Packets & Beyond

Balancing Corporate Mandates, Employee Realities, and Data-Driven Insights In the post-pandemic era, the workplace landscape is shifting once again. Major companies like Amazon, JPMorgan Chase, Dell, Apple, and Google are increasingly enforcing return-to-office (RTO) mandates—arguing that in-person work is essential for collaboration, culture, and career growth. Yet, many employees, who have thrived with remote or hybrid work, are resisting these changes. In this post, we explore the contrasting philosophies driving these mandates, juxtapose them with firsthand employee experiences and data from our recent report on remote and hybrid work experiences, and discuss why a balanced, flexible hybrid future may be the key. The Corporate Push for Return-to-Office Top executives are doubling down on the belief that the office is the crucible of innovation. For example: Amazon’s CEO Andy Jassy has mandated that starting in 2025, all corporate staff must return to the office five days a we...

In today's dynamic network landscape, managing Session Border Controllers (SBCs) can often feel like a game of guesswork—until you harness the power of data. In this post, I'll share insights on how leveraging real-time data transforms your approach to SBC configurations, boosting performance, enhancing security, and reducing costs. Once more, these are based on my experiences so please 'take with a pinch of salt!' Understanding the Role of SBCs For those new to the concept, SBCs are critical components in managing VoIP traffic and ensuring secure, seamless communication across networks. They handle everything from call setup to security, acting as a gatekeeper for your communication systems. However, configuring them without a solid understanding of your network's behavior can lead to inefficiencies and vulnerabilities. The Data-Driven Revolution Traditionally, SBC configurations have relied on static settings and educated guesses. But why settle for assumption...

In today's fast-paced and interconnected world, the most successful teams are those that not only accept but actively embrace diversity and the unique strengths each member brings to the table. By leveraging individual talents and perspectives, teams can innovate more effectively, solve problems more efficiently, and achieve greater success. Easier said than done! I know....but there is merit in this approach and this post explores the importance of recognizing and embracing team differences and offers strategies for playing to everyone's strengths. (Important to note that this is based on my experiences and situations I've encountered so 'take it with a pinch of salt' !  The Power of Diversity in Teams Diversity goes beyond demographics; it encompasses differences in experiences, skills, perspectives, and problem-solving approaches. Teams that are diverse in thought and background are better equipped to handle complex challenges because they can draw from a broad...