Network Break 321: Palo Alto Buys Bridgecrew For IaC Security; Azure Steps Up Its Firewall Game

Take a Network Break! In this week’s episode we examine Palo Alto Networks’ acquisition of the startup Bridgecrew, which makes software to secure Infrastructure as Code (IaC). We also discuss a preview of a new next-gen firewall option for Microsoft Azure, and a new private cloud option from Dell that bundles ready-made hardware and software for the enterprise premises.

NVIDIA has announced it’s making a chip specifically for mining cryptocurrency and will make changes to software drivers on a popular gaming GPU to make it unappealing to miners. DNS security provider Quad9 relocates its HQ to Switzerland to put the weight of law behind its privacy stance, and Verizon adds more options from Cisco for managed SD-WAN.

Google hints that the Loon Internet balloon project was shelved in part because of government regulations around air space, blackouts in Texas hit chip manufacturers, and Mobile World Congress moves forward with an in-person event in Barcelona in June. Too soon?

Get links to all these stories below.

Sponsor: Palo Alto Networks

Palo Alto Networks is excited to introduce a fundamentally new approach to cloud-delivered security with Prisma® Access 2.0. Find out more at its upcoming Prisma Access 2.0 launch event on March 17th at 10 AM PDT. You’ll also hear about the latest industry trends and customer perspectives from industry leaders. Register at: https://start.paloaltonetworks.com/prisma-access-2-launch.

Tech Bytes: Aruba EdgeConnect

Stay tuned after the podcast for a sponsored Tech Bytes conversation where we’ll talk to Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN edge platform customer InterBank about its rollout of Aruba EdgeConnect to improve voice quality and application performance at bank branches across Texas and Oklahoma.

Show Links:

Palo Alto Networks Announces Intent to Acquire Bridgecrew – Palo Alto Networks

Prisma Cloud Shifts Left With Proposed Acquisition of Bridgecrew – Palo Alto Networks

Azure Firewall Premium now in preview – Microsoft Azure

Build The Cloud Of Your Choice – Dell Technologies

Dell extends its infrastructure-as-a-service offering to on-premises private clouds – Silicon Angle

GeForce Is Made for Gaming, CMP Is Made to Mine – NVIDIA

Quad9 public domain name service moves to Switzerland for maximum internet privacy protection – Quad9

Verizon Business expands Cisco relationship with SD-WAN managed service offers – Cisco

Why Google’s internet balloon project Loon failed – Business Insider

Texas power outages force chipmakers to halt production – Axios

Why the power is out in Texas … and why other states are vulnerable too – Yale Climate Connections

Keeping you safe at MWC Barcelona – Mobile World Congress

MWC Shanghai to provide China 5G showcase, Barcelona blueprint – Mobile World Live