The Pure Report

Latest Episodes:

Data-Driven Transformation: Valerie Harrison on Cloud, AI, Automotive, and Women in Tech Apr 14, 2025

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In this episode of the Pure Report, we welcome Valerie Harrison, Principal Technologist at Pure Storage, for an in-depth exploration of technology transformation in cloud, AI, and the automotive industry. Valerie shares her fascinating career journey from Google to Pure Storage, revealing how her diverse experiences have shaped her perspective on cloud adoption, AI implementation, and the critical role of effective data management. The conversation provides valuable insights into when cloud solutions make strategic sense and how companies can avoid vendor lock-in while still leveraging the best technologies for their specific use cases. Our discussion takes a deep dive into how AI is revolutionizing the automotive sector, examining the divide between traditional approaches and new subscription-based models. Valerie illuminates how car manufacturers are utilizing unstructured data growth, synthetic data creation, and telemetry information to enhance customer experiences and develop advanced features. Listeners will gain a clear understanding of how storage and data management serve as the common thread to success in these initiatives, with specific examples of how Pure Storage is enabling manufacturers and suppliers to manage massive data requirements for everything from factory operations to customer-facing innovations. The episode concludes with a thoughtful examination of women's experiences in the tech industry, with Valerie candidly discussing barriers to career development and the importance of representation. She shares practical advice from her talk at a Google conference about getting your voice heard in intimidating environments and discusses her mentorship work with a local university. This segment offers valuable perspectives on addressing skills gaps in tech through greater inclusion of talented women, particularly in underrepresented areas like cybersecurity, and highlights initiatives like Pure Storage's Women's ERG that are working to create positive change.

Data, Defense, and Disruption: A Public Sector Tech Journey with Jim Weaver, Former State CIO Mar 31, 2025

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Make time to take an extraordinary deep dive into the complex world of public sector technology leadership, featuring Jim Weaver, a veteran Chief Information Officer with an impressive track record across multiple state governments and now Pure's National Strategic Advisor for Public Sector. Our conversation unpacks the critical challenges and transformative opportunities facing IT leaders in an era of unprecedented technological complexity, from cybersecurity threats to the revolutionary potential of artificial intelligence in government operations. Drawing from Jim's extensive experience leading technology strategies in North Carolina, the state of Washington, and in Pennsylvania, Weaver offers a rare behind-the-scenes perspective on how modern governments are architecting resilient, secure, and innovative digital infrastructures. We examine the intricate balance between risk management and technological advancement, revealing the strategic thinking required to protect sensitive public data while simultaneously leveraging cutting-edge technologies to improve government services and operational efficiency. Beyond technical insights, this episode provides a compelling narrative about leadership, innovation, and the human element of technology. Develop an understanding of how dedicated IT professionals like Jim Weaver are working to safeguard critical infrastructure, navigate complex cybersecurity landscapes, and drive meaningful digital transformation in the public sector. From ransomware prevention to AI implementation, Weaver shares candid stories and strategic insights that demystify the high-stakes world of government technology management.

Close the Security Gap with CyberStorage from Superna and Pure Storage Mar 24, 2025

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In the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity, traditional defense mechanisms are proving increasingly inadequate against sophisticated cyber and ransomware attacks. The latest collaboration between Pure Storage and Superna represents a groundbreaking approach to data protection, introducing the revolutionary concept of CyberStorage - an active defense strategy that goes beyond reactive measures to prevent cyber threats at their inception. Featuring insights from Jason Walker of Pure Storage and Alex Hesterberg, CEO of Superna and former Pure pre-IPO employee, the conversation provides a roadmap for organizations seeking to fortify their cyber defenses. This podcast explores the critical gap between traditional data protection and modern cybersecurity, offering listeners an in-depth look at how innovative technologies can strengthen an organization's security posture. By focusing on prevention, early detection, and automated response mechanisms, Pure Storage and Superna are redefining how businesses can protect their most valuable asset: their data. The discussion delves into practical solutions that not only block potential attacks but also provide comprehensive analytics and recovery capabilities. From understanding the devastating impacts of ransomware to exploring cutting-edge technologies like FlashBlade and advanced detection capabilities, this podcast offers listeners a strategic perspective on protecting their digital infrastructure in an increasingly hostile cyber environment.

Purely Cloud Guest Series: Cloud Frontier - Bridging Worlds with Azure VMware Solution Mar 12, 2025

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Jump into the latest Purely Cloud Guest Series episode featuring Pure's Kyle Grossmiller in an engaging conversation with Microsoft AVS Solution expert Husam Hilal. This episode explores how Azure VMware Solution (AVS) represents one of the most significant collaborations in cloud computing, enabling organizations to seamlessly extend their VMware environments into Microsoft Azure. In this episode, dive deep to explore both the strategic vision and practical implementation challenges of this groundbreaking service. From its origins as a collaborative effort between former competitors to its current status as a critical hybrid cloud enabler, Husam guides us through the evolution of AVS with insights only an insider could provide. The conversation examines how AVS solves fundamental challenges for enterprises with significant VMware investments, allowing them to leverage Azure's global footprint without rearchitecting applications or disrupting operations. Husam shares real-world deployment scenarios and addresses one of the most common challenges customers face: vSAN storage limitations that can force over-provisioning of compute resources. He unpacks innovative solutions like Pure Storage Cloud and Cloud Block Store that disaggregate storage from compute, potentially saving organizations significant costs while optimizing resource utilization. Looking toward the horizon, Husam and Kyle provide a glimpse into upcoming AVS innovations that promise to reshape hybrid cloud strategies. Whether you're an IT decision-maker evaluating migration options, an architect designing hybrid solutions, or a VMware professional expanding your skillset, this episode offers practical advice for navigating the convergence of traditional virtualization and modern cloud platforms. Husam's unique perspective bridges technical details with business value, making complex cloud concepts accessible and actionable.

Purely Cloud Guest Series: Managing Cloud Storage at Scale: Pure Cloud Block Store Specifics Feb 26, 2025

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In this fourth installment of the Purely Cloud Guest podcast series, Ondrej and team delve deeper into the technical specifics of Pure Cloud Block Store (CBS). After covering the foundational aspects in previous episodes—from Pure Storage's market impact to the cost advantages of CBS through data reduction techniques and egress cost management—we now turn our attention to the architectural nuances and recent innovations that differentiate CBS in both AWS and Azure environments. This episode's special guest, Shruti Gupta, joins to explore the improvements that make CBS stand out, including non-disruptive upgrades, flexible capacity management options, and the introduction of multitenancy capabilities. They unpack the significant benefits of Fusion for fleet management and discuss the always-on encryption features that ensure data security. Additionally, they explore the introduction of comprehensive data protection strategies available with CBS, examining how replication capabilities balance recovery objectives with total cost of ownership considerations. As the episode concludes, they highlight recent platform-specific enhancements for CBS and preview upcoming episodes focusing on specialized use cases including data replication, disaster recovery, and leveraging CBS for development/testing environments and analytics workloads in the cloud. Whether you're already using Pure Storage solutions or exploring cloud storage options, this technical deep dive offers valuable insights into optimizing your cloud storage architecture.

Unplugged Volume 20: TechSummit Season 3, Pure News Roundup, and AI/Quantum Tech News Feb 23, 2025

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In the latest episode of Pure Report Unplugged, the team dives into the exciting world of TechSummit Season 3 with JD's announcement of new focus areas including the Pure Storage Platform, Real-Time Enterprise File and Object services, and customer success stories from the field. The tour kicks off in Calgary, Alberta before moving to San Diego, Toronto, Atlanta, and more locations, with Andrew scheduled to appear at the inaugural Calgary event. Listeners also get insight into the team's behind-the-scenes work, from Andrew's enablement initiatives and bootcamp development to Rob's journey in production for Sales Kickoff, plus news about upcoming video podcasts and an updated web landing page. The episode's Pure News Roundup covers significant company developments, including Andrew's commentary on the enhanced Partner Program and JD's updates on Fusion features like simplified management, presets, and automation improvements. The team emphasizes the "Subscription to Innovation" philosophy available on version 6.8, discussing how security challenges and cloud technologies are transforming update strategies toward more resilient architectures. Rob also shares exciting details about Accelerate registration opening February 18th in Las Vegas at Resortsworld, highlighting expanded offerings based on attendee feedback such as more hands-on labs, customer speakers, community meetups, and certification opportunities. The Tech News Roundup segment explores fascinating AI advancements from Deepseek, Grok3, and Glean, alongside Oxford scientists' claims about quantum teleportation, drawing a nostalgic connection to Willy Wonka's Mike TeeVee character. The episode concludes with practical tips, including JD's guide to building a Pure LED wall panel using Nanoleaf Shapes Triangles with HomeKit compatibility and Pure Orange (Hex #FE5000), plus Andrew's highlight of the Genealogy View feature in Pure 1, complete with a customer anecdote about demonstrating cost savings to finance teams.

Purely Cloud Guest Series: CBS on Azure Technical Deep Dive and Deployment Best Practices Feb 05, 2025

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The Purely Cloud guest podcast series is back for 2025 with a new episode diving deep into Cloud Block Store (CBS) for Azure. In this episode, Vaclav and Ondrej dive deep into this subject, offering a comprehensive architectural overview that distinguishes it from traditional cloud storage solutions. The hosts explore the unique aspects of CBS, including its virtual storage array running Purity OS, Azure Marketplace distribution, and managed application model. They break down the technical specifics, examining controller configurations, disk configurations, and the nuanced differences between Ultra and PremiumV2 disk technologies. The discussion extends to critical deployment considerations, network architecture, and best practices for implementing CBS in Azure environments. Vaclav and Ondrej delve into key technical elements such as resiliency through RAID-HA and network subnet segregation. They also compare generational models (V10 and V20), discuss capacity points, and provide insights into pre-deployment checks and deployment methods, including portal, CLI, and infrastructure-as-code approaches like Terraform and Bicep. The episode offers a technical deep-dive for storage professionals and cloud architects looking to understand the intricacies of Pure Storage's cloud storage solution in the Azure ecosystem.

Digital Divining: Rosemarin's 2025 Tech Predictions and a Look Back at 2024 Feb 04, 2025

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Technological acceleration fueled by AI continues so it makes sense to ask our annual prediction provider - Shawn Rosemarin, VP of R&D at Pure Storage - to deliver his annual technology predictions podcast and look back on 2024. As always, he brings his unique industry perspectives, drawing from deep experience and keen observational skills to unpack the technological trajectories that will shape our world in 2025. The podcast delves into key emerging trends and a review of 2024 predictions and what's challenging with each: from the transformative potential of AI and large language models becoming personal strategic advisors to the emerging "Edge Wars" between telecommunications, hyperscaler, and networking vendors. Rosemarin goes beyond mere technological speculation, examining the critical intersections of innovation with ethical considerations, regulatory landscapes, and sustainable development. His insights reveal how technological advancement is not just about cutting-edge capabilities, but about creating responsible, inclusive, and forward-thinking solutions. Listeners will be treated to a comprehensive exploration of 2025's technological frontier, spanning topics like multi-cloud architectures, cybersecurity challenges, quantum preparedness, and the crucial role of talent development in driving innovation. Rosemarin's approach is both strategic and human-centric, emphasizing that true technological progress is measured not just by technical achievements, but by its capacity to solve real-world problems, enhance human capabilities, and contribute to a more sustainable and interconnected global ecosystem.

Inside the World of Large-Scale AI Solutions, Networking, and Cloud Innovation with Rob Quast Jan 30, 2025

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We finally chased down the smart and savvy Rob Quast, Principal Technologist at Pure, to discuss the latest trends in the tech world around AI, Networking and Cloud storage. Our conversation kicks off with Rob's journey, from his time at ePlus and working in sys admin roles, to a memorable experience at Pure's NYC Accelerate event where he saw the stock exchange firsthand. We touch on the various aspects of a PT's role, including Rob’s experience showing demos and helping customers understand complex solutions. Our conversation shifts to some of Rob's most passionate work, including involvement in a large AI solution for Coreweave. He walks through the intricacies of a massive deal and how it required close collaboration with the product management team, post-validation work, and strategic networking. Rob also shares insights from a hyperscaler win for Pure Storage, explaining what "hyperscaler" means and how they’re used in the industry. We dive into the technical details of large AI deals, such as GPUDirect, and discuss how Pure can better connect with networking professionals. A key theme here is the intersection of data storage and networking, with Rob revealing why NVMe TCP is a game-changer for the future of cloud infrastructure, particularly when compared to technologies like Infiniband. We close with conversation looking toward the future, exploring the realities of cloud storage and hybrid cloud solutions, and what customers are trying to achieve and the challenges they face. The episode wraps up with a focus on object storage, where Rob discusses how Pure Storage's Fusion platform helps manage global namespaces and facilitates multi-tenant cloud environments.

Tales from the Data Center: Storage Unfiltered with Principal Technologist Joey Clark Jan 03, 2025

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Happy 2025 from the Pure Report! Jump back in for an engaging conversation with Joey Clark, Principal Technologist at Pure Storage, as he shares his unique journey from monitoring power grids in the Southeast to becoming a storage industry veteran. With nine years at Pure Storage under his belt, Joey offers fascinating insights into the company's evolution from its "pirate" startup days to its current position as an enterprise storage innovator. In this episode, we dive deep into the pressing challenges facing today's enterprise customers, including the complexities of cloud adoption, the growing importance of power efficiency in data centers, and the reality behind AI hype. Joey brings his real-world experience working with major enterprise accounts to discuss how organizations are leveraging technologies like Pure Fusion for automation and the innovative //E Family for long-term data retention. The conversation wraps with Joey's perspective on Pure Storage's latest portfolio expansions, including the FlashBlade//S100, FlashArray//C20, and enhanced file services. Whether you're a storage administrator, IT decision-maker, or technology enthusiast, you'll appreciate Joey's candid insights on enterprise storage trends.

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