Author: Steven J. Schuchart Jr.

Steven is Principal Analyst for Enterprise Networking at GlobalData, covering networking hardware and software for the data center and enterprise, including switching, routing, SDN, SD-WAN, and related technologies. This includes NFV for enterprise, automation, AI/ML for networking, location services, and the convergence of networking and security. Steven will also be covering the new edge, as the network edge evolves SD-WAN and IoT and the opportunities around re-inventing the edge as companies move towards digitization. Steven's technology career began over 25 years ago in Fortune 500 IT for retail, where he was a network architect. Prior to Global Data, Steven has served as Managing Technology Editor at Network Computing Magazine, where he did his own testing and writing, Principal Network Analyst for Network Infrastructure at Current Analysis, and most recently at Cisco Systems, where he worked in Data Center switching, Cloud, and Enterprise Switching.

Why-Fi? Wireless in the Enterprise

by Steven J. Schuchart Jr., posted in IT Leader, Network
S. Schuchart

Summary Bullets:
• Wi-Fi 7 is getting attention and old, false arguments about 5G vs Wi-Fi are resurfacing
• Wireless in the enterprise should be based on business use case

In 2024, there will be a deluge of new Wi-Fi 7 products, starting at the access point (AP) for enterprises and consumers, followed later in the year and into 2025 by Wi-Fi 7 client devices. Still, enterprises today are largely installing Wi-Fi 6/6E, a trend that is likely to continue through 2024 – most of these decisions and installations were planned and budgeted before Wi-Fi 7 Aps were even available. That, combined with the lack of client devices that use Wi-Fi 7 in 2024, means the benefits of being a first mover into Wi-Fi 7 are largely down the road.

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Subscriptions are Not Inevitable – Just Like Duck Bites

by Steven J. Schuchart Jr., posted in IT Leader
S. Schuchart

Cloud computing changed the enterprise IT landscape forever. Cloud computing was a significant milestone in the subscription age. As a form of consumption, subscriptions have become common in IT and in our daily lives. There are so many subscriptions now that sometimes it feels like being pecked to death by hungry ducks. The monthly bills stack up.

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Don’t Let AI Become a Hammer and Every Problem a Nail

by Steven J. Schuchart Jr., posted in IT Leader
S. Schuchart

Summary Bullets:

• Artificial intelligence (AI) is the big, hyped technology right now and hasn’t even hit peak hype

• Don’t let the all-encompassing AI hype push your organization into implementation before proper planning

AI is the overhyped buzz technology right now and hasn’t reached peak hype yet. Investors are pouring money into startups for and around AI. Vendors and managed services providers (including cloud hyperscalers) are all adding offerings around AI. Some of these offerings are long planned and maybe only a little rushed – some involve adding the term “AI” to the product title and marketing material, but feature little more than they did before.

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Broadcom’s VMware Acquisition – The Worst is Yet to Come

by Steven J. Schuchart Jr., posted in Cloud Enable, Communicate
S. Schuchart

Summary Bullets:

• The playbook Broadcom is running on VMware is indistinguishable from the one used on Symantec and CA Technologies – after it promised things would be different with VMware.

• Acquisitions pivot around humans as much as money – a badly handled acquisition can destroy culture and methods, leaving the acquired entity a husk.

The saga of Broadcom’s VMware acquisition has progressed into the second act. Broadcom took full control of the company after the $61 billion transaction was finally approved by Chinese authorities. Broadcom’s treatment of two previous acquisitions, CA Technology and Symantec, generated significant worries by channel partners, industry watchers, and customers before the VMware deal was even completed. Both companies suffered restructuring, layoffs, divestitures, executive departures, callus treatment of employees, and priorities diverging significantly from what they were accustomed. Broadcom management, including CEO Hock Tan reassured everyone that this time would be different and that the company had learned its lesson. For some, this was a positive sign that VMware, a staple of IT in enterprises, would fare better and its essence and spirit would remain intact.

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From the Deep Freeze – Metaverse

by Steven J. Schuchart Jr., posted in Cloud Enable, Communicate
S. Schuchart

Summary Bullets:

• The metaverse fell hard because of how high it flew, and initial metaverse world implementations had severe technical and social flaws.

• Metaverse worlds may not survive, but AR/VR/XR will. These technologies have strong enterprise use cases and potential for more as the technology grows.

During our annual predictions exercise in late 2022, I predicted that the metaverse (AR/VR/XR) was going into a winter, a period of decline, frustration, and of course the airing of the metaverse grievances. Every technology goes through a cycle of hype and decline, the bigger the hype, the bigger the decline. Interest in metaverse was so high, companies were creating metaverse divisions, making bold predictions, and in general very publicly spending money. After all, Mark Zukerberg wouldn’t have renamed his company and spent billions on nothing, would he? The hype on metaverse was artificially boosted by another technology segment that specializes in hype and hot air, namely crypto/blockchain/Web3. Claims were that the metaverse couldn’t function without blockchain and cryptocurrencies, and it would be the first big ‘Web3’ application to hit the market. All the arrows pointed up and the fear of missing out got checks written and plans altered.

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Fear and Anticipation – Broadcom’s Acquisition of VMware Nears

by Steven J. Schuchart Jr., posted in Cloud Enable, IT Leader

S. Schuchart

Summary Bullets:

• Broadcom’s planned acquisition of VMware raises fears of cost-cutting and price raises, plus integration issues.

• The harsh handling of Broadcom’s last two software acquisitions, CA Technology and Symantec, has VMware customers nervous.

Broadcom’s acquisition of VMware is set to close on October 30, 2023, provided Broadcom can get approval from Chinese officials. This long-winded, anticipated acquisition has been a bumpy ride so far to say the least. Broadcom’s handling of previous software acquisitions such as CA Technology (formerly Computer Associates) and Symantec was brutal for both companies and customers. Broadcom began a systemic plan of cutting staff, raising prices, and focusing on a select batch of customers that provide the most income opportunity. When Broadcom announced its intention to buy VMware, it wasn’t met with surprised pleasure, but with a gasp of shock.

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Security is Driving New Levels of Competition – Are You Ready?

by Steven J. Schuchart Jr., posted in Secure
S. Schuchart

Summary Bullets:

• Growing emphasis on security as an integral part of any enterprise IT buy is being pushed by high-visibility break-ins.

• Vendors and service providers need to change sales and marketing to integrate security, and they need to change their own corporate structures to be competitive.

The story of enterprises putting security first or emphasizing security in their IT solutions is happening, and it’s happening now. My colleague, Amy Larson DeCarlo, Principal Analyst for Security Services here at GlobalData, illustrates this trend in a recent blog (As Ransomware Attacks Accelerate in Frequency and Severity, How to Respond is Just One of the Questions, September 25, 2023).

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The Sunset of IT Nerd Supremacy

by Steven J. Schuchart Jr., posted in IT Leader

S. Schuchart

Summary Bullets:

• After the mass adoption of computing, the IT department dominated as the final arbiter of every technology decision.

• Technology decisions are now driven by business needs but it isn’t armageddon for IT nerds. They can use their skills to solve problems related to enabling technical solutions.

When computing began and when it hit critical mass, technical knowledge, know-how, and experience was king. The IT department ruled the roost. Products and solutions suggested by other departments to solve their business problems were put under the microscope by the IT department and if they didn’t follow its operational or brand-loyalty/preferred vendor standards they were rejected. IT nerds (that is written with affection – I was one of them) used to pore over specifications such as speeds, feeds, frequencies, security, and storage. Vendors used to sell products, or an array of products in families, based on different technical specifications, and their messages were explicitly for the IT nerd. Overuse of ITIL and a certain level of technological arrogance meant that project implementation was very slow. Even updates were slow. IT nerds picked out products and solutions based almost solely on their technology use case.

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The Future is Glass

by Steven J. Schuchart Jr., posted in IT Leader

S. Schuchart

Summary Bullets:

• The physics limits of copper are looming in the next few generation of microprocessors

• Silicon photonics represents a possible solution for interconnections inside and outside the chip

The future is glass, and it’s not just meant to be a play on the old crystal ball. Well, maybe not *strictly* glass but it is with silicon photonics. Fiber optics are proven and effective in data communications. Between use cases such as metro rings, any Ethernet beyond 10GbE or needing more than a 300 meter distance, and more recently a push to bring fiber optic communications to the home. Fiber optics doesn’t have many of the drawbacks that good old copper has, and there are still new research ways to make improvements to commonly deployed fiber optic cable.

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EU Approval of VMware Acquisition Leaves Serious Questions

by Steven J. Schuchart Jr., posted in Cloud Enable, IT Leader, Network
S. Schuchart

Summary Bullets:

• Approved in the EU: The European Commission has granted approval for the acquisition of VMware by Broadcom.

• Caution is Warranted: Enterprises should be cautious about commitments to VMware until at least a year after the acquisition completes.

On July 12, 2023 the European Commission (EC) approved Broadcom’s acquisition of VMware for the tune of around $61 billion. The main concern on the part of the EC was that Broadcom’s ownership of VMware and its nearly omnipresent server virtualization software could create interoperability issues in the Fibre Channel host bus adapter (FC HBA) and Ethernet network interface card (NIC) markets. The deal gives assurances to Broadcom’s sole rival in the FC HBA market, Marvell Technology, as well as access to interoperability tools it needs.

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