Across industries, IT networks are becoming more complex. The number of users, the number of devices and the amount of bandwidth being consumed are all growing at exponential rates. But resources dedicated to the network largely remain flat. At some point, something has to give.

The only way to battle complexity is with the simplicity offered by features such as automation and orchestration. This is where software-defined approaches to networking come in. Particularly, the software-defined access approach pioneered by Cisco Systems (SD-Access, or SDA) can simplify network deployment and management, freeing up more time for IT departments to focus on strategic projects.

Digital transformation initiatives can make workers and processes much more efficient and productive. But are the actual initiatives as efficient and productive as they can be? This isn’t a brain teaser. It’s about identifying ways to maximize each digital transformation project’s return on investment while minimizing its overhead costs. Organizations often have multiple digital transformation…

Cisco recently released a new major update to its SD-WAN solution. This release introduced advanced security features baked directly into IOS XE SD-WAN. The release notes can be found here and more information about the SD-WAN security features can be found here. With SD-WAN security, Cisco was looking to solve four common branch security use…

When people talk about a paradigm shift, it’s often an exaggeration. But intent-based networking is one of those rare exceptions that actually represents a departure from the past. Intent-based networking leverages software-defined networking (SDN), artificial intelligence and machine learning to create a fundamentally different — and better — way to provision, manage, scale and secure…

When I talk about security with small business customers, ransomware is almost always the first topic that comes up. I can’t remember the last time I spoke to a customer who wasn’t struggling to deal with these attacks, and most face multiple instances of ransomware each year — events that can cost a company hundreds…

I work out of Madison, Wis., and one of my closest colleagues is based in Cleveland. We’re rarely in the same room together. But when we see each other at an event, we don’t go through the whole, “It’s been a while, how’ve you been?” routine. Instead, we just pick up the conversation we were…