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. They discuss how tools are often improperly incorporated as well as why organizations shouldn’t rely on just a single person or team to affect change. They also explore ideas around Nokia Event-Driven Automation (EDA), a new operations platform dedicated to solving these issues.
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Amazon Music | YouTube Music | Audio
Network Automation is More Than Just Tooling
The focus for most enterprises of “work reduction” when it comes to automation projects has a very short lifespan. As soon as people are satisfied they have saved themselves some time with their daily work they have a hard time translating that into a more strategic solution. Stakeholders want automation to save time and money, not just make someone’s job easier.
Also at stake is the focus on specific tools instead of platforms. Tools can certainly make things easier but there is very little integration between them. This means that when a new task needs to be automated or a new department wants to integrate with the system more work is required for the same level out output. Soon, the effort that goes into maintaining the automation code is more than the original task that was supposed to be automated.
The guests in this episode outline some ideas that can help teams better take advantage of automation, such as ensuring the correct focus is on the end goal and not just the operational details of the work being done. They also discuss Nokia Event-Driven Automation (EDA), which is a new operations platform that helps reimagine how data center network operations should be maintained and executed. The paradigm shift under the hood of Nokia EDA can alleviate a lot of the issues that are present in half-hearted attempts at automation and lead to better network health and more productive operations staff.
Podcast Information:
Tom Hollingsworth is a Networking and Security Specialist at Gestalt IT and Event Lead for Tech Field Day. You can connect with Tom on LinkedIn and X/Twitter. Find out more on his blog or on the Tech Field Day website.
Scott Robohn is the VP of Technology at Cypress Consulting and Cofounder of Network Automation Forum. You can connect with Scott on X/Twitter or on LinkedIn. Learn more on the Network Automation Forum.
Bruno Wollmann is a Network Architect and Networking Expert. You can connect with Bruno on LinkedIn and learn more about him on his website.
Mike Bushong is the Vice President of Data Center at Nokia. You can connect with Mike on X/Twitter or on LinkedIn. Learn more about Nokia on their website.
Thank you for listening to this episode of the Tech Field Day Podcast. If you enjoyed the discussion, please remember to subscribe on YouTube or your favorite podcast application so you don’t miss an episode and do give us a rating and a review. This podcast was brought to you by Tech Field Day, home of IT experts from across the enterprise, now part of The Futurum Group.
