As the cloud networking experts, Aviatrix wants to elevate the work of cloud networking heroes who labor to keep networks secure, effective, and performant. We’re proud to highlight people who have taught themselves the necessary skills, designed and managed successful networks, and have the expertise to share, including several who joined Aviatrix in New York at the NASDAQ tower.

Our next hero spotlight is on Hemraj Yadav, Cloud Strategy Leader. See our previous hero spotlights here.

Background: Networking Since Y2K

Hemraj started his career in IT in 2000, supporting banking servers during the Y2K era. “It’s been a long journey, evolving from Novell NetWare to Microsoft technologies, Project Management, DevOps, and now cloud,” he said. “I have been involved in networking from the very beginning, managing LAN, WAN, and voice networks while working with one of the largest banking institutions.”

Hemraj also holds a master’s degree in data science, which enhances his technical and analytical capabilities. Currently, he serves as a Cloud Strategy Leader at a manufacturing organization “with over a century of history.”

Over the course of his career from 2000 to 2024, Hemraj has seen networking evolve in two significant ways:

• Hardware to software — He’s witnessed the shift from “basic LAN/WAN setups and Novell NetWare to complex, cloud-based infrastructures. Early on, networking was more hardware-centric, focusing on routers, switches, and physical connections. Over time, it shifted towards software-defined networking (SDN), virtualization, and cloud integration, enabling greater scalability, automation, and security.”
• The rise of DevOps and cloud-native technologies — This change has “further transformed networking into a more agile and automated domain, driven by the need for faster deployments and enhanced connectivity across distributed environments.”

The Network is the Cloud: Seamless Connectivity and On-Demand Access

When asked what “the network is the cloud” means to him, Hemraj explained that it means a redefinition of boundaries: “networking and cloud services are now deeply intertwined, where the traditional boundaries of on-premises infrastructure have blurred. Networking has evolved to become an integral part of the cloud, providing seamless connectivity, security, and scalability across global environments.”

Hemraj clarified how this vision differs from legacy network design. “It emphasizes that the cloud isn’t just a remote data center; it’s a highly interconnected network that enables on-demand access to resources, applications, and data from anywhere,” he said. “This concept highlights the shift towards a more integrated and dynamic infrastructure where the network itself is a fundamental component of the cloud ecosystem.”

Take Unconventional Paths to Resolve Challenges

In his current role, Hemraj enjoys the daily opportunities the cloud provides to break boundaries and deliver innovative solutions. “The dynamic nature of the cloud constantly challenges me to find new opportunities and pursue them,” he said. “A key accomplishment in my role has been delivering a multi-year project to revamp our multicloud connectivity using Aviatrix-based architecture, which connects all our public clouds. This solution has automated and centralized routing and management, significantly enhancing our cloud operations.”

Hemraj named some of the biggest challenges in his current role:

• Managing the complexities of multicloud environments
• Ensuring seamless integration and security across different platforms
• Staying ahead of the rapidly evolving technology landscape
• Balancing cost optimization while maintaining performance and scalability
• Aligning cloud strategies with business goals and navigating organizational change to embrace new cloud technologies requires ongoing effort and collaboration across teams

To overcome these obstacles, Hemraj has taken some unconventional paths, such as prioritizing a flexible and adaptive approach over rigid processes. “I embraced cloud-native solutions early on, even when they were not fully mature, to stay ahead of the curve,” he explained. “I also invested heavily in automation and Infrastructure as Code, which reduced manual efforts and increased operational efficiency. Building strong cross-functional relationships helped bridge gaps between IT and business teams, ensuring alignment on cloud initiatives.”

Beyond that, Hemraj has focused on continuous learning and upskilling, which allowed him to adapt quickly to new challenges and technologies.

Hemraj anticipates significant improvements to networking in the next ten years:

• Cloud networking will likely evolve towards greater automation, intelligence, and integration with AI-driven technologies. “We can expect networks to become more self-managing, using AI and machine learning to predict and resolve issues in real time.”
• Security will be increasingly embedded into every layer of the network, “with zero trust architectures becoming standard.”
• Edge computing will continue to grow, pushing more processing power closer to users and devices, leading to ultra-low latency and enhanced performance.
• Multicloud and hybrid cloud connectivity will become more seamless, enabling businesses to leverage the best services from various providers without the complexities we see today.

“Overall, cloud networking will be more agile, secure, and intelligent, further blurring the lines between networks and cloud services,” he predicted.

Outside of Work

Outside of business hours, Hemraj enjoys traveling and exploring new places, which allows him to experience different cultures and cuisines. He’s also a big fan of watching food blogs. “It’s a great way to unwind and get inspired to try new recipes,” he said.

Trekking is another hobby he loves. “Being out in nature and tackling new trails is both refreshing and rewarding,” he said. “Whether it’s a local hike or a challenging mountain trail, I find trekking to be a great way to clear my mind and stay active . . . relax, recharge, and keep a balanced perspective on life.”

Curious about other cloud networking heroes like Hemraj?

• We’ll keep highlighting networking professionals on this blog.
• Learn more about the Cloud Networking Heroes program and apply on The Cloud Network Community.