I recently caught up with Rupesh Chokshi, Assistant Vice President, Edge Solutions Product Marketing Management at AT&T Business, to discuss the latest news, trends and offerings from AT&T Business around Edge, Software Defined Infrastructure ( SDI ), Software Defined Networking ( SDN ), network function virtualisation (NFV) and SD-WAN technologies and much more. Rupesh leads the Enterprise Edge product marketing team for AT&T Business which focuses on product management, strategy and business development. He manages a significant global portfolio of market-leading, innovative technology solutions. We look at how the AT&T Business "Enterprise Edge" team are transforming services and networks using software-defined networking (SDN), network function virtualisation (NFV) and SD-WAN technologies. Rupesh shares with us insights around work AT&T has done as they have invested in the development of world leading software-based solutions at the edge to create value for customers that are agile and scalable. These solutions encompass SDN, NFV, SD-WAN, 5G, voice over internet protocol (VoIP) and IoT. Rupesh then continues with key insights around how Software Defined Infrastructure ( SDI ) & Software Defined Networks ( SDN ) have changed the landscape of Wide Area Networks. We also cover the AT&T Business portfolio of WAN & Edge services & solutions, and in particular, where SD-WAN sits within the portfolio of services AT&T Business currently offers: Next we delve into how these elements become the connective fabric enabling companies to move their workloads virtually seamlessly, reduce complexity, foster innovation and deliver on the promise of digital transformation. This is exactly what our customers are asking for and why networks matter in today’s edge to edge world. Also discussed is the key topic of virtualisation and flexible networking in the world of today’s Telco’s & CSP’s, and what the key benefits SD-WAN offers are, and how it transforming how businesses leverage flexible virtual networking. Specifically the primary value proposition of SD-WAN solutions which is to enable enterprises to intelligently and connect with high security any site to any cloud at scale - Rupesh outlines how the first generation, deployments were focused on delivery of agile WAN connectivity, increasing reach while decreasing operational complexity. Now, customers are expecting more – they want to use SD-WAN to deliver a range of IT services with high end-to-end security. We then look at the challenges CXO’s face looking to use SD-WAN across their business, and how they should businesses be incorporating SD-WAN into their networking & technology strategies. We wrap up with Rupesh sharing his thoughts around what's over the horizon for the next 12 to 18 months in what is one of the most challenging periods of human history for the last 100 years. Tune in now for all of these amazing topics and more. This podcast was made in partnership with AT&T Business. For more information please visit: http://bit.ly/attedgesolutions #sponsored #attinfluencer .