloud workload context and security. 23:59 Building effective cloud operations with technology and partnerships. 25:04 Challenges in security programs require investment and focus. 29:15 Leverage Distributed Cloud Firewall for improved security and mean time to respond. 32:43 Questioning past models, advocating for unity and tech analysis.

In this episode of Altitude, Woody is joined by Nick Lippis, Co-Founder and Co-Chair of Open Networking User Group (ONUG), who brings more than 25 years of experience in networking with a current focus on hybridity and multicloud. Woody and Nick discuss how enterprises are increasingly adopting hybrid and multicloud infrastructure to give more options and flexibility, how AI will impact networking and security, the convergence of NOC (network operations center) and SOC (security operations center), and the importance of maintaining control over convenience in enterprise cloud infrastructure. Learn more about Altitude and Host Woody: https://aviatrix.com/altitude/?utm_medium=in_app&utm_source=altitude&utm_campaign=altitude-podcast-2024&utm_content=altitude-landing-page Learn how to master cloud networking control: https://resources.aviatrix.com/home/master-cloud-networking-control?utm_medium=in_app&utm_source=altitude&utm_campaign=altitude-podcast-2024&utm_content=master-cloud-networking-control-solution-brief Connect with Nick on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicklippis/ Timestamped Overview: 00:00 Intro 04:31 Cloud services need structures for control. 07:19 Transfer service management to on-prem team. 10:34 Specialization and hybrid/multicloud approach for infrastructure. 13:18 AI deployment in various industries, especially healthcare. 16:59 Rapid growth of AI infrastructure products explained. 20:14 AI will change networking, raising concerns. 25:32 Exponential growth leads to phenomenal computational advancements. 29:43 Convergence of networking and security for AI. 31:22 Lack of AI standards poses infrastructure challenge. 34:22 AI combining NOC and SOC to reduce costs.

This week’s episode of Altitude features Tchimwa Sougang, a seasoned cloud networking engineer for Azure and Aviatrix Certified Engineer (ACE) Professional, who brings a wealth of knowledge from the frontlines of troubleshooting enterprise cloud networks. Woody and Tchimwa discuss the challenges of troubleshooting cloud networks, diving into the pitfalls of improper implementation and the lack of cloud-specific expertise and collaboration between DevOps and networking teams. They also discuss the emotional hurdles network engineers face as they move to the cloud, adapting to complex services and losing control of the network. Tchimwa shares customer success stories as well, highlighting the importance of investing in cloud networking training and letting go of antiquated practices to embrace services optimized for the cloud. Learn more about Altitude and Host Woody: https://aviatrix.com/altitude/?utm_medium=in_app&utm_source=altitude&utm_campaign=altitude-podcast-2024&utm_content=altitude-landing-page Gain the skills that set you apart in today’s multicloud environments through the ACE Program: https://aviatrix.com/ace/?utm_medium=in_app&utm_source=altitude&utm_campaign=altitude-podcast-2024&utm_content=ace-homepage Enable precise network performance and collaborative incident management with Aviatrix Network Insights API: https://resources.aviatrix.com/cloud-networking/aviatrix-network-insights-api-feature-highlights?utm_medium=in_app&utm_source=altitude&utm_campaign=altitude-podcast-2024&utm_content=network-insights-api-feature-highlights-fact-sheet Connect with Tchimwa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tchimwasougang/ Timestamped Overview: 00:00 Intro 06:04 Challenging the false expectations of cloud network. 07:21 Private links and endpoints differ by solution. 10:02 New cloud engineers struggle with lack of network visibility. 15:25 Lack of infrastructure control leading to issues. 18:50 DevOps troubleshoot network issues without help. 20:01 Businesses need cloud networking experts for success. 23:53 Help field with presales by proving concept. 26:56 Cloud networking faces skill and training challenges. 32:23 Improving by learning and setting up properly. 33:31 Reflecting on cases to improve customer experience.

In this episode of Altitude, Woody is joined by Cameron Lim, Director of Partner Development at Microsoft. Cameron shares the power of Microsoft’s partner ecosystem, drawing from his experience leading the US Assisted Growth ISV partner program with over 300 partners. Cameron delves into what it means to be a Microsoft partner, what makes Microsoft’s partner program unique in the industry, the impact of Satya Nadella on the program, and the impact of partners, such as OpenAI, on Microsoft. They also discuss what’s next for Microsoft’s partnership program, emphasizing the goal of simplifying the partner program to make it easier for partners to engage with customers and accelerate success. Learn about Aviatrix’s partnership with Microsoft: https://aviatrix.com/aviatrix-and-azure/?utm_medium=in_app&utm_source=altitude&utm_campaign=altitude-podcast-2024&utm_content=azure-partner-page Learn more about Altitude and Host Woody: https://aviatrix.com/altitude/?utm_medium=in_app&utm_source=altitude&utm_campaign=altitude-podcast-2024&utm_content=altitude-landing-page Connect with Cameron on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameronlim/ Timestamped Overview: 01:17 Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program, selection process, and partner-first approach. 06:07 Praise for Microsoft’s corporate culture transformation shaped by Satya. 09:34 Partnership is integral to business – not secondary. 10:17 The importance of flexibility and curiosity for a successful partnership. 13:39 Cameron’s experience during the announcement of Microsoft's partnership with OpenAI. 19:18 The future of Microsoft’s partnership program. 21:46 Helping people find meaningful careers and joy.

In this insightful episode of Altitude, Woody welcomes Adam Stipkovits, Multicloud Network Architect, to the show. Adam brings valuable insights with his robust networking background in Azure, Google Cloud, and AWS and his certification as an Aviatrix Certified Engineer (ACE) Design Expert. He unpacks the challenges associated with visibility, cost control, and the skills gap in the cloud, drawing from findings from Aviatrix’s 2024 Secure Cloud Networking Field Report and how we can stay ahead of these challenges. Throughout their discussion, Woody and Adam explore the intricate hurdles of managing cloud-based architectures across multinational companies. They dissect the challenges associated with visibility, cost control, and the transitioning of legacy systems to more agile cloud networks. Adam, drawing from the projects he's spearheaded, illustrates strategies for bandwidth optimization and efficient data routing—vital for contemporary cloud operations. The episode doesn't shy away from the human aspect of the tech as Adam shares personal insights on the shift from traditional to cloud networking, emphasizing the necessity for continual learning and upskilling. Moreover, the conversation touches on the crucial coordination between security, cloud, and network teams to mitigate outages and streamline operations. Dive deeper into the findings from Aviatrix’s 2024 Secure Cloud Networking Field Report: https://pages.aviatrix.com/2024-secure-cloud-networking-field-report.html?utm_medium=in_app&utm_source=altitude&utm_campaign=altitude-podcast-2024&utm_content=2024-secure-cloud-networking-field-report Learn more about Altitude and Host Woody: https://aviatrix.com/altitude/?utm_medium=in_app&utm_source=altitude&utm_campaign=altitude-podcast-2024&utm_content=altitude-landing-page Adam’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-stipkovits/?originalSubdomain=hu Timestamped Overview: 00:00 Cloud networking report: cloud costs, visibility, cloud security, cloud skills gap. 06:12 Transition from cloud explorers to business supporters. 08:52 Diverse architectures create tech debt challenges. 13:23 Focus on compute and data cost, network infrastructure. 14:36 Network investment critical for stability and efficiency. 18:14 Speculation on data center and cloud performance. 22:46 63% struggle to hire, 66% lack resources for cloud initiatives 26:27 Upskilling essential, resourceful team, facing time challenges. 27:50 Transition from network to cloud, steep learning curve and cloud certifications that helped.

In this episode of Altitude, Woody is joined by Brad Casemore, who has over 30 years of experience in networking and connectivity and recently retired from IDC. Brad shares his wealth of insights with Woody on the critical role networking plays in today's business landscape. They delve into the impact of digital transformation and cloud migration on networking, emphasizing how networking is no longer the plumbing of the business – it is the electricity of the business. This leads to a discussion around the need for intelligent automation throughout the entire network life cycle to ensure network scalability, non-disruption, security, and observability. Brad and Woody wrap up their conversation by discussing the potential of AI for network automation and the caution required to ensure data integrity and proper implementation. Learn more about Altitude and Host Woody: https://aviatrix.com/altitude/?utm_medium=in_app&utm_source=altitude&utm_campaign=altitude-podcast-2024&utm_content=altitude-landing-page Manage and monitor your cloud infrastructure seamlessly with Aviatrix CoPilot: https://aviatrix.com/cloud-network-and-security-operations/?utm_medium=in_app&utm_source=altitude&utm_campaign=altitude-podcast-2024&utm_content=copilot-landing-page Connect with Brad on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-casemore-a64211/ Check out Brad’s blog: https://crepuscular-circus.ghost.io/ Timestamped Overview: 00:00 Importance of networking in business discussions. Shift from networking as plumbing to electricity. 04:24 Network reliability crucial as IT became business critical. 08:50 Internet and technology's impact on business growth. 11:15 Applications crucial for digital business success, cloud native. 16:03 Cloud has altered network and application monitoring. 19:15 Cloud built for apps, traditional data centers outdated. 23:26 Efficiency, automation, and agility in networking. 25:45 Use tools for automation and verification throughout the entire network cycle. 27:25 Transition to automated networking is crucial today. 30:32 AI’s role in network automation.

In this episode of Altitude, Woody welcomes back Mitch Connors, Sr. Principal Engineer and Product Manager at Aviatrix. Mitch, with 19 years of experience as a developer, offers invaluable insights into the state of Kubernetes and containers in the industry. The conversation revolves around the growth and challenges of Kubernetes adoption, this time at an industry level, with Mitch shedding light on the industry's fascination with Kubernetes and the complex landscape of platform engineering. They discuss the unique requirements for enterprise Kubernetes adoption and the need for a standardized model for networking that accommodates both traditional and container workloads. Mitch also teases some exciting upcoming announcements from Aviatrix related to Kubernetes at the KubeCon event in Paris, offering a glimpse into Aviatrix's future direction in this space. Listen to their first episode together on Altitude here: https://youtu.be/FVNjZ2XxphY?si=fsmMQLJRjkKKGSur Learn more about Altitude and host Woody: http://tinyurl.com/2ptmhs6h Timestamped Overview: 00:00 Transitioned to new role, learning product management. 05:41 Platform team sizes vary but face challenges. 09:18 Similarities between astrophysics and Kubernetes networking 16:19 Consolidating network security policies with cryptographic identity. 20:17 Expertise in cloud networking and Kubernetes migration. 22:46 Service mesh market forecast fell short.

In this episode, Woody sits down with Mike Gibbs, Founder and CEO of Go Cloud Careers, and Elonzo Coleman, CMO of Go Cloud Careers, to delve into the skills gap in the cloud industry. With Go Cloud Careers at the forefront of educational innovation in cloud computing, Mike and Elonzo dissect the modern cloud professional's toolkit, highlighting the skills that matter and the limitations of current cloud service provider (CSP) certifications. The CSP certifications fall short as they scratch the surface without diving into how the technology works, why you would use the technology, and how this technology meets the needs of the business. They also explore the often-overlooked essentials for effective multicloud strategies, addressing the real-world challenges and adeptness required to thrive across varied cloud platforms. Mike and Elonzo argue that it's not the credentials that count, but the understanding of how the different cloud technologies come together and serve the overarching business goals. Lastly, they discuss how AI is changing the approach to the cloud skills gap. Learn more about Altitude and host Woody: http://tinyurl.com/2ptmhs6h Uncover critical insights from over 400 cloud, networking, and security practitioners in Aviatrix’s 2024 Secure Cloud Networking Field Report: http://tinyurl.com/48mb7b8w Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-gibbs-75820a/ Connect with Elonzo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elonzocoleman/ Timestamped Overview 00:00 Intro 00:29 Insights on the cloud skills gap from Aviatrix’s 2024 Secure Cloud Networking Field Report. 01:20 Factors contributing to the skills gap. 02:48 The shortcomings of CSP certifications and the practical skills required to succeed in the cloud. 07:50 Is the Cisco networking certification program still valuable? 09:43 Comprehensive training in nontechnical and technical skills. 13:13 How multicloud impacts the skills gap. 13:51 Emphasizing the need for practical cloud training content. 19:05 Traditional firewalls struggle in cloud environments for scalability. 22:32 Automation trends in cloud infrastructure and security. 25:06 Consistent training keeps networking skills current and competent. 26:10 AI’s impact on the skills gap. Engineers transitioning to cloud architect roles need business skills.

In this episode of Altitude, Woody is joined by Brian Gracely, co-host of The Cloudcast podcast and Senior Director of Portfolio Strategy at Red Hat. With his wealth of experience in the industry, Brian provides unique insights into potential trends for cloud customers in the year ahead. Brian and Woody discuss upcoming changes in migration, customer spending, and the role of AI in driving new business. While Brian and Woody agree that AI will lead to more spending and innovation, they deliberate on the future of cloud infrastructure in light of new AI demands and challenges. Will data for AI continue to move to the cloud, or will it be more successful at the edge? Brian wraps up the conversation by emphasizing the need for mastering the fundamentals of cloud in order to succeed at scale with AI: “When your fundamentals aren’t there, and you’re just focused on the sizzle as opposed to the steak, that’s where you get yourself in trouble.” Learn more about Altitude and host Woody: https://aviatrix.com/altitude/ Check out The Cloudcast podcast: https://www.thecloudcast.net/ Connect with Brian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briangracely/ Timestamped Overview: 00:00 Intro. 05:29 Cloud providers offer ARM CPUs, addressing customer needs for reduced cloud costs. 08:29 AI's explosive growth expands business opportunities. 09:43 Tech companies rushing to capitalize on potential growth. 15:14 Conundrum of data and compute in cloud. 18:17 TCO study showed immediate cost savings, efficiency gains. 21:05 Enhancing infrastructure operations through collaborative networking. 29:06 Importance of understanding the fundamentals of cloud before leveraging AI.

In our first episode of 2024, Woody and Remco Niesten, a lead consultant at Uniserver, explore the nuances of sovereign cloud practices within the EU. Remco shares invaluable insights on cloud sovereignty, informed by over 20 years of experience at Uniserver, the leading provider of private cloud services in the Netherlands. With several new and significant EU privacy laws on the horizon in 2024, Woody and Remco discuss building and optimizing infrastructure for sovereign workloads and comb through nuances on what it means to host sovereign data. They discuss the challenges with deciding between on-premises and public cloud for sovereign solutions and how these two spaces might not be as mutually exclusive as you would think. The conversation also explores the importance of visibility and control in hybrid environments and the role of technology stack design in ensuring compliance. As they wrap up the conversation, Remco sheds light on future trends in sovereign cloud, including a discussion on containerization for private cloud infrastructure. Altitude show page: https://aviatrix.com/altitude/ Remco’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/remconiesten/?originalSubdomain=nl Timestamped Overview: 00:00 Data location, service and pricing benefits customers. 03:51 EU legislation emphasizes sovereignty of data, growing concern. 08:52 Interest in EU business compliance for big CSPs. 12:49 Aviatrix prioritizes end-to-end encryption everywhere. 15:42 Companies choose where workloads fit best. Highly sensitive medical data cannot leave certain areas. 18:50 Inquiry about VMware's long-term viability and relevance. 20:00 AWS and Azure have broad PaaS offerings.

In this episode, Woody dives into the intricate world of cloud network architecture with special guests Rob DeWeese and Maxime Deraet. Rob, the Director of Networking Architecture at Kyndryl, and Maxime, Senior Cloud Network Architect at Kyndryl and Aviatrix Certified Engineer Design Expert, bring a wealth of experience to the roundtable discussion. The episode kicks off with an exploration of a comprehensive enterprise-grade design, drawing from collective experiences with customers. Over the course of the episode, the hosts build the design from the ground up, sharing live problem-solving and the integration of networking best practices to make the design more modern and viable with Aviatrix. For the best experience, watch along with the hosts and the visuals they’re referencing here: https://youtu.be/2lKzAY51yOk Check out Rob DeWeese’s previous episode, “Cloud Networking Design Principles: Rob DeWeese’s Blueprint for Success”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF3M26GBm_E About Altitude and Host Woody: https://aviatrix.com/altitude/ Maxime’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxime-deraet/ Rob’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-deweese-a9676916/ Timestamped Overview: 00:00 Introducing our Hosts 03:41 Overview of Cloud Networking Towers 06:06 Multicloud Customer Scenario and Overview of Architecture 07:31 Resolving Visibility, Control, and Routing Challenges, the Importance of a Unified Control Plane 12:30 Practical Implementation of BGP for Global Connectivity 18:38 Extending Visibility to On-Premises with Aviatrix Gateways 26:06 Connecting Customers into the Environment 36:25 Rob and Maxime’s Thoughts on Aviatrix as a Cost Effective Solution that Brings Business Value 39:31 Advice for Migrating from Completely Cloud Native to Aviatrix

In this episode of Altitude, we feature Shawn Seaton, Senior Director Enterprise Architecture at Choice Hotels. As an early adopter of cloud technology, Shawn offers rich insights and practical lessons that can help anyone on their cloud adoption journey. Delving into the complexities of cloud migration, Shawn and Woody explore both anticipated and surprising outcomes experienced at Choice Hotels, one of the world's largest hotel franchise groups. They reflect on pivotal decisions, the journey into the unfamiliar and offer nuggets of wisdom for those contemplating a similar path. Shawn also underlines the importance of sustaining a culture that encourages experimentation, learning, and adaptability. Shawn and Woody wrap up their conversation by discussing how enterprises can leverage Gen AI to supercharge sales and marketing, enhance customer experiences, and drive operational efficiency while keeping a watchful eye on privacy and governance concerns. Shawn’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnseaton/ About Altitude and Host Woody: https://aviatrix.com/altitude/ Timestamped Overview: 00:00 Introduction and Cloud Evolution 05:31 The Unforeseen Challenges of Cloud Security 10:46 Adapting Tools for Cloud Success 15:21 Benefits of Cloud Tool Selection 20:11 Lessons Learned and Hindsight Reflections 26:01 Gen AI’s Paradigm Shift and its Implications

In this episode, Woody is joined by Deepika Nath, Director of Infrastructure and Cloud Architecture at Kyndryl. Deepika has a passion for using technology to create differentiated customer outcomes. In this episode, she dives into hybridity and the concept of the middle cloud, a concept that emphasizes the importance of networking and connectivity in hybrid cloud architectures, highlighting the middle cloud’s ability to bring greater flexibility to various workloads. She highlights the criticality of avoiding a one-size-fits-all strategy and instead, leveraging versatile options, exemplifying how a customized strategy carries such immense value in the cloud industry. Deepika’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deepikanath/ About Altitude and Host Woody: https://aviatrix.com/altitude/ Timestamped Overview: 00:00 Intro 00:36 Deepika’s background & the widespread impact of cloud technology on various aspects of our lives 02:33 Hybrid cloud, the prevalence of cloud-native workloads and the challenges of developing hybrid applications 05:09 The complexities of managing hybrid cloud solutions and the need for effective, consistent management 07:17 The concept of the "middle cloud" 16:30 Alternative approaches to middle cloud 17:40 The capabilities of the middle cloud 20:37 Deepika’s thoughts on Aviatrix, achieving simplification 23:24 Why the middle cloud is important

In this episode of Altitude, Woody sits down with Mark Noorman, an esteemed expert in the field of cloud networking, to discuss cloud networking use cases and the impact of the Aviatrix Certified Engineer (ACE) Program in taking multicloud knowledge and skills to greater heights. As the Team Manager and Competency Lead at CloudNation and ACE Design Expert #0039, Mark’s expertise is nothing short of impressive, bringing with him nearly three decades of invaluable experience in the IT industry. In 2018, Mark joined CloudNation as one of the early employees. During the episode, Mark provides an exclusive walkthrough of a couple use cases in AWS environments, involving private connectivity and multicast. Mark and Woody discuss the importance of future-proofing your cloud networking infrastructure with scalability, automation, flexibility, and security forming the solid foundation. Mark closes the discussion by sharing why network engineers or anyone working in the cloud industry should expand their cloud knowledge through the ACE Program. As Mark puts it, “It’s just practical.” For the full visual experience, head to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-hZPf5oXK8&list=PLS_Z06KvSDsagnPvY0NU-tVzfekUU_xaN&index=1 About Altitude and Host Woody: https://aviatrix.com/altitude/ Learn more about ACE: https://aviatrix.com/ace Timestamped Overview: 00:16 Mark’s role at CloudNation & the challenges of cloud networking 05:31 Use of Aviatrix at CloudNation & managed hybrid connectivity 08:30 Use Case 1 with Deribit, a crypto trading platform: Private connectivity in AWS environment, achieving low latency, automated deployment, and high performance with Aviatrix 21:00 Use Case 2 with Deribit: Multicast (UDP-based protocol that sends packets to multiple destinations efficiently over a network), the challenge of cloud provider’s inability to support multicast, leveraging tunneling protocols and containers 26:35 How Mark came across Aviatrix 28:35 Mark’s experience getting multicloud networking certified through the Aviatrix Certified Engineer (ACE) Program, ACE Design Expert certification

In this episode, Woody chats with Matt Henry, a friend and former colleague with extensive experience in architect, developer, and technical strategist capacities for both Microsoft Azure and AWS ecosystems. He's not only a dedicated leader but also a catalyst for professional growth. Matt began his career as a software engineer and solutions architect, and now serves as a Senior Leader, Solutions Architecture (Greenfield West) at AWS. Throughout the conversation, Woody and Matt explore the crucial role of cloud solution architects (CSAs), mentorship, the willingness to learn, and the difference between good managers and great ones. They also touch on the challenges of finding and hiring talented individuals in the ever-evolving cloud industry. Matt believes that the key lies in individuals' ability to answer the question: "What do I want to do?" This introspection, combined with a passion for continuous learning, can help cultivate the right talent pool. Matt’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewstephenhenry/ About Altitude and Host Woody: https://aviatrix.com/altitude/ Timestamped Overview: [00:00] Introduction of Matt Henry, a seasoned professional in the cloud computing industry. [02:15] The significance of Cloud Solution Architects (CSAs) and their pivotal role in the industry. [03:41] Addressing the challenges of talent pool growth and the importance of self-reflection in career choices. [06:06] The importance of mentors, coaches, and sponsors to support career growth. [07:56] Matt’s opinion on return to office, virtual work environments, and mentorship effectiveness during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. [10:12] Woody’s impactful experience with mentorship early on in his career. [11:12] The evolving skill sets required in the industry, emphasizing adaptability and learning capability. [13:50] Addressing the why, the what, and the how to achieve success as a company. [15:30] Navigating industry churn, culture, and loyalty factors among Cloud Solution Architects. [16:30] The impact of culture on the success of the CSA role and the organization. [20:52] Differentiating good managers from great ones in the context of leadership. [23:44] Closing thoughts and well-wishes for Matt Henry in his new role.

In this episode, Woody is joined by Sarah Aamir, a Partner Solutions Architect at AWS. Sarah is a seasoned professional with a rich background in networking and technology. She has held roles at prominent companies such as Dell and T-Mobile, and her journey through the industry offers a valuable perspective on the evolving landscape of enterprise networking. Throughout the conversation, Sarah and Woody discuss why Sarah chose to join AWS, her experience working with partners, including her enjoyment working with Aviatrix on AWS Immersion Days, the impact of generative AI, and her business intelligence project that she considers her most fulfilling and meaningful project at the moment. Sarah’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahaamir/ About Altitude and Host Woody: https://aviatrix.com/altitude/ Timestamps: 00:00:23 - Sarah Aamir's introduction 00:02:04 - Discussion about the types of partners Sarah works with at AWS 00:03:07 - Sarah's favorite networking kit and her interest in automation 00:06:11 - Sarah's explanation of the onboarding process for partners 00:10:12 - Discussion on the significance of generative AI and its applications 00:16:00 - An anecdote about testing a generative AI's capabilities and a deeper look into the future of AI 00:19:49 - Sarah’s thoughts on the future with personal private data & AI 00:22:09 - Sarah’s favorite project on business intelligence, excitement for this year’s AWS re:Invent

Today, Woody is joined by Senior Principal Software Engineer Mitch Connors to discuss the world of containers and the frequent challenges posed. Mitch Connors is an experienced software engineer with a remarkable career spanning 18 years. Having worked for various companies, including renowned tech giants such as F5, Amazon, and Google, he brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his new role at Aviatrix. They discuss the transition from a large corporate environment to a startup, highlighting the expanded scope and opportunities at Aviatrix. They dive into the world of containers, Kubernetes, and Istio, exploring the reasons behind the success of containers in the industry and the challenges they pose for enterprise adoption. About Altitude and Host Woody: https://aviatrix.com/altitude/ Mitch’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchconnors/ Timestamps: [00:01:54] Change in scope moving from Google to startup. [00:04:58] Containers like cloud adoption for enterprises. Developers pioneer, policy systems lag, Aviatrix helps network admins with multicloud presence. [00:06:22] Container networks have frequent IP address changes, causing identification issues. [00:10:48] A Network engineer's job is more complex. [00:13:31] Scalability: VMs vs. containers in e-commerce. [00:18:49] Advancing technology with Google's involvement in Istio. Aviatrix offers a customer journey towards containerization. [00:22:03] Legacy systems endure, consider them in platform design. [00:26:35] Usability lessons: upgrading should be easy.

In this episode of Altitude, Woody welcomes special guest Nick Davitashvili, Senior Cloud Network Architect at Aviatrix. Nick is an accomplished architect and keynote speaker with a strong background in networking, cloud, and cybersecurity architecture. He brings a unique and profound perspective to his role; having lived in various parts of the world, he's cultivated a multi-faceted approach to his work as a cloud network architect. The two dive into the fascinating realms of anti-fragility and cloud network architecture, offering listeners valuable insights into these complex subjects. Nick explains the concept of anti-fragility – a system's ability to thrive and improve from volatility, unlike traditional fragile systems. The discussion extends to how cloud network architectures can benefit from anti-fragile principles, adapting and growing stronger in the face of disruptions. About Altitude and Host Woody: https://aviatrix.com/altitude/ About Nick’s personal story of multi talents, unorthodox mindset, and inspiring career journey https://aviatrix.com/careers/employee-spotlight/employee-spotlight-nick-davitashvili/ Timestamped Overview: [00:00:50] Cloud architect enjoys solving connectivity challenges at Aviatrix. [00:03:41] Music school in Georgia (not the U.S. state), Indian classical music. [00:08:25] Cloud projects often require improvisation and adaptation. Improvising is a skill that requires being in the moment and making judgment calls. It stimulates different neural connections and can boost performance. [00:10:23] Music and coding are similar creative processes. Context is important when analyzing data. Challenging thought processes lead to learning and growth. Reflection is crucial for understanding cloud architecture. [00:13:44] Architects must embrace mistakes, question standards, improvise, and take risks. Critical thinking and problem-solving skills matter more than academic credentials. [00:18:19] Anti-fragility in systems: embracing errors, gaining strength. [00:23:10] DevOps embraces anti-fragility, including chaos engineering and security. [00:26:33] Decentralization, distributed cloud, security controls, and redundancy. [00:27:47] Closing thoughts.

In this episode, Woody dives into the world of cloud security using open source systems with our special guest, Susan Hinrichs. Susan Hinrichs, Chief Scientist at Aviatrix, is a multifaceted professional with a strong background in the open source networking and security space. As a designer and implementer, she has contributed significantly to the development of distributed cloud firewall. Susan's expertise extends well beyond traditional networking, encompassing diverse areas such as cloud routing, application security, policy-based traffic engineering, and distributed systems. Throughout this insightful conversation, Susan discusses the advantages of open source platforms, Aviatrix contributions to the open source community, and the open source DNA of the Aviatrix Distributed Cloud Firewall. Susan and Woody also explore possible directions for Distributed Cloud Firewall and the role that AI and ML could play in network security. Learn more about Altitude and Host Woody: https://aviatrix.com/altitude/ Susan’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shinrich/ Timestamps: [00:02:11] Group responsible for traffic termination and scrubbing. Used open source software and contributed back. [00:06:55] Extended Berkeley Packet Filter (eBPF) enables efficient traffic analysis in kernel space, particularly for dropping network traffic at low levels with minimal effort. It provides a more cost-effective alternative to IP tables for implementing firewall policies. [00:10:07] Approach: Not everyone is the root. All processes aren't root. Need to elevate. Complicated product made simple. [00:14:27] Open Stack's limitations revealed as enterprise-scale businesses require dedicated specialists, making it costly. Distributed cloud firewall innovates multicloud security. Scaling security in the cloud is challenging due to layer 3 and up the stack complexities. [00:16:38] Distributed firewall challenges and solutions summarized. [00:21:53] Smart groups are created with tags on VMs, subnets, and VPCs. These groups are used to create rules for traffic routing. With Aviatrix fabric, gateways are protected, and traffic routes are understood. The controller analyzes gateways and enforces rules accordingly. Rules are pushed or pulled to the gateways. [00:26:15] Security group orchestration across different cloud platforms has limitations due to varying models and rule limits. Difficulties arise when translating intermixed allows and denies into only allows, potentially causing networks to split and requiring more rules. Despite extensive work, there are cases where policy expression is not possible. Other tools, like VMware and Cisco, offer similar orchestration capabilities, but the physical enforcement points may still restrict the unified view presented to customers. [00:30:30] Moving towards intrusion protection, analytics, and service mesh for enhanced security. [00:34:05] The impact of AI and machine learning on security systems. [00:35:16] AI helps with alarm fatigue and data correlation.

In this episode of Altitude, Woody sits down with the brilliant Rob DeWeese for an in-depth exploration of cloud networking, architecture, and cost optimization. As a dedicated problem solver and cloud networking expert, Rob joined IBM six years ago as the lead multicloud architect. Following the separation of IBM's consulting wing, he embraced the consultancy realm, now known as Kyndryl – the world’s largest provider of IT infrastructure services. As the Director of Cloud Networking at Kyndryl, Rob leads 429 network architects across the globe and equips individuals with the skills to understand, simplify, and optimize cloud networking. This conversation covers the four towers of cloud networking that require careful consideration, cloud networking design principles that pave the way to success, and strategies for simplifying and optimizing cloud networking and related costs, especially in the context of multicloud and complex network architectures. Rob and Woody also discuss the value of centralizing firewall management and the criticality of scalability. Stay tuned for a follow-up discussion in the coming months between the two cloud gurus. There are only so many minutes per podcast episode and so many things to explore. Learn more about Altitude and Host Woody: https://aviatrix.com/altitude/ Connect with Rob on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-deweese-a9676916/ [00:00:47] Kyndryl: Consulting wing, largest Grid Security Infrastructure (GSI), cloud networking. [00:06:43] Multicloud is now a real thing – the state of the industry, vendor lock-in. [00:10:37] High-performance encryption solution. [00:13:28] The 4 Towers of Cloud Networking. [00:15:16] Networking, security, and complexity impact cloud cost. [00:17:46] IBM/Kyndryl separation, moving data centers, and strategies for cost optimization. [00:21:55] Design principles for building a flexible network. Avoid unnecessary costs and cloud vendor lock-in. Focus on ease of administration and adaptability to different platforms. [00:25:24] Load balancing types, logging platforms, and simplifying multicloud networking. [00:28:10] Teaser for part two with Rob and Woody.