Cisco has launched intent-based networking solutions that aim to reinvent networking for an age where network engineers managing hundreds of devices today will be expected to manage 1-million by 2020.
“The network has never been more critical to business success, but it’s also never been under more pressure,” says Chuck Robbins, CEO for Cisco. “By building a more intuitive network, we are creating an intelligent platform with unmatched security for today and for the future that propels businesses forward and creates new opportunities for people and organizations everywhere.”
Today, companies are managing their networks through traditional IT processes that are not sustainable in this new age. Cisco’s approach creates an intuitive system that constantly learns, adapts, automates and protects, to optimize network operations and defend against the evolving threat landscape.
Cisco’s Encrypted Traffic Analytics (ETA) uses Cisco’s Talos cyber intelligence to detect known attack signatures even in encrypted traffic, helping to ensure security while maintaining privacy.
With the majority of the world’s internet traffic running on Cisco networks, the company has used its position to capture and analyze this data by providing IT with insights to spot anomalies and anticipate issues in real time, without compromising privacy.
By automating the edge of the network and embedding machine learning and analytics at a foundational level, Cisco hopes to make it manageable thus allowing IT to focus on strategic business needs.
Several leading global enterprises and organisations, including NASA and Accenture, are already conducting field trials with Cisco’s new networking solutions.
The intuitive network is an intelligent, secure platform powered by intent and informed by context:
* Intent: Intent-based networking allows IT to move from tedious traditional processes to automating intent, making it possible to manage millions of devices in minutes — a crucial development to help organizations navigate today’s ever expanding technology landscape.
* Context: Interpreting data in context is what enables the network to provide new insights. It’s not just the data that’s important, it’s the context that surrounds it — the who, what, when, where and how. The intuitive network interprets all of this, resulting in better security, more customised experiences and faster operations.
* Intuition: The new network provides machine-learning at scale. Cisco is using the vast data that flows through its networks around the world, with machine learning built in, and unleashing that data to provide actionable, predictive insights.
Cisco Digital Network Architecture (DNA) provides customers with a portfolio of innovative hardware and software to bring the new era of networking to life. Cisco is now introducing a suite of Cisco DNA technologies and services designed to work together as a single system and empower customers to move at digital speed:
* DNA Center. An intuitive, centralised management dashboard providing IT teams with an intent-based approach spanning design, provisioning, policy and assurance.
* Software-defined access (SD-Access). SD-Access uses automated policy enforcement and network segmentation over a single network fabric to dramatically simplify network access for users, devices and things. Initial analysis with field trial customers and internal testing have shown a reduction in network provisioning time by 67%, improved issue resolution by 80%, reduced security breach impact by 48%, and opex savings of 61%.
* Network data platform and assurance. This powerful new analytics platform efficiently categorises and correlates the vast amount of data running on the network and uses machine learning to turn it into predictive analytics, business intelligence and actionable insights delivered through the DNA Center Assurance service.
* Encrypted traffic analytics. Cisco’s Talos cyber intelligence and machine learning to analyzse metadata traffic patterns lets the network identify the fingerprints of known threats even in encrypted traffic, without decrypting it and impacting data privacy.
* Catalyst 9000 switching portfolio. Cisco is introducing a new family of switches built from the ground up for the new realities of the digital era, centred on the demands of mobility, cloud, IoT and security.
* Software subscription. When purchasing the new Catalyst 9000 family of switches, customers will access the DNA software capabilities by subscription, either via pre-bundled Cisco ONE software suites or a-la-carte components.
* DNA services. A new portfolio of services leverages Cisco’s experience, best practices and innovative tools. Cisco channel partners can also resell these services and build networking practices that incorporate software, security, automation and analytics for their customers.
* Developer Center. Cisco is releasing a new DevNet DNA Developer Center with resources to help developers and IT professionals create network-powered applications and integrate them within their IT systems and workflows. This includes new learning tracks, sandboxes, and developer support resources for using APIs and building skills.
