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Geopolitics and cloud infrastructure collide in this eye-opening episode where we explore how escalating tariff wars are throwing data center construction plans into complete disarray. Tech giants planning massive cloud and AI expansions now face skyrocketing costs and unprecedented uncertainty as raw materials fall under new tariffs – creating a situation reminiscent of the COVID building materials crisis but on a vastly larger scale.

Meanwhile, European cloud providers aren't sitting idle. We dive into the fascinating "Fulcrum Project," a bold initiative creating what they're calling "Trump-proof" cloud services. This ambitious federation of smaller European providers aims to redefine data sovereignty beyond just data location to who actually controls the cloud provider. With initial funding of one million euros, they're targeting SMBs who want local alternatives to hyperscalers that might be subject to foreign regulations.

Security concerns dominate our discussion as we unpack Oracle's problematic handling of a significant cloud breach. Despite clear evidence from both attackers selling the stolen data and customers confirming their data was compromised, Oracle initially denied any breach occurred. This stark contrast between transparent security practices and corporate denial offers valuable lessons for organizations facing similar challenges.

We also highlight a concerning surge in threat actors scanning for vulnerabilities in Juniper, Cisco, and Palo Alto network devices, with one vendor reporting 24,000 unique IP addresses attempting to access their portals within a month. Plus, we try to make sense of AWS's puzzling new Route Server offering, which resembles Azure's Route Server but fits awkwardly within AWS's existing architecture – leaving us scratching our heads about its intended use cases.

Join us for these critical insights and share your thoughts on what cloud networking stories we should cover next time!

Purchase Chris and Tim's new book on AWS Cloud Networking: https://www.amazon.com/Certified-Advanced-Networking-Certification-certification/dp/1835080839/

Check out the Fortnightly Cloud Networking News
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fkBWCGwXDUX9OfZ9_MvSVup8tJJzJeqrauaE6VPT2b0/

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What exactly is cloud networking? This seemingly simple question quickly descends into a fascinating philosophical debate as we welcome back Nico Vibert, Senior Staff Technical Marketing Engineer at Isovalent/Cisco, to tackle this identity crisis head-on.

The conversation begins with a startling observation from Nico about analyst reports that group wildly different vendors together under the "cloud networking" umbrella. From there, we explore how defining cloud networking has become increasingly complex as technologies evolve and converge. We trace the origins back to AWS's introduction of VPC in 2009 and discuss how different cloud providers approach networking based on their unique company cultures.

One clear consensus emerges: true cloud networking must be API-driven. Whether consumed directly via APIs or through infrastructure-as-code tools like Terraform, programmability stands as a non-negotiable requirement. But beyond this foundation, the boundaries blur significantly when examining various technologies that might qualify.

Does Kubernetes networking fall under the cloud networking umbrella? What about Middle Mile providers like Equinix or Megaport that physically connect clouds? Are CDNs part of cloud networking, or something entirely different? We dissect these questions without settling on definitive answers, highlighting how technology's rapid evolution makes categorization increasingly difficult.

Looking ahead, we explore how AI is reshaping cloud networking in two critical ways: networks optimized for AI workloads and AI-enhanced network management. Cloud providers are investing billions in infrastructure upgrades, developing custom silicon to reduce dependency on GPU manufacturers, signaling massive transformation on the horizon.

Whether you're a network engineer, cloud architect, or technology leader trying to understand this evolving landscape, this episode provides valuable perspective on cloud networking's past, present, and future directions.

Connect with Nico: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolasvibert/

Purchase Chris and Tim's new book on AWS Cloud Networking: https://www.amazon.com/Certified-Advanced-Networking-Certification-certification/dp/1835080839/

Check out the Fortnightly Cloud Networking News
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fkBWCGwXDUX9OfZ9_MvSVup8tJJzJeqrauaE6VPT2b0/

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When tech giants make moves, the entire industry feels the tremors. Google's staggering $32 billion acquisition of cloud security company Wiz signals just how valuable security platforms have become in today's digital landscape—especially those with visibility across multiple cloud providers. With a $3.2 billion breakup fee attached, Google clearly believes regulators will ultimately approve the deal despite potential competitive concerns about accessing data from rival cloud platforms.

Meanwhile, Cisco and NVIDIA are combining forces to create the "Cisco Secure AI Factory," a turnkey solution aimed at enterprises looking to deploy AI infrastructure without the complexity of building from scratch. This strategic partnership packages Cisco's networking equipment with NVIDIA's powerful AI chipsets, offering organizations a direct path to AI implementation. The question remains whether enterprises will adopt these solutions while still waiting for clear ROI from AI investments.

The cloud landscape continues to evolve in unexpected ways, with HPE announcing workforce reductions despite strong revenue growth, all while battling regulatory challenges to its Juniper Networks acquisition. And as smaller cloud providers like NetEase shutter their services, organizations are reminded of the importance of multi-cloud strategies that distribute risk and enhance resilience. These developments underscore a crucial reality: in today's technology ecosystem, consolidation presents both opportunities and significant challenges for businesses relying on digital infrastructure. 

Are you prepared for the shifting terrain of cloud computing? Subscribe now to stay ahead of the changes reshaping our digital world.

Purchase Chris and Tim's new book on AWS Cloud Networking: https://www.amazon.com/Certified-Advanced-Networking-Certification-certification/dp/1835080839/

Check out the Fortnightly Cloud Networking News
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fkBWCGwXDUX9OfZ9_MvSVup8tJJzJeqrauaE6VPT2b0/

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The story of cloud networking rarely gets told from the perspective of those building it inside unicorn startups, but that's exactly what this episode delivers. Richard Olson, cloud networking expert at Canva, takes us behind the scenes of building network infrastructure for one of the world's fastest-growing SaaS platforms.

Richard's fascinating career journey began with literally throwing rocks with phone lines into trees during his military service, progressing through network operations centers and pre-sales engineering before landing at AWS and eventually Canva. His unique perspective bridges traditional networking expertise with cloud-native development approaches.

Unlike enterprises migrating from legacy environments, Canva started entirely in the cloud with minimal networking considerations. Richard explains how this trajectory created different challenges - starting with overlapping 10.0.0.0/16 addresses across development environments and evolving to hundreds of VPCs requiring sophisticated connectivity solutions. By mid-2022, these networking challenges had grown complex enough to warrant forming a dedicated cloud networking team, which Richard helped establish.

The conversation takes a deep technical turn exploring Kubernetes networking challenges that even experienced network engineers might not anticipate. Richard explains why "Kubernetes eats IP addresses for breakfast" in cloud environments, detailing the complex interaction between VPC CIDR allocations, prefix delegations, and worker node configurations that can quickly exhaust even large IP spaces. This pressure is finally creating compelling business cases for IPv6 adoption after decades of slow uptake.

Whether you're managing cloud infrastructure today or planning your organization's network strategy for tomorrow, this episode offers invaluable insights into the evolution and challenges of cloud networking at unicorn scale. Listen now to understand why companies are increasingly forming dedicated cloud networking teams and the unique skill sets they require.

Connect with Richard:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-olson-au

Purchase Chris and Tim's new book on AWS Cloud Networking: https://www.amazon.com/Certified-Advanced-Networking-Certification-certification/dp/1835080839/

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https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fkBWCGwXDUX9OfZ9_MvSVup8tJJzJeqrauaE6VPT2b0/

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Cloud security threats continue to evolve at an alarming pace, with state-sponsored actors developing increasingly sophisticated attack strategies. We dive into the emergence of China's Silk Typhoon group, which represents the concerning evolution of previous Salt Typhoon attacks. While initially targeting service provider infrastructure, these attackers are now leveraging stolen credentials to compromise enterprise cloud accounts through password spraying and API key theft. This progression demonstrates why encryption through provider networks is essential and why organizations must remain vigilant even when threats initially appear to target only their service providers.

Europe is making bold moves toward cloud standardization with the Sovereign European Cloud API (SECA) initiative. This collaborative effort between European cloud providers aims to create true interoperability across cloud platforms, potentially ending vendor lock-in for organizations operating in the EU. Drawing parallels to the USB-C standardization for mobile devices, this regulatory approach could force major cloud service providers to adapt their proprietary interfaces to maintain access to the European market. While technical challenges remain significant given the diverse service offerings across providers, the economic importance of Europe means this initiative deserves close attention as it could fundamentally change how organizations interact with cloud infrastructure globally.

The Kubernetes security landscape is evolving beyond traditional cluster protection with Aviatrix's launch of its Kubernetes Cloud Firewall. Rather than competing in the crowded space of intra-cluster security, this solution addresses the often-overlooked challenge of securing egress traffic and integrations between Kubernetes workloads and legacy systems. By reading the Kubernetes API to build security policies based on native attributes like pods and namespaces, the firewall helps organizations manage the reality that few environments are purely containerized. Looking to enhance your cloud security posture across hybrid environments? Subscribe to our podcast for more insights and visit https://www.cables2clouds.com for comprehensive show notes and resources.

Check out our book!

https://www.amazon.com/Certified-Advanced-Networking-Certification-certification/dp/1835080839/

Purchase Chris and Tim's new book on AWS Cloud Networking: https://www.amazon.com/Certified-Advanced-Networking-Certification-certification/dp/1835080839/

Check out the Fortnightly Cloud Networking News
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Get ready for a deep dive into the future of network engineering as we explore the interplay between automation, AI, and engineering roles. In this episode of the Cables to Cloud podcast, we're joined by Du'An Lightfoot, a seasoned expert and developer advocate at AWS. Du'An shares his journey in the tech industry, from network engineering to embracing the power of AI. As he recounts his recent experience at the Autocon conference, listen as we discuss the evolving nature of network automation and how it impacts engineering jobs.

This episode aims to debunk myths about AI replacing engineers, emphasizing instead how automation can enhance productivity, allowing specialists to focus on complex tasks. Discover practical insights into utilizing AI in networking workflows, and learn about the importance of mastering APIs and Python for effective automation. Du'An's layered approach to integrating AI into networking processes provides listeners with actionable strategies to enhance their capabilities.

We'll also discuss the emergence of smaller AI models and how they can serve specific roles in networking while exploring what the future holds for AI technologies in this field. 

Join us for an informative and inspiring discussion. If you're ready to navigate the changing landscape of network engineering, hit that subscribe button, share this episode with your peers, and leave us a review!

Du'An's Network Whisperer Presentation & Code:

https://d1wm3hz7ppam5u.cloudfront.net/

Connect with Du'An:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/duanlightfoot/

Purchase Chris and Tim's new book on AWS Cloud Networking: https://www.amazon.com/Certified-Advanced-Networking-Certification-certification/dp/1835080839/

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https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fkBWCGwXDUX9OfZ9_MvSVup8tJJzJeqrauaE6VPT2b0/

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In a world that continues to evolve at breakneck speed, staying ahead in cloud networking and technology is imperative. This episode jumps into a whirlwind of recent developments that could reshape the landscape of IT. We begin with CompTIA's unveiling of the new CloudNetX certification, designed specifically for IT professionals focusing on cloud architecture and security, positioning itself as pivotal in validating advanced networking skills.

We also explore the launch of Aviatrix’s Certified Engineer Program, which emphasizes the importance of hybrid cloud connectivity. This program provides valuable insights into connecting on-premise systems with cloud solutions, highlighting the increasing demand for seamless integration across platforms. Staying relevant in this era involves continuously updating our knowledge and capabilities; these certifications are significant steps toward that goal.

As we examine the multi-cloud networking market, Cloudflare’s Magic Cloud Networking is aimed at providing orchestration services—an essential need as companies increasingly rely on different cloud service providers. However, with changing dynamics comes the question of visibility and control over networks, a key concern that professionals must address.

In a fascinating twist, Microsoft has introduced a new quantum chip, Majorana, that promises to revolutionize how we think about computing. This opens a discussion on encryption security and the implications for current technologies as quantum computing advances. 

Finally, we confront a concerning report detailing an 82% increase in DDoS attacks, a stark reminder of the evolving security landscape aided by emerging technologies like AI. As we delve into these important topics, the call to action for IT professionals remains clear: be proactive, stay informed, and prepare for a future where technology will continually challenge our assumptions. Subscribe, share, and join us in these discussions as we navigate the exciting, yet complex, world of cloud networking.

Purchase Chris and Tim's new book on AWS Cloud Networking: https://www.amazon.com/Certified-Advanced-Networking-Certification-certification/dp/1835080839/

Check out the Fortnightly Cloud Networking News
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fkBWCGwXDUX9OfZ9_MvSVup8tJJzJeqrauaE6VPT2b0/

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Sam Zamanian, a principal advisory director at Infotech Research Group with over 20 years of IT and architecture expertise, joins us to dissect the critical decisions surrounding AI infrastructure selection. This episode promises to equip you with the insights needed to navigate the complexities of AI workloads, from data preparation to model training and deployment. With Sam's guidance, you'll uncover the intricacies of optimizing each stage, leveraging high-performance computing and AI accelerators to tailor cloud solutions for any AI challenge.

Choosing between cloud and on-premises infrastructure is a nuanced decision influenced by various factors. We explore the flexibility and potential trade-offs involved, weighing the cloud's convenience against the control offered by on-premises solutions. Whether it's the ease of rapid deployment or the need for customization and predictability, our discussion provides a roadmap for selecting the best infrastructure setup based on specific use cases, performance, cost, and security considerations.

The evolving AI hardware landscape brings both challenges and opportunities, as discussed in our final segment. With supply bottlenecks and market dynamics shifting, new collaborations like AMD and Microsoft's partnership are making waves. We delve into optimization strategies to enhance efficiency, highlighting tools like the DeepSeek model for cost reduction in training large AI models. As the AI industry rapidly evolves, we capture the excitement of future developments and the potential for broader hardware adoption, setting the stage for the next era of technological advancement.

How to connect with Sam:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-z-77028a59/

Purchase Chris and Tim's new book on AWS Cloud Networking: https://www.amazon.com/Certified-Advanced-Networking-Certification-certification/dp/1835080839/

Check out the Fortnightly Cloud Networking News
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fkBWCGwXDUX9OfZ9_MvSVup8tJJzJeqrauaE6VPT2b0/

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This episode dives deep into the ramifications of the DOJ's move to halt the HPE-Juniper merger, questioning whether this action genuinely promotes competition or stifles innovation. We also explore staggering investments in AI from top tech companies and what these might mean for future growth and competition. 
• Discussion on the DOJ's lawsuit against the HPE-Juniper merger 
• Examination of potential market impacts of the merger 
• Insights into AWS's and Google's significant AI investments 
• Analysis of market expectations regarding AWS's recent revenue growth 
• Concerns surrounding SolarWinds and private equity acquisitions 
• Calls to action for listeners to engage with their thoughts on these topics

Purchase Chris and Tim's new book on AWS Cloud Networking: https://www.amazon.com/Certified-Advanced-Networking-Certification-certification/dp/1835080839/

Check out the Fortnightly Cloud Networking News
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fkBWCGwXDUX9OfZ9_MvSVup8tJJzJeqrauaE6VPT2b0/

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The conversation centers on the transformative role of AI agents in shaping the tech landscape. Through expert insights and practical examples, the episode explores AI agents' functionalities, their implications for the workforce, and the ethical considerations that accompany their development.

• Introduction of AI agents and their significance 
• Evolution of AI technology from simple models to complex agents 
• Practical applications and examples of AI agents in various fields 
• Mechanics of building and utilizing AI agents 
• Considerations regarding workforce changes and AI's augmentative potential 
• Discussion surrounding the ethical implications and risks associated with AI 
• Encouragement for listeners to engage with AI agent development and experimentation

How to connect with John Capobianco:

https://bsky.app/profile/automateyournetwork.ca

https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-capobianco-644a1515/

Purchase Chris and Tim's new book on AWS Cloud Networking: https://www.amazon.com/Certified-Advanced-Networking-Certification-certification/dp/1835080839/

Check out the Fortnightly Cloud Networking News
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fkBWCGwXDUX9OfZ9_MvSVup8tJJzJeqrauaE6VPT2b0/

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