Automating Cloud Native vs. On-Prem Networks with Eric Chou

Sep 24, 2025

Eric Chou, an author and network automation expert with over a decade at AWS and Azure, dives into the divide between cloud-native and traditional networking. He highlights why cloud providers embraced an API-first strategy, reshaping infrastructure for efficiency. The discussion also tackles the risks of AI in network engineering, emphasizing the need for foundational skills alongside AI's benefits. Chou advocates for enhancing rather than replacing human expertise, while exploring the importance of mentorship and real-world experience in overcoming automation challenges.

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ANECDOTE

Eric's Background And Content Footprint

Eric Chou introduced himself as an author, instructor and podcaster with over a decade at AWS and Azure.
He teaches on LinkedIn Learning, Pluralsight, and hosts Network Automation Nerds.

INSIGHT

API-First Clouds Hide Hardware Mess

Cloud providers built API-first platforms and abstraction layers that hide hardware complexity from customers.
On-prem vendors expose device-level messiness, making normalization and automation much harder.

INSIGHT

Pick Tools By Workload Location

Choose tools based on where the majority of your workloads live, not ideology.
Cloud-heavy orgs should bias cloud-native tools while on-prem shops favor traditional network automation.

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The gap between cloud-native and traditional networking has never been more evident. As organizations struggle with hybrid environments, finding a unified management strategy feels like searching for the mythical "one ring to rule them all."

In this thought-provoking episode, we welcome Eric Chou, author, instructor, and podcast host with over a decade of experience at AWS and Azure. Eric brings a rare insider perspective on how hyperscalers approach networking fundamentally differently than traditional vendors.

We explore why cloud providers built their infrastructure API-first from day one, while traditional networking vendors had to retrofit APIs onto existing hardware. This architectural distinction creates significant challenges when trying to manage both environments cohesively. Eric explains why cloud tools excel at declarative configurations while traditional networking tools often take a more procedural approach, and when each might be appropriate for your organization.

The conversation takes a fascinating turn when we discuss how AI is reshaping network engineering. Are we headed toward a dangerous knowledge gap as junior engineers rely on AI without developing foundational skills? Eric advocates for an "enhance, not replace" philosophy that values human expertise while leveraging AI as a productivity multiplier. We debate whether simulation can ever truly replace the hard-earned lessons of 3 AM network outages.

Whether you're managing a hybrid network environment or wondering how to prepare for an AI-driven future, this episode offers practical insights and a surprisingly optimistic outlook on the future of networking. Listen now to understand how bridging the gap between cloud and on-premises networking might be less about finding a universal tool and more about developing the right mindset and approach.

Connect with Eric:
Network Automation Nerds Podcast: https://packetpushers.net/podcast/network-automation-nerds/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/ericchou
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/choueric/
Network Automation Nerds Website: https://networkautomationnerds.com/

Purchase Chris and Tim's new book on AWS Cloud Networking: https://www.amazon.com/Certified-Advanced-Networking-Certification-certification/dp/1835080839/

Check out the Monthly Cloud Networking News
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fkBWCGwXDUX9OfZ9_MvSVup8tJJzJeqrauaE6VPT2b0/

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