EXECUTIVE INSIGHT
Extreme Networks has a vision : One Network , One Cloud , One Extreme . The networking company is continually committed to developing and harnessing cutting-edge technology to improve the experience of its partners and customers , announcing several deals in 2024 – from its partnership with Wi-Fi Alliance Services to improve global outdoor connectivity , to publicising Extreme Labs for the first time to fuel greater innovation .
In order to gain greater insight , we spoke with Nabil Bukhari at the Extreme Connect User Conference in Texas in April 2024 about some of Extreme Networks ’ AI upcoming rollouts and building customer trust in enterprise AI .
Nabil frequently speaks about the role of AI and machine learning in networking and here offers insights into how businesses can successfully innovate with forward-thinking technologies .
Q . HOW HAS YOUR ROLE CHANGED DURING AND BEYOND THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ? WHAT CHANGES DO YOU SEE MOVING FORWARD ?
» My role at Extreme Networks has changed a lot . I ’ ve been with the company for almost five years . I wear multiple different hats right now as Chief Product Officer and Chief Technology Officer .
I ’ m also the general manager of our subscription business and that ’ s really the biggest change – not just for me , but for the future of technology leaders . We have reached a turning point with software-as-a-service ( SaaS ) and cloud and subscription models and different commercial models . Now , business leaders must understand technology . Technology leaders must understand commercials and business .
More importantly , both of these leaders must understand the human impact .
Leadership has changed , especially since the pandemic . It ’ s really at the intersection of technology , business and human impact . Leaders that do not embrace all three of them , well , their companies are not going to do well , it ’ s as simple as that .
Q . EXTREME NETWORKS HAS ANNOUNCED PLENTY THIS YEAR . HOW WILL THESE NEW OFFERINGS IMPROVE CONNECTIVITY IN THE LONG-TERM ?
» Technology for the sake of technology doesn ’ t make any sense . Human impact and technology must be delivered to improve that human condition and to enable those human experiences . So that ’ s the first and foremost thing .
Now , in that context , that is exactly what we announced . It goes into three layers . One is connectivity , the second one is security and the third one is management .
From a connectivity point of view , we made announcements in Extreme Fabric by increasing its scale . We are the only Fabric by any vendor that is end-toend . It ’ s the same Fabric that goes from the data centre campus into the branch . But the most important part is enterprises can connect all people in an application to the same Fabric . It has never been done before .
aimagazine . com 17