Drafting A Championship IT Strategy | EP 69

Kubernetes has become a foundational technology for deploying and managing containerized applications, but how does it actually work?In this WEI DevOps workshop, WEI DevOps Engineer Matthew Frechette provides a practical introduction to Kubernetes and explains how organizations can use container orchestration to deploy, scale, and manage applications across their infrastructure.Matthew walks through the architecture of a Kubernetes cluster, including the control plane, worker nodes, API server, etcd, scheduler, controller manager, and kubelet. He then explores how Kubernetes manages applications through pods, ReplicaSets, deployments, YAML manifests, and kubectl.The workshop also covers persistent storage, ConfigMaps and Secrets, Kubernetes networking, ClusterIP and NodePort services, rolling updates and rollbacks, and application packaging with Helm. Matthew concludes with a look at Kubernetes platforms available across cloud and on-premises environments, along with resources for continuing your Kubernetes education and pursuing CNCF certifications.In this episode, you'll learn:How Kubernetes and container orchestration workThe core components of Kubernetes architectureHow pods, ReplicaSets, and deployments manage containerized applicationsHow Kubernetes handles scaling, updates, and rollbacksApproaches to storage, configuration, secrets, and networkingHow Kubernetes Services provide stable application endpointsHow Helm helps package and manage Kubernetes applicationsOptions for running Kubernetes across cloud and on-premises infrastructureResources for building Kubernetes skills and pursuing CKA, CKAD, and CKS certificationsWhether you're a systems administrator exploring DevOps, an infrastructure professional learning Kubernetes, or an IT leader evaluating container orchestration, this workshop offers a strong foundation for understanding Kubernetes and its role in modern application infrastructure.Learn more about WEI DevOps & Automation and our technical workshops at www.wei.com.

Is your infrastructure ready for Frontier AI?AI is changing the cyber threat landscape, giving attackers new ways to identify vulnerabilities and accelerate attacks. In this on-demand webinar, WEI and Broadcom explore what Frontier AI means for enterprise security and how VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) can help protect AI workloads, strengthen cyber resilience, and secure private cloud infrastructure.Hear from Todd Humphreys, WEI CyberSecurity GTM Leader, and Jodi Shely, Broadcom Partner FCTO & Partner Technical Director, as they discuss AI infrastructure security and the role VCF can play in preparing for emerging threats.Then, switch gears with Vinnie Iyer, Senior NFL & Fantasy Football Expert, for draft strategies, sleeper picks, and player insights to help prepare your 2026 fantasy football roster.Want to continue the conversation? Visit wei.com to connect with a WEI expert or call 800-296-7837.

AI agents, machine identities, and cloud workloads are changing how enterprises need to think about identity security. As the number and types of identities accessing critical systems grow, organizations need new ways to control privileges, protect machine-to-machine trust, and manage identity risk.In this exclusive conversation, experts from WEI and Palo Alto Networks discuss how Idira, Palo Alto Networks’ next-generation identity security platform, addresses security across human, machine, and AI agent identities.Hear from Todd Humphreys of WEI alongside Scott Whitehouse, Chris Maroun, and Jim McClymont of Palo Alto Networks as they discuss:Why identity has become a major attack vectorHow zero standing privileges can reduce unnecessary accessSecuring AI agents as they interact with enterprise systems and dataThe growing importance of machine identity securityCertificate lifecycle management, PKI, and changing certificate requirementsHow identity security connects with Palo Alto Networks’ broader cybersecurity portfolioWant to continue the conversation? WEI is a Palo Alto Networks Diamond Innovator Partner with deep cybersecurity expertise. Visit wei.com/cybersecurity to connect with our team or call 800-296-7837.

Artificial intelligence is changing how organizations operate, but it also introduces new security, governance, and compliance challenges. In this exclusive episode, WEI's Todd Humphreys is joined by Anthony Seto of Palo Alto Networks and special guest host Mark Gilmor of Cyberify to discuss what security leaders need to know as enterprise AI adoption accelerates.The conversation explores how CISOs and IT executives can balance innovation with risk management while securing generative AI, AI agents, and enterprise data. From shadow AI to AI Security Posture Management (AI-SPM), the panel shares practical insights into building an AI security strategy that supports business objectives without compromising governance.In this episode, you'll learn:What Agentic AI means for enterprise security teamsHow AI Security Posture Management (AI-SPM) helps discover and protect AI applicationsWhy Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) is foundational for secure AI adoptionBest practices for securing enterprise AI while enabling innovationWhether you're a CISO, CIO, security architect, IT leader, or risk and compliance professional, this episode offers practical guidance for developing a viable enterprise AI security strategy.Learn more about WEI's cybersecurity solutions: https://www.wei.com

What does it really take to modernize your Security Operations Center (SOC) without increasing cost?In this episode of the WEI Tech Talk Podcast, host Greg Smith (Palo Alto Networks) is joined by Kasey Cross (Palo Alto Networks) and Todd Humphreys (WEI) for a candid discussion on the economics of SOC transformation. Rather than focusing on marketing claims, the conversation explores the financial, operational, and organizational realities of consolidating today's fragmented security stacks into a modern, AI-powered security operations platform.Topics include:How to build a compelling business case for SOC modernizationUnderstanding the ROI behind security platform consolidationThe hidden costs of disconnected security toolsPractical approaches to evaluating and migrating to a unified SOC platformOvercoming organizational resistance and change management challengesAI's role in security operations today—and where it's headed nextAdvice for CISOs, security directors, and executive leadership planning long-term security investmentsWhether you're responsible for cybersecurity strategy, security operations, governance, or IT leadership, this episode provides practical insights into reducing operational burden while improving security outcomes. Learn more at wei.com/cybersecurity.The content for this episode was recorded in June 2026.

How do you know when the network is actually the problem?For many IT teams, that's still one of the hardest questions to answer. Applications slow down, users complain, tickets start piling up, and teams are left trying to determine whether the issue is in the network, the cloud, a SaaS provider, or somewhere else entirely.In this webinar, WEI Solutions Architect Sébastien Mutel sits down with Justin Ryburn, Field CTO & VP of Global Solution Engineering at Kentik, to discuss why network observability has become a critical capability for modern enterprises—and how AI is beginning to reshape network operations.The conversation explores the growing gap between traditional monitoring tools and the level of insight today's IT organizations need to support hybrid environments, cloud services, data centers, and increasingly complex application ecosystems. Justin also shares his perspective on the current state of AI in NetOps, where organizations are finding real value today, and what the path toward autonomous network operations may look like over the next several years.Topics include:Why traditional monitoring often falls short when troubleshooting performance issuesThe difference between network monitoring and network observabilityAI hype versus practical AI use cases in IT operationsBuilding the data foundation required for successful AI initiativesHow Kentik helps organizations gain deeper insight into traffic, performance, and user experienceThe evolution from assisted troubleshooting to autonomous network operationsIf you're responsible for network infrastructure, cloud operations, security, or IT strategy, this session offers practical insights into how leading organizations are improving operational awareness, reducing troubleshooting time, and preparing for the next generation of AI-powered network management.The content for this webinar was recorded in June 2026.

For years, organizations embraced a cloud-first strategy. Today, many IT leaders are discovering that a one-size-fits-all approach to infrastructure doesn't always align with performance requirements, compliance mandates, operational realities, or cost expectations.In this episode of the WEI Tech Talk Podcast, host James Hilliard is joined by Craig Plevinsky, Networking Solutions Architect at WEI, and Jim Robbins, HPE GreenLake Cloud Services Partner Account Manager at Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), to discuss why organizations are shifting from cloud-first to hybrid by design.Together, they explore how modern enterprises can deliver a cloud experience across on-premises, colocation, edge, and public cloud environments. The discussion highlights real-world customer challenges, including technical debt, cloud repatriation, compliance concerns, infrastructure modernization, and IT resource constraints.What You'll Learn:- Why cloud-first strategies aren't always delivering expected outcomes- The rise of hybrid IT and hybrid cloud architecture- Modernizing legacy infrastructure without unnecessary disruption- Real-world customer success stories using HPE GreenLakeThe content for this podcast was recorded in May 2026.

What happens when cybercriminals stop breaking in and simply log in?In this episode of the WEI Tech Talk Podcast, Todd Humphreys, Cybersecurity GTM Leader at WEI, sits down with Patrick Haverty and Parker Gaines from Rubrik to explore why identity has become the primary target for modern attackers and why identity recovery is now a critical component of cyber resilience. The discussion is grounded in real-world incidents, including the NotPetya attack on Maersk and more recent identity-focused attacks targeting organizations through compromised credentials, MFA manipulation, and Active Directory disruption.The conversation examines how threat actors establish persistence, escalate privileges, compromise Active Directory and cloud identity platforms, and create recovery challenges that many organizations are unprepared to address. Todd, Patrick, and Parker also discuss the growing importance of protecting and recovering identities across hybrid environments, including Active Directory, Microsoft Entra ID, and other modern identity providers.Topics covered include:- Why attackers are "logging in, not breaking in"- Lessons learned from NotPetya, MGM, and other high-profile incidents- Active Directory and Entra ID recovery challenges- Identity resilience and cyber recovery strategies- Finding a clean recovery point after an attack- Reducing cyber recovery time objectives (RTOs)- The role of immutable backups and identity recovery- Building confidence in cyber resilience and business continuityIf you're a CISO, security leader, infrastructure architect, or IT professional focused on ransomware recovery, identity security, and cyber resilience, this episode provides practical insights into one of the most important security challenges facing organizations today.Learn more at wei.com/cybersecurity

WEI Solutions Architects Jay Cardin and Matt Leal break down the latest advancements in HPE Compute. This includes everything from edge-ready infrastructure to next-gen data center operations. WEI has recently been awarded HPE Triple Platinum status—a designation that reflects deep engineering expertise, advanced certifications, and sustained performance across compute, storage, networking, and hybrid cloud. Fresh off HPE Tech Jam, the discussion covers what matters most to IT infrastructure leaders: performance, security, and operational control across hybrid environments. What You’ll Learn: HPE ProLiant DL145 Gen11: A rugged, quiet, edge-optimized server built for retail, manufacturing, and distributed environments AI at the Edge: GPU support for computer vision and real-time processing use cases HPE iLO 7 Security Enhancements: Including FIPS Level 3 compliance and quantum-resistant encryption readiness Secure Enclave: Hardware-level protection for credentials and system integrity Direct Liquid Cooling: Closed-loop cooling innovation without data center retrofits HPE CloudOps Suite: Morpheus, OpsRamp, and Zerto powering automation, observability, and cyber resilience Why Does This Matter for IT Leaders? Infrastructure teams are under pressure to support edge compute, hybrid cloud, and AI workloads. This episode focuses on how HPE is addressing those challenges through architecture and platform innovation. This podcast episode was recorded in April 2026 at WEI headquarters in Salem, NH. For more information on WEI's partnership with HPE, visit wei.com.

In this WEI DevOps workshop, WEI DevOps Engineer Matt Frechette breaks down containerization from an infrastructure operator’s perspective. Matt starts with the fundamentals and moving into a real-world application.If you’re responsible for uptime, performance, and modernization, this session is designed to help you understand how containers fit into your existing virtualized and hybrid environments.What you’ll learn:- How infrastructure evolved from bare metal → virtualization → containers- Key differences between VMs and containers (and why it matters for resource utilization and lifecycle management)- How containers eliminate configuration drift and reduce OS overhead- Core components: container engines (Docker), images, registries, and runtimes- How to build and version custom container images using Dockerfiles- Running multi-container applications with Docker Compose- Persistent storage, networking, and scaling strategies in containerized environments- Live demo: deploying, updating, and rolling back a containerized web applicationThis workshop focuses on practical adoption to provide you a clear starting point for introducing containerization into your environment without disrupting existing infrastructure investments.WEI is a full-service IT solutions provider helping enterprise teams design, implement, and support modern infrastructure—from data center to hybrid cloud to DevOps automation.To access the full WEI DevOps for SysOps workshop series, click here.