What is Marvis?

Business networks have exploded in scope over the past few years. Networks now include numerous connections, including IoT devices, data, and applications. As network infrastructure becomes increasingly complex, IT teams turn to artificial intelligence and machine learning to manage and troubleshoot network traffic.

One such solution is Marvis, a network AI from Juniper Mist. Marvis is a Virtual Network Assistant (VNA)—essentially a 24x7x365 support “robot.” Marvis proactively alerts the network admin of potential issues, sometimes before customer support tickets arrive. Additionally, Marvis can perform many tasks a tier-one customer support agent can do, such as labeling or elevating tickets to tier-two agents or remediating the issue without human intervention.

Unlike other vendor offerings, Juniper Mist (a 2023 leader in Gartner’s Magic Quadrant™ for networking) prioritizes customer service rather than simply indicating if a network function or device is “up.” Marvis can auto-generate trouble tickets sent on behalf of connected devices that are “Mist-ified” or running Juniper Mist AI. Marvis also intelligently routes traffic and can “self-drive” to autocorrect simple network issues.

Implementing Marvis across your network takes trial and error, which can be expedited with a managed service partner like CBTS. This post will discuss the benefits of Marvis, as well as its capabilities and limitations.

What can Marvis do?

The goals of Marvis are to increase the customer’s quality of experience and lower the number of support tickets, especially over time as Marvis “learns.” 

Enhanced troubleshooting via NLP interfaces

Like ChatGPT or another generative AI tool might work, network admin and IT professionals interact with Marvis through common sense questions or prompts. Users can ask questions like “Which users are having issues?” or “How many switches are currently connected to the network?” Starting options from Marvis include “Troubleshoot,” “Search,” “Documentation,” and “Marvis Actions,” which quickly provide visibility into connectivity, switches, WAN edges, APs, and more.

Remediation and suggestions

Marvis offers many of the same actions that a tier-one service agent might offer, such as identifying common issues and providing suggestions for remediation. For example, Marvis can pinpoint a malfunctioning cable and recommend a solution.

Self-drive

The autonomous and learning aspects of Juniper Mist AI are where things get exciting. Marvis can self-correct known issues and learn new corrections over time, improving uptime. The AI still needs the hand of an experienced technician to guide and teach it. However, Marvis enables the network admin and SysOps to become more efficient, and human operators—in turn—make Marvis grow. Collaboration between IT admin and the AI takes its functionality to the next level.

Learn more about AI for customer experience: How embracing the latest AIops technology can improve customer experience

Inverting the support model

In the traditional IT support model, tier-one agents process and log service tickets from customers. A Tier 1’s primary role is to forward tickets to the correct Tier 2 agent who can handle the service request, but they can also manage fundamental functions like password resets. Marvis takes on the Tier 1 support staff role by handling rudimentary functions, suggesting remediating actions for users, and elevating unresolved tickets to Tier 2.

The traditional IT support workflow

The Marvis support workflow

Limitations of Marvis

Marvis is still an emerging technology with some limitations. Juniper Mist AI cannot remediate any device that does not have a Marvis license. Marvis can only remediate itself, in other words. It also currently cannot create a firewall.

However, despite the limitations, Marvis can help its users gain visibility into non-Juniper-enabled network devices such as DHCP, DNS, and firewall policies.

Download the info sheet: Modernize your network with Marvis by Juniper Mist

Navigating Juniper Mist AI implementation with CBTS

As Juniper Mist puts it, up is not the same thing as good. By proactively identifying, reporting, and remediating network issues—often before customers notice them—Marvis prioritizes the end user’s experience. Marvis helps network admin and customer support enhance their troubleshooting efforts by pinpointing issues through an NLP interface.

However, an AI is only as good as its data set, configuration, and implementation. That’s why you need an experienced IT partner to launch Marvis successfully. Marvis is deployed as a license. It’s not included with Juniper Mist. However, when CBTS deploys Juniper Mist, the Marvis license is automatically included.

Fully managed NaaS solutions like Juniper Mist NaaS with Marvis AI from CBTS provide businesses with an agile, scalable, resilient approach to maintaining enterprise-wide networks. By transferring networking responsibilities to the connectivity experts at CBTS, organizations can tap into feature-rich capabilities and cost savings that can simplify operations, improve UX, and ultimately boost the bottom line. As infrastructure requirements rapidly evolve, the skilled engineers at CBTS make network management more affordable and less complex, freeing IT teams to focus on the future of their business.

CBTS has assisted hundreds of satisfied customers through the evolution of business networking for decades, guiding our customers through adopting efficient network services that boost success. Get in touch to learn more about deploying Juniper Mist AI on your network.

The evolution of modern cloud computing is fast-moving. In the last decade alone, the Cloud has grown from a mere extension of data center infrastructure to a unique means of supporting next-generation, cloud native applications and services. There are many ways a company can leverage this transformational evolution to reach its full potential, but first, its legacy IT infrastructure must undergo a modernization journey.

Cloud computing is no longer simply a tool, but a full-blown business driver that propels measurable outcomes. Enterprises turn to the Cloud for a wide range of infrastructure services that support critical applications, which include everything from e-commerce, social media, and healthcare to emerging Internet of Things (IoT) services such as predictive analytics and machine learning.

Modernization of IT infrastructure is now a core concern for enterprise organizations in all verticals. This blog will review the current factors driving infrastructure modernization, as well as the transformational benefits of modernization.

Drivers of IT infrastructure modernization

Why cloud computing differs from traditional legacy data centers

Most cloud providers employ highly sophisticated load balancing and resource provisioning software that scales on demand and is elastic in nature. This approach to computing can create conflicts for applications designed for the more fixed relationships found in legacy infrastructure. Additionally, organizations can realize dramatic efficiencies by refactoring legacy applications to be cloud native, which automates much of the day-to-day management.

IT infrastructure modernization on the virtual layer

Container-based solutions are fundamentally changing the relationship between hardware and software to provide new levels of portability and application integration. As a result, companies are exploring new approaches to software development, such as microservices, which are tiny slices of code that can be mixed and matched using open APIs to produce entirely new services on the fly. Microservices are starting to invigorate data environments across the board, from traditional manufacturing and commercial settings to advanced scientific research.

Constantly evolving application development and deployment

There is no one way to approach the interdependencies of enterprise applications. All apps are deployed and managed differently—not to mention the varied roles they play in our lives. The ever-evolving nature of the Cloud deepens that complexity. Enterprises must turn to application modernization to support newer methods of continuous integration and continuous development (CI/CD) found in emerging DevOps models.

Also read: The methods and motivations behind cloud application modernization efforts

Integration drives business development

Modern businesses must roll out new services and features at a steady pace to prevent drawn-out development cycles that may lead to disrupted services, poor performance, and unhappy users. In today’s digital economy, it is not about the big beating the small, it is about the fast beating the slow. We’ve already seen how a simple mobile app can upend long-standing industries like transportation and hospitality. The need for constant innovation will only increase as connectivity expands to everyday items under IoT.

In this fast-paced environment, those who can push new services to consumers quickly and free of complications will surpass their competitors. But, to fully enjoy the benefits of infrastructure modernization, organizations must transition into efficient data environments.

The transition to efficient data ecosystems

DevOps can be kicked into high gear with a container’s ability to move services and microservices from one computing environment to another without any re-coding. Previously, this was not possible in even the most advanced non-containerized virtual environment. Meanwhile, continuous delivery methodologies are enhanced by cloud-native application development that leverages capabilities like IT orchestration and automated scripting. Thus, IT infrastructure modernization became mission-critical to the enterprise.

The benefits of infrastructure modernization

Forward-leaning organizations that take the plunge into application modernization will find an improvement in the amount of time developers spend enhancing business value. That benefit is part and parcel of prioritizing application function within the business and for customers, users, and clients. This translates into:

• Greater flexibility for resource spending.
• Significantly lower development and operational costs.
• The ability to tap into new revenue streams and new market opportunities.

Organizations that lag with infrastructure modernization will struggle as competitors may already be ahead of the curve. With 5G connectivity poised to push IoT functionality to an entirely new level in the next decade, enterprises are under pressure to transition to cloud-native IT sooner rather than later.

A holistic model for IT infrastructure modernization

IT teams often struggle to know where to start with infrastructure modernization. In response, CBTS has developed a holistic framework that simplifies the process. The APO method systematically examines and prioritizes the Applications, Platforms, and Operations of a business, implementing best practices at each stage.

Also read: CBTS commitment to outstanding IT service delivery drives success

Start your modernization journey with CBTS

The right partner for your company will help you achieve the benefits of infrastructure modernization  and achieve its most powerful results. CBTS is poised to help implement IT infrastructure modernization changes quickly, effectively, and without disrupting existing services. Over the years, we have fine-tuned our powerful APO approach to impactful partnerships to guide you through the IT infrastructure modernization process with minimal friction.

Our experts have the certifications and experience implementing next-generation, cloud-native applications for organizations of all sizes and industries. Through the CBTS infrastructure delivery model, you can improve your time to market, eliminate downtime, and leverage automation to ease your management burdens.

Learn more: Download our info sheet to learn how CBTS can help your organization embrace a digital transformation

Contact us today to begin your application modernization journey.

Most business leaders understand the importance of updating their IT infrastructure. Still, many are grappling with how best to approach cloud application modernization efforts. The secret may lie in the growing abundance of cloud-based applications and networking solutions.

The Cloud isn’t merely an improvement upon existing database technology; it’s an entirely distinct networking environment that demands a new approach from organizations that hope to capitalize on it. According to a recent IDG survey, nearly 90% of responding IT executives expect IT modernization to significantly impact long-term growth. Another 90% report that digital transformation has accelerated over the past 18 months. As cloud computing becomes even more commonplace among businesses of all sizes, modernization will become crucial for readying your enterprise to tap into the Cloud. This post will explore why businesses seek to modernize their applications through the Cloud and the methodology behind various types of modernization.

What is cloud application modernization?

Application modernization refers to migrating legacy applications to the Cloud through various methods. The Cloud is constantly evolving, encompassing “multi-cloud architectures” that function differently from traditional data centers. For this reason, applications designed on legacy networking hardware must adapt to coexist with “the new Cloud.”

Revolutionary developments are also occurring in the virtual layers that bridge hardware and software, creating “microservices” that are leading to a new frontier of application management, integration, and portability. This signals a genuine change to the nature of IT across multiple industries, from research and manufacturing to commercial enterprises.

On top of being deployed in new ways, applications are now playing very different roles in daily life as the Cloud plays a more significant part in the modern world. With information constantly streaming through cyberspace, legacy networking infrastructures are struggling to keep up with the intensifying demands of application support. The lesson is that while applications grow in complexity, so must the systems that allow them to function. These myriad factors are adding up to a global data environment that is more connected and efficient than ever before. Developers can launch into production easily and with little delay, thanks to containerized microservices that enable smooth transitions between computing environments. However, these advances are only possible when an enterprise embraces cloud-native development systems and infrastructure. Teams must take care to migrate to these systems without compromising regular business operations.

Why modernize?

Initially, some elements of the IT industry assumed that cloud computing would be limited to smoothing out workload traffic that would bog down legacy infrastructure and speed up program deployment. However, the common understanding of the Cloud’s capabilities has evolved, and savvy enterprise leaders should be aware of the Cloud’s utility in various applications, including e-commerce, networked devices, and more.

In the IDG survey of IT professionals, 65% of respondents place high importance on accelerating application development and modernization to enable innovation, with 32% ranking it as “somewhat important.”

However, many respondents also reported difficulty in their modernization efforts, specifically regarding protecting their data and managing security risks.

Learn more: Supporting secure business solutions on the Cloud

Approaches to cloud application modernization

There are multiple avenues for organizations to approach modernization. DevOps, an organizational transformation practice that involves close coordination of teams and adopting automation wherever possible, is the most common method. In a nutshell, DevOps is a set of practices that merges software development and IT operations. Other technologies driving cloud application modernization include:

Containerization

Containers are highly portable development environments. Applications can be moved to or developed in containers and later ported to their final home in the Cloud or multiple clouds. Highly scalable, these continuously running environments are a good choice when significant processing power is needed.

Microservices

One-off functions are customized to run only when needed when utilizing a “serverless” approach. Microservices are a vital component in automation and software orchestration.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Creating more intelligent applications and processes is one way for businesses to future-proofing their offerings. Powered by AI and ML, applications can address gaps in automation, marketing, and security, just to name a few. According to the IDG survey, nearly half of respondents (48%) say optimizing data and analytics capabilities (AI, ML, IoT) for innovation is the top enterprise IT goal in 2022.

Common challenges in implementation

The struggle to modernize and keep up with the ever-changing world of cloud computing has more than its share of difficulties. Companies surveyed by IDG indicated that putting into action the many crucial improvements necessary to keep pace presents a significant challenge:

• 44% reported gaps in tech skills and knowledge
• 39% said that infrastructure is not optimized to support digital dexterity
• 39% reported inadequate data analysis for decision making

Learn More: Importance and benefits of app modernization

Future-proof your business with cloud application modernization

With these challenges in mind, today’s enterprises need to be aware of their options regarding technology partners who can empower application modernization efforts. The CBTS Application Services team has a proven track record of working closely with clients in many different verticals to modernize their applications for cloud environments.

The CBTS methodology aligns your business plan to your technology plan, nurtures constant feedback on functionality, and guides you through a customized roadmap that outlines each process step. Our agile development process shortens time to market and creates maximum visibility while managing applications in a cloud-first environment. And our fully hosted service options unburden IT teams, creating time and resources for you to focus on innovation. 

Contact us for more information on how CBTS can enable your application modernization strategies.

The era of 5G communications is about to break wide open on the world economy, putting untold amounts of data in the hands of businesses and consumers and unleashing a vast array of new services, some of which will require uninterrupted connectivity to perform vital functions.

The fact remains, however, that cellular coverage on which these services depend is spotty at best within most buildings. Conventional materials like steel and concrete act as RF blockers, as do newer materials like eco-friendly windows. If building owners and managers do not take steps now to improve coverage within their facilities, critical applications are likely to fail. This will negatively impact not just the user’s quality of life but will also diminish the value of owned property, whether it is used for housing, retail space, entertainment, manufacturing, or some other purpose.

The DAS advantage

While it may be tempting to simply place a cellular repeater on top of a building or utilize Wi-Fi extenders inside, both of these approaches provide limited improvements at best, particularly as usage and data traffic increase, which they most surely will under 5G. A more compelling solution is the Distributed Antenna System (DAS), a fiber-based technology that utilizes small, low-power antenna nodes to push connectivity into dead spots without hampering performance with latency and interference issues.

Unlike a repeater or booster system, DAS does not amplify or extend an existing cellular service. Instead, it generates its own coverage, which can then be amplified to the cellular carrier’s network to provide stable, reliable service from virtually anywhere.

DAS is also easy to install and inexpensive to operate, with many solutions costing as little as $1.50 per square foot. At the same time, it is highly scalable, enabling resources to be more easily matched to data demands. This allows for rapid and simplified installation coupled with low operating costs because the network does not need to be over-provisioned with resources that sit idle most of the time during periods of low demand.

Yet another advantage that DAS has over Wi-Fi or cellular repeaters is the ability to locate users on a far more granular level. This offers advantages when the need for emergency services arises or when location-based applications are employed, and it allows network operators to more accurately analyze where data is being consumed within the building in order to deliver high Quality of Service (QoS) and to plan for future growth.

The right managed service partner

Few building owners and managers have the expertise to effectively manage high-tech communications networks, however, which is why finding the right partner to implement a DAS solution is essential. CBTS has been at the forefront of advanced network technologies for more than two decades and can deploy experienced engineering teams to provide a detailed analysis of indoor networking needs and then devise a DAS system that generates optimal coverage at minimal costs.

Whether the solution is deployed under a traditional infrastructure model or under a DAS-as-a-Service (DASaaS) model, CBTS offers full installation and integration with carrier networks, as well as 24×7 support and operations, plus detailed reporting and analysis to ensure the system remains in peak working condition even as data demands shift over time.

As the new decade unfolds, wireless service will transition from a simple convenience to a downright necessity. Connected devices will require nearly 100 percent uptime in order to fulfill their functional mandates, but this cannot happen if dead spots remain indoors due to blocked signals.

If building owners hope to maintain financial returns on their properties, they must take steps now to ensure robust data access throughout all enclosed areas. After all, when users cannot access their data in one location, they quickly move to a place that is properly connected.

Download the infographic about the benefits of 5G-ready, in-building wireless network.

Continue reading: Why a Distributed Antenna System is the best answer to in-building wireless dead spots

Contact us for more information on how CBTS can ensure effective 5G connectivity in your facility.

Wireless connectivity is quickly becoming the distinguishing factor between success and failure in business. If you look across the entire economic spectrum, products and services that engage customers in an intuitive and helpful manner perform much better in terms of brand awareness, loyalty, and most importantly, sales.

This same phenomenon is taking place across the building ownership and management sector, which encompasses everything from apartment complexes, office buildings/campuses, resorts, warehouses, and manufacturing facilities. The more thorough and reliable the wireless coverage within a building, the easier it is for owners to attract and retain top-paying occupants, as well as lower their own operating costs and perhaps even create new revenue streams for themselves.

Bringing dead spots back to life

Wireless signal penetration is not always easy in large buildings, however. Common materials like steel and concrete can dampen or block RF signals entirely, while even some newer construction features like LEED-certified energy efficient windows can be problematic. In many cases, Wi-Fi extenders can improve indoor dead spots, but this is a partial solution at best. Full Wi-Fi coverage can get expensive depending on the size and layout of the building, and it can still cut out in the presence of high demand—which means tenants will likely fail to connect just when they need to most.

A far more effective solution is a fiber-based private in-building wireless network, such as private LTE or a Distributed Antenna System. Private LTE is a local cellular network that features cell sites and core network servers dedicated to supporting an organization’s requirements independent of public cellular service providers. It can be the better choice when large amounts of data that are transferred can stress the public network in a given area. It can be deployed anywhere—including areas beyond the reach of public carriers—and can keep data on-site for security reasons. And private LTE can be optimized to handle traffic types with specific requirements. For example, real-time IoT applications can be guaranteed with extremely low latency for immediate response.

A Distributed Antenna System (DAS) is designed from the ground up to provide full cellular coverage throughout any building. It is also compatible with any phone model and all cellular carriers, providing a lower-cost, scalable approach to the connectivity needs of large numbers of users.

Using DAS, building owners will place themselves at the forefront of the wireless revolution, particularly as data demands increase significantly with the advent of 5G. Among the key benefits are:

• A scalable architecture that meets dynamic data needs without having to over-provision network resources that then remain idle most of the time.
• Access to the latest 4G and 5G services, including next-generation intelligent applications that can create new revenue streams and lower maintenance and other costs.
• Connectivity to most 911 platforms and other emergency services.
• Faster data throughput and more streamlined traffic management to deliver high-quality connectivity at all times.

Few building owners have the in-house skills or knowledge to deploy and maintain cutting-edge networks, of course, which is why partnering with a leader in the field is essential. CBTS has a long history of designing and engineering the latest communications technologies, and we have now turned that expertise toward private LTE and DAS. Our solution features a streamlined design capable of broad customization and easy installation. At the same time, we back it up with a full-service operations and maintenance contract, including integration with leading carrier platforms. In this way, clients can focus their efforts on improving service to their tenants and generating new revenue streams for themselves while we handle the network.

As strange as it may seem given that mobile communications have been with us for several decades, the power of this technology is still in its nascent stage. As the world becomes more connected, virtually everything around us will become dependent on access to wireless networks. Property owners and businesses in general would do well to stay ahead of the curve, and the easiest and least costly way to do that is by partnering with a seasoned technology expert who knows the ins and outs of modern networking.

Contact us for more information on how CBTS can help you implement a distributed antenna system and private in-building wireless network solution.

The Aruba Instant allows you to be the boss of your network. Our leading engineer Brennan Klensch explains how it works in this vlog.

“Digital modernization” is the catch-all phrase representing the change from the product-focused business model of the last century to the more digital services-facing world of today. Network infrastructure plays a key role in this transition, turning from a static, fixed resource to a more flexible entity capable of serving a wide variety of needs at a moment’s notice.

Recently, a large national services provider managing more than 50 million loans from its headquarters in Cincinnati found that its aging infrastructure was no longer able to keep up with the demands of modern finance. In addition, the burdens of maintenance and upkeep for legacy systems were becoming too much to bear, both financially and in terms of time and effort.

A guiding hand

The company has an AWS public cloud-first strategy but taking advantage of all of the services and features can be a challenge for a busy IT team. With CBTS’ help, however, the firm was able to implement a state-of-the-art cloud environment capable of handling even the most complex workloads at extreme scale, all while reducing operating budgets, improving security, and delivering on a wide range of additional goals and objectives. CBTS began by conducting an in-depth analysis to document existing application dependencies, as well as identify the company’s unique system requirements and operational procedures. One of the key advantages of cloud services, powered on AWS, is that they can be easily configured to the client’s business objectives, providing a smooth transition from legacy infrastructure to a more streamlined, forward-leaning ecosystem.

Within three months, CBTS had developed a roadmap and communications plan to coordinate the phasing out of old infrastructure and migration to the new environment. This included the development of a cloud-based disaster recovery environment, as well as a full suite of security precautions to mitigate risk to critical data.

With this in place, CBTS then oversaw the transition to the new environment. Ultimately, nearly 600 end-of-life servers were decommissioned, along with 468 databases and 164 applications. More than 30 applications were migrated to AWS within the first year, averaging one app every two weeks, and more than 25 OS versions were consolidated down to two standard AWS versions. Overall, more than 14,000 lines of code had to be written to pull the environment together.

Ready for the future

The end result is a streamlined, modernized ecosystem that reduced the client’s data center footprint by 50 percent and vastly cut the cost of IT and the management burden on existing staff. Significant savings were realized through the elimination of underutilized hardware and reductions in application licensing costs.

Meanwhile, the firm benefits from a dramatically improved security posture based on a Well-Architected Framework design featuring the latest in both threat detection and damage reduction, all of which is incorporated into the overall operating cost of the environment with little to no direct responsibility for patches and upgrades on the client.

In terms of normal operations, the environment is designed for an Infrastructure-as-Code model in which virtualized resources are made available through an automated process that masks the normal provisioning and mapping procedures under layers of abstraction. In this way, the client is able to define the business objectives of their IT needs while CBTS takes on the responsibility of matching the right technology, which ultimately provides a repeatable and auditable infrastructure that is less prone to errors and delivers consistent and measurable outcomes.

Many organizations—particularly those that have established their own private clouds—no doubt feel that migrating to AWS is a simple procedure, and in many ways it is. But the challenge going forward is not simply to outsource to the cloud but to devise a cloud environment that leverages the vast services and automation capabilities within the public cloud.

For that, the assistance of an Advanced AWS provider with a Well-Architected program can be essential in achieving success. Through careful planning and coordinated execution, modern enterprises can leverage CBTS and AWS to support their existing tools and skillsets even as longer-term plans are being developed to address the challenges inherent in the next-generation digital economy.

To learn how CBTS can help with your digital transition, visit the Cloud Solutions on AWS resource.

Read more: Delivering the Promise of Microsoft Workloads on AWS

The blizzard of innovation at this year’s Hewlett Packard Enterprise Discover 2019 conference is a testament to HPE’s bold technology and business model innovation bets.

CBTS, which is an HPE Platinum partner, was among the conference participants, and Ron Nemecek, Business Alliance Manager for CBTS, participated in a panel discussion. Ron discussed a recent CBTS-HPE collaboration on behalf of a global financial services firm that needed to refresh its data center infrastructure for multiple United Kingdom locations.

CBTS and HPE partnered on a solution that features the latest technology, is sized effectively, and is structured to align the costs of the refresh and new IT infrastructure to the business usage. The solution is delivered via HPE GreenLake Flex Capacity to eliminate the extensive cost of over-provisioning.

It’s a great example of how HPE’s innovation has extended beyond tech products and services into business outcomes for customers, Ron said.

“The new innovation that HPE brings to the marketplace is business solutions and business outcomes that are really desired by our customers, because they only want to pay for what they use moving forward,” Ron said.

“Customers are telling us that CBTS and HPE have listened to what they have been asking for years — getting them out of paying for technology they are not going to use.”

Nemecek said customers are impressed with the GreenLake consumption experience.

“They can’t believe that it is true, and that a company came to them with a partnership to solve the business problem they have had for decades,” Ron said. “That is the innovation that HPE has brought to the marketplace, and they have empowered it through partners with GreenLake 3.0.”

Ron said he sees exponential growth ahead with GreenLake.

“This is what our customers are looking for, and we are going to address their needs,” he said.

Click here to learn how partnering with CBTS drives cutting-edge capabilities.

A global financial services firm recently turned to CBTS to help refresh its data center infrastructure for multiple United Kingdom locations. CBTS and HPE partnered on a solution that features the latest technology, is sized effectively, and is structured to align the costs of the refresh and new IT infrastructure to the business usage.

• CTA: Read more about the CBTS-HPE solution for this client.

A thorough review of the client’s IT requirements and technology needs determined that the new infrastructure would be optimized by a combination of HPE Synergy, HPE 3PAR, and HPE StoreOnce.  The solution is delivered via HPE GreenLake Flex Capacity to eliminate the extensive cost of over-provisioning.

This collaboration on behalf of our client exemplifies the powerful CBTS-HPE relationship. Ron Nemecek, Business Alliance Manager at CBTS, recently shared his thoughts about working with HPE while attending HPE Discover, where he participated in the partner panel discussion.

Please discuss the CBTS-HPE partnership.

At CBTS we trust in our strategic relationship with HPE.  This trust, nurtured over 30-plus years, is the foundation of our success with HPE.  Our relationship with HPE at all levels is predictable and enables CBTS to address clients’ needs quickly and effectively, driving business results.

How does the HPE portfolio and partner programs, trainings and executive support help CBTS win business and grow?

The extensive HPE portfolio of products and services is critical to our ability to assemble comprehensive, valuable, and innovative IT solutions for our clients.  By taking advantage of HPE certifications, local training events, HPE Aspire, and webinars, our CBTS team is always at the forefront in understanding the latest products and innovations available from HPE.

Our clients benefit from the CBTS HPE subject matter expertise and our extensive experience in delivering HPE solutions across multiple industries in the global marketplace. CBTS greatly values our relationships and access to HPE executives, our executive sponsors, partner business managers, and other strategic resources.  These relationships with HPE enable CBTS to support our valued clients, earn their business in the most complex situations, and maintain this business relationship over the long term.

How do you go above and beyond for your customers?

CBTS invests in our associates’ pursuit of HPE certifications.  Currently, CBTS associates hold over 260 HPE technical and sales certifications.  Our clients benefit greatly by engaging with our extensive staff of HPE-certified professionals who are subject matter experts in all HPE products and services.

Clients can effectively evaluate all options and collaborate with CBTS on the solution that will result in the right business outcome. We enhance the investment in our client relationships by hosting them at local HPE events, HPE Discover, Aruba Atmosphere, and our exclusive CBTS/HPE andAruba quarterly briefing events at the HPE EBC.

Learn more about the agile and responsive IT solutions offered by our IT experts.

Read about how CBTS partnered with a major global specialty retailer to optimize its eCommerce performance to maximize uptime and ensure security.

There is no doubt that people are the key asset to any organization’s success. Even in today’s technologically driven world, it is still the human assets that differentiate an organization from its competitors.

At CBTS, our people bring considerable value through sharing their deep expertise, experience in nearly every industry vertical. Our people have a total of 2,800+ certifications. Needless to say, our people are equipped to transform any business, including our own.

But the real magic is that our people share the same drive, focus, and serious commitment to our clients’ success as our clients hold for themselves.

So, what do our people think about the value that they provide?

Chris DeBrunner, Director – Tools, Delivery & Operations

Chris started at the service desk 19 years ago and worked his way up through tools. He had several jobs inside of the compute space. Now he and his team focus solely on the tools that we use to support our clients. His team monitors and supports approximately 50,000 devices daily. This adds up to 1.5 million device components and over a half million interfaces. His team also intercepts 500 million logs every 30 days.

“Our tools provide insights and access to the engineers that work on client gear, making sure that we are delivering, and the environment is delivering for the client.”

Kevin Muldoon, Senior Director – Cloud Transformation

Kevin started in IT consulting and application development. He was fortunate to work with large corporations as well as startups. Before joining CBTS, he worked for Microsoft managing commercial software across the globe. Kevin’s team focuses on cloud transformation and assists our clients with their cloud migrations and data center transformations.

“I think the most critical value that we provide is simplification. Our goal is to enable clients to adopt new products, new technologies, new services, to build a foundation, and let the client focus on doing business-critical work.”

Jim Vorwold, Vice President – Service Delivery & Operations

Jim began his career in product management and rapidly advanced to program management, up through sales, sales engineering, engineering, and solution design. Today, he oversees a team that supports the cloud business, the communications business, and three major programs within CBTS.

“Clients entrust us with their infrastructure–the crown jewels for any business. So, basically, we are running their business for them.”

Darrin Manning, Senior Director – Cloud Operations

Darrin’s career has taken him from IT support to the TelCom industry. He is a 15 year veteran of CBTS.

“Our clients depend on their IT systems to run their business, to deliver their service to their customers. And we ensure that they can do that on a consistent basis.”

Hope Thackery, Director – Security Programs

Hope has an international privacy certification and ensures that CBTS improves the maturity of our security program every year.

“Clients are often visibly relieved when they hear about the security we have, and they know that we speak the language that their auditors are going to use.”

Dusty Baker, Manager – Network Technical Operations

Dusty works on a number of devices including Cisco, Brocade, and 40 Gate. He also works on a lot of technologies like Route Switch, Firewall, IPS, Load Bouncing, and Wireless. His team spends their time designing, analyzing operations, and tailoring solutions to meet the needs of our CBTS clients.

“We’re here for our customers 24/7. Our job is to make our clients look good to their customers.”

Keith Talbot, Director – Service Management

Keith’s professional background is in IT operations, architecture, and service delivery.

“We manage all the services so that our clients have a seamless experience across all of the products they purchase.”

Daniel Tackett, Cloud Engineer III

Daniel works in between day one and day two operations. His team is responsible for design, implementation, RDS, and transition hand-over to second-day ops. He makes sure there is a smooth transition between the two shifts.

“Our impact is no impact. We set up environments to go weeks to months with no incident. And our regular check-ins help make sure everything’s going smooth, or see if there’s anything that needs to be updated.”

Susan Artz, Enterprise Solution Architect

As a part of the sales process, CBTS brings in the SAs, like Susan. SAs discover, create, design and build long-term solutions before transitioning them over to operations.

“Our work alleviates the pressure of ongoing management and maintenance. Clients can count on us to maintain their environment, monitor it, keep it up and available.”

CBTS experts have you covered

At CBTS, our people are our experts.

Our people have unmatched experience and qualifications in the solutions that help our clients stay future-proof. They have leveraged their skills and education to solve our clients’ needs for:

• Cloud
• Data Center
• Compute Storage
• Data Protection
• Infrastructure
• Networking
• Windows
• Unix
• Linux
• Collaboration Technologies
• IT Staffing

Our cloud engineers are highly trained in and certified experts in the Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud platforms. Our full stack developers focus on fixing problems with code and system administration.

Aside from how knowledgeable our teams are, they are exceptionally proficient at taking care of your business like it was their own.

“Clients know their business. They shouldn’t have to worry about the technology. That’s what we’re here for.”

Joe Hoover
Network Engineer IV