VMblog:  Can you give VMblog readers a quick overview of your company?

Lumen:  Lumen connects the world. We are dedicated to furthering human progress through technology by connecting people, data, and applications - quickly, securely, and effortlessly. Everything we do at Lumen takes advantage of our network strength. From metro connectivity to long-haul data transport to our edge cloud, security, and managed service capabilities, we meet our customers' needs today and as they build for tomorrow.

VMblog:  Can you talk about what your VMware Explore 2023 sponsorship looks like?

Lumen:  Lumen is a Platinum sponsor for this year's event. We have two Breakout sessions we're partnering with VMware on and one Theater session. We'll be showcasing Network, Security, and Edge solutions that can deliver applications when and where they are needed. We're also a Hall Crawl sponsor and will have a dedicated meeting room for our customers.

VMblog:  Do you have any speaking sessions during the event?  If so, can you give us the details?

Lumen:  We have two Breakout sessions and one Theater session. They are:

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Deliver High-Performing Edge Services with Lumen Edge and VMware Edge [CEIB1051LV]

As businesses increasingly rely on edge-native applications to deliver faster and more reliable services, edge computing has become a critical solution. However, managing and running these applications can be complex and challenging. That's where Lumen Edge comes in. Join this session to discover how Lumen Edge, powered by VMware Edge Compute Stack, delivers high-performance edge services and manages distributed sites with ease. The speaker(s) will provide a detailed architecture overview and demonstrate the solution's capabilities, showcasing how it can help you achieve better performance and reliability for your edge computing needs. Whether you're in retail, manufacturing or any other industry, this session is an excellent opportunity to explore the possibilities of Lumen Edge, and discover how it can help you accelerate your edge-native applications.

Speakers:

• Girish Manmadkar, Product Management - Cloud Providers, VMware
• Anthony Hakim, Senior Lead Product Manager, Lumen

Wednesday, Aug 23, 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM PDT, Level 2, Titian 2305

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Leverage AI, ML & Network-as-a-Service to Enhance Cloud and Edge Efficiency [CEIB2922LVS]

Organizations are increasingly turning to cloud and edge computing to meet growing demands. However, effectively utilizing and optimizing edge cloud infrastructure can pose significant challenges. To address this, businesses are embracing next-gen computing powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) for applications such as predictive maintenance and demand forecasting. The integration of Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) and virtualization can pave the way for superior outcomes. By implementing a purpose‑built, integrated virtual machine (VM) and container-based software stack, organizations can modernize and secure their edge-native applications at the far edge. Join Lumen to gain a deeper understanding of best practices for real-world scenarios to improve your business performance, agility, and efficiency at the edge.

Speakers:

• Dave Shacochis, VP, Enterprise Technology, Lumen
• Troy Foster, Sr. Technical Product Manager, VMware
• Jeff Sieracki, Sr Director - Product Management, Lumen
• Abhilasha Choudhri, Product manager, VMware

Tuesday, Aug 22, 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM PDT, Level 4, Marcello 4503

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Calming the Stormy Seas of Hybrid Work IT Challenges [EUS2921LVS]

While hybrid work has granted the freedom for employees to work the way they want to, it's the wild west for IT professionals and leaders. Questions arise around security, seamless integration, productivity, communication, and ultimately access and visibility and have been on the minds of IT departments for the past few years. The complexity of environments and the challenges it presents has required the need for re-engineering how your organization accesses applications and workloads in order to gain optimal efficiency and productivity regardless of location. While there is no magician's wand that can give you a perfect fix, secure access service edge (SASE) has provided companies the flexibility to address their IT challenges without having to overhaul their approach and do so at their own pace.

Speaker:

• Darren Wolner, Senior Director, Product Management - SASE/ SD WAN, Lumen

Tuesday, Aug 22, 11:15 AM - 11:45 AM PDT, Level 2, Hall C, The Expo Theater A

VMblog:  Can you give us the high-level rundown of your company's technology offerings?  What kind of message will an attendee hear from you this year?

Lumen:  We offer a wide variety of network, cloud, security, and voice and collaboration solutions that empower organizations to unlock the full potential of their data, quickly adopt game-changing technologies, and seamlessly deliver digital innovations. Attendees can visit our booth to learn more about scalable cloud & edge infrastructure and how to migrate to a hybrid, multi-cloud environment. We'll also be showcasing solutions for trusted network and security and quick and secure access to apps and data.

VMblog:  Talking about your product solutions, can you give readers a few examples of how your offerings are unique?  What are your differentiators?  What sets you apart from the competition?

Lumen:  What distinguishes Lumen is our integrated network and technology services, as well as our platform. The Lumen Platform is the fastest, most secure platform for next-gen business applications and data, integrating global network infrastructure, cloud connectivity, edge computing, connected security, voice, collaboration and enterprise-class services into a seamless experience. In addition, our focus on end-to-end solutions sets us apart in providing comprehensive and tailored solutions for businesses.

VMblog:  What specifically does your company offer a VMware shop or a VMware implementation?  What problems do you solve for them?

Lumen:  Lumen offers a range of services that can help deliver exceptional customer experiences, reduced operational costs, and increased security via the VMware certified Lumen cloud architecture, management expertise, and the flexible Lumen Cloud & Edge Platform. Our Lumen SASE solution can alleviate the burden of managing multiple security tools and provide a unified platform for comprehensive security

VMblog:  How does your company work with VMware?  Where do you fit within the VMware ecosystem?

Lumen:  Lumen has been a VMware partner for over 15 years! Together, we offer flexibility, choice, and scale. Our solution is an enterprise-grade cloud with VMware suite of software that can be configured with over 1,000 options. It can be deployed on customer premises, in Lumen-managed hosted data centers, edge locations, and colocation data centers provided by Lumen or the customer. 

VMblog:  Are you giving away any prizes at your booth or participating in any prize giveaways?

Lumen:  We have lots of giveaways for this year's show! Stop by our booth, #101, attend one of our speaking sessions or an in-booth lightning talk, and engage with us on social for your chance to win one of multiple different prizes. See rules at our booth.