The Art of Network Automation Strategy with Dan Cruz

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In this episode, we dive into the evolving world of network automation with Dan Cruz, Enterprise Architect at Koch Industries. Dan shares his journey from military IT training to enterprise architecture, offering valuable perspectives on transforming network automation from individual scripting to an enterprise-wide strategy. We explore the challenges of justifying automation investments to leadership, the importance of focusing on business outcomes rather than technical solutions, and the delicate balance between building in-house solutions versus purchasing off-the-shelf tools. Dan also provides practical advice on starting small with automation initiatives, avoiding analysis paralysis with data management, and creating cross-functional teams that combine network expertise with development skills to drive successful automation efforts.

Where to Find Dan Cruz

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-cruz-a1427249/
• AWS re:Invent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rSuagETP4I

Show Links

• Koch Industries: https://www.kochindustries.com/
• Open Telemetry: https://opentelemetry.io/
• Netbox (Network Source of Truth): https://netbox.dev/
• InfraHub by OpsMill: https://www.opsmill.com/products/infrahub
• Network to Code (Nautobot): https://networktocode.com/nautobot/

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