Every story begins with people who make a difference. In our new interview series, it is precisely these people who have their say: NWS employees who share their experiences, ideas and insights with us. We want to know what drives them and what we can all learn from them.
We begin our series of interviews with Sebastian Saemann, CEO of NETWAYS Managed Services.
What is your position at NETWAYS Managed Services and what are you responsible for?
I have been Managing Director of NETWAYS Managed Services GmbH since 2022. I am responsible for the smooth operation and strategic expansion of our cloud and managed services products. Fortunately, my wonderful colleagues from the various teams help me with this. I have been with NETWAYS since 2010 and have therefore been able to make my mark and shape the company over a long period of time.
How do you think the cloud landscape has changed in recent years?
Currently, the loud call for more sovereignty and data protection – triggered by current political decisions and events – is certainly one of the driving influences on the current cloud landscape. In previous years, in my opinion, it was primarily the ever-increasing degree of automation and the resulting increased complexity. High demands are being placed on the flexibility, security and stability of the underlying infrastructure.
What personal experience or conviction has particularly shaped your view of technology?
I came into contact with open source in my youth and have been a staunch advocate ever since. I continue to be inspired by the quality and possibilities of using software, as well as the work of the various open source communities.
What advantages do you see for customers when they rely on the cloud instead of their own infrastructure?
There are advantages and disadvantages to both options. However, operating a flexible and stable IT infrastructure professionally is not something that can be done on the side. It requires an experienced team, know-how, time and, especially at the start, financial resources. This is exactly what you get when you buy resources from a cloud provider.
How important are data protection, data sovereignty and German data centers for the cloud today?
As already mentioned, it is now more important than ever to take appropriate measures for data sovereignty and data protection if your core business depends on it. Past events such as the dependence on the production of masks and medicines during the corona pandemic, the dependence on Russian gas and oil during the Russian war of aggression on Ukraine or the dependence on US software companies and the less reliable US administration are just a few examples. Ultimately, everyone has to assess their own scale and criticality and draw their own conclusions. For me, digital sovereignty is very important, but many things don’t work in detail without reliable partners.
How does NETWAYS Managed Services ensure that all cloud solutions meet the highest security standards?
Availability, integrity and confidentiality are the cornerstones of cloud and IT service operations. They are of crucial importance for our customers’ trust in us. As a company, we are ISO 27001-certified. Our data center locations were also selected according to this criterion, among others.
What role does transparency play vis-à-vis customers in terms of security and compliance?
Transparency is very important to us. Not only in the context of security and compliance. We always strive for open and trusting communication.
What technological trends do you think will shape the next few years in the cloud world?
Artificial intelligence, Kubernetes and multi-cloud strategies.
How do you see the influence of artificial intelligence on cloud and managed service offerings?
Artificial intelligence is here to stay. The speed at which this technology is being adapted and at which ever more powerful new models are being developed is impressive. That’s why we have been offering GPUs in our cloud and managed Kubernetes clusters for some time now. New additions include our Managed AI Models, which can be billed efficiently according to tokens used.
What is your biggest goal in Cloud & Managed Services for the next 3 years?
In a nutshell: growth. We have created many good foundations and excellent products in the past and work hard every day to make them even better. In the coming years, this work must be made more visible so that we can convince even more customers of our products.
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