In a few days, we’ll be at Hannover Messe to show some of the amazing work we’ve been doing on our Cisco Mobility Services Platform with our Private 5G partners, Nokia and Logicalis.

In February at Mo… Read more on Cisco Blogs

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In a few days, we’ll be at Hannover Messe to show some of the amazing work we’ve been doing on our Cisco Mobility Services Platform with our Private 5G partners, Nokia and Logicalis.

In February at Mobile World Congress 2024, we shared how our new platform can increase the value of mobile services by making them more accessible and programmable. This, in turn, helps reduce the complexity of new service delivery and accelerates the ability of operators to roll out new services and flexibly respond to enterprise demand.

An enterprise-centric lens is the key, and we are laser-focused on how our Mobility Services Platform can be used to enable enterprise digital transformation. At Hannover Messe, we will be showcasing how the powerhouse combination of Augmentir, Cisco Webex Expert on Demand, and Cisco Private 5G redefine automation and workforce efficiency in industrial operations.

When digitalization evolves from a nice-to-have to a business necessity, the partnership between Augmentir, and Cisco Webex Expert on Demand emerges as a beacon of innovation. Each brings unique strengths to the table:

Augmentir’s industry-leading AI-based connected worker platform enhances the capabilities of the frontline workforce through personalized and adaptive guidance.
Cisco Webex Expert on Demand revolutionizes remote collaboration; experts can guide and assist field workers in real-time through immersive experiences.
Cisco Private 5G delivers robust and secure wireless connectivity required for modern industrial applications.

What’s under the hood? Our Cisco Mobility Services platform and Nokia provide the RAN infrastructure necessary for the deployment of advanced connectivity solutions. Logicalis deploys the solution at the customer site.

Together, this integration of cutting-edge technology promises to elevate operational efficiency by enabling workers to receive instantaneous support and guidance. For example, remote specialists can use Cisco Webex Expert on Demand to seamlessly connect with on-site employees, offering live, interactive guidance using AR-powered visuals.

Operationally this means accelerated problem-solving and skill-sharing among employees, as well as cutting-edge on-the-job training and knowledge retention.

“Nokia’s leading RAN and private 5G solutions provide enterprise customers with the flexibility to support a wider range of Industry 4.0 use cases. In particular, ones that require low latency and massive device and sensor connectivity and enable a highly collaborative and hybrid industrial environment using modernized Operational Technologies (OT), while optimizing total cost of ownership (TCO) and maximizing return on investment (ROI).”—Thomas Hainzel, Head of Partner Management, Mobile Networks Europe.

The solution created with the combination of Augmentir, Cisco Webex Expert on Demand, and Cisco Private 5G can benefit multiple industries, from manufacturing to energy to healthcare, and more.

Together, Augmentir’s AI-driven insights and the collaborative capabilities of Webex Expert on Demand result in:

Increased Productivity: Real-time data processing and analytics will optimize the performance of the workforce.
Enhanced Safety: Timely remote support and AR-guided procedures will minimize risks and improve safety protocols.
Reduced Downtime: Faster troubleshooting and expert interventions will reduce machine and process downtime.
Streamlined Training: On-the-job learning will be revolutionized with immersive, interactive guidance, reducing time to competency.
Global Scalability: A unified solution that can be deployed worldwide, ensuring consistent standards and processes.

What we’re demonstrating at Hannover Messe is more than just a collaboration; it’s a gateway to the future of industrial operations. We invite industry stakeholders, technology enthusiasts, and forward-thinking enterprises to see this new chapter in automation and workforce empowerment first-hand. Get ready to experience the synergy that will drive the next wave of industrial innovation and set a new benchmark for operational excellence.

“We are delighted to have the right partners in Cisco and Nokia, whose technologies are laying the foundation for 5G connectivity for the enterprise network,” said Stefan Gutekunst, COO at Logicalis “This means that industrial customers in particular are no longer bound by the existing limitations of existing technologies such as Wi-Fi but can expand their possibilities across large areas.”

Engage with us at Hannover Messe

Make sure to visit Cisco’s booth at Hall 15, Stand F18. We’ve built something unique and welcome the opportunity to show you how our platform works, as well as listen to your ideas. There’s room in this ecosystem for everyone – MNOs, Enterprises, applications, devices, radios, integrators, and more.

Unlock the full potential of 5G withCisco Mobility Services Platform

"}]]  Get a preview of what we will be sharing at the Hannover Messe, including the amazing work we’ve been doing on our Cisco Mobility Services Platform with our Private 5G partners, Nokia and Logicalis.  Read More Cisco Blogs 

Cisco’s 7th annual Partner Innovation Challenge has ascended to global prominence, captivating partners from an astounding 96 countries and distributing over $3.3 million USD in collective rewards. L… Read more on Cisco Blogs

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Cisco’s 7th annual Partner Innovation Challenge has ascended to global prominence, captivating partners from an astounding 96 countries and distributing over $3.3 million USD in collective rewards. Last year we witnessed a remarkable surge, with a 68 percent increase in new partner submissions. This is a testament to Cisco and our partners being greater together and the boundless creativity, expertise, and fervent dedication that exists within our partner technical community.

Harnessing Cisco’s open platform, partners are empowered to leverage APIs and solutions, delivering substantial value to customers while carving out their own niche in the market. At the core of Cisco’s Partner Innovation Challenge lies a mission to drive unparalleled customer experiences through innovation, choice, and exceptional people. Each year, this challenge unites us in a shared endeavor to tackle challenges, cultivate software innovation skills, and optimize business solutions and profitability on the Cisco platform.

Prizes Await the Visionaries

An esteemed panel of business and technical experts, comprised of Cisco employees and representatives, will assess submissions based on innovation and creativity (30 points), technical achievement (30 points), customer benefit (20 points), market potential (10 points), and quality and presentation (10 points). The Partner Innovation Challenge offers substantial rewards: Global Grand Prize ($200K USD), Global 2nd Place ($100K USD), and Global 3rd Place ($50K USD). Furthermore, APJC awards a total of $240K (USD), with $40K USD allocated to each of its six regional winners in ANZ, ASEAN, Greater China, India, Japan, and Korea.

Expanding Award Categories and Prizing

Cisco partners can earn additional recognition and funding for their endeavors. This year, we introduce a new award category for Artificial Intelligence (AI), featuring a $200K USD prize. With AI remaining a focal point for partners and customers alike, Cisco celebrates those who leverage this technology to generate impactful outcomes. Notably, 41 percent of last year’s submissions incorporated AI, highlighting its significance in achieving desired results. Evaluation criteria for this category will focus on innovation, impact, Cisco alignment, technical feasibility, and scalability—each weighted equally at 20 points.

In the previous year, the Partnering for Purpose award category experienced overwhelming participation, with 88 percent of submissions falling under its purview. This underscores our partners’ dedication to innovation that transcends profit, aiming instead to make a lasting, positive impact on the world. The Partnering for Purpose category offers a $50K USD prize for the best Environmental Sustainability innovation, and $50K USD within the other categories: Digital Inclusion, Employee Experience and Economic Empowerment, and Crisis Response and Critical Human Need.

Important Dates

All Partner Innovation Challenge submissions must be submitted by September 6, 2024. Evaluation will be completed by October 6, 2024, with winners announced at Partner Summit in Los Angeles, CA, October 28 and 30, 2024.

As partners continue to harness the transformative power of programmability to meet industry and customer demands, we eagerly anticipate witnessing these winners shape and evolve their groundbreaking innovations. The Partner Innovation Challenge underscores our steadfast belief in the paramount importance of early collaboration in our journey with partners and customers, transforming possibilities into realities.

For more information, please visit the

Partner Innovation Challenge in SalesConnect

We’d love to hear what you think. Ask a Question, Comment Below, and Stay Connected with #CiscoPartners on social!

Cisco Partners Facebook  |  @CiscoPartners X/Twitter  |  Cisco Partners LinkedIn

"}]]  Partners are empowered to harness Cisco’s open platform by leveraging APIs and solutions while carving out their own niche in the market. The mission at the core of Cisco’s Partner Innovation Challenge is to drive unparalleled customer experiences through innovation, choice, and exceptional people.  Read More Cisco Blogs 

There are seasons in life when change is inevitable, and often, these moments propel personal transformation.

For me, one such moment was the passing of my mother in 2021. In the wake of this loss,… Read more on Cisco Blogs

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There are seasons in life when change is inevitable, and often, these moments propel personal transformation.

For me, one such moment was the passing of my mother in 2021. In the wake of this loss, I decided to return to school to pursue an Executive MBA with a concentration in sustainability. It was the perfect program. Tuesday night classes that fit with my family’s schedule, an in-person option at a faith-based university, and a two-year commitment. However, all of that changed after my summer courses.

My concentration required me to take Principles of Sustainability and Advanced Sustainability Study in New England. Although, after completing these courses, I found myself unable to close this chapter of my learning journey.

Both courses ran in parallel. Principles of Sustainability reviewed the history of sustainability and dug into each major practice area: renewable energy, green buildings, food systems, and more. The advanced study course utilized the book Changes in the Land by William Cronan, along with curated content and a week-long group travel experience led by the founding director of the Institute for Sustainable Practice at Lipscomb University.

The content, structure, and community were everything I needed, although I came in with a bit of an advantage in one practice area: food systems. My dad is a farmer, and I have been selling produce at farmers’ markets across Tennessee since before I can remember, but there’s always more to learn.

The trip to New England was nothing short of life-changing. We started with a voyage to give homage to one of the original sustainability champions, Henry David Thoreau. Like a dream, we were greeted by a local historian dressed and in character — an amazing experience! After our tour, we ventured down the path Thoreau likely meandered and took a quick dip in Walden Pond.

As the week continued, the classroom came to life as we trekked across Vermont and New Hampshire with many hands-on learning experiences. We visited cutting-edge recycling and compost centers, learned sustainable farming techniques, toured zero-energy homes, spent time in a modern design school, met with city leadership, toured a district heating and cooling plant, and even participated in a community workday at a sustainable living community, complete with composting toilets. (If you’re curious, they don’t smell!)

The last day of our trip was all about green buildings, the most relevant and impactful to my role at Cisco, where I lead solutions and product adoption within customer success for hybrid work, including helping our customers use our technology to turn their buildings into smart spaces. I was blown away by one site visit’s sophistication and innovation, and it was my first time seeing a geothermal system with radiant heating and cooling. And then, when we thought it couldn’t get any better, the trip concluded in the best way. In Boston, we toured the city’s most sustainable building. We met the property’s Vice President of Sustainability — an industry thought leader — and several architecture subject matter experts. We learned about solar PV, rainwater harvesting, green roofs, biophilic living walls, and machine rooms from the amazing team responsible for designing and maintaining the buildings.

As perfect as the stops were, the van rides with my classmates were the best conversations on the trip. We debriefed, shared research, and even geeked out in our respective areas of expertise — engineers explained the technical aspects, and non-engineers explained the business and operations. It was the perfect mix of diversity for a well-rounded discussion. I even have a classmate’s drawing on scrap paper outlining how Nashville International Airport’s (my home airport) HVAC system utilizes water from an abandoned rock quarry.

Shortly after returning from the trip, I officially declared a double major: MBA & Masters of Sustainability. This semester, I’ve added Water Management and Green Buildings to my MBA course load. In a few months, I’ll take another trip — to Austin — for my Sustainable Building and Construction course.

I look forward to graduating in December and seeing how I can leverage all this learning to help Cisco do even more for our customers in the sustainability space. I’m super grateful to Cisco’s emphasis on sustainability, the company encouraging us to learn and grow our careers, and the tuition reimbursement to make it possible. I couldn’t do it without my team for supporting me and carrying the calls when “Audrey had class” for the past two years. It’s been a life-changing journey that I’m excited to continue!

See all the ways we use the power of purpose to invest in our people and

our planet, and ultimately to power an inclusive future for all.

Subscribe to the WeAreCisco Blog.

"}]]  Global Customer Success Adoption Lead Audrey R. pursued her MBA with Cisco's tuition reimbursement support. See why she didn't close this chapter in her sustainability learning.  Read More Cisco Blogs 

This is the story of how the Juan Misael Saracho Autonomous University in Bolivia successfully overcame significant technological infrastructure challenges by adopting Cisco Meraki. To delve deeper… Read more on Cisco Blogs

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This is the story of how the Juan Misael Saracho Autonomous University in Bolivia successfully overcame significant technological infrastructure challenges by adopting Cisco Meraki. To delve deeper into this journey, we spoke with Henry Jurado, Networking and Communication Manager, who provided insights into the positive impact that this technology has had on their institution.

A tale of adaptation and continuous improvement

Located in Tarija, Bolivia—a city in the southern part of the country at an altitude of 1,834 meters above sea level—Juan Misael Saracho Autonomous University (UAJMS) is the most prominent institution in the region and has been expanding to various provinces in recent years. With a vision of being a leading and innovative institution, it has been implementing information and communication technologies since 2008, incorporating new solutions year after year. However, from 2018 to 2022, they faced several technological challenges, including those arising from the pandemic. This situation revealed several shortcomings in their capacity to support and facilitate distance learning.

With the previous technology, wireless deployment required significant technological and financial resources. Additionally, it took a considerable amount of time and human effort to extend the wireless network, especially in the provinces where there was a high demand for new network access.

Henry tells us that until then, the university had been using a 2012 technology based on a wireless architecture with a couple of high-availability controllers. This system initially controlled over 270 wireless antennas, and over time, they expanded this system to have more than 350 antennas deployed across the university campus. However, with the university’s growth, the need for a more robust and scalable solution became evident.

The turning point: The need for change

The initial technology they were using provided a quality wireless signal for the requirements of that time. However, as the number of network users increased, complications began to emerge. Many users attempted to connect to a single wireless device, leading to significant disconnection and load balancing issues. They reached a point where they recognized that the capacity of the current technology had reached its limit. Although the architecture had functioned efficiently for years, the surge in user demand and the increased number of devices that students now use (at least two or three devices per student) prompted them to opt for technology that could not only maintain the quality of the wireless signal but also handle high volumes of user traffic.

The rising demand from users and the growing number of devices employed by students prompted us to choose technology that not only ensures the quality of the wireless signal but can also support high volumes of user traffic.

Discovering Cisco Meraki

It was then that Juan Misael Saracho Autonomous University discovered Cisco Meraki. Offering a more robust and scalable wireless architecture, Cisco Meraki seemed to be the solution they desperately needed. Hoping to open new spaces and scenarios for students to connect to academic and administrative systems, the university decided to implement this new wireless technology.
With Cisco’s team’s help, the university began transitioning to Cisco Meraki, adopting a 100% cloud-managed wireless network infrastructure. The implementation was a resounding success, with significant improvements in network management and a reduction in operational costs. As a result, they noticed a vast difference in key metrics. The first is the number of users that a single access point can support with the new technology. Moreover, they now have unified network management through the Meraki Dashboard, which allows them to have complete visibility and make real-time decisions based on analytics.

Students using the Wi-Fi network

Strengthening the relationship with Cisco and looking to the future

Juan Misael Saracho Autonomous University has maintained a relationship with Cisco since 2006, and the implementation of Cisco Meraki has helped to strengthen this bond. Throughout the process, Cisco’s team provided constant support, ensuring that the university could fully leverage its new infrastructure.
Looking to the future, the university is excited about the opportunities that Cisco Meraki will continue to offer.

With the new technology, they were able to reduce times and operational costs. They can now preconfigure their equipment and manage everything from a main Dashboard. This has optimized their resources, guaranteed network access for all users, and improved the administration and management of their network.

Recommendation for others

Henry Jurado, Networking and Communication Manager at Juan Misael Saracho Autonomous University , recommends considering a brand with engineering capabilities that can help analyze various factors on a technical level, much like the Cisco team does. It’s crucial that the chosen technology is compatible and can integrate seamlessly with the rest of the infrastructure to offer a broader vision, enhanced administration and management, and the ability to make real-time decisions on the network.

Through the implementation of Cisco Meraki, Juan Misael Saracho Autonomous University has turned its challenges into successes and has dramatically improved the experience for its students and staff. This is a story of how the right technology can not only solve problems but also unlock new opportunities and possibilities.

Learn more about Cisco in Education

Did you know you can have all our education blogs delivered directly to your inbox?

Subscribe to our Cisco Education Blog

"}]]  In the highlands of Tarija, Bolivia, Juan Misael Saracho Autonomous University's journey with Cisco Meraki is a testament to innovation and resilience, transforming technological hurdles into a future of seamless connectivity and boundless educational possibilities.  Read More Cisco Blogs 

Earth Day was founded in the United States on April 22, 1970, to mark the emergence of the modern environmental movement, and it inspired more than 20 million Americans to take action. By 2020, Earth… Read more on Cisco Blogs

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Earth Day was founded in the United States on April 22, 1970, to mark the emergence of the modern environmental movement, and it inspired more than 20 million Americans to take action. By 2020, Earth Day had grown to become an international movement, with more than 1 billion worldwide participating in Earth Day actions.

More than fifty years later, the world is more connected than ever before, but we’re suffering from new forms of disconnection: from each other, from our health, and from the health of the planet.

As the Executive Director of the Cisco Foundation, I’m proud to lead a team that is focused on enabling our social and environmental systems to thrive. We partner with organizations to create and scale innovative digital solutions that promote a healthy planet and advance the well-being and self-reliance of underserved communities globally.

This social investment strategy is closely aligned with Cisco’s corporate environmental sustainability strategy, the “Plan for Possible,” which includes three main strategic priorities: clean energy transitions, circular transformation, and investing in resilient ecosystems. Cisco and the Cisco Foundation take a holistic approach to addressing environmental and social issues because these issues are closely intertwined. Communities that can adapt to a changing climate have the right skills, infrastructure and economic foundation to build resilient communities that can better withstand the consequences of climate change.

Please continue to read to learn more about these connections and how we’re investing in technology today to make a healthier tomorrow for our people, communities, and the planet.

Clean energy transitions

Clean energy transitions means accelerating clean and renewable energy adoption and global net zero ambitions.

Jaza Energy is revolutionizing clean energy access in Tanzania and Nigeria with its solar hubs. By leveraging digital tools and advanced batteries, Jaza addresses the energy deficit impacting 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa, where annual fossil fuel expenditure reaches $27 billion.

In Tanzania, 66% of households still use kerosene for energy needs. Jaza hubs offer a sustainable alternative to those reliant on kerosene and generators, illuminating over 11,500 homes and benefiting 90,000 people.

Jaza’s model provides opportunities to build livelihoods as well. They employ over 250 local women as “Jaza Stars,” employees responsible for sales and community development – further amplifying their impact. One Jaza Star said, “After working with Jaza, I participate in decision-making in my family,” highlighting the economic empowerment brought by these roles.

Jaza Energy exemplifies our dedication to innovative, sustainable solutions, aligning with the Cisco Foundation’s vision of sustainable community development and Cisco’s goal to accelerate clean energy adoption.

A Jaza Energy Hub

Circular transformation

Circular transformation means designing waste out of our business, and transitioning from an economy that extracts resources and eventually wastes them, to a circular one which finds new uses for products and their materials.

Green Wolf Costa Rica (GWCR) evolved from a movement of young environmentalists and technology professionals to support the social challenges that impacted the local community due to environmental actions from surrounding and developed cities. Since 2019, GWCR has removed over 70 tons of beach waste and planted hundreds of trees in collaboration with community and corporate volunteers.

GWCR offers climate education and activation efforts involving a technical approach to address the socio-economic inequality that puts the underserved community of Gaucalillo at greater risk to environmental dangers and social challenges. Gaucalillo is a coastal community located in one of the poorest areas of the country. Its geographical location, close to the mouth of the Rio Grande de Tarcoles, brings with it a significant problem of solid waste arriving on its shores.

In 2023 alone, Green Wolf mobilized over 20,000 volunteer hours across all of their projects, including 120 hours from Cisco Meraki volunteers in Guacalillo. With grant support and matching gift donations from Cisco and the Cisco Foundation, GWCR 1) develops sustainable souvenirs from wood and plastics recovered from the coastline, 2) explores solutions for plastic reuse, such as using it for filling in items such as hacky sacks, 3) collaborates with academics, skilled professionals, and local organizations to educate and raise awareness of waste impact among visitors and volunteers and 4) creates economic opportunities for residents of the community.

GreenWolf 2024 beach volunteer cleanup

Investing in resilient ecosystems

Investing in resilient ecosystems means helping humans and nature navigate a changing climate. Our value chains benefit from resilient ecosystems, both financial and ecological.

Human-I-T is at the forefront of creating resilient ecosystems by bridging the digital divide and combating e-waste. Through innovative solutions and a dedication to digital equity, Human-I-T has made significant strides in connecting students and their households with the technology they need to thrive in an increasingly digital world.

In recent years, Human-I-T has achieved remarkable growth in its mission to provide equitable access to opportunity for communities on the wrong side of the digital divide – all while supporting a circular economy model. By refurbishing and redistributing tens of thousands of electronic devices, including laptops and computers for students, Human-I-T has empowered young learners with the tools they need to succeed academically and unlock their full potential.

Human-I-T’s commitment to educational digital equity extends beyond device distribution. By providing students and their families with access to internet connectivity, digital skills training, and technical support, Human-I-T ensures that recipients are equipped not just with devices but with the knowledge and resources to navigate the digital world effectively.

In 2023 alone, Human-I-T distributed 60,000 devices to communities across the United States, trained 5,000 people with digital literacy skills, and diverted 3.4 million pounds of e-waste from landfills.

As Human-I-T continues to collaborate with businesses, organizations, and government entities to divert technology from landfills and deliver comprehensive digital inclusion programs, it exemplifies the power of investing in regenerative solutions and technologies to create a more sustainable and equitable future, ensuring that students have the tools they need to thrive in and out of the classroom.

Learn more about how Cisco and the Cisco Foundation support social and environmental impact in the Cisco ESG Reporting Hub.

"}]]  In honor of Earth Day, learn how Cisco and the Cisco Foundation are addressing closely intertwined environmental and social issues.  Read More Cisco Blogs 

Cisco’s advocacy community, Cisco Insider Advocates, brings our customers together and provides a way for them to make powerful connections, expand their professional and personal networks, and learn … Read more on Cisco Blogs

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Cisco’s advocacy community, Cisco Insider Advocates, brings our customers together and provides a way for them to make powerful connections, expand their professional and personal networks, and learn from top experts in their field. One of our goals with our advocacy community is to deepen our relationships with our customers. Our Q&A series allows us to shine a spotlight on some of our most passionate advocates as we learn more about their stories and backgrounds.

Today, we have one of the friendliest faces in the community joining us for a chat. I’m excited to welcome Wouter Hindriks from Avit Group BV.

Welcome, Wouter! It’s so great to chat with you today! Let’s kick things off by learning a little bit about who you are.

I am a 45-year-old security architect living and working in the Netherlands. I am married to Naomi, and we have two children, ages 12 and 16.

Where did you begin your career in IT? And what professional decision or opportunity brought you to your current position?

I started working part-time on an internet help desk when many people were getting online for the first time with dial-up internet access. I had multiple jobs and roles after that and worked in different countries before accepting my current position at Avit Group, a network integrator and managed services provider.

The threat landscape keeps shifting, with new bad actors, exploits, and attacks on the horizon. As defenders, we need to keep changing with it. Avit Group protects and monitors our customers’ environments for threats and contains incidents before they lead to a disruption. In my role as a security architect, I design our service offerings to ensure we deliver the latest and greatest products and services to keep users and data secure across the globe.

I spend time with customers, colleagues, and Cisco specialists to learn about evolving challenges and proven solutions to help improve our offerings. In addition, through the Cisco Insider Advocates community, I get regular updates from Cisco Talos, Cisco’s threat intelligence research organization, as well as insights from my industry peers and other security practitioners worldwide.

What an incredible journey you’ve been on, Wouter. How has partnering with Cisco helped you in your role?

Cisco has played an important role in my career since the beginning; I obtained a Cisco CCNA certification, which really helped my career early on. Working at a telco, you’ll encounter Cisco in the edge and core networks, and then, you’ll be pleased to see Cisco solutions in your data center, site networks, or security setup. The quality of documentation and customer support makes Cisco dependable—both documents and TAC support have saved my day (and night) numerous times!

It’s great to hear how Cisco’s solutions have been instrumental throughout your career! Let’s move on to our customer advocacy community. How would you describe Cisco Insider Advocates to those who aren’t familiar with it?

Cisco Insider Advocates is a global community for technology enthusiasts to connect with one another. New information, interesting articles about Cisco’s products and technologies, and posts from other members are always available. Participating in activities in this community also gives you points to exchange for cool rewards too.

The rewards are definitely a great incentive! You are one of our community’s “Rockstars” and are a part of the “Security Heroes.” What made you want to join, and how has being a part of this community impacted you both professionally and personally?

I joined the community at Cisco Live Berlin in 2017 and was immediately impressed by the sheer scale and variety of activities available. At the event, I was able to make the most of my visit by using the Cisco Insider App, which offered information on the accessible locations and pushed me to explore different parts of Cisco Live.

Then, after the Cisco Live event, I kept coming back to the community for the knowledge, conversations, and valuable opportunities. Being a member of this community has allowed me to help others and quickly connect with other experts in various ICT fields. As a Rockstar, I enjoy exclusive challenges, rewards, and events. By collaborating with community managers and participating in activities, I’ve contributed to blog posts, videos, and even spoken at Cisco Live and security podcasts. This enhanced my writing and speaking abilities and strengthened my personal brand, which helped me stand out to colleagues, customers, and potential employers.

We’d love to hear about your recent experience at Cisco Live 2024 Amsterdam. We understand that you attended with your daughter this year too. How was it sharing Cisco Live with her? On a scale of 1-5 (5 being the highest), how would you rate your overall experience this year compared to previous conferences?

Living just 20 minutes from the venue, Cisco Live Amsterdam felt like a home game. It was wonderful showing my daughter around and introducing her to everyone I’ve met over the years. I’d rate my experience a 4.5 this year as I had an Explorer pass, which limited access to technical breakout sessions. Nonetheless, the event was well-organized with good food, many booths, and knowledgeable individuals ready to assist. Interacting with Cisco’s senior leadership this time was really insightful; I was able to have brief conversations with Oliver Tuszik and Jeetu Patel, which enhanced my understanding of Cisco’s vision and allowed me to share my own ideas and challenges.

Through Cisco Insider Advocates, I was also able to meet with the Cisco U team to share my thoughts on a user’s training and educational needs overall and provide feedback on Cisco’s current certifications.

Since 2017, I’ve attended Cisco Live in Berlin, Madrid, Las Vegas, Orlando, and Amsterdam. It’s always a joy to reconnect with friends and meet new people. While the Cisco Insider Advocate activities add excitement to these events, the dedicated lounge for Insiders also provides a relaxing retreat during the busy event, and meeting community members and managers in person is always a treat!

Glad to hear you enjoyed Cisco Live this year, Wouter! As you mentioned, we had tons of exciting activities planned in the Cisco Insider booth and one of them was the opportunity to have a conversation with David Bombal, a British YouTuber and tech influencer. How was your interaction with him, and what topics did you discuss?

It was a delight to have an interview with David Bombal. We spoke about what it takes to get ahead in IT and what has helped me become a security architect. I emphasized the importance about staying curious, embracing challenges, and learning from every experience while actively participating in the community around you to facilitate growth and learning.

I’m happy for you, Wouter. It sounds like you had a memorable experience at Cisco Live this year. We’re almost at the end of our interview, and we’d love to finish with three things you can’t live without.

Besides the obvious answer: Wife and children? It would be:

New problems to solve
New things to build
New people to meet

It’s been a pleasure to chat with you, Wouter. Thank you again for joining us!

Read more advocate interviews.

You might enjoy this interview with Cisco Insider Tim Harmon.

Join us!

For our customers who have already joined our Cisco Insider Advocates community, say hello to Tim if you haven’t met yet. And if you’re a Cisco customer but aren’t a community member, consider joining. You’ll be able to:

Connect with peers in a gamified, online community.
Have an opportunity to meet with Cisco’s executives.
Share your feedback, questions, and best practices.
Get access to ‘insider’ content and resources.
Grow your professional and personal brand.
Amplify your company’s success story with Cisco technology.

Ready to get started?

Head over to the Cisco Insider Advocates Community and say hello!

(Requires registration / login)

"}]]  With Cisco Insider, Wouter Hindriks finds the community he needs to help build and grow a successful IT and cybersecurity career—as he assists others along the way.  Read More Cisco Blogs 

AI is transformative, driving huge productivity gains. The engine of AI — the data center — will grow substantially, maybe an order of magnitude or more over the coming years.

The industry went thr… Read more on Cisco Blogs

​[[{"value":"

AI is transformative, driving huge productivity gains. The engine of AI — the data center — will grow substantially, maybe an order of magnitude or more over the coming years.

The industry went through a change like this in the past, when the likes of Amazon, Google and Microsoft got so big they couldn’t use enterprise data center systems. Instead, they wrote infrastructure software and embraced a scale out model where that software could run on millions of servers. They had software teams that could write this code themselves, and the public cloud was born.

Now, every enterprise needs to think about how to get to an “AI-scale data center” and traditional appliances won’t get there.

I’m proud to announce Cisco Hypershield, the first truly distributed, AI-native system that puts security wherever it needs to be: in every software component of every application running on your network; on every server; and in your public or private cloud deployments.

To be clear, this isn’t a new take on an old idea, or the ‘next generation’ of anything. It’s a holistic system that — finally — brings the security advantages of a hyperscale model to enterprises. Think of it as a fabric of security that blankets the whole environment, not a fence blocking one aspect of it.

As the “hyper” in the name suggests, this architecture was inspired by the hyperscale model pioneered by the big public cloud providers.

To handle massive demand, companies like Amazon, Google, Microsoft and Salesforce redefined their applications from lumps of hard-to-manage VMs into highly portable containers that could run anywhere. They did the same for the underlying hardware too, by creating software-defined infrastructure that ran on their servers, rather than firewalls, load balancers and networking hardware in boxes at the edge of the network.

They converted these products into thousands of pieces of software — including security software — that could run on every server. They spent billions on this development but gained the ability to detect and respond to threats far more effectively, and to update and patch it all with remarkably few people.

Hypershield brings many of these advantages to the enterprise, for the first time.

It lets you embed security in VMs or Kubernetes clusters in public clouds, using an open-source technology called eBPF that hyperscalers use to automate patching and other time-consuming jobs. In the future, security can be inserted into servers we call DPUs, and on networking devices such as switches.

We’ll also extend Hypershield beyond the data center. Before long, a hospital will be able to secure its medical devices and other operational technology with Hypershield. Manufacturers will be able to do the same with the tech that sits on the factory floor.

Hypershield is a software product with an AI engine we’ve built from scratch. It makes what was previously thought impossible — possible. As a result, you can get started without having to rip or replace anything you’re already using. In fact, since Hypershield was built from the beginning around AI management, we think of it as AI-native, as opposed to an AI layer bolted on top of a traditional product.

Here are a few highlights:

Autonomous segmentation

Companies have been using segmentation for decades to specify which workloads and applications can access which parts of the network. But segmentation is hard. Customers tell us it can take 40 days or more to define segmentation rules for a single application. That’s way too slow.

With the AI-native Hypershield, we look beyond the network flows that other products focus on. The full scope of observed behaviors is informed by what’s happening across all the environments it’s protecting; what Cisco Talos teaches it about behaviors that should never happen, latest attack vectors, techniques, and vulnerabilities; what the system has learned and observed based on best practices that models how the customer modifies recommended policies; as well as model what the customer does when they step-in when under attack.

The result is higher confidence, data-backed recommendations, not based on what might have happened in the past, but what is happening now.

Distributed exploit protection

Vulnerabilities have always existed, but the situation is getting worse. Cisco’s Talos threat intelligence discovers hundreds of new vulnerabilities a year, and there are about 80 new CVEs reported each day. Attackers armed with stolen credentials routinely use tools, services, and access points to disguise their activity from traditional security products. Why hack in when you can simply log in?

Rather than rely solely on commercial vulnerability scanning products to uncover areas of concern, Hypershield goes further. It looks to see if a given vulnerability exists in memory or, worse, if it’s already being exploited in the wild. Also, it considers the value of the asset being attacked. The AI then assigns a score, to prioritize which of the vulnerabilities poses the gravest risk.

The AI analyzes all potential threats across your environment and prioritizes them so each can be dealt with appropriately with compensating controls, providing protection while giving security teams time to investigate and mitigate.

Continuous updates

Hypershield was designed to be self-upgrading and updating. Because of the distributed architecture, the eBPF agents that send in the telemetry also act as enforcement points, using a patent-pending design that brings the continuous update CI/CD model of the cloud to premises-based systems, whether at the network, workload, file or process level.

You can set the dial for autonomy within the AI too, increasing it as the system earns your trust with its ability to test, record and report everything. This remarkable, almost magical capability is only possible because it was purpose built with AI management, another example of being AI-native.

Ever aware, everywhere

Cisco is uniquely capable of turning Hypershield into a generational product that will change the security industry. Built within the Cisco Security Cloud, Hypershield, plus the processing, protection, and data capabilities within Splunk, will create a transformative hyperscale datacenter that not only leads the AI revolution, but protects it.

We’ll share more soon, but for now, you can expect Cisco Hypershield to be generally available in August 2024.

For more technical details, head over to Craig Connor’s blog: Cisco Hypershield: Reimagining Security

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