Aviatrix wants to elevate the work of cloud networking heroes who labor to keep networks secure, effective, and performant. We’re proud to highlight people who have taught themselves the necessary skills, designed and managed successful networks, and have the expertise to share.
Our next hero spotlight is on Anjanesh Babu, Principal Technical Architect. See our previous hero spotlights here.
Background: A Fascination with the Unseen
“My journey into technology began with curiosity—a fascination with the unseen that make communication flow,” Anjanesh said.
The first step in his career was at a BT Call Centre, where he saw technology solving real issues for people. But his real break came at the University of Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum during a refurbishment project.
“There, I was handed a massive responsibility: deploying a multi-site 3Com network that would connect history to the digital age,” Anjanesh explained. “Long hours in beeping data centers and troubleshooting down to the last wire became my foundation. The thrill of fixing issues, the satisfaction when a complex setup came to life—these early days at Oxford’s Gardens and Museums ignited a passion for networking that still drives me today.”
Fourteen years later, Anjanesh leads a cross-functional architecture team focused on pioneering digital transformation and touching on multi-cloud strategies.
Career Highlights: An Overhaul that Brought Transformation
One highlight of Anjanesh’s career was leading a complete network overhaul for Oxford University Gardens and Museums. “We developed hybrid cloud architectures back in 2017, setting a foundation for digital transformation across the University,” he said.
Building networking expertise and encouraging others to do so is important to Anjanesh. “Though my current role is a few steps removed from hands-on networking, I advocate for networking skills every chance I get,” he said. “In the public sector’s cloud-first landscape, selecting the best cloud for each purpose is essential. Multicloud networking has brought flexibility, delivering both ROI for organizations and value for taxpayers. And if I can inspire just a few others to love networking as much as I do, it’s a win-win.”
Controlling Cloud Costs: Prototypes, Controls, and Prediction
Anjanesh offered some advice for fellow networking professionals who struggle with a common issue: controlling costs. “Cost estimation in cloud networking, especially multicloud, can be challenging,” he said. “My advice is to prototype a scaled-down environment, apply budget controls, and use that data to predict costs in production. While calculators are useful, nothing compares to hands-on testing to avoid budget surprises.”
The Evolution of Networking and the Next Ten Years
Anjanesh began his career in an era where networking was entirely on-premises, and everything was physically connected and manually configured. “Over time, I watched as technologies like IPv6, Next-Generation Firewalls, SD-WANs, and VOIP entered the scene,” he said. “I vividly recall being part of World IPv6 Day, seeing the potential that lay in these emerging standards.”
Today, Anjanesh explains how networks are driven by software rather than cables, and what was once confined to physical racks is now orchestrated across clouds.
“The shift to a cloud-first world brings endless possibilities for seamless integration and attracts a new generation of engineers who may never know the struggle of a console cable but still carry on the spirit of keeping the world connected,” he said.
In the next decade, he sees networking circling back to its fundamentals, where “mastering the basics will be essential for building layers of automation and robust security atop complex multicloud networks.”
“The dream is to achieve self-healing networks—networks that detect issues and resolve them autonomously,” he said. “And while wireless advances are pushing boundaries, it all rests on the reliability of the ‘wires’ below. If we can master these foundational skills while embracing technologies like chaos engineering, we’ll build adaptable networks that withstand any disruption.”
The Network is the Cloud – Or, the Cloud is the Network
When asked what “the network is the cloud” meant to him, Anjanesh responded that it’s more accurate to say “The Cloud is the Network."
“Without a solid network, the cloud is just a series of isolated islands,” he explained. “Networking is the thread that binds everything in the cloud—those sub-millisecond latencies and the intricate engineering that make the digital world tick. Multicloud networking blurs traditional boundaries, allowing every organization to connect its dots, seamlessly and securely, and fulfil its digital aspirations.”
Outside of Work
“Outside of work, I like to think I am a wannabe wanderer at heart, exploring local roads and tucked-away spots,” Anjanesh said. “There’s something nostalgic about navigating unmarked paths that brings back memories of my early networking days (Spanning Tree anyone?)”
Occasionally, he finds himself reminiscing about the actual work of setting up switches and running cables—a foundation that still shapes his approach to modern networking.
Curious about other cloud networking heroes like Anjanesh?
We’ll keep highlighting networking professionals on this blog.
Learn more about the Cloud Networking Heroes program and apply on The Cloud Network Community.
