BLOCK @BLOCKSolutions

In healthcare, network security matters because so much depends on the network staying secure and available. At North Bristol NHS Trust, thousands of medical devices rely on secure connectivity to support patient care across its sites. Following a major network transformation with Block, the Trust had already standardised its estate using Cisco infrastructure. But with security threats growing and the environment becoming more complex, there was more work to do. Working together, we built on those foundations to strengthen security across the network, introducing greater segmentation, access control, and visibility of connected devices. For the Trust, it meant a more resilient network and stronger protection for the technology its teams rely on every day.

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Our latest FutureNow episode is live📢 Rob Brady from Block is joined by @Cisco Hannah Mills and Regan Newman to explore where to start with Zero Trust, how to get more from existing security investments, and what emerging AI threats mean for your network. Hear the full conversation: hubs.ly/Q04B_w1j0

How do you contain threats when your university's network extends far beyond the campus perimeter? At UCISA DISC 2026, network and security leaders came together to discuss that challenge, from managing patching workloads and protecting vital lab equipment to improving visibility and making MFA work for users. We've pulled together the key takeaways, including how Durham University is using segmentation and balancing security with the needs of teaching and research. Discover what the experts had to say: hubs.ly/Q04BV3z10

How can you improve cybersecurity without overhauling your entire network? Join us for the next episode of FutureNow with Cisco Security this Thursday to find out.

Happy Friday! We’re looking back at the Block summer party, where we all got together for some well-earned fun in the sun. ☀️ A big thank you to everyone across Block for all the hard work this year. We're lucky be part of such a brilliant team. And it's safe to say we know how to have a good time! ❤️✌️

Securing investment in network security is rarely straightforward. Especially when NHS budgets are stretched, and competing priorities are high. A strong business case can make all the difference when taking proposed changes through your Change Advisory Board (CAB) and wider investment approval process. To help you make your case, we've pulled together some key statistics from across four network security architectures. Each one offers evidence you can use to demonstrate how investment can reduce risk, protect clinical services, and deliver long-term value.

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What happens when your network passes every test? 🎓 When connectivity is no longer a constraint, universities can unlock more possibilities for teaching, learning, and research. - Seamless connectivity across campus - Better access to digital learning resources - Stronger protection for sensitive data and research - More inclusive learning experiences And that's just the beginning. Our FutureNow Networks for Universities whitepaper explores the real-world use cases for secure, seamless connectivity and what they could mean for your campus. Discover what's possible. Explore the whitepaper: hubs.ly/Q04B5FkF0

A big thank you to everyone who joined us for BlockHeadz Live on Friday! 🙌 It was great to welcome everyone to our London office for an afternoon exploring one of the biggest topics in networking right now: AI. From industry insights and the latest technology updates to getting hands-on with automation in our Build Lab, it was brilliant to see everyone getting involved and sharing ideas. It's days like these that remind us why we built BlockHeadz. To give network engineers and architects a space to learn from each other, explore new technologies and build their skills while tackling real-world challenges, all as part of a community. And we're looking forward to doing more of it! Fancy joining us at the next BlockHeadz event or getting involved in the conversation online? Find out more and join the community here: hubs.ly/Q04zTJFd0

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Is your network ready for AI?   In our latest FutureNow episode, HPE Juniper’s Elliot Townsend gets into the practical side of AI-driven networks, including where to start, how technologies like MCP fit in, and why standardising your network matters for optimising operations.   If AI is part of your network roadmap, there’s plenty in this episode worth taking away: hubs.ly/Q04zB_WP0

Zero Trust for the NHS has to work in the real world: legacy infrastructure, medical devices, third-party access and zero tolerance for downtime. Our new report, Beyond the perimeter, shows NHS security and network teams how to turn Zero Trust into a practical, phased roadmap. Inside: 🔹 Where to start 🔹 Identity, access + segmentation priorities 🔹 Legacy and medical device considerations 🔹 CAF/DSPT implications 🔹 A realistic path to implementation Get the report: hubs.ly/Q04zg4YX0

That's a wrap on Day 1 of DISC26! 👏 It's been great speaking with university teams today about the challenges that can emerge in the gaps between network and security teams, tools, and shifts. A big theme from today's conversations has been how to bring network and security closer together, improve visibility across complex environments, and strengthen 24/7 threat detection and response. We'll be back tomorrow for Day 2, so if you haven't caught us yet, come and find the Block team at Stand 16, conveniently located by the refreshments. ☕ Who knows, you might just win some AirPods! ☕ Stand 16, by the refreshments 📅 7-8 October 📍 Hilton Newcastle Gateshead

8 days to make big changes to a university network.   When teaching schedules can't move, network upgrades have to fit around them. For one UK university, that meant deploying a new cloud-managed residential network during just eight days of the Easter break.   In that time, Block helped replace 52 residential switches and 495 wireless access points.   The next phase brought high-speed connectivity to 1,200 student rooms, with secure self-service onboarding designed to give students a better home-from-home experience.   See what can be achieved when the delivery window can't move → hubs.ly/Q04zrlNM0

More dashboards, monitoring, and data. Does your network team know what to do with it? In our latest FutureNow episode, @HPE_Networking Elliot Townsend challenges one of the assumptions he hears from network managers: “I already have all the data.”   He questions whether you have the right context to understand what the data means, what needs attention, and what to do next. That’s where AI-native networking can help. Listen to the full conversation to understand how HPE Juniper is using AI to turn network data into something teams can act on: hubs.ly/Q04zhy5M0

Heading to Ucisa #DISC26 tomorrow? You’ll find the Block team at Stand 16, right by the refreshments. ☕ We’ll be talking about how universities can close the gaps between network and security teams, improve visibility, and strengthen 24/7 threat detection and response. If that’s on your agenda, stop by and say hello. ☕ Stand 16, by the refreshments 📅 7–8 October 📍 Hilton Newcastle Gateshead

Does moving to Zero Trust mean replacing your network? Not necessarily. For NHS organisations, you can introduce Zero Trust progressively by aligning identity, segmentation, and access policies within your existing infrastructure. How do you do this? Instead of assuming a user or device can be trusted once they’re inside the network, access is continually assessed based on identity, context, and risk. Take a quick look at our one-pager to see what that means in practice: hubs.ly/Q04yTK8t0

Your university network keeps getting asked to do more. Can your security keep up? At UCISA DISC26, the theme is 'Strength in Collaboration', so we’re opening the conversation around how university infrastructure and security teams can tackle increasingly complex campuses together. Come and speak to the Block team about: 🔹 Building resilient, secure campus networks 🔹 Improving visibility across your infrastructure 🔹 Extending your security team with 24/7 threat detection and response through our Managed SOC If you work in university networking, infrastructure or cyber security, we’d love to hear what your team is working on. Find us at stand 16 by the refreshments ☕ 📍 Hilton Newcastle Gateshead, 7–8 October 2026 Not yet registered for the event? Sign up here: hubs.ly/Q04yHNcR0

University networks have to operate in complex conditions. Thick walls, complicated layouts, and restrictions on where access points can be installed can affect connectivity. Elliot Townsend, Senior Director of Field PLM – Campus & Branch (EMEA & LATAM) from HPE Juniper, explains how modern access points can learn from the environment around them and adapt to real-world campus conditions. It’s just one of the practical examples we explore in the full FutureNow conversation. 🎙️ Catch the episode on your preferred platform: hubs.ly/Q04yd-5j0

What does AI in networking actually change for a university digital team? Elliot Townsend from HPE Juniper and Rob Brady from Block explore the difference between AI-native and AI-enhanced networks, and what that means for your team, how you resolve issues, and the decisions you make about where to invest next. 🎙️ Watch the first episode of our new series of FutureNow: hubs.ly/Q04y3hnd0

What’s really happening with the technology shaping modern networks? 👀 FutureNow is back, and in this series we’re going straight to the people behind the technology. We sit down with leading vendors to get beyond the product pitch. We’ll dig into what their technology actually does, the problems it can solve, and where it can make a real difference to your network and team. 🎙️ Get closer to the technology. Catch the new season of FutureNow tomorrow.