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We’re back with a recap episode from VMUG Connect Minneapolis, and this one is all about what actually matters on the ground. Joined by Brad Tompkins, we break down key takeaways from the event, from rising hardware and memory costs to the real conversations happening between practitioners navigating security challenges and evolving infrastructure decisions. What stood out most? The connection. Unlike massive conferences, VMUG Connect brings together a smaller, highly engaged community where real conversations happen. Whether it’s NSX rollouts, security strategies, or simply sharing lessons learned, this is where practitioners come to learn from each other. We also dive into: Flexibility in moving from vSphere 8 to 9 and into VCF at your own pace Expanded hardware compatibility and what that means for upgrades Practical security approaches that raise the bar without overcomplicating operations Why smaller events like VMUG Connect create more meaningful engagement Plus, we look ahead at upcoming VMUG Connect events in Toronto, Dallas, and Orlando, and what attendees can expect, including certifications, deeper technical sessions, and more time to actually connect. If you’re thinking about your next move with VCF, or just want to hear what your peers are really saying, this is the episode for you.

In this episode, Pete Flecha and John Nicholson sat down with Dilpreet Bindra to break down some of the key announcements from KubeCon and what they mean for platform teams, Kubernetes operators, and the broader cloud native community. The conversation covered Broadcom’s continued investment in upstream Kubernetes, including the contribution of Velero to the CNCF as a sandbox project, and why that matters for disaster recovery and migration strategies. They also explored how projects like Cluster API and etcd are helping improve lifecycle management, reliability, scale, and operational consistency. They dug into how VMware Kubernetes Service is benefiting from upstream alignment, faster adoption of new Kubernetes releases, improved pod density, deeper integration with virtualization, and the growing importance of intelligent placement as modern infrastructure evolves to include specialized hardware like GPUs. The episode also touched on how automation, multi cluster management, and Kubernetes based consumption APIs are helping platform engineers simplify operations across VMs, Kubernetes, data services, and AI services. If you’re looking for a grounded conversation on where Kubernetes operations are headed and how enterprise platforms are evolving to make Kubernetes easier to run at scale, this is a great way to kick off our KubeCon 2026 recap series.  

KubeCon 2026 is underway, and in this episode of Virtually Speaking, Pete Fletcher and Jad Elzein sit down with Himanshu Singh to break down some of the biggest announcements coming out of the show. We cover Broadcom’s contribution of Project Valero to the CNCF Sandbox and why that matters for the future of Kubernetes backup, disaster recovery, and migration. The conversation also explores what it means to deepen VMware’s long standing commitment to the Kubernetes and CNCF community, and why community driven innovation matters for customers and partners alike. We also discuss new VKS ecosystem partnerships with F5, Kong, and Tigera, along with the broader strategy of keeping VKS close to upstream Kubernetes while making it easier for platform teams to adopt the tools and architectures they already use. If you are at KubeCon, stop by Booth 715 to connect with the team and see the latest demos and announcements in action. #KubeCon #Kubernetes #CNCF #Valero #VKS #PlatformEngineering #CloudNative #VirtuallySpeaking #VMwareCloudFoundation

KubeCon 2026 is officially underway, and we’re kicking things off in one of the most unique ways we’ve ever done - recording from a boat in the canals of Amsterdam 🇳🇱 In this kickoff episode of our Virtually Speaking KubeCon series, Pete, John, and Jad set the stage for the week ahead. From Platform Engineering Day to AI, GPUs, and Kubernetes at scale, there’s no shortage of innovation, learning, and community to dive into. We talk about what we’re most excited for, the energy around the event, and what you can expect from our coverage throughout the week. If you’re at KubeCon, come find us at booth 715. If you’re following along remotely, we’ve got you covered with interviews, insights, and conversations all week long. Let’s get after it.

Artificial Intelligence is dominating every conversation in tech right now, but how much of it is real progress and how much is hype? In this episode of the Virtually Speaking Podcast, we sit down with industry analyst and cloud expert Dave Linthicum to take an honest look at the current state of AI adoption in the enterprise. From failed AI pilots and unrealistic expectations to the infrastructure, cost, and governance challenges that many organizations underestimate, Dave shares why so many AI initiatives struggle to deliver real business value. Rather than focusing on the hype cycle, this conversation explores what it actually takes for enterprises to move from experimentation to production with AI. Dave also discusses the role of infrastructure teams, the risks organizations overlook when rushing into AI projects, and how companies can make smarter investments that deliver measurable outcomes. If your organization is evaluating AI or already experimenting with it, this episode offers a practical reality check on what it takes to succeed. Listen to more episodes of Virtually Speaking Full playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8_k3uUCO39tAfMY__4iE8bIZg7wfO7SN&si=361xVOiuMF7EYzR6 ⸻ Connect with us Website: https://vspeakingpodcast.com

Get ready for KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Europe 2026 in Amsterdam with this special preview episode of the Virtually Speaking Podcast. Pete Flecha, John Nicholson, Jad El-Zein, and Himanshu Singh break down what to expect from the event, why Broadcom’s presence at KubeCon matters, and how Kubernetes, platform engineering, open source, and AI are continuing to shape the future of infrastructure. In this episode, we discuss: What to expect from KubeCon 2026 in Amsterdam Broadcom’s presence at booth 715 Platform Engineering Day and why it matters Open source contributions across projects like etcd, Cluster API, Harbor, and Velero The convergence of AI workloads and Kubernetes Why Kubernetes is becoming increasingly important across modern infrastructure How VMware by Broadcom is showing up in the cloud native ecosystem What the Virtually Speaking team will be doing on-site during the event We’ll also be recording interviews live from Amsterdam and connecting with engineers, partners, customers, and community members throughout the week. If you’ll be at KubeCon, reach out. We’d love to connect. #KubeCon #CloudNativeCon #Kubernetes #PlatformEngineering #Broadcom #VMware #VCF #VirtuallySpeakingPodcast

Identity is the new security perimeter. In this episode of the Virtually Speaking Podcast, Pete Flecha and John Nicholson are joined by Lee Howard, Head of IAM Product Management at Broadcom, to break down Identity Security for VMware Cloud Foundation and why IAM, PAM, and zero trust access are critical for modern private cloud environments. As part of our VCF Advanced Services Series, this episode explores how identity security has evolved from simple Active Directory authentication and sticky-note passwords to: Risk-based, context-aware access Continuous verification and zero trust principles Privileged Access Management (PAM) with credential vaulting and session recording Protection for both human and machine identities Kubernetes-based, cloud-native deployment inside VCF We discuss how modern IAM platforms leverage standards like SAML and OpenID Connect, how PAM enforces least-privilege access and credential rotation, and how behavioral signals help prevent insider threats and compromised accounts. If you’re modernizing to a private cloud with VMware Cloud Foundation, identity can’t be an afterthought, it must be built into the platform. This episode explains how. What You’ll Learn Why identity is foundational to zero trust architecture How risk-based access adapts authentication dynamically The difference between IAM and PAM — and why you need both How privileged session recording protects against insider threats Why Kubernetes enables scalable, zero-downtime identity services in VCF How Identity Security supports DevOps and API-driven application teams 📌 About the VCF Advanced Services Series This series dives deeper into the advanced services available to VMware Cloud Foundation customers helping you understand what’s possible beyond core infrastructure and how these services enhance security, compliance, automation, and operational control. Watch the full Advanced Services playlist here: 👉 https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8_k3uUCO39uFSUmnhzlggmRmEzNQ06GF&si=QNcv8vvkJOM-Gb-V  

Security has changed. It is no longer enough to focus on the perimeter and hope attackers never get inside. Modern threats are designed to move laterally through the environment using common protocols and predictable patterns. That is why security today is less about protecting everything and more about stopping attackers where they move. In this episode of the Virtually Speaking Podcast, Pete Flecha and John Nicholson are joined by Jad El-Zein and security expert Chris McCain to talk about VMware vDefend and its role as an advanced security service for VMware Cloud Foundation. Chris explains how attackers typically move through environments using protocols like RDP, SMB, DNS, and Active Directory, and why focusing on those areas can dramatically reduce risk. The conversation explores how vDefend has evolved from the original NSX distributed firewall into a broader security platform that includes gateway firewalls, IDS and IPS, network traffic analysis, malware protection, and identity based policies. You will hear how vDefend treats virtual machines, containers, and even AI workloads the same from a security perspective, giving organizations a single management plane across all workload types. The discussion also covers identity based firewalling, developer self service guardrails, and the unique security challenges that come with AI infrastructure. This episode is part of our Advanced Services series for VMware Cloud Foundation, where we take a closer look at the services that extend VCF beyond core infrastructure. If you are looking to improve your security posture, reduce lateral movement risk, or bring identity driven security into your private cloud, this is an episode you will want to check out.

Load balancing has been around for decades, but the way applications are built and delivered today has changed the problem entirely. It is no longer just about speeds and feeds. It is about operational scale, automation, and the ability to support modern apps across private clouds, public clouds, and Kubernetes. In this episode of the Virtually Speaking Podcast, Pete Flecha and John Nicholson are joined by Jad El-Zein and load balancing expert Nathan McMahon to talk about VMware Avi Load Balancer and its role as an advanced service in VMware Cloud Foundation. Nathan walks through the fundamentals of load balancing and then explains what really differentiates Avi. Instead of relying on traditional hardware appliances, Avi uses a software defined architecture that separates the control plane from the data plane. This allows the platform to scale automatically, self heal, and dramatically reduce the operational overhead typically associated with load balancing. The conversation covers how Avi monitors every connection in real time, integrates with vDefend for advanced security, and connects directly into core VCF services like vCenter, NSX, DNS, IPAM, and certificate authorities. The result is an automation first approach that supports platform engineering, self service consumption, and consistent operations across clouds and Kubernetes environments. They also discuss common migration challenges, why many customers overestimate SSL capacity needs, and how an API first architecture makes it easier to integrate load balancing into modern DevOps workflows. If you are modernizing your private cloud or looking for a more automated approach to application delivery, this episode is worth a listen.

In this episode of the Virtually Speaking Podcast, Pete Flecha and John Nicholson continue the Advanced Services series with a deep dive into Network Observability. Joined by Broadcom’s Alec Pinkham, the conversation explores how traditional, reactive network monitoring falls short in modern hybrid and cloud-connected environments. The team discusses how network observability combines passive monitoring with active, synthetic traffic testing to provide true end-to-end visibility—from the end-user device to applications running across data centers, clouds, and third-party services. They also cover how this approach helps IT teams reduce mean-time-to-innocence, proactively detect issues, and validate large migrations. If you’re modernizing infrastructure or moving to VMware Cloud Foundation, this episode explains why understanding real user network experience is more critical than ever.  

  In this episode of the Virtually Speaking Advanced Services Series, we take a closer look at Automic Automation and how it helps organizations automate the business processes that run across their private cloud environments. John Nicholson and I are joined by Dave Kellermanns from Broadcom’s Agile Operations division to talk about where Automic fits, the kinds of workflows customers are automating today, and why the biggest automation wins often come from small, repetitive tasks. Rather than focusing only on infrastructure tasks, Automic is designed to orchestrate end-to-end business processes across multiple systems—everything from ERP and databases to legacy platforms and modern cloud services. We also cover real-world examples, including payroll automation, SAP data refreshes, and private AI data pipelines, along with practical advice on where to start with automation for the best ROI.

In this episode of the Virtually Speaking Podcast Advanced Services Series, we dive into VMware Data Services Manager (DSM) and how it delivers true Database-as-a-Service (DBaaS) capabilities for the private cloud. Pete Flecha and co-host Jad El-Zein are joined by Michael Gandy, Product Manager for DSM, to explore how organizations can simplify the deployment and lifecycle management of modern open-source databases like PostgreSQL and MySQL. With databases representing up to 30% of enterprise workloads, many IT teams are struggling to keep up with demand—especially as skilled database administrators become harder to find. That’s where DSM comes in. Built as an integrated service within VMware Cloud Foundation, DSM automates database provisioning, patching, backups, and lifecycle operations, while giving developers self-service access within IT-defined guardrails. The conversation also highlights a real-world example from Broadcom IT, where DSM was selected through a competitive evaluation and is now delivering $10 million in annual savings by standardizing database services across 26 divisions. You’ll also see how DSM integrates with modern Kubernetes workflows, enabling developers to provision and manage databases using familiar tools like kubectl and YAML-based automation. If you’re looking to modernize your data platform, reduce operational overhead, and deliver DBaaS in your private cloud, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. What you’ll learn in this episode: Why modern database operations are becoming a major IT bottleneck • How DSM delivers DBaaS within VMware Cloud Foundation The evolving role of the database administrator Broadcom IT’s $10M annual savings with DSM How developers can provision databases through self-service and Kubernetes workflows Learn more about VMware Cloud Foundation Advanced Services: Explore the full Advanced Services series at vspeaking.com or on the VMware Cloud Foundation YouTube channel.

In this episode of Virtually Speaking, hosts Pete Flecha and John Nicholson continue their Advanced Services series with a deep dive into VMware Advanced Cyber Compliance (ACC)—now generally available for VMware Cloud Foundation customers. Joined by Belu De Arbelaiz and Adam Hawley from VMware’s product management team, the conversation explores why cyber compliance and resilience have become mission-critical, and how ACC helps organizations move beyond manual, point-in-time audits to continuous enforcement and recovery. The discussion covers how ACC uses VMware Salt technology to define desired state configurations, detect drift, and automatically remediate issues at scale—monitoring tens of thousands of endpoints from a single control plane. The team also explains how ACC brings together compliance management and cyber disaster recovery, helping organizations meet evolving regulatory requirements such as DORA, GDPR, PCI DSS, and HIPAA while proving real-world recoverability. You’ll also learn how ACC aligns with the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, addresses credential-based and fileless attacks, and enables better collaboration between infrastructure, security, and compliance teams—all within a single VCF-integrated platform. If you’re responsible for compliance, security, or resilience in a private cloud environment, this episode breaks down why Advanced Cyber Compliance is becoming a foundational capability—not an optional add-on. Topics covered include: Why compliance must be continuous, not point-in-time Desired state configuration and automated drift remediation Scaling compliance and visibility with VMware Salt Cyber and ransomware recovery for on-prem VCF environments Meeting global regulatory and audit requirements Aligning security, compliance, and infrastructure teams Like, subscribe, and explore the full VCF Advanced Services series for deeper dives into each capability.

VMware Cloud Foundation Advanced Services are often misunderstood — or overlooked entirely. In this episode of Virtually Speaking, we kick off a new series focused on how VCF Advanced Services extend the platform beyond core infrastructure to address real-world challenges in cyber resilience, security, application delivery, data services, and operations. Rick Walsworth joins the show to provide a high-level overview of how VCF Advanced Services help customers address real-world challenges such as cyber resilience, zero trust security, application delivery, database automation, network visibility, and business operations. In this episode, we cover how VCF Advanced Services help customers:  • Strengthen cyber resilience with Advanced Cyber Compliance (ACC)  • Implement zero trust security with vDefend  • Modernize application delivery with Avi Load Balancer  • Simplify database operations with Data Services Manager (DSM)  • Gain end-to-end visibility with Network Observability  • Optimize cost and operations with ValueOps for VCF  • Secure identities and access across the platform The episode also explains why Private AI has moved from an advanced service to a core VCF capability, reflecting its growing importance in modern private cloud environments. This conversation sets the foundation for the series, with future episodes diving deeper into each service alongside subject matter experts. ▶️ Watch the episode to get a clear, practical understanding of VCF Advanced Services and how they fit into real customer environments. This episode sets the foundation for the series, with upcoming deep dives into each service featuring VMware subject matter experts.  

In this episode of the Virtually Speaking Podcast, hosts Pete Flecha and John Nicholson welcome Vincent Riccio, VMware automation expert, for a deep dive into SaltStack automation and its role inside VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) Advanced Services. Vincent explains how SaltStack, delivered through VMware’s Advanced Cyber Compliance (ACC) service, brings powerful configuration management, state enforcement, and automated remediation to modern private cloud environments. We explore how SaltStack continuously maintains desired system states, detects drift, and automatically corrects issues in seconds — all at scale. You’ll learn: • How SaltStack’s master–minion architecture enables secure inbound-only communication • The difference between configuration management and state management • How the reactor + beacon system enables real-time automated drift remediation • Built-in compliance and vulnerability scanning using CIS benchmarks • Resource requirements for SaltStack appliances in lab and production environments • Multi-language automation support with YAML, Python, and JSON • Robust Windows management with WinRepo • How SaltStack integrates into VMware’s broader automation and VCF advanced services ecosystem Vincent also shares real-world insights into scaling SaltStack, Postgres database sizing, compliance scanning depth (including hundreds of Ubuntu security checks), and how this modular, Python-based platform helps customers automate faster, safer, and smarter. If you’re exploring VCF automation, private cloud operations, or infrastructure-as-code, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.