Goutham Sunkara is making significant strides in cybersecurity at Broadcom (formerly VMware), where he focuses on automating network testing to secure and scale software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN) deployments. By using artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, he helps enterprises protect their virtualized data centers while ensuring efficient and reliable network performance. His current work builds on his past experience at Cisco, where he developed skills in network security and automation. Today, Sunkara’s expertise shines through in his innovative approaches at Broadcom, supported by his independent research and peer-reviewed publications available on ResearchGate (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Goutham-Sunkara/research). At Broadcom, Sunkara leads efforts to advance AI-driven cybersecurity, particularly through his work on NSX-T, a platform that secures software-defined data centers (SDDCs). His focus is on automating network testing to make SD-WAN deployments more scalable and secure. By combining his technical knowledge with real-time insights, Sunkara develops testing strategies that ensure networks can handle large-scale operations while staying protected from cyber threats. His work helps organizations maintain secure and efficient data centers, addressing the growing need for reliable network infrastructure in today’s digital world.A key part of Sunkara’s contributions is his work on the Security Service Platform (SSP) within NSX-T. SSP uses AI to analyze network traffic, suggest ways to segment networks, and automatically create firewall rules to enforce zero-trust security. Sunkara plays a central role in testing and improving SSP, ensuring it can quickly detect and respond to threats across large enterprise networks. By automating these processes, SSP allows organizations to stay ahead of cyber risks while keeping their networks flexible and scalable. Sunkara’s efforts make SSP a powerful tool for businesses looking to secure their SD-WAN deployments without sacrificing performance.Outside his work at Broadcom, Sunkara has conducted independent research that strengthens his contributions to cybersecurity. One notable project is the Military Tunnel-Aware Protocol (MilTAP), which he submitted to an IEEE journal for publication. MilTAP is a security framework designed for military-grade virtual private networks (VPNs). It combines strong encryption with AI-powered firewall rules to detect and stop threats like session hijacking or credential misuse in real time. Tested with tools like AVISPA and ProVerif, MilTAP is lightweight and reliable, making it ideal for critical network environments. This research, available on ResearchGate, shows Sunkara’s ability to create practical solutions for complex security challenges.Sunkara’s research also covers advanced topics like hybrid deep learning for real-time intrusion detection, intelligent access control, and federated threat learning. His peer-reviewed articles on ResearchGate (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Goutham-Sunkara/research) highlight his dedication to building AI security systems that are both effective and easy to understand. By connecting his research to real-world applications, Sunkara ensures his ideas help enterprises secure their networks. His work bridges the gap between academic study and practical cybersecurity solutions, making a lasting impact on the field.Beyond his technical work, Sunkara is a respected leader in the cybersecurity community. He frequently reviews research and judges competitions at cybersecurity and AI conferences, helping shape the future of secure network technologies. His ability to combine research, engineering, and strategic thinking has earned him recognition as a thought leader. Sunkara’s contributions align with the goal of creating automated, secure, and future-ready network infrastructure, positioning him as a key figure in advancing SD-WAN security.Years ago, Sunkara built a strong foundation at Cisco, where he worked on testing and securing SD-WAN infrastructure for ISR and Catalyst router platforms. His efforts there focused on tunneling protocols, encryption, and automation, giving him valuable skills in network security. While this experience was crucial, Sunkara’s current work at Broadcom takes his expertise to new heights, focusing on AI-driven automation for SD-WAN deployments in virtualized environments. His transition from hardware-focused security to cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions reflects his growth as a technologist.Goutham Sunkara’s work at Broadcom is transforming how enterprises secure SD-WAN deployments through automation and AI. His leadership in SSP, independent research on MilTAP, and peer-reviewed publications on ResearchGate demonstrate his commitment to advancing cybersecurity. By automating network testing and leveraging AI, Sunkara helps organizations build scalable, secure, and efficient networks. As cyber threats grow more complex, his contributions ensure that SD-WAN deployments remain robust and ready for the future, making him a pivotal figure in the cybersecurity landscape.
