Russ Currie, VP, Enterprise Strategy, NetScout Systems virtually connects with Jeff Frick for AWS re:Invent 2020. #theCUBE #reInvent #AWS https://siliconangle.com/2020/12/02/covid-19-normalized-blended-network-approach-working-home-reinvent/ How COVID-19 normalized the blended network approach for working from home BY SHANNON FLYNN When the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the world, many business leaders had no choice but to have as many members of their workforce stay productive from home as possible. That solution quickly emerged as the safest option, particularly as infection rates and fatalities rose around the globe. However, that swift change required leaders to think differently and consider blending on-premises and cloud networks to support that change. “Technology has really stepped up and, in particular, the way that [businesses are] able to stand up services in the cloud, said Russ Currie (pictured), vice president of enterprise strategy at NetScout Systems Inc. “The automation and potential cost savings that they get from standing up in the cloud has really been a boon for most of our users. [The] high-end enterprise[s] that were a little bit slow to adopt now are just turning it on as fast as they possibly can.” Currie spoke with Jeff Frick, host of theCUBE, SiliconANGLE Media’s livestreaming studio, during AWS re:Invent. They discussed the changing landscape of cloud and Amazon Web Services Inc. technology, the increase in enterprise-level back-office ransomware attacks, a rise in East-West network traffic, and how AWS competencies enable the NetScout team to help clients harness the power of the public cloud. (* Disclosure below.) Equal workforce contributions despite location People working from home do not want to feel they are not making as many contributions as their colleagues working in offices, according to Currie. However, due to NetScout’s customer base becoming so much more reliant on the public cloud, there is no longer a substantial difference in what someone can achieve from their physical office versus at home or anywhere else. But with the increased threat landscape and attack surfaces as a result of the explosion of work-from-home environments, security has never been a higher priority. “The amount of DDoS attacks that we’ve seen has just grown incredibly over the past several months. And we’ve seen a good uptake with our on-prem capabilities to provide that kind of protection, right at the top of the security stack with our Arbor Edge Defense products,” Currie said. Since NetScout earned both networking and migration competencies from AWS, Currie pointed out that his company is well-positioned to prove to clients that the public cloud can provide the same level of control and competency that on-premises solutions do. Enterprises can keep delivering the same services they have for several years while taking advantage of the cost-saving and innovation opportunities that the cloud provides, he concluded. Watch the complete video interview below, and be sure to check out more of SiliconANGLE’s and theCUBE’s coverage of AWS re:Invent. (* Disclosure: NetScout Systems Inc. sponsored this segment of theCUBE. Neither NetScout nor other sponsors have editorial control over content on theCUBE or SiliconANGLE.)