Networking and security continue to converge with one another
Greater reliance on cloud-based services means that having a reliable connection is a necessity. It’s why more businesses are turning to secure access service edge (SASE) for their networking and security needs. When deployed, SASE has the potential to power digital transformation while breaking down silos between different departments.
These exciting moves in the networking and security spaces warranted a conversation between Laurence Malthouse, Chris Wade and Lee Peterson. Their off-the-stage session at GX Summit 2025 covered not just Gamma and Cisco’s evolving partnership, but also what the future holds for enterprise networking and security.
As AI becomes more prevalent, the face of networking and security will be changed forever…
Gamma and Cisco’s partnership
Gamma already has a rich networking heritage, and the partnership with Cisco has been critical to that. Recently, the partnership has yielded a new fully managed, secure networking service that brings multiple technologies into one solution. It’s solidified the strategic partnership between Gamma and Cisco.
Lee applauds the “big investment” Gamma has made in Cisco to become experts in that technology and achieve the necessary certifications. Cisco have replied in kind by being “very strategic” in terms of engagement and recognising opportunities together. That working relationship means the pair can “do great things together.”
From Gamma’s side, it’s a relationship “going from strength to strength.” That support allows Gamma and its customers to be more competitive going forward. In a fast-paced environment like networking, it’s a vital relationship to maintain.
Trends and challenges
In the networking space, there’s a lot of talk around SASE and software-defined networking. With those developments bring challenges to overcome and trends to identify. The outlook in “such a fast-moving environment” is worth talking about.
Lee identifies how the challenges in the UK market are like the ones in the American market. Skill shortages around operating and building networks are also seen on a global scale, and “it’ll continue to be a problem.”
But from that challenge comes an opportunity to build tech that’s “easier to use… and adopt.” Gamma’s role revolves around building these services and “[taking] the burden” of managing those networks. Managed service providers (MSPs) must make sure they’re there to “make their lives easier.”
Lee also notes the development around how everyone is “trying to make networking exciting.” There’s a new wave of talent coming through, with modern networking now focusing on cloud management. APIs and “infrastructure as code” represent a shift to these “more modern techniques” that makes networking (even more) exciting.
“Coffee shop networking”
Chris notes how these “code-led pieces” help Gamma provide an automation wrapper around those services that helps them operate at scale. While security can become “a machine scale problem”, networking is now a natural part of that. More automation means more tools that creates a “better outcome… for our collective customers.”
Lee touches on the subject of “coffee shop networking.” Sounds simple with just a few VLANs, but when doing that 10,000 times in a consistent way, security vulnerabilities may appear. The ask right now is to build that technology so those automation layers can be wrapped around it for customers.
We’re now in a world where a network being down costs time and money. UK businesses lose £3.6 million a year, while suffering from 545 hours of wasted staff productivity time. When a business can’t even take a point of transaction sale, that’s when customers start turning around and walking out.
At the same time, networks themselves are becoming more complicated, especially outside of that “individual environment.” In a retail location, for example, the tools used to manage operations are now cloud-based, and users are active in multiple locations.
From Cisco’s perspective, work is now underway to build “the right things” to keep the network secure.
Networks – no longer a commodity
That’s what Laurence’s seeing in the market nowadays. Focusing again on retail, it’s an environment heavily reliant on technology to operate. Electronic shelf-labelling and heat mapping, for example, help these retailers gain market share in an industry of fine margins.
Without that underlying network, that technology won’t work – simple.
For Chris, it’s driving that quest for more bandwidth. Operating various cloud platforms and numerous pieces of technology means “network has never been more important.” For retailers, if the network goes down, suddenly produce is perishing, people can’t pay, and revenue is reduced.
The costs of networking
A consistent network is now crucial for delivering services globally. Laurence notes the common misconception of how software-defined services will be cheaper compared to multiprotocol label switching (MPLS). Organisations need to budget appropriately to navigate that shift and justify that investment.
That value comes from the flexibility of having an underlay and an overlay. Lee expands on this by saying how the underlay needs multiple connections, especially with low Earth orbit (LEO) becoming more popular. Tens of thousands of wide area network (WAN) devices from Cisco now run on Starlink, meaning the definition of what WAN is has changed.
Having those SD-WAN components provides greater flexibility and visibility of that network infrastructure. Traffic can be routed more intelligently, especially when the network is becoming more complex. With AI applications being both bandwidth and latency sensitive, the network needs to be able to “make good decisions.”
Quite frankly, as Chris says, “people are… prepared to pay for that performance.”
Baking in security
When using an SD-WAN solution, it’s easier to bake in security components like SASE and zero trust network access (ZTNA). It gives people peace of mind when it comes to the “things that scare people.” Hackers will try anything – they’ll even use credentials from an HVAC company to steal customers’ financial data.
Lee sees the value of having an SD-WAN layer that has security baked into it. When the identity piece is added as well, it demonstrates how valuable an SD-WAN solution is for more network security needs.
“Green versus blue”
This, as Laurence mentions, brings us to “the world of Meraki and Catalyst.” Companies working around multiple sites are beginning to see the value behind both Cisco products. But how is that drive for mixing the two together influencing Cisco’s portfolio?
There’ve been fundamental changes at Cisco, including “no more religion about this versus that.” The efforts of President and CPO Jeetu Patel mean businesses no longer have to choose to walk the path of Meraki or Catalyst. There’s now interoperability and more conversations in how those services are deployed.
Chris adds to this by mentioning that the commercial overlay over the technology “is just as important.” It’s all about delivering value to customers, solving issues, and working to a higher level than “just networking.” Those shared values have helped shaped Gamma’s ongoing relationship with Cisco.
Component like Webex, collaboration, customer experience and networking “all hang together.” Cisco have the capabilities to help Gamma create a communication infrastructure that’s secure and reliable. When all these components work together, that’s when that power and value is realised.
“The true integration of networking and security”
That’s how Laurence describes SASE. For Lee, when talking about Cisco’s “[commitment] to open standards”, the end goal isn’t “proprietary lock in with our [secure service edge (SSE)].” Everything will be orchestrated at the network layer – everything will work in a “more seamless way” with no lock in model.
Right now, some vendors are pushing that single vendor SASE solution. Lee reminds us of the power behind having cloud security and SD-WAN working together. Having “intelligence… at the edge” to inspect traffic is a better alternative than “[hair pining] them up to the cloud and back down.”
Chris touches on the “demonstratable tangible value” of taking combined products from a single provider. Nobody has that “neat contractual situation” of being able to swap things out at a moment’s notice. The technical disruption that can bring means the flexibility and “value through the combination approach… is a real powerful point here.”
From Gamma’s perspective, those great vendor relationships act as a “differentiator” in the market. Gamma owns the core network, but partners can be integrated into the end-to-end service wrap for customers. Ultimately, “Gamma is responsible for [network performance].”
Future direction
Lee’s position in Cisco gives him a unique oversight on what’s to come. The future, in Lee’s mind, will be influenced by agentic AI, and how decisions around security can be made at “machine scale.” Cisco, armed with 30 years of CCIA and CCNA knowledge, have the tools to make it happen.
With the “largest data lake… and more devices in the field than anyone in the industry”, these AI engines can be trained more effectively. The idea of prompt engineering will influence future skill sets around network management. As Laurence adds, there’ll be a “totally different profile” of who’ll be attracted to this kind of industry.
Today’s younger generation are growing up with AI assistants and see that kind of technology as something that’s always existed. Much like how the previous generation had Internet access, it becomes normalised. It’s “the beginning of a great revolution” in how networking is taken to market and how companies like Cisco work with customers.
Gamma and Cisco – ‘Good Together’
“Incredibly privileged” is how Chris describes Gamma’s opportunity to work alongside Cisco. Continued collaboration and investment will dramatically change network administration and the best way to configure that network. Greater outcomes will be delivered to customers, and when more pieces are brought together, there’ll be a “[higher] quality connection between people.”
It’s a relationship that allows “sensible partnership [conversations]” to take place around overcoming challenges. Vast potential can be unlocked between this pair, and having Cisco attend GX Summit 2025 shows just how strong that relationship is. What happens in the next year, however, is anyone’s guess.
Self-healing networks, AI proxies – take your pick.