“Learn How to Keep Your Network SAFE”

This TechChat features Bill McGee, Manager, Security Solutions and Calvin Chai, Security Solutions Marketing Manager, both from Cisco. During this TechChat our speakers will discuss how a solutions-based approach to security, based on the SAFE architecture, provides more comprehensive security, better risk management, and tighter visibility and control of your network than traditional, siloed security products.
30 APRIL 2009 at 1200 PDT

SUPPORTING URLs
1: Cisco SAFE: http:// www.cisco.com/go/safe
2: Cisco security solutions: http://www.cisco.com/go/security
3: Cisco validated designs: http://www.cisco.com/go/cvd
4: Cisco SAFE services: http://www.cisco.com/go/services/security
5: View the archive of this TechChat on the Cisco Virtual Environments Blog: http://blogs.cisco.com/virtualworlds/
6: Register now for Cisco Live 2009: http://www.cisco.com/offer/ciscolive09/172410_2

POST EVENT SURVEY
Please complete a post event survey so we can determine how to utilize Second Life TechChats to best meet your business needs!

http://forums.cisco.com/eforum/servlet/viewsflash?cmd=showform&pollid=sms03!2L_Apr30_TechChat

SPEAKER BIOS:

BILL MCGEE
Bill McGee is a Cisco network security subject matter expert and a manager in Cisco’s Security Solutions Marketing team. He is currently responsible for program development and strategy for Cisco’s SAFE, Secure Unified Communications, and Secure Campus programs. In addition, he is a regular speaker on network security issues, trends, and approaches, delivering lectures, seminars, and training at events around the world.

Since 1999, Bill has played an integral role in the development of Cisco’s security solutions, including the Self-Defending Network initiative. His responsibilities during his tenure at Cisco have included PIX Security Appliance Product Manager, developer and manager of Cisco’s initial Security Channels program, including the creation of the VIP program, marketing manager for NAC, and application security specialist for Cisco’s Application Networking Services group.

CALVIN CHAI
Calvin Chai is a senior marketing manager for the security solutions marketing team at Cisco.  Calvin currently leads the integrated security, policy, and identity management marketing team where he is responsible for the definition and execution of the marketing strategy for the integrated security capabilities on the Cisco router and switch platforms.

Calvin has over thirteen years of experience in the networking and security field.  He has spent the last nine years at Cisco functioning in technical and product marketing roles within the network management and security technology groups. During that time, he has helped drive Cisco’s outbound marketing initiatives around firewall, VPN, security management and monitoring, and threat management solutions.

Prior to Cisco, Calvin spent four years as a software engineer and architect for a networking startup company where he was responsible for the development of the firewall feature set and user experience of a SOHO product line. Calvin holds a BS degree in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley.

On a personal note, I am happy with the evolution of this build. We took the comments we received last year and try to incorporate as many improvement for ease of access that we could, for example we removed the elevator that traveled up and down from the Sphere down to the Video Center and installed a simple teleport up into the sphere. While the elevator was real cool, it did not engage people enough to go up into the sphere. And it was slow. We also improved the entrance into the Video Center to make it more inviting and easier for a new Second Life user to get into the building. There were other tweaks here and there to numerous to mention. All of this is important in building a more effective engagement for Cisco and its community.

I would love to hear others opinion on this build.

All day events will be held here on June 30 and July 1.

Tawni CiscoSystems  just dropped this info to Banana on their TechChat series.  Cisco does a great job with their TechChat series.  If you want to see it, please join them in Second Life.

Cisco EnergyWise – Improve Your Green Practices with Cisco EnergyWise
Date = April 14
Time = 8am SLT
Location = Bandwidth Stage, Cisco Systems Sim 4, Second Life

Meta Magic Studio will be there providing support.

Meta Magic Studio has two private sims in Second Life® versus having land on the Mainland. Los Arboles is what Linden Lab® calls a Full Region which means it is their highest performing sim offering.  We use this sim to demonstrate various builds concepts and some tongue in check salutes to the metaverse. Meta Magic Studio is defined as Openspace Region which in intended just to be a landscape sim with limited scripts and prims.

We have completely revamped Los Arboles for 2009, please stop by any time to visit.

Today, Jan 27, 2009, Cisco® opened its Sustainability Center demonstrating its new EnergyWise Technology and their Networked Sustainability Network in Second Life®. This center is located at Cisco Systems Sim 2 and demonstrates Green technologies and products. The center was developed by Meta Magic Studio.

Virtually all large enterprises are conscious of the image they project, and corporate responsibility is an important part of that image. Green technologies represent an opportunity for corporations that extends beyond brand reputation and can affect overall profitability.

We at Meta Magic Studio are very proud of this development that began with a meeting at Cisco on January 6th. In less than one week, we were able to come up with a “Earth and Technology” concept for the look and feel of the outer building that was “outside of the box” thinking while maintaining consistence with established Cisco branding and the Cisco Virtual Campus look. We built a working concept within one week in order to get approvals from Cisco, then we began the true work of building an interactive pavilion.

Concept

Main Message Kiosk

Inside of the pavilion there is the following

• Main Message Kiosk
• Four interactive kiosks that provide notecards, web urls, and pdf urls
• One “EngeryWise” Business Calculator kiosk featuring a power point presentation with supporting web url
• Two video on demand kiosks featuring a message from Chairman and CEO John Chambers and a technical data sheet video
• Upstairs video vault area
• “Carbon Free” flight animations – for fun!

Outside of the pavilion, extensive work was done in creating a “natural park” feeling with information signage on green trends. This area includes both audio and visual recreations of birds and butterflies which enhance the virtual experience.

All of this effort by Meta Magic Studio was completed within 21 days of getting the job.

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Just a reminder that on Feb 3rd, Cisco will be holding another Tech Chat at 12:00 PST in Second Life at the Bandwidth Stage. Afterwards there is a “birthday” celebration of Cisco’s second year in Second Life. It is a little late, but hey, I am always up for virtual cake — it helps with my virtual diet.

Key results are:

• User hours increased by 61% over 2007, highlighting the tremendous growth rate in user engagement that Second Life maintained throughout 2008.
• User hours increased steadily each quarter, culminating in a record-setting 112 million user hours in Q4.
• Peak concurrent users were up 31% over 2007
• Land owned by Residents increased 82% over 2007
• Exchange Volume increased 33% over 2007
• User-to-user transactions in Q4 increased 54% over Q4 of 2007

Meta Magic Studio staff

The next two days will be review days of sim builds that Meta Magic Studio has (hopefully) developed to customer satisfaction. One of them is a final check off phase, where basically we turn over the “keys.” The second project is in next to last phase review which means the client goes through the sim to give us our final punch list. And the third one is in a middle phase, where we begin the actual work of content layout.

The first two projects are under strict NDA and are not even built under the “Banana Stein” creator name, nor with any Meta Magic Studio bragging rights. Such is life. Now I am very proud of my builds, but sometimes clients want “their” name as the project creator, so for a (hefty) fee, we will accommodate them. (We charge 2x more than standard fee for such a set-up.)

The third project – which has my name all over it – is exciting, but I wish it would be moving faster. But sometimes the clients do not move as fast as we would like.

So keep your fingers crossed for luck for us!

Concept build - Meta Magic Studio

Over on Meta Magic Studio sim, you can see a prototype build we did of a “Tahiti” style resort for a client. It will be up for a few weeks as they do some testing.  (SLURL)

Also I am beginning a new project pn Friday with a small client as we begin testing a concept of providing virtual classrooms to small work forces. They want to see if 3D virtual spaces work better than their current 2D web approach (Web Ex). I see lots of potential in this project.

Mike (Mirror Twin) reminds me to say if anyone has any projects or concepts, just to drop us a note card in world.

Disclosure: I am a contractor for Cisco Systems and I develop their Second Life Virtual Campus. My opinions are my opinions!

Yesterday, Tuesday, June 24, I was at Cisco Live! SL all day. Lots of very well attended events going on throughout the days. Here are just three highlights:

11:00 am – John Chambers, CEO of Cisco, Q&A

There were avatars camped out of this sim busting event as early as 8:00 am, eager to hear from THE MAN. Held at Cisco’s Bandwidth Stage, which straddles two simulators. the capacity for avatars was 100 in order to have a good presentation experience. And there were over 100 avatars that attended the event.

Once again, Mr. Chambers demonstrated his considerable brain power and his ability to connect technology terms with users’ needs. The questions from the those attending were insightful and relevant.

It should be noted that the audience was polite and eager to hear from John Chambers. It is amazing to me that the “mainstream” press about SL events is the one time penis affair, while the numerous events like this that take place weekly get no press coverage.

I guess it is true bad news travels fast.

The audience before the arrival of John Chambers

12:00 – Tech Chat – How to Transform the WAN Edge with Cisco ASR 1000 Series Routers

This TechChat featured Michael Weir, technical marketing engineers with Cisco’s Midrange Routing Business Unit (MRBU). During the TechChat, Mr. Weir discussed the new Cisco ASR 1000 Series Routers and how they transform and extend the network edge with scalable services intelligence.

As a novice to this world, I was bit out of my league when it came to understanding all of the technology. But it was obvious from the questions from the audience that Mr. Weir knew his subject and was able to address their questions.

3:00 – Cisco Customer Appreciation Party

Two hours of great music and dancing held at Cisco’s Bandwidth Stage. Rich Desoto (RL = Rich Palmer) was at 3:00 and Cylindrian Rutabaga (RL = Grace Buford) came on at 4:00.

I am a huge fan of both of these talented artist and once again, their performances were outstanding. Lots of energy from the audience, including some jokes and pranks kept this party going. And after the show ended, an impromptu dance party continued as we listened to the wonder Kona Live Stream.

By the time I logged out at 5:30 pm, I was exhausted. But I will be back in world for Wednesday and Thursday Cisco Live SL events. See you there.