2012 and beyond…

By Dan O’Donnell

It is time to get my crystal ball out of the safe and see what is in store for us in 2012 and beyond. 2011 was a year steeped in gloom and doom with headlines about international defaults, political instability, hacktivism, cyber theft and unrelenting unemployment. I am here to tell you there is cause for an optimistic outlook for the future.

Here are some silver bullets for your new year:

• Network Security: Hacks and cyber thefts will continue. However, with advances in IPS, DLP, next generation firewalls and improved tap and aggregation architectures, networks can be better protected from attacks than ever before.
• Network Speeds: Look for rapid advancement in core network speeds. 1Gbps is quickly giving way to 10Gbps. The big networks are looking into 40Gbps and 100Gbps core links.
• Technology: Intel will introduce a new chip in the spring that has three billion transistors. That is “Billion” with “B” transistors on a single chip.
• Talking to Machines: You will be able to talk to your phone as much as you talk on your phone. Voice recognition interfaces for phones and other computing equipment is ready for prime time. It will soon expand beyond phones to coffee makers, TVs and video games. Less mouse, more mouth!
• Europe will figure it out: All parliamentary egos aside, the economic realities will prevail. The Euro zone is “too big to fail.” The strong will help the weak and new rules will lead to the beginning of a more stable and vibrant market in Europe.
• U. S. Oil Independence: This long sought after goal is becoming a reality. Over the next five years and beyond, new extraction technology in the Bakken Oil Fields will completely change the geopolitical relationship between the U. S. and the Middle East. Google “Bakken Oil Fields” for more information.
• Unemployment Improvement: I am an optimist here. As stubborn as the unemployment rate has been, 2012 is the year the fever will break. After all, 2012 is an election year. For more good employment news Google “North Dakota Employment.” Hint: 3.5% unemployment with 16,000 open positions.
• More Technology: Network Critical is shrinking size and cost of Next Generation Port Aggregators and Network Devices. Our new AFS solution for port aggregation, filtering and distribution has reached 48 ports of non-blocking 10Gbps access in 1U of rack space, using only 150 Watts AC of power. Now that is good news!

Network Critical is bullish on 2012. We will continue to provide the best products and uncompromised attention to our customers around the globe. We will work to make our towns and the world a better place in 2012 and beyond.

Finally, we wish all our partners and customers a prosperous and happy New Year!

Rich Man’s Wife, Livin’ on a Poor Man’s Pay

By: Daniel O’Donnell

Venture capital investing and large corporate acquisition activity has been on the increase in the network security products market. A few of the larger investments include Intel acquiring McAfee and HP winning a billion dollar battle for ArcSight. There have been many smaller investments and purchases by venture capital firms as well. Some of the previously independent network access companies that enable security appliances to connect to networks have also recently conceded control to venture firms.

Is this consolidation of smaller independent companies a good thing for network operators? It reminds me of an old blues song about misguided expectations. The song laments, “I got me a rich man’s wife, living on a poor man’s pay.” So, after the marriage, what are the expectations of the partners? The acquirer infuses the smaller company with cash for growth and development. Will that cash automatically create innovative new products and services? Will it open new markets? That is certainly the expectation. However, the new cash, higher expectations, new metrics, unfamiliar culture and increased scrutiny can also create an exodus of the very engineers who established the company’s uniqueness in the first place.

Over time, the acquiring company begins to wonder, has this exciting new venture become a rich man’s wife, buying class “A” office space, broader media presence and expensive marketing campaigns? The acquired company might consider whether the new suitor will continue to support their expansion plans or use their cash flow pursue parent company strategies, turning the rich man’s wife into a cash cow.

The moral of the rich man’s wife story is that network and security architects need to look behind the image and brochures for the substance and value that a company can provide. Before entering into a relationship with a vendor, make sure the expectations are realistic and clearly understood. There are three critical elements when evaluating a new product and company. First is a hands-on evaluation of the product. Test a production unit in the lab and, if possible, in the field. Second is the demonstration of uncompromised attention by the account team and support team at all levels in the organization. Finally, try to understand where the company is going. Look at their road map, understand their ownership and make sure they are financially stable. It is prudent with marriage, corporate partnerships and vendor relationships to get to know your suitor before tying the knot.

For more information about Network Critical & our “Uncompromised Attention,” please click here.

Enjoy this video performance of “Rich Man’s Woman” by Blue Plate Special recorded live at Red House in Walnut Creek, California. (Check out the drummer, he’s the author of this article!) Click here.