Skip to main content

Aviatrix wants to elevate the work of secure 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.

Our next hero spotlight is on Azeem Ayaz, Cloud Operations Architect. See our previous hero spotlights here.

 

Background: A Curiosity About How Things Work

Like many of our Secure Cloud Networking Heroes, including Adam Stipkovits and Jack Yu, Azeem’s interest in technology began early.

“I’ve been passionate about technology since childhood, always curious about how things work,” Azeem explained. “My interest in IT deepened through gaming, especially when I started playing multiplayer games over LAN in 2007-08.”

This interest led Azeem to explore networking in depth. He started his professional career in 2012 as a Network Operations Engineer for a Fortune 10 company.

Over the past 13 years, Azeem has gained extensive experience in designing, managing, and optimizing networks to support complex infrastructures. Throughout his career, he’s earned certifications from industry leaders like Cisco, Juniper, and AWS. Azeem has also had the privilege of working with both Cisco Systems and Juniper Networks, where he gained hands-on experience with some of the most innovative and cutting-edge networking technologies in the field.

“These experiences were instrumental in shaping my approach to cloud and hybrid networking, blending traditional networking expertise with modern cloud practices,” he said.

 

Collaboration, Problem-solving, and the Satisfaction of Finding the Perfect Solution

One of Azeem’s favorite things about his current role is the collaboration and problem-solving involved. “In my role, I have the privilege of working with customers across various industries, helping them design and operate cloud network infrastructures that are resilient, high-performing, secure, and cost-optimized,” he said. “I find it incredibly rewarding to not only help customers build, but also to guide them in efficiently managing and scaling their networks.”

One of the most rewarding problems to solve is the issue of cost management vs. performance optimization, a dilemma many networking professionals face. “A key highlight of my job is when I can offer a customer a more cost-effective solution without compromising on performance,” Azeem said. “Seeing their reaction and knowing I’ve helped optimize both technically and financially is one of my greatest satisfactions.”

Azeem also enjoys contributing to the cloud networking community by writing on AWS re:Post, simplifying complex networking concepts. He has also spoken on “The Routing Loop,” a Twitch show for networking enthusiasts, and participated in other Twitch series, sharing insights on cloud networking operations.

 

Greatest Challenges

Azeem named some of the greatest challenges in his career:

 

Collaborating with different teams

“One of the biggest challenges I face is working with customers from diverse technical backgrounds,” said Azeem. “From DevOps engineers focused on cloud networks to traditional networkers managing hybrid infrastructures,each group has different pain points and expertise, so my role is to simplify cloud networking for both. DevOps engineers excel with Infrastructure as Code (IaC), while traditional networkers typically focus on scalable, secure networks. Bridging this gap requires tailored solutions for each group.”

 

Creating groundbreaking automation solutions

Early in his career, Azeem worked on building in-house network automation solutions. At the time, cloud technologies weren’t mainstream, and automation tools like Ansible weren’t widely adopted yet.

“However, this experience gave me a unique edge, allowing me to understand not only traditional networking but also the principles of automation that would later play a crucial role in cloud-based environments,” Azeem said. “This foundation helped me engage with both DevOps and traditional networkers, creating a shared understanding and fostering collaboration.”

 

Communicating with stakeholders

“My role also involves engaging with a variety of stakeholders—from engineering teams to C-suite executives,” Azeem said. “Each group has unique needs and priorities, so adapting my communication style and approach is essential to ensuring alignment across the organization.”

 

Building skills and adapting

As cloud networking evolved and began blurring the lines between application networking, connectivity engineering, and network security, Azeem continued to upskill in both cloud platforms and automation. “By developing a broad expertise that spans both traditional networking and the cloud-native world, I’ve been able to adapt to the rapid pace of change and help my customers navigate the complexities of hybrid and cloud environments.”

 

The Past and Future of Networking

In his career, Azeem has seen massive shifts in specific technologies and network performance. “Over the years, I’ve seen the dramatic evolution of networking technologies,” he said. “From the early days of Frame Relay and ATM to MPLS, and now SD-WAN, network connectivity has evolved significantly. Advancements in network throughput, such as the leap from 10Gbps to 400Gbps, have had a profound impact on industries like streaming, social media, and cloud computing, all while enabling telecom companies to expand into 5G.”

Looking ahead, Azeem predicts a few upcoming changes, including:

  • Network simplification – “Technologies like intent-based networking (IBN) and network-as-a-service (NaaS) will become more mainstream, simplifying network operations.”
  • Continuing innovation – “Innovations like quantum networking could radically change how we transmit data across global cloud infrastructures.”

 

The Network is the Cloud: “Automated, Scalable, and Built for Agility”

Azeem connects the concept of “the network is the cloud” with the technological transformation brought by hyper-scalers. “Hyper-scalers like AWS have revolutionized networking by bringing the agility of the cloud to businesses,’ he said. “In the past, expanding into new markets required months or years to build data centers. Today, cloud networking allows companies to scale almost instantly without the complexities of physical infrastructure. NetDevOps has streamlined cloud network design and deployment, abstracting traditional on-prem complexities and offering benefits like better monitoring, scalability, and security.”

Azeem explained how this transformation has revolutionized networking infrastructure. “‘The Network is the Cloud’ reflects the shift where networking is no longer a separate layer, but a key part of cloud infrastructure—automated, scalable, and built for agility.”

 

Outside of Work

Outside of work, Azeem is an avid fan of strategy games like “Age of Empires” and “Cities: Skylines.” “I enjoy the strategic thinking and planning they require, which mirrors my approach to problem-solving in networking,” he said.

He and his wife also love spontaneous road trips, driving to random destinations. “We live by the mantra, ‘The journey is more exciting than the destination,’ and it’s a philosophy I carry into my work—enjoying the process and not just the end result,” he explained. He is also a foodie and enjoys exploring different cuisines, using cooking to unwind and get creative.

A fun fact about Azeem is that he’s been interested in robotics since building radio frequency-controlled bots and participating in school and college competitions. “The recent advancements in AI have reignited my passion, and I’m excited about where this field is headed,” Azeem said.

 

Curious about other cloud networking heroes like Azeem?

Be the first to reply!

Reply


Terms & Conditions