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Scott Harrell [Former Senior VP & GM of Intent Based Networking Group] 💬

Scott Harrell, the former Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Intent-Based Networking Group at Cisco, discussed several key points during the special call:

  1. Disclaimer and Role at Cisco:

    • Noted that the call may include forward-looking statements covered under safe harbor rules.
    • Mentioned his role overseeing the networking business for the enterprise, including products like Catalyst switches, ISR platforms, and recently acquired technologies like Viptela.
    • Shared his 16-year background at Cisco, including previous roles in security and enterprise networking.

  2. Enterprise Networking Group Initiatives:

    • Highlighted the group's focus on driving disruption and transformation in how customers manage and operate their networks.
    • Emphasized the shift towards intent-based networking, aiming to move customers from managing networks on a per-device basis to a more programmatic approach.
    • Discussed the goal of driving better architectural alignment between different product portfolios, such as Catalyst and ISR.

  3. Challenges and Opportunities in the Campus Market:

    • Explained that cloud adoption, IoT, and security are driving changes in network architecture and creating new demands on the network.
    • Noted the importance of addressing operational costs and improving the value equation for customers.
    • Mentioned the potential for significant cost savings and improved network management through intent-based networking.

  4. The Catalyst 9000 Series (Cat 9K):

    • Described the Cat 9K as a key part of the intent-based networking strategy, featuring Software-Defined Access to simplify network management.
    • Highlighted the benefits of the Cat 9K, including improved security through granular segmentation and the ability to prevent lateral movement in network attacks.
    • Discussed the customer adoption of the Cat 9K, driven by the need for simplified operations, better security, and the ability to handle increased numbers of devices on the network.

  5. Wireless Solutions:

    • Acknowledged the trend of wireless growth and its impact on the networking industry.
    • Stressed the opportunity to make wireless mission-critical and improve its ease of troubleshooting and real-time understanding.
    • Mentioned the integration of wireless solutions with the Cat 9K to provide additional value to customers.

  6. Aruba's Growth at HP:

    • Viewed Aruba's growth as a competitive challenge that Cisco is prepared to address through innovation and execution.
    • Noted that Cisco's wireless growth has been good and that the company aims to accelerate it further.

  7. SD-WAN Market Opportunity:

    • Discussed the potential of SD-WAN to disrupt the traditional ISR market and the broader Edge routing market.
    • Explained that Cisco sees SD-WAN as a positive transformation that aligns with the company's move towards a recurring revenue model.
    • Highlighted the value shift from hardware to software and the compelling ROI for customers adopting SD-WAN.

  8. Viptela Acquisition:

    • Explained the rationale behind acquiring Viptela, including the company's strong customer base, cloud-first approach, and cultural fit.
    • Mentioned the integration of Viptela’s code base with the ISR and ASR1K platforms to accelerate the adoption of SD-WAN.
    • Discussed the timeline for the integrated Viptela-ISR platform, targeting Q1 of calendar year 2018.

  9. Impact on Channel Partners:

    • Assured that Cisco is committed to preserving channel partner profitability in the transition to a subscription model.
    • Mentioned the opportunity for channel partners to earn additional revenue through incentives tied to software adoption.
    • Highlighted the potential for consultative engagements and managed services as customers reorient their network management strategies.

  10. Security Capabilities:

    • Discussed the security capabilities of the Cat 9K, particularly Encrypted Traffic Analytics (ETA), which can identify potential malware without decrypting traffic.

    • Addressed concerns about the adaptability of malware, emphasizing the continuous investment in threat intelligence and security capabilities to stay ahead of adversaries.