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Our Mission: Deliver the Trusted Foundation to Accelerate Innovation

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VMware Innovation on Display at VMworld 2021

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To say we’re going through a “difficult time” is the understatement of the century. Thankfully, digital technologies and innovative service providers are helping us stay grounded during this tumultuous time.

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Heart, Mind, Soul

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Special Report: The Future of Manufacturing

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Telia Company Partners with VMware to Accelerate Its Cloud-Native Journey

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VMware Propels App Modernization for Customers on Any Cloud

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Speed Is Life: What Cybersecurity Pros Can Learn from a Fighter Pilot

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VMware Charts Course for Customers to Seize Opportunity at the Edge

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VMware Delivers ‘Cloud-Smart’ Approach for the Multi-Cloud Era at VMworld 2021

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VMware Accelerates Customers’ Journey to Zero Trust Security

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VMware President Sumit Dhawan, CMO Carol Carpenter and ESG VP Nicola Acutt explore the new realities of our multi-cloud world and how VMware helps customers accelerate innovation with the "power of and." 

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The world is re-inventing itself through apps. Whether you call this digital transformation or just progress, a few things are clear.​​

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​But the road to transformation is paved with challenges and compromises.​

It’s now a <a href="https://www.vmware.com/cloud-solutions/multi-cloud.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">multi-cloud</a> world, and organizations must choose between modernizing what they have or starting from scratch. Between tackling complex security challenges or taking on greater risk. Between giving developers autonomy or ensuring scalable, standardized operations.​​

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VMware’s mission is to <a href="https://www.vmware.com/digital-foundation.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">deliver the trusted foundation to accelerate innovation</a>. We do this with <a href="https://www.vmware.com/welcome/cross-cloud-services.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">VMware Cross-Cloud services for all apps</a>, enabling digital innovation and enterprise control. We think of this as delivering the “power of and.”​

We serve our customers in three main areas. We help them:​

In the process, we help customers focus less on making tradeoffs and more on driving innovation, so they can get from wherever they are to wherever they want to be…faster.

​At the heart of everything we do—every idea, every product we engineer, every customer we support—lies a responsibility and an opportunity to help make the world a better place. We call this our <a href="https://news.vmware.com/esg/2021-esg-report-our-path-to-2030">2030 Agenda</a>, our vision for delivering three key outcomes:

We know we won’t get there alone. By co-innovating with you—our employees, customers, communities, shareholders and partners—together we will redefine the future.

VMware Staff

VMware President Sumit Dhawan, CMO Carol Carpenter and ESG VP Nicola Acutt explore the new realities of our multi-cloud world in this video.

Watch VMware President Sumit Dhawan, CMO Carol Carpenter and ESG VP Nicola Acutt explore the new realities of our multi-cloud world.

Video: VMware's Mission to Accelerate Innovation

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VMware's Mission: Deliver the Trusted Foundation to Accelerate Innovation

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PALO ALTO, Calif. -- Service providers are transforming their RAN to architectures that are open and programmable. This provides an opportunity for developers to create innovative apps and services to be deployed across the RAN. A proponent of this wave of RAN innovation, VMware (NYSE: VMW) today announced several updates to its RAN portfolio of products and introduced VMware RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC). VMware RIC, along with VMware Telco Cloud Platform RAN, will help service providers smoothly transition to Open RAN.

“When it comes to Open RAN, the genie is out of the bottle. The potential benefits of increasing innovation while reducing operational expense are compelling. As such, VMware is pushing to accelerate the transformation of the RAN along with Open RAN principles,” said Sanjay Uppal, senior vice president and general manager, Service Provider and Edge, VMware. “VMware is paving the way for service providers to modernize the RAN so it is programmable and intelligent, built with best-of-breed solutions from a vibrant partner ecosystem.” 

Introducing VMware RIC

The RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC) is a new function introduced by the O-RAN Alliance that enables service providers to deploy cloud-native control and management apps in the RAN. VMware is today introducing VMware RIC, a platform that abstracts the underlying RAN infrastructure and provides developer APIs for xApps and rApps to program the RAN.

VMware RIC platform will consist of two RICs that can run independent of each other, or together:

VMware RIC will provide service providers with:

VMware has engineered its RIC to seamlessly integrate with traditional RAN equipment as well as virtualized RAN network functions independent of them being O-RAN compliant. A large ecosystem of xApps and rApps enables service providers to maximize the benefits of an Open RAN to address their unique requirements and priorities.

To drive the growth of this ecosystem, VMware plans to offer a RAN application developer program to help partners jump-start and accelerate development of xApps and rApps with VMware RIC SDKs, access to VMware RIC development licenses, developer support, testing environment, and interoperability certification. The planned program will be centered around the developer experience, from the initial design of the xApp/rApp all the way to the deployment. 

Examples of partners who are already working with VMware to integrate their xApps and/or rApps as microservices on VMware RIC through SDKs, include:

Intel is a strategic partner as VMware works with service providers to virtualize the RAN. VMware RIC is based on Intel FlexRAN™ reference architecture, enabling a flexible and programmable platform for software-defined RANs.

“Intel FlexRAN™ software allows operators transitioning to a cloud-native architecture to run their RAN and AI workloads on the same standard hardware platform as other workloads, from core to edge to access,” said Cristina Rodriguez, vice president of Intel’s Network Edge Group and general manager, Wireless Access Network Division. “VMware RIC, powered with Intel AI and Machine Learning capabilities, supports a wide variety of xApps and rApps that will help operators optimize their network performance, deliver new functions and features, and offer new value-added services.”

VMware RIC SDKs are expected to be generally available in VMware’s Q4 FY22. VMware RIC is expected to be initially available in VMware’s Q1 FY23. Learn more about VMware RIC <a href="https://telco.vmware.com/products/ric.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.

New VMware Telco Cloud Platform RAN Capabilities

VMware RIC, combined with <a href="https://telco.vmware.com/products/telco-cloud-platform-ran.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">VMware Telco Cloud Platform RAN</a>, paves a clear and simple path toward RAN transformation. Service providers can virtualize RAN functions on a horizontal platform specifically optimized for RAN. The same platform, with VMware RIC, can be utilized for Open RAN, providing service providers flexibility and a smooth evolution toward the future without disrupting their business operations and overhauling network design.

Advancements to VMware Telco Cloud Platform RAN aim to strike a balance between network performance and operational flexibility. The platform’s enhanced performance meets strict latency requirements to support even the most demanding RAN workloads, while its hypervisor functions as the unheralded workhorse to provide operational flexibility. 

New VMware Telco Cloud Platform RAN features will provide service providers with:

Learn more about Telco Cloud Platform RAN <a href="https://telco.vmware.com/solutions/ran.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.

O-RAN Service Management and Orchestration (SMO)

Service providers are adopting a multi-vendor service and orchestration management (SMO) framework as defined by the O-RAN Alliance. This SMO framework includes the non-real-time RIC, O-Cloud management, and FCAPS (fault, configuration, accounting, performance and security) management. VMware’s RAN portfolio is uniquely positioned to address all these functions:

While the above components will integrate seamlessly for a simplified experience, customers may choose to deploy any component independently.

VMware Partners with Aspire to Streamline RAN Testing and Validation

<a href="https://www.aspiretechnology.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aspire Technology</a> is a well-established leader within the Open RAN ecosystem, not only with its Open RAN Lab services, but also through a wide range of projects with global service providers, technology partners, systems integrators and Open RAN communities. Leveraging Aspire’s deep heritage in networks, the Aspire Open RAN Lab enables technology partners, like VMware, and service providers to fast-track development, integration, test and deployment of Open RAN-based networks.

VMware and Aspire are announcing today they have entered into a strategic partnership to accelerate and simplify testing and integration of Telco Cloud Platform RAN as part of a service provider’s end-to-end network.

Bill Walsh, CEO of Aspire Technology, stated, “As an independent supplier, we believe that Open RAN is a transformational move in network disaggregation, thus we are excited to partner with VMware in helping service providers smoothly transition to Open RAN.”

Connect with Us at the Telco Innovation Summit

Presented by VMware and Intel, the Telco Innovation Summit will bring together leading service providers, technology partners, and industry experts to discuss strategic priorities for 5G, RAN and edge network modernization. <a href="https://www.telecomtv.com/content/telco-innovation-summit/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Join the conversation on November 11</a>.

Additional Customer & Partner Commentary

Alphabetically, by company name.

Joe Thome, vice president of business operations and marketing at AirHop, said, “We are thrilled to collaborate with VMware to accelerate the realization of AirHop’s commercially hardened 4G and 5G RAN automation and optimization solutions in the O-RAN architecture on the VMware RIC. Combining VMware RIC with AirHop xApps and rApps will enable MNOs to optimize their network performance in real time and reduce operating costs.”

Manish Gangey, head of R&D at Airtel, said, “By making it simple to insert new features and capabilities from third parties into the RAN, the RIC enables us to easily customize and optimize our network, diversify our supply chain and innovate faster. We believe VMware’s RIC platform and the work it is doing to support the RAN ecosystem will further accelerate the open RAN transformation.”

Ray Dolan, chairman and CEO of Cohere Technologies, said, “Our Spectrum Multiplier software, when running as an xApp on VMware’s RIC platform, provides CSPs with a powerful solution to extend spectral efficiency and deliver a great user experience to customers accessing 5G services.”

Sidd Chenumolu, vice president of Technology Development at DISH Wireless, said, “The RIC brings unprecedented programmability to RAN and accelerates the pace of innovation and network automation. The introduction of VMware RIC is an important milestone for the industry that will encourage many more operators to embrace and deploy Open RAN.”

Charles Ferland, vice president & general manager, Edge Computing & Communication Service Providers, Lenovo, said, “Lenovo supports VMware’s vision for Open RAN solutions through our purpose-built edge servers.  Together with VMware’s RAN innovation we deliver comprehensive solutions to enable the service providers journey to 5G.”

Ed Chao, CEO of Polte, said, “The window of innovation for 5G is now: 5G Precise Positioning will unlock the full potential of 5G for enterprise digital transformation, enabling an entirely new set of use cases from Industry 4.0 to 5G Critical IoT. Together, Polte and VMware will provide the foundation for capturing the power of location for enterprise.”

Francisco Martin, head of Open RAN at Vodafone, said, “Vodafone's recent successful trial of VMware RIC validated that it can host time-sensitive control-loop applications such as MU-MIMO user pairing and precoding, which in turn boosts spectrum efficiency and capacity for subscribers. In the future, the RIC will allow us to introduce new innovative services in the network. VMware's RIC platform will help service providers advance their open RAN journey and we're excited to continue our collaboration with VMware to bring software-defined networking to RAN.”

VMware is a leading provider of multi-cloud services for all apps, enabling digital innovation with enterprise control. As a trusted foundation to accelerate innovation, VMware software gives businesses the flexibility and choice they need to build the future. Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, VMware is committed to building a better future through the company’s 2030 Agenda. For more information, please visit <a href="http://www.vmware.com/company" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">www.vmware.com/company</a>.

VMware and Telco Cloud Platform are registered trademarks or trademarks of VMware, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and other jurisdictions.

This article may contain hyperlinks to non-VMware websites that are created and maintained by third parties who are solely responsible for the content on such websites.

Angela Leaf, VMware Global Communications, Phone: +1 (860) 480-3367, <a href="mailto:aleaf@vmware.com">aleaf@vmware.com</a>

VMware announced several updates to its RAN portfolio of products and introduced VMware RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC). Learn more:

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VMware Paves the Way for Radio Access Network (RAN) Modernization - VMware News and Stories

@VMware announced several updates to its RAN portfolio of products and introduced VMware RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC). Learn more:

VMware Telco Cloud Platform advancements enable delivery of any app on any cloud – from core and RAN, to the edge and cloud

PALO ALTO, Calif. -- To bring innovative apps and services to customers more quickly, service providers are betting heavily on the cloud. And as apps and data continue to distribute across clouds and locations, service providers require flexibility to deploy and consistently manage workloads anywhere. That is why VMware (NYSE: VMW) is today unveiling enhancements to its Telco Cloud Platform designed to help service providers speed their multi-cloud transformation.

“With network modernization efforts well underway, service providers are now focused on how to monetize 5G services. And how to do it fast. Thanks to cloud-native architectures, time to market for launching new services has moved from months and years to days and weeks,” said Sanjay Uppal, senior vice president and general manager, Service Provider and Edge, VMware. “Over 150 CSPs around the world rely on VMware Telco Cloud Platform to accelerate time to revenue while providing automation and consistent operations across networks for 4G, 5G and beyond. The VMware Telco Cloud Platform provides multi-cloud capabilities from the core to the edge without locking the service provider into a single cloud architecture or deployment. It thereby delivers the agility and speed our customers need for their massive 5G deployments.”

The enhancements to VMware Telco Cloud Platform include:

Introducing VMware Telco Cloud Platform – Public Cloud

Service providers have started to embrace public clouds as a part of their network architecture. As network functions are deployed across on-premises telco clouds and public clouds, service providers require a platform that enables consistent multi-cloud operations and automation.  

Introduced today, VMware Telco Cloud Platform – Public Cloud, powered by VMware Cloud, offers service providers choice and flexibility to run their workloads in multi-cloud environments with ease. An extension of VMware Telco Cloud Platform, VMware Telco Cloud Platform – Public Cloud is comprised of the same field-proven virtualization solution, carrier-grade container-as-a-service (CaaS), and multi-layer automation, consistent across core, edge, RAN, and now with public cloud.

VMware Telco Cloud Platform – Public Cloud will provide service providers with:

VMware Telco Cloud Platform – Public Cloud is expected to be generally available in VMware’s Q4 FY22, initially supporting service providers to deploy their network functions on VMware Cloud on AWS environments. Learn more about VMware Telco Cloud Platform – Public Cloud <a href="https://telco.vmware.com/products/telco-cloud-platform-public-cloud.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.

Announcing VMware Telco Cloud Platform – Edge

At VMworld 2021, <a href="https://news.vmware.com/releases/vmworld-2021-edge" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">VMware introduced VMware Edge</a>, a product portfolio that will enable organizations to run, manage and better secure edge-native apps. Service providers will play a key role in VMware’s unified edge platform strategy. That’s why today VMware is announcing VMware Telco Cloud Platform – Edge, a variation of Telco Cloud Platform adapted to host and manage multi-vendor network edge solutions.

An open and multi-cloud platform, VMware Telco Cloud Platform – Edge will provide:

An example of a VMware Edge ecosystem partner is Lenovo. Its comprehensive edge product portfolio coupled with VMware Telco Cloud Platform – Edge will enable automated edge services that will accelerate time to value. The combined solution will provide a strong foundation for edge deployments across different market segments.

Learn more about VMware Telco Cloud Platform – Edge <a href="https://blogs.vmware.com/telco/tcp-edge-introduction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.

New Telco Cloud Automation Capabilities Will Enable Multi-Cloud Operations

Spanning the entire network, Telco Cloud Automation is the orchestration and automation engine for Telco Cloud Platform. It enables consistent operations and cloud-first approach to management and orchestration by abstracting cloud complexities and exposing the new multi-cloud ecosystem through standard telco interfaces and unified resources.

VMware today announced new capabilities for Telco Cloud Automation, including:

New Telco Cloud Automation capabilities will be generally available in VMware’s Q4 FY22 apart from Project Lattice, which is in tech preview. Learn more about VMware Telco Cloud Automation for multi-cloud operations <a href="https://blogs.vmware.com/telco/multi-cloud-operations/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a> and Project Lattice for network slicing <a href="https://blogs.vmware.com/telco/network-slicing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.

Jump over to <a href="https://news.vmware.com/releases/radio-access-network-innovation" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">this press release</a> to learn more about VMware RIC and how it will seamlessly integrate with traditional RAN, vRAN an O-RAN compliant infrastructure leveraging a large xApp and rApp ecosystem.

VMware, Telco Cloud Platform, VMware Cloud and VMworld are registered trademarks or trademarks of VMware, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and other jurisdictions.

VMware makes no guarantee that services announced in preview or beta will become available at a future date. The information in this press release is for informational purposes only and may not be incorporated into any contract.

VMware Telco Cloud Platform advancements enable delivery of any app on any cloud – from core and RAN, to the edge and cloud. Learn more:

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VMware Speeds Service Providers’ Move to Multi-Cloud - VMware News and Stories

@VMWTelcoCloud advancements enable delivery of any app on any cloud – from core and RAN, to the edge and cloud. Learn more:

Faster decision making in cybersecurity—whether in day-to-day operations or when under cyberattack—can mean the difference between a massive ransomware payout and, well, nothing.

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“Faster is indeed better,” said Nicole Malachowski, retired Colonel in the U.S. Air Force. “It’s what I call the Mach 2 mindset.”

That’s like protecting your company’s IT infrastructure from cyberthreats as fast as a plane flying from New York to Los Angeles in just an hour and a half—about twice the speed of sound at more than 1,500 miles per hour.

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Retired Col. Malachowski shared her perspective in a keynote address during <a href="https://event.vmware.com/flow/vmware/securityconnect/connect-landing-page/page/welcome?src=so_60918d78365a8&cid=7012H000001KYFc&src=so_602d54e7e837c&cid=7012H000001KW9I" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">VMware Security Connect 2021</a>. Speaking to security professionals, she described why speed is critical to success, whether flying missions or defending networks. Among other advantages, speed yields more options, she explained.

And after a pandemic year in which chaos and unexpected change had InfoSec teams on alert, Malachowski suggested that a Mach 2 mindset could be just what security practitioners needed to counter emerging threats.

“There's no doubt, within the cybersecurity field, things have changed this year. The whole world has gone online and become more dependent on you,” Malachowski told attendees. “And with that shift to online, your adversaries have also increased their threats … Speed gives you options. The faster you are in your processes, procedures and practices, the more you can outthink, outrun and outmaneuver the enemy.”

Not every year is as life changing as the last. And not every day brings with it a crippling cyberattack. Still, regardless of the current threat environment, Malachowski said, “Speed is life.”

Capitalizing on speed to enable faster decision making in cybersecurity requires different competencies depending on the environment. Malachowski divided the environments in which professionals were likely to find themselves into three categories:

In all three environments, it’s important to understand the capabilities at one’s disposal—all the technology resources and solutions—that can be brought to bear instantaneously to defend the enterprise infrastructure.

“The faster you go, the more you can impact exactly how your technology is used,” said Malachowski. “And when you have speed, you force the adversary—or even your competition—to use their limited time, talent and treasure first. Speed is indeed life.”

The Chaotic Environment: Clear Division of Duties

There are three things that allow teams to make decisions at top speed: a clear division of duties, shared accountability and concise communications.

Everyone needs to know their roles and that their partners are executing theirs exactly. “By making sure we have that clear division of duties, we’re able to speed up our execution safely and precisely,” said Malachowski.

Cybersecurity teams also need to understand how they’re interconnected and co-dependent. “Yes, it was me, the pilot, who would push the button to deliver that weapon. But it was all of us taking accountability for where that weapon landed, and how impactful and effective it was,” said Malachowski. When there’s no question about accountability—because it’s shared by design, practice or process—teams make decisions faster under chaotic conditions.

And when chaos reigns, cooler heads must prevail to maximize speed. Clear communication instills calm and confidence, said Malachowski. When she would train new pilots, she would insist they learn to sound cool on the radio, regardless of what chaos might be going on around them. “Is what I'm about to say or do going to instill calm and confidence or is it going to add to the chaos?” she’s suggested they ask themselves.

The Controlled Environment: Discipline, Focus, Teamwork

Remember pre-pandemic days, when things were less chaotic? Looking forward to getting back to “as normal as” cybersecurity looks today?

Controlled environments are where discipline begets faster decision making—the discipline to fall back on foundational skills, professional standards, best practices and procedures, industry-accepted certifications and more. When the environment is more controlled, muscle memory is the key to speed, said Malachowski, enabled by practice and repetition.

Controlled environments also present an opportunity for team members to build trust by becoming experts in their respective subject matter and to plan for contingencies. Malachowski described asking young lieutenants in her command when they thought they’d make the decision to eject from a fighter jet. She’d get various answers (running out of fuel, striking a flock of birds, etc.), but would emphasize, “You make the decision to eject before you ever take off.”

In cybersecurity, planning for contingencies in advance, when things are under control, allows teams to react quickly when chaos—or the unexpected—arises.

The Unexpected Environment: Slowing Down to Speed Up

Finally, there’s chaos—when the cyberthreats that an organization prepares for come to pass. And then there’s the unexpected, which they didn’t necessarily see coming but knew their preparation would help address.

When the unexpected happens, it’s still important to be fast. But teams may need to slow down briefly before they can attack their adversaries with speed.

In the Air Force, Malachowski said this meant achieving “corner velocity”—an instantaneous shift in performance that allows a jet to make the quickest turn in the shortest amount of time. And like contingency planning, corner velocity is determined before it’s needed. Depending on various factors, a fighter pilot knows her mission’s corner velocity before the plane takes off.

“What does corner velocity look like for you and your team?” Malachowski asked attendees. “What resources, skills and people are necessary to instantaneously shift to corner velocity so you can set a new course and re-accelerate in an efficient manner?”

Under any circumstance, when it comes to faster decision making and bringing speed to bear on adversaries, “Don’t let technology fly you,” <meta charset="utf-8">said Malachowski. Always think ahead of the technology at hand. Because the last thing a team wants—whether flying fighter jets or protect IT assets—is to get slow.

“You can't get behind because it's going to be a very inefficient use of your limited time, talent and treasure to get back up to the speed you need to engage your adversary,” said Malachowski. “The faster you go, the faster you go faster.”

Listen to the whole keynote on demand at <a href="https://event.vmware.com/flow/vmware/securityconnect/connect-landing-page/page/welcome?src=so_60918d78365a8&cid=7012H000001KYFc&src=so_602d54e7e837c&cid=7012H000001KW9I" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">VMware Security Connect 2021</a>.

Speed in cybersecurity is life—whether in day-to-day operations or when under cyberattack. It can make a major difference.

What Cybersecurity Pros Can Learn from a Fighter Pilot

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Retired Col. of the U.S. Air Force Nicole Malachowski explains how a Mach 2 mindset can help cybersecurity pros.

VMware Innovation on Display at VMworld 2021 - VMware News and Stories

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Shining a Light on Mental Health Struggles & Digital Services

In contrast to localized disasters, the pandemic has impacted nearly everyone in the world. And that collective experience has empowered people to voice feelings that typically go unshared. Emotions ranging from isolation and loneliness to anxiousness and worry.

Today, not only friends and family but increasingly business leaders, politicians and sports champions—of note, former McKinsey senior partner and former chief economic and business advisor to the California governor, <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/healthcare-systems-and-services/our-insights/mental-health-in-the-workplace-the-coming-revolution" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lenny Mendonca</a>, highly decorated Olympic swimmer <a href="https://www.shrm.org/hr-today/news/hr-news/pages/shrm21-annual-conference-michael-phelps-mental-health.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Michael Phelps</a>, tennis star Naomi Osaka and gymnastic great Simone Biles—speak publicly about mental health.

“There has never been a time in our history where mental health has been so prominent as a part of the collective conversation as it is now,” said Dr. Joe Grasso, clinical psychologist and senior director of Workforce Mental Health at <a href="https://www.lyrahealth.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lyra Health</a>.

“And there is fortunately some silver lining to come from COVID-19 in the form of de-stigmatizing (the) mental health struggle,” Grasso said.

From Empathy to Widely Available Services

Discussion around <a href="https://news.vmware.com/dei/empathy-leadership-trait" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">empathy as a critical leadership skill</a> has risen. So, too, has action by company leaders to promote mental health benefits and get employees who want help, the care they need. When leaders address the subject, it gives others permission to join the conversation.

“The most powerful testimonials come from leaders who speak up and say, ‘I’ve used this benefit. I find it valuable because I also struggle.’ That really shifts a work culture,” said Dr. Grasso.

What successful people coming forward shows, Dr. Grasso found, is that “any of us might struggle, but all of us should consider mental health support from a professional.”

Although attitudes are changing, there are still both financial and physical boundaries employees seeking care must overcome:

“Both of these things can keep people from getting the care they need,” according to Dr. Grasso.

Companies like Lyra work hard to combat both concerns by teaming with organizations to offer mental health benefits to employees. And during COVID-19, this has included becoming even more digitally friendly.

Human-to-human connection is the foundation for quality mental health care. Technology can simplify the process of making connections and facilitating on-going care.

Machine learning in the Lyra platform, for example, complements a self-completed care questionnaire to help match people seeking support to a subset of providers that are a best possible fit. It then goes a step further to offer employees a way to connect with providers—virtually or in person.

“What Lyra is trying to do is enhance the care experience with technology; not replace that human relationship,” according to Dr. Grasso.

Hands-on approaches also are helping people heal and thrive. Husband and wife Joanie and Scott Kriens established the <a href="https://www.1440foundation.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">1440 Foundation</a> and 1440 Multiversity as a way of creating hope for living well.

Yet the idea’s seed was planted much earlier. During Scott’s tenure as chairman and CEO of Juniper Networks, his father passed away, “bringing to light the question of what really matters,” Kriens said.

Today, the 1440 Foundation helps people connect their passions and life’s work—in real, practical, felt experiences that people can carry back with them into the world.

“There is great beauty in being of service others,” Kriens said. “Yet I’ve learned that in service to others, it will be best done by also doing that which one is passionate about themselves.”

One of those areas for him is technology. During the pandemic, technology—even digital face-to-face communication—has proven critical for basic exchanges of information, he said. “Yet, it has also exposed the difference between that and what it means to share in-person energy. And when we do, don’t waste it,” he continued.

<a href="https://soundcloud.com/pop-culture-tech-podcast/24-heart-mind-soul" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tune into the “Heart, Mind, Soul” episode</a> of the Pop Culture Tech podcast for more insights.

Blakely Thomas-Aguilar

Listen to the Pop Culture Tech wellness episode, featuring insights from Joe Grasso of Lyra Health and Scott Kriens of the 1440 Foundation.

Pop Culture Tech Podcast 2.4: Heart, Mind, Soul

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Pop Culture Tech Podcast 2.4: Heart, Mind, Soul - The Wellness Episode

Pop Culture Tech 2.4: Heart, Mind, Soul

Economies depend on flexible, resilient manufacturing. How can technology take manufacturers further faster to a real-time connected future?

From Steady Change to Complete Disruption

The toilet paper rush of 2020 was an eye-opening reminder to consumers that manufacturers keep the world supplied.

Although varied in their specialties, manufacturers globally must continually respond to, adapt to, and accelerate change in near-real-time to meet demand. Whether they produce textile, wood, metal, chemical, petroleum, plastics, electronic, transportation, pharmaceutical, or food products.

Nearly every manufacturer for years has been undergoing some form of digital transformation to stay flexible and competitive. Among their primary goals: driving efficiency and productivity improvements spanning design and prototype development, supply chains, and factory floors—all while keeping employees safe.

But manufacturers’ slow and steady digital adoption met a test like no other when the industry was forced to respond to the global disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Manufacturing is a large industry sector. International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC) codes highlight the many subsectors, including:

Technologies