Our VMware Explore 2023 Recap: Shining Bright in Barcelona

The VMware Explore event proved to be an exciting experience this year again! Held at the Fira Gran Via Conference Centre in Barcelona on 7-9 November 2023, we had the fantastic opportunity to participate and meet with hundreds of VMware admins to present the latest features of our proactive IT operations and security intelligence solution.

As we experience technologies racing forward at an unprecedented pace, VMware Explore is always setting our minds with anticipation of the next developments in the hybrid and multi-cloud journey – especially throughout many insightful sessions and dozens of conversations with existing customers and partners. In these talks, we've often heard that Runecast demonstrates, on a daily basis, ever-increasing relevance to highly regulated industries with our on-premises CNAPP offerings.

In this article, we will dive into the key takeaways from the event, highlighting the most often discussed topics and trends that defined the experience for us and the IT professionals with whom we interacted.

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DORA Takes the Spotlight

One of the standout moments at VMware Explore Barcelona was the widespread interest in Europe’s new Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), pending legislation that generated considerable interest in the Runecast platform’s capabilities among banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI) institutions and Managed Service Providers (MSPs).

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DORA, along with many other compliance frameworks, plays a pivotal role in continuous compliance for many institutions in the BFSI sector. The ability to provide risk context around vulnerabilities, moving beyond mere Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) scores was particularly well-received, demonstrating Runecast's commitment to delivering actionable insights for customers with mission-critical IT infrastructures.

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Balancing IT Operations and Security

At the event, it was evident that Runecast has evolved beyond a niche area into a universal solution for mission-critical environments, especially in highly regulated verticals. While the discussions around IT Operations Management (ITOM) remain relevant, there was a clear shift in attention of VMware administrators toward solutions that can also provide security and compliance capabilities. This balance between IT operations and security resonated strongly with attendees, reflecting the growing need of experts and solutions who can cover both angles at the same time, to keep organizations ahead of evolving threats to their environments.

The “WOW” Features – Product Highlights

In many demos we've heard: “It can do that?” or “That would save me a lot of time” or sometimes simply “Wow!” It's hard to transfer these emotions into writing, but we will at least bring you this list of Runecast features that created the "wow" effect among professionals who visited our booth, so you can experience it too. Highlights included:

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• BSI IT-Grundschutz Compliance Audits
• DORA Compliance Audits
• Upgrade Simulations
• Risk-Based Vulnerability Scanning
• Baseline Comparisons
• Clear & Practical User Interface/Dashboard
  
  

These features not only impressed existing customers and partners but also piqued the interest of potential ones, demonstrating Runecast's ever-expanding value proposition for teams with varying priorities.

IT Security and Continuous Compliance

The security and compliance aspect of Runecast's offerings garnered significant attention, even among IT administrators who were previously less focused on security. It became obvious that, more than ever, IT system admins function as leaders guiding practices to maintain the cohesion and integrity of the infrastructure. Their responsibilities extend to ensuring the secure functionality of the company's systems, and they are often reinforcing habits, practices and infrastructure maintenance set up to minimize the risk of viral infection or hacking. Given the substantial security responsibilities they bear, it is advantageous for everyone in the field to gain insight into key security and compliance issues that the environment might have. 

Compliance frameworks such as DORA, GDPR, and ISO 27001 are increasingly non-negotiable for organizations, making Runecast's automated checks and insights into continuous compliance posture highly relevant. See our compliance auditing options here.

Reseller Partnerships

VMware Explore Barcelona provided an opportunity for Runecast to forge new partnerships with distributors and resellers. The event saw potential business partners approaching Runecast with proposals for collaboration, highlighting our appeal within the industry.

Conclusion: We’ll Be Back!

Like our very first VMworld back in 2015, VMware Explore Barcelona 2023 was a huge success for Runecast. The event not only reaffirmed our relevance to existing customers but also introduced a broader audience to our must-have solution. The level of engagement at the Runecast booth was a key factor in attracting attention and fostering quality conversations, and our reputation as a seasoned and trusted provider was evident in the conversations we had with booth visitors.

With an increasing focus on security and compliance, Runecast is well-positioned to continue delivering increasing value to organizations over time. The event served as a testament to Runecast's commitment to innovation, relevance, and service excellence in the industry. Looking ahead, Runecast remains dedicated to addressing the evolving needs of our customers and partners.

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Looking forward to seeing you again next year!

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