Day One Recap: Cisco Live 2018

The conference is taking over Orlando, Fla., this week, attracting an estimated 25,000 people. And, according to Cisco Systems Chairman and CEO Chuck Robbins, it comes as environments become more complex, pointing to the multi-cloud trend and growing concerns around security. As a result, Robbins said the network is playing a more strategic role.

Robbins told CRN that these changes in the network will lead to more opportunities for the channel.

"The thing that I particularly like about the transition, opening up programmability of our technology, is that it gives partners the ability to create unique and their own proprietary IP," he said.

Robbins also brought Google Cloud CEO Diane Greene on stage during his keynote. In October, the companies unveiled a hybrid cloud partnership.

"You want to use these disruptive technologies but you need to move there in a nondisruptive way, and that's what this partnership is all about," said Greene.

For a deeper look into the first day at Cisco Live, watch CRNtv's video.