Fast IT WorkshopBlog Series

Exploring how responsive and programmable infrastructure helps IT leaders succeed.

Colin KincaidVice President of Marketing for the

Networking Software Group, Cisco

Meet the Authors:

Jim Grubb Vice President, Emerging

Technologies & Chief Demonstration Officer,

Cisco

Doug WebsterVice President, Global

Marketing and Corporate Communications, Cisco

Jeff ReedVice President &

General Manager, Enterprise Networking

Group, Cisco

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Fast IT Workshop #1 - Beyond SDN: Expanding the Conversation

Software-defined networking tends to

have a different meaning for everyone.

IT must deliver business value faster with a simple, smart and secure model.

#FutureOfIT

SDN can mean one of three things:1. Centralized control which is especially popular

with data centers2. Centralized control but with lots of distributed

intelligence, or3. Software programmability into existing

infrastructure, meaning more of an orchestration set

#FutureOfIT

SDN tends to have a meaning for everybody, but

the old way of doing things won’t work. It’s important to expand the SDN

conversation to include application-centricity, automation, virtualization and orchestration –

what we call Fast IT.

#FutureOfIT

IT leaders need to focus on next-generation infrastructure capabilities like

programmability, automation, and orchestration that will empower a Fast IT

model, as this will ultimately deliver comprehensive results.

#FutureOfIT

Fast IT Workshop #2 - Roadmap to Fast IT

Our four-step roadmap will help

your IT organization take critical steps toward a Fast IT

model.

#FutureOfIT

Step 1: Virtualize your Compute and Storage Infrastructure

Standardizing and treating your resources as a single, converged infrastructure pool allows dynamic provisioning and faster time to

deployment. Virtualization enables IT to provide services that scale seamlessly across

a standardized infrastructure.

#FutureOfIT

Step 2: Get Your Feet Wet with Programmability

In a software-defined architecture, management and control of the networking, storage and data

center infrastructure are automated through software rather than box-by-box components.

Programming network behavior is a valuable capability for

every organization.

#FutureOfIT

Step 3: Develop Increasingly Sophisticated Infrastructure PoliciesMaking your infrastructure application-aware with centralized automation and policy-driven application profiles delivers software flexibility with the scalability of hardware performance.

#FutureOfIT

Step 4: Implement a Cloud Strategy for the Intercloud

One-size does not fit all. A combination of public

and private cloud and dedicated servers working together delivers the best results in terms of

performance, total cost of ownership, investment protection, and security and

compliance.

#FutureOfIT

Fast IT Workshop #3 - What Fast IT Means for Service Providers

Service Providers are accelerating

transformation of their architecture and will benefit through new

revenue streams, lower operating expenses and

increase agility.

#FutureOfIT

To thrive in a constantly changing environment, SPs need to embrace an architecture that

enables them to transform their business… essentially to

bring the best of their network capabilities and blend

them with those from a web company to effectively

become a Fast SP.#FutureOfI

T

Cisco’s Evolved Services Platform and the Evolved Programmable Network benefit SPs

by:

1. Generating new revenue streams2. Reduce operating expenses to increase

efficiency3. Increased agility

#FutureOfIT

Fast IT Workshop #4 - Innovative Infrastructure Management: Challenges and Opportunities

“In a world that is moving so fast,

today’s preparation determines who wins and loses tomorrow.”

#FutureOfIT

Challenge #1: Be More AgileThe bottom line is that IT must move faster

to deliver faster

#FutureOfIT

Challenge #2: SecuritySecurity is more important than ever

before. With a Fast IT model, security extends beyond the network to data center endpoints, virtual

infrastructure, and mobile.

#FutureOfIT

Challenge #3: ComplexityThe increasing number of connections and growth in technology means everything is a

lot more complex. A Fast IT strategy mitigates

manyof these concerns.

#FutureOfIT

Challenge #4: CostAs complexity increases, IT leaders are under

pressure to bring down costs while complexity is driving costs up. A Fast IT model combines

existing infrastructures to support current functions cost-effectively while at the same time

promoting new offerings and services.

#FutureOfIT

Fast IT Workshop #2 - Roadmap to Fast IT – Jim GrubbFast IT Workshop #3 - What Fast IT Means for Service Providers – Doug Webster

Read the Entire Fast IT Workshop Blog Series

Fast IT Workshop #1 - Beyond SDN: Expanding the Conversation – Colin Kincaid

#FutureOfIT

Fast IT Workshop #4 - Innovative Infrastructure Management: Challenges and Opportunities – Jeff Reed

See how your organization can prepare with a Fast IT model

#FutureOfIT