From NOC to AOC: Transforming Operations in the AI Era
This forward-looking panel examines the evolution of traditional operations centers into AI-driven Agentic Operations Centers (AOCs). Panelists (including NOC/SOC leaders and AI ops specialists) will share how AI is being used today for predictive alerting and automated remediation, and envision next-generation centers where intelligent agents perform most monitoring and troubleshooting tasks. Discussion will cover blending NOC and SOC workflows, training staff to supervise AI workflows, and establishing reliability when machines make split-second decisions. Emphasis is on how enterprises can implement controlled-autonomy: letting AI handle routine incidents while human experts guide policy and handle exceptions.
Tom has 30 years of experience architecting and designing large enterprise networks. He has worked with global enterprises across several verticals, including Global Financials, Retail, Oil and Gas, Higher Education and Pharma. Tom has an extensive background with complex network migrations and architecture transformation. As a key participant in global programs, he helps drive business development process, positioning and fostering services and programmatic solutions. Tom currently holds active Cisco CCIE, CCDE and CCAr certifications.
Vishwas Manral is the Founder & CEO of Precize Inc, creating the System of Actions for assets and identities in the AI-native, agentic world. Precize delivers the real-time context – ownership, purpose, and impact that are needed for safe, autonomous workflows, enabling environments to be self-healing with invisible governance.
A repeat founder, engineer, and inventor, Vishwas has built and scaled products at the intersection of cloud, security, and AI. Previously Chief Technologist and Head of Cloud Native Security at McAfee, he has authored IETF standards, holds multiple patents, and successfully exited prior startups.
John Sabasteanski is a Distinguished Engineer in Cisco’s Data Center Networking Business Unit and a leading authority on data center networking for financial services. He drives the development and prioritization of technologies tailored to this sector and has shaped the network designs of many of the world’s largest banks and exchanges.
Prior to his current role, John held positions at Big Switch and Insieme Networks, which Cisco acquired in 2014.
His expertise spans data center design for AI/ML, ultra-low latency trading infrastructure, high availability, and advanced diagnostics and testing methodologies.
