Cloud Unfiltered, a podcast that cuts through the complexity of the cloud computing world, offers listeners insightful discussions on the latest trends, technologies, and strategies driving cloud technology. The series, hosted by Michael Chenetz, Senior Content Strategist at Outshift by Cisco, invites industry leaders, innovators, and thinkers to unpack the challenges and opportunities within the cloud landscape. 

In February 2024, the podcast hosted several guests who engaged in discussions about AI, platform engineering, and the history of and trends in cloud computing. The episodes covered a spectrum of topics—from the pressing challenges of container security and the collaborative power of open source to the intricacies between DevOps practices and platform engineering principles. The conversations illuminated pathways toward a more innovative, secure, and efficient cloud ecosystem. 

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Episode 1: Addressing the critical issue of container security with Ayse Kaya 

In this episode, Cloud Unfiltered scrutinizes the critical issue of container security with guest and security expert, Ayse Kaya, Vice President of Strategy, Analytics & Applied AI at Root.io, formerly Slim.AI. Chenetz and Kaya discussed the recently published Slim.AI Container Report. The report dissects the top 150+ public containers on Docker Hub to uncover vulnerabilities and surveys top IT, security, and engineering executives in North America to understand how they deal with container vulnerability issues.

The reactive struggle against container vulnerabilities 

According to Kaya, when it comes to the threats and vulnerabilities assailing containers, many organizations are barely keeping their heads above water. They’re continually engaged in a reactive, whack-a-mole approach, instead of getting out ahead of the problem. Kaya stresses the vital importance of a proactive stance, mapping out and dealing with potential security landmines before they detonate. 

The communication silos hindering vulnerability management 

The lack of standardized lines of communication between software vendors and consumers is making vulnerability management even more difficult. Effective vulnerability management relies heavily on collaboration. However, according to the report, 70% of organizations are using emailed tracking spreadsheets to communicate with vendors about vulnerabilities. 

“This is extremely inefficient,” Kaya noted, explaining how difficult it is to find alignment and accountability when spreadsheets start flying back and forth.  

“We need a paradigm shift in how we think about approaching the problem," Kaya said. "Collaboration is a necessary glue in a lot of human endeavors, and definitely in container vulnerability management. For it to be effective, clear, and scalable we need centralized platforms where the information is collected properly and the learnings are transferred properly.”

The skills shortage and the open-source advantage   

Effective container security requires elite, specialized knowledge—a tall order when organizations are already stretched thin by the cyber skills shortage. Kaya and Chenetz discuss the subject of cultivating container security expertise, looking at theSlim.AI report, which also highlights the upside of open-source containers. With larger communities of developers keeping a watchful eye out for emerging vulnerabilities, open-source projects can often move quickly to identify and squash bugs. 

The call for collaboration to build a more secure future 

Chenetz and Kaya wrap up with a call for collaboration in the industry. By working together, leading organizations and experts can develop unified communication protocols, invest in shared vulnerability databases, and potentially establish a centralized platform to ensure containerized environments don’t remain soft targets for cyber threats. 

Episode 2: AI, Kubeflow, and CoD with David Aronchick 

David Aronchick, CEO of Expanso, is a recognized authority in artificial intelligence, Kubeflow, and cloud on demand (CoD). Aronchick joins the Cloud Unfiltered podcast to share his first-hand experience and profound insights into the evolution and impact of cutting-edge tech. 

An unexpected career trajectory 

Aronchick shares the fascinating narrative of his career journey. What began as aspirations toward a medical career turned instead to technology. Ultimately, Aronchick spearheaded groundbreaking initiatives, including his role in shaping Kubernetes and his tenure at Chef, giving us a peek into the formative stages of containerization and its revolutionary potential. 

Navigating complexity and embracing declarative frameworks 

Aronchick helps to untangle the intricacies of modern tech ecosystems, advocating for the widespread adoption of declarative frameworks like Kubernetes and Kubeflow.  

“I think reproducibility is an enormous thing,” Aronchick said, “I want researchers to be able to — with one command — encapsulate their entire experiment.”  

Aronchick's visionary perspective shows the power of technology to streamline processes and drive innovation in AI and cloud computing. 

Toward a reproducible future 

The episode wraps up with a conversation about the future of AI and cloud technologies. Aronchick shares how he envisions a future where systems are transparent, predictable, and effortlessly reproducible, giving users the power to experiment and create with absolute certainty. 

Episode 3: The history of CNCF, Linux Foundation, KubeCon, and the future with Chris Aniszczyk 

In this episode of Cloud Unfiltered, Chenetz chats with Chris Aniszczyk, CTO of the Cloud Native Computing Foundation and Vice President of Developer Relations at the Linux Foundation. They discuss the evolution of open-source technology and the profound impact it has had on the tech landscape. From the inception of Linux to the emergence of the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) and KubeCon, Aniszczyk's journey offers invaluable insights into collaborative innovation. 

Navigating the open-source landscape 

Aniszczyk reflects on his illustrious career, from his early days optimizing Linux to his current roles at the Linux Foundation and CNCF. Aniszczyk's experiences are broad, from his involvement in seminal projects like GNU to his pivotal contributions to the open-source ecosystem. 

From Linux to CNCF 

Aniszczyk offers a glimpse into the genesis of CNCF and its role in shaping the future of cloud-native computing. He recounts the beginnings of Kubernetes and the strategic vision behind the inception of CNCF. Throughout this technological progress, collaboration played a pivotal role. The complex interplay between industry stakeholders paved the way for a more inclusive and vibrant open-source ecosystem. 

The future of cloud-native computing 

Turning the conversation to the future, Aniszczyk sees a world where open-source principles permeate every facet of technology. As AI and cloud-native computing converge, Aniszczyk anticipates a day when open models and collaborative innovation will redefine what’s possible.

Embracing the power of community at KubeCon 

Aniszczyk and Chenetz share their excitement for upcoming KubeCon events, highlighting the importance of community engagement in driving technological progress. They reflect on the role of KubeCon as a catalyst for innovation, fostering meaningful connections, and igniting new ideas. Aniszczyk encourages listeners to actively participate in the vibrant community discourse, leveraging KubeCon as a platform for learning, collaboration, and inspiration.  

Episode 4: DevOps vs. platform engineering with Cory O’Daniel 

Cloud Unfiltered dives into the nuances of DevOps versus platform engineering with Cory O'Daniel, CEO & Co-Founder of Massdriver, untangling the complexities of modern IT operations and the quest for streamlined development workflows. 

Exploring the landscape of DevOps and platform engineering 

The conversation opens with O'Daniel sharing about his journey as an operations engineer and DevOps practitioner, navigating the dynamic landscape of IT infrastructure and application deployment. From his early days in healthcare information systems to his current role as a champion of DevOps principles, O'Daniel's experience offers a unique perspective on the evolution of IT operations. 

The elusive definition of DevOps 

Chenetz and O'Daniel discuss the challenges of defining DevOps, highlighting the cultural nuances and organizational barriers that hinder the widespread adoption of DevOps practices. O'Daniel underscores the importance of bridging the gap between development and operations teams to foster collaboration and drive innovation. 

Platform engineering: scaling operational talent 

Platform engineering can address the operational challenges inherent in modern IT environments. O’Daniel calls for a paradigm shift toward scalable solutions that empower development teams to focus on delivering value—rather than grappling with infrastructure complexities. Organizations that invest in platform engineering initiatives will be able to scale operational talent and enhance developer productivity. 

Navigating the complexity of cloud adoption 

Cloud adoption is challenging and has a direct impact on traditional IT operations. Chenetz and O’Daniel discuss the shifting role of infrastructure as code (IaC) and the emergence of new tools and methodologies to streamline application deployment in cloud-native environments. O'Daniel stresses the importance of balancing developer autonomy with operational governance to ensure compliance and security in cloud-based deployments. 

Empowering developers with self-service platforms 

O'Daniel advocates for self-service platforms to empower developers and streamline the application deployment process. Providing developers with intuitive tools and automation frameworks would accelerate innovation and reduce dependency on operational support. O'Daniel awaits a future where developers have the autonomy to deploy and manage their applications seamlessly, freeing up operational resources to focus on strategic initiatives. 

Looking ahead: the future of DevOps and platform engineering 

As the episode draws to a close, Chenetz and O'Daniel reflect on the evolving landscape of DevOps and platform engineering. In the pursuit of platform engineering initiatives, enterprises are taking operations engineers or product engineers and making them the platform team, in charge of “platform as a product.” O’Daniel anticipates the difficulties that this approach will bring, hoping instead for a time when organizations will embrace a culture of continuous improvement and genuine collaboration. 

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