Welcome to The CDW UK OCTOpod, your go-to source for the latest technology innovations. In each episode, experts from CDW and our trusted partners explore hot topics like Generative AI, Hybrid Cloud, Cybersecurity, Service Optimisation and Modern Work.
Backed by CDW’s Office of the CTO, we dive deep into trending tech, break down the news you need and provide actionable insights to apply right away. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast or simply curious about the digital world, OCTOpod will help you harness technology to drive growth in today’s fast-evolving landscape.
All thoughts and opinions on this podcast are those of the CDW UK Office of the CTO and provide independent viewpoints.
Episodes
Oct 6, 2025
Oct 6, 2025
31 min
In this special extended edition of Rob’s Hybrid Platforms Trends Podcast, he is joined by Patrick Smith for a CTO view of this year’s Pure Accelerate announcements. Recorded during an embargo before the New York and UK Accelerate events, Rob and Patrick discuss the new announcements being made and how they will impact customers in areas of cost, operations, and performance. Covering Pure Fusion, Enterprise Data Cloud, Intelligent control plane, data plane, and cyber recovery.
Speakers:
Rob Sims. Chief Technologist, CDW
Patrick Smith, CTO EMEA
Aug 5, 2025
Aug 5, 2025
17 min
In the final episode of our three-part Cisco 2025 series, we go straight to the heart of the conversation: digital resilience—why it’s no longer a technology discussion, but a critical business necessity.
You'll hear from:
- Rob Sims - Chief Technologist, CDW
- Joachim Mason - Managing Director, Partner Sales, Cisco UK & Ireland
- Scott Manson - Director of Cyber Security and Resilience
- Ged Fitton Leader - Cloud Infrastructure & Software Group (CISG)
Together, the panel explores how:
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Digital downtime can now lead to life-threatening scenarios, societal disruption, and brand collapse
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Observability is no longer a luxury, but a core component of any resilient IT architecture
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Tech debt and outdated infrastructure are quietly sabotaging business resilience
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Cisco’s strategic acquisitions (like Splunk, ThousandEyes, AppDynamics, and Isovalent) are reshaping how security, operations, and data insight come together
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A true platform approach is needed to fight AI-powered adversaries and deliver machine-speed protection
This is not the Cisco of ten years ago. This is a new, modern Cisco—focused on digital resilience, powered by platforms, and built for the future.
Catch up on Parts 1 & 2 if you missed them—and get ready to lead your organisation into a more resilient, intelligent, and secure tomorrow.
Jul 31, 2025
Jul 31, 2025
18 min
In Part 2 of our Cisco 2025 special, we continue the conversation on digital resilience as business resilience, this time focusing on the hybrid cloud, modern data centres, and preparing for the future of AI-powered workloads.
You'll hear from:
- Rob Sims - Chief Technologist, CDW
- Joachim Mason - Managing Director, Partner Sales, Cisco UK & Ireland
- Scott Manson - Director of Cyber Security and Resilience
- Ged Fitton Leader - Cloud Infrastructure & Software Group (CISG)
Together, they break down:
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Why the term AI-Ready Data Centre matters – and what “ready” actually means
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The resurgence of hybrid cloud and why workload placement still matters in 2025
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Why virtual machines aren’t going anywhere—yet—and how containers are changing the game
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Cisco’s approach to simplification through silicon, partnerships (NVIDIA, Nutanix, etc.), and validated designs
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How Cisco’s own silicon strategy gives customers choice, performance, and control
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The importance of observability and security in every data strategy
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Why “outcome-led” thinking is critical for building resilient infrastructure—especially when preparing for AI
Don’t miss Part 3, where we unpack digital resilience in detail—from threat response to observability and the future of secure, connected enterprise environments.
Jul 29, 2025
Jul 29, 2025
17 min
In this special three-part series, Rob Sims is joined by a powerhouse panel from Cisco to unpack one of the most pressing topics facing every business today: digital resilience as the foundation of business resilience.
In Part 1, we explore the real-world pressures shaping strategy in 2025—from cybersecurity and AI hype, to data centre complexity and decision paralysis. You'll hear from:
- Rob Sims - Chief Technologist, CDW
- Joachim Mason - Managing Director, Partner Sales, Cisco UK & Ireland
- Scott Manson - Director of Cyber Security and Resilience
- Ged Fitton Leader - Cloud Infrastructure & Software Group (CISG)
Together, they share unfiltered insights from the field, discussing how geopolitical shocks, shifting workforces, and AI-fuelled transformation are converging to reshape how organisations must think about resilience.
Key talking points include:
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Why tech complexity is paralysing decision-making—and how to overcome it
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The AI-ready data centre: hype vs. reality
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Cisco’s internal transformation and its focus on platform, silicon, and AI
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Why partnerships (not paper-based processes) are the key to delivering real outcomes
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Top tips to simplify complexity and drive digital progress
This is not a product pitch—it’s a deep dive into strategic alignment, practical advice, and what it really takes to thrive in the face of constant disruption.
Tune in, take notes, and get ready for Part 2, where we dig deeper into the AI-ready data centre and the power of silicon-led transformation.
Jun 6, 2025
Jun 6, 2025
20 min
Welcome to a special series with our friends from Microsoft centred around the topic of Cloud Beyond IaaS and how we can drive cost optimisation and innovation through technology. This will be a 13-part series starting with the strategy and diving into the technology across three core areas: App Modernisation, Hybrid Cloud and Data & AI. In this episode we dive into the topic of Hybrid Cloud covering topics such as Azure Arc, StackHCI, AVD and the value of running applications at the edge.
Speakers
Rob Sims. Chief Technologist, CDW
Christophe Le Roux, Azure Local EMEA Lead, Microsoft
Jake Walsh, Senior Solutions Architect, CDW
Jun 2, 2025
Jun 2, 2025
16 min
Welcome to a special series with our friends from Microsoft centred around the topic of Cloud Beyond IaaS and how we can drive cost optimisation and innovation through technology. This will be a 13-part series starting with the strategy and diving into the technology across three core areas: App Modernisation, Hybrid Cloud and Data & AI.
In this episode, we introduce the concept of App Modernisation and the value it can bring in both cost optimisation and business agility.
Speakers
Rob Sims. Chief Technologist, CDW
Michelle Azzopardi, Senior Apps and AI Innovation Business Lead, Microsoft
Sam Swaby, Senior Solutions Architect, CDW
May 30, 2025
May 30, 2025
23 min
Welcome to a special series with our friends from Microsoft centred around the topic of Cloud Beyond IaaS and how we can drive cost optimisation and innovation through technology. This will be a 13-part series starting with the strategy and diving into the technology across three core areas: App Modernisation, Hybrid Cloud and Data & AI. In this episode we dive into the topic of Hybrid Cloud covering topics such as Azure Arc, StackHCI, AVD and the value of running applications at the edge.
Speakers
Rob Sims. Chief Technologist, CDW
Christophe Le Roux, Azure Local EMEA Lead, Microsoft
Jake Walsh, Senior Solutions Architect, CDW
May 26, 2025
May 26, 2025
15 min
Welcome to a special series with our friends from Microsoft centred around the topic of Cloud Beyond IaaS and how we can drive cost optimisation and innovation through technology. This will be a 13-part series starting with the strategy and diving into the technology across three core areas: App Modernisation, Hybrid Cloud and Data & AI.
In this episode, we introduce the concept of App Modernisation and the value it can bring in both cost optimisation and business agility.
Speakers
Rob Sims. Chief Technologist, CDW
Michelle Azzopardi, Senior Apps and AI Innovation Business Lead, Microsoft
Sam Swaby, Senior Solutions Architect, CDW