**Show Notes:**

In this episode, Bryan sits down with experts Austin Hawthorne and Michael Kowal from Nile to unpack the intriguing topic of networking as a service. Dive into the discussions that span from defining the technology to its market implications and challenges.

**Topics Covered:**

- Introduction to Networking as a Service:
  - Defined as tech always ready for business needs without complexities and costs.
  - Other definitions including broadband, outsourcing IT, and managed services.
  
- Market Expectations:
  - Influence of cloud adoption disrupting the market.
  - Need for alignment of spend based on business performance.
  
- Challenges:
  - For incumbent vendors to adjust due to tech debt, customer, and market demands.
  - Complexity of delivering network as-a-service compared to other as-a-service offerings.
  
- Speed Benefits:
  - Frequent software upgrades, faster fixes, and reduced failure radius.
  
- Network Deployment:
  - Standardizing approaches for predictive outcomes.
  - Secure networking involving zero trust and RADIUS.
  
- Automation & Configuration:
  - Addressing underlying complexities before introducing automation.
  - Reducing bugs through streamlined testing and the concept of a digital twin.
  
- Vendor Challenges:
  - Existing codebase sizes, feature support, and delay in fixes and new features.
  - Documenting profiles for new QS features and identifying bug dependencies.
  
- Security Aspects:
  - Approaches to network edge security.
  - Challenges between security and network teams.
  - The trade-off between risk, complexity, and cybersecurity insurance.
  
- Zero-Trust Principles:
  - Challenges with implementing dynamic ACLs, roles, and more.
  - Importance of encryption, authorization, and enforcement.
  - Limitations of traditional networking setups using VLANs.
  
- Firewalls:
  - Machine-to-machine traffic and security benefits.
  - Local switching and RADIUS and DHCP server roles.
  
- Network Access Control (NAC):
  - Definition and implementations.
  - SSO as a form of NAC and Zero Trust constructs for the network layer.
  
- Nile Network:
  - Payment models and Proof of Value (POV) offerings.
  
- Network Implementation & Automation:
  - Benefits of automation over manual approaches.
  - Introduction of soft bots and Nile service block.
  
- Closing Notes:
  - Visit the show's website, rate, and review the episodes, and reach out with questions, comments, or suggestions.

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**Links:**

- Nile Secure - www.nilesecure.com
- Join the Discord - discord.conft.show
- Driven - www.driven.tech

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