We were with Oluwatosin Oladayo Aramide, a network engineering leader with more than 16 years of experience transforming how modern infrastructure connects, communicates, and scales. From enterprise networks to global deployments, his focus on automation and streamlined design has helped organizations operate faster, more securely, and with greater resilience.
Q: Oluwatosin, how did your journey into networking begin, and how did it influence your career path?
A: My career started in traditional networking environments where reliability was non-negotiable. Early on, I was responsible for systems where uptime was absolutely critical. That pushed me to design networks capable of instant failover in case of outages. Around that time, I began writing small automation scripts to handle repetitive tasks like IP address allocation. Those early experiences didn’t just teach me technical skills — they shaped the way I approach network design and automation today.
Q: You later moved into global-scale network operations. How different was that environment?
A: It was a major shift in scope and responsibility. At that scale, even minor delays or missteps could impact customers worldwide. Reliability, speed, and consistency became paramount. One of my proudest achievements was automating a process that used to take two weeks and bringing it down to just eight hours. That wasn’t only a time-saving win — it also improved deployment consistency and significantly reduced human error.
Q: Why is automation so critical in today’s hybrid cloud environments?
A: Hybrid cloud setups are inherently complex. You’re dealing with a blend of on-premises systems, multiple cloud providers, various vendors, and strict compliance requirements. Managing all of that manually doesn’t scale. Automation brings structure to that complexity — enforcing standards, enabling rapid response to change, and making security part of the foundation rather than an afterthought. When implemented well, automation delivers deployments that are fast, consistent, and secure from day one.
Q: Can you share an example of automation making a tangible impact?
A: A great example is the rollout of high-speed network links. Before automation, the process involved weeks of manual work and numerous checks. By automating the entire workflow — from pre-deployment checks to validation — we reduced rollout time drastically. In another case, we migrated critical infrastructure without a single customer disruption because the migration process had been fully automated in advance. These wins aren’t just technical; they directly improve how quickly a business can scale and how reliably it can serve customers.
Q: What principles guide your approach to automation?
A: I follow three core principles:
Design first — A flawed architecture will fail faster if you automate it.
Security built-in — Compliance and security checks should be embedded from the start, not bolted on later.
Codify everything — Turn proven processes into reusable, well-documented workflows.
For me, automation is not about replacing engineers — it’s about empowering them to focus on higher-value, strategic challenges.
Q: Where do you see networking and automation heading in the next five years?
A: I believe we’re heading toward intent-based and AI-driven networking. Engineers will define the outcomes they want, and the systems will determine the methods to achieve them. AI will help detect and resolve issues before they impact users, and automation will maintain optimal performance continuously. Engineers will still be essential, but our work will focus more on strategy and architecture, and less on manual configuration.
Q: Finally, what advice would you give organizations starting their automation journey?
A: Begin with small, low-risk, repetitive tasks to build confidence and prove value. Make security a non-negotiable part of every automation effort. And most importantly, engage your engineering teams throughout the process. Automation should enhance their capabilities, not sideline them.
Connect with Oluwatosin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamaramide/
