January Member of the Month: Adam Erickson
Notice: This blog post was originally published on Indeni before its acquisition by BlueCat.
The content reflects the expertise and perspectives of the Indeni team at the time of writing. While some references may be outdated, the insights remain valuable. For the latest updates and solutions, explore the rest of our blog
Key takeawaysThis key takeaway was generated through LLMs crawling the page and coming up with an overview of the content.The article profiles Adam Erickson, January’s Indeni Crowd Member of the Month, who leveraged the Indeni Crowd community and Indeni platform to improve network management and automation for Cisco routers, switches, ASAs and Palo Alto firewalls. It describes his motivation to gain efficiency, his self-driven learning of scripting languages (JavaScript, C++, PowerShell, Python), and his application of those skills to automate cumbersome tasks and enhance network analysis. The piece highlights operational impact—streamlined device integration, deeper GUI analytics, and knowledge sharing within a crowdsourced forum—along with Adam’s career development and community contributions.
How did Adam Erickson use the Indeni Crowd and Indeni platform to improve his network management workflow?
Adam used the Indeni Crowd community and the Indeni platform to connect and analyze multiple network devices—Cisco routers, switches, ASAs—and to achieve seamless interaction with Palo Alto firewalls. He participated in community challenges that allowed him to connect up to five devices, explored the Indeni GUI for deeper network analysis than some vendor tools, and engaged directly with Indeni engineers. Together these activities enabled him to automate cumbersome projects, gain actionable insights from device telemetry, and accelerate troubleshooting and operational efficiency.
Which scripting and coding skills did Adam develop, and how did they contribute to his work?
Adam familiarized himself with JavaScript, C++, PowerShell and some Python, allocating about an hour daily to learning despite family commitments. These scripting skills helped him automate routine tasks and support workflows—for example, his first script assisted with SecureFX (VanDyke Software) to streamline networking support calls. He is also learning Indeni Knowledge Language to create or customize checks and automation within the Indeni platform, which further enhances his ability to proactively manage network devices and share expertise in the Indeni Crowd.
What personal and professional outcomes did Adam report from participating in the Indeni Crowd community?
Professionally, Adam reported increased efficiency in device management, deeper visibility via the Indeni GUI, and the ability to automate repetitive tasks across Cisco and Palo Alto devices; he also benefited from direct conversations with Indeni engineers. Personally, he described a continued passion for learning—humbling himself to take advice from seasoned IT professionals while also providing expertise to others—and progress toward certification as a network engineer. The community recognition (Member of the Month) and his ongoing engagement underscore both career advancement and contributions to a crowdsourced knowledge environment.
As we usher in 2018 with new year’s resolutions, we find a few individuals have been working towards betterment well before the ball dropped at midnight. One such individual is an Indeni Crowd member, Adam Erickson from NCI Information Systems. Having joined Indeni Crowd in early October through the GNS3 community, he has seen value through the open forum and wealth of knowledge from the members.
Adam stumbled upon Indeni while searching for a more efficient approach to network management, as he puts it, “it’s kind of an obsession”. For Adam, efficiency and staying up-to-date on IT trends is not just a New Year’s resolution, but a way of life. By leveraging the Indeni Crowd, he has been able to maximize his Indeni Download:
For me, it has been awesome taking Cisco Routers, Switches, and ASAs and getting them to work on Indeni. Also seeing how the GUI shows much more in-depth network analysis than some Cisco products. Talking with the Indeni Engineers was awesome! I can definitely see how this program could have great potential for DOD / Government application.
In addition to optimizing his Cisco devices, Adam has begun the process to learn how to code Indeni Knowledge Language. While it must be tough to find time with a 3-year old at home, Adam carves out “an hour either at the beginning or end of the day devoted to the IT world /Internet of Things.” He has managed to familiarize himself with JavaScript C++, Powershell, and some Python. The scripting skills have allowed him to stay ahead of the cure. For instance, his first ever script was “used for SecureFX – VanDyke Software that helped me with networking support calls.” If there are any other new coders out there, Adam suggests checking out some of the many free programs out there. He really likes Flatiron, Udemy, and GNS3
Adam has leveraged the Indeni Crowd and the Indeni Platform in learning how to automate the cumbersome projects within his position as a Network Engineer. By gaining insight into his Cisco devices and having a “seamless interaction with the Palo Alto firewalls,” he has been able to stay ahead of the curve. To maximize his Indeni download, Adam went to the Indeni Crowd “where you can connect 5 devices [through a challenge]. The learning process and introduction to this product solution was fun – and still is.” In speaking with Adam, it was amazing to hear how driven he is to learn and progress his career. His proudest moment is nothing short of inspiring: “as I’m working on becoming a fully certified engineer I think my proudest moment was humbling myself and taking advice from others that had been in the IT world for a long time.” He has not only received a lot of expert advice in the Indeni Crowd and has often been the expert providing the advice!
We are thrilled to name Adam Erickson as January’s Indeni Crowd Member of the Month. He sets the stage for us all to continue on a lifelong path of knowledge and improvement. The Indeni team can’t wait to see what else Adam is able to do with the Indeni Crowd and the Indeni platform behind him.
Here are a few fun facts about our January Member of the Month:
Do you collect anything?
PEZ dispensers. Military Pins.
Best and worst quality?
Eager to learn and figure out complex problems. Worst quality sometimes lack of downtime or sleep.
What’s a song that always makes you happy when you hear it?
I have a 3-year-old son, so it would be Witch Doctor – David Seville. There is nothing like seeing my son’s joy singing “Ooo eee, ooo ah ah ting tang Walla walla, bang bang”
IT Heros
Shawn Fanning – Napster
Linus Torvalds – Linux, U.S. Department of Defense
If you could master one new skill, what would it be?
This is related to Jimi Hendrix. I would like to learn how to play the guitar.
What’s your favorite crowdsourced company?
Firefox, Linux
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