Author: Admin

Scratch two things off the list! The Center for Internet Security (CIS) recently dropped the number of Critical Controls from 20 to 18. Some of us still think of them as the SANS Top 20, so that’s kind of a big deal. There really aren’t fewer things to do, of course. CIS updated the Controls to better address modern technology and to help you prioritize. There’s no magic in the actual number of Controls that…

What Are Microbursts and Why Do They Matter? Ever wondered why a switch interface shows an average utilization of well below wire rate, and yet egress discards are incrementing? Most likely, that interface is experiencing microbursts. Often, when multiple input interfaces simultaneously receive traffic destined to a single egress interface – a so-called “incast” traffic pattern – no problem arises because the instantaneous receive rate is low enough that the output interface can handle the…

We have all heard the maxim “Life Imitates Art”. It might also be true that Life imitates IT operations as well. A recent personal experience led me to a new perspective on how important it is to have proper Day 2 Operations Tools in the data center. In this blog post, I refer specifically to Nexus Dashboard Insights as the tool of choice for ACI and NXOS DC fabrics. About a year ago, I was…

We have created a new blog series that will focus on how our nonprofit grant recipients are using Transformational Tech. Each blog in this series will highlight a different nonprofit partner using technology to help transform the lives of individuals and communities. When it comes to healthcare, showing proof of identity is an essential step in accessing life-saving services. Many of us may take for granted being able to reach for our wallet and sharing…

I am ready for the day my grandkids ask me what it was like to live during the year 2020. I will tell them of the many cancellations I experienced, like how I missed my classes, my college graduation, and (maybe most disappointingly) a European vacation with my best friends. Although I will have many cancellations to tell them about, my experience as a new hire in Cisco’s Customer Experience Academy (CXA) won’t be one…