Cisco has announced that its global ecosystem of customers, developers and partners are embracing the company’s ambitious vision for a new era of networking. Unveiled last week, Cisco’s new network can recognise intent, mitigate threats and learn over time – representing one of the most significant breakthroughs in the history of enterprise networking.
This new network is the result of years of research and development by Cisco to reinvent networking for an age where network engineers managing hundreds of devices today will be expected to manage one million by 2020. Companies that are managing their networks through traditional IT processes will not be able to scale in this new age. Cisco’s approach creates an intuitive system that constantly learns, adapts, and protects, to optimise network operations and defend against today’s evolving threat landscape.
“Cisco is delivering a more intuitive system that automates the edge of the network and embeds machine learning and analytics at a foundational level,” said Scott Harrell, Senior Vice President of Product Management for Enterprise Networking, Cisco. “Intent-based networking signifies a paradigm shift for our industry and a completely new era of networking. It’s exciting to witness our global ecosystem – three million network engineers, 60,000 partners and 450,000 developers – embrace the future of networking.”
Already, 75 leading global enterprises and organisations are conducting early field trials with these next-generation networking solutions, including Jade University of Applied Sciences, NASA, Newcastle Hospitals, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., Scentsy, UZ Leuven and Wipro.
Ecosystem embraces intent-based networking
To drive adoption of its intent-based networking solutions, Cisco has announced new training and developer programmes to 28,000 networking professionals at the company’s annual user conference, Cisco Live. Attendees will learn about the impact intent-based networking will have on their organisations and begin developing the skills needed in the new era of networking.
• Network engineers: Today, 80-95 per cent of network operations are manually configured. Intent-based networking automates routine tasks by translating business intent into network configuration, freeing up network IT teams to drive more strategic initiatives with the business. To help network engineers evolve, Cisco is embedding new skills into its learning curriculum. This autumn, Cisco will introduce two new training offerings around SD-Access, building on the existing DNA training portfolio and Network Programmability training and certifications available for network engineers and application developers. To learn more, read this blog.
• Application developers: The shift to open, programmable networks will create a range of new opportunities for app developers. As the network becomes code, and apps and infrastructure become more closely intertwined, app developers will gain a new platform to innovate. The new DNA Developer Center will provide Cisco’s DevNet community of more than 450,000 developers with the tools they need to bring applications directly into the network and create smarter software.
• Channel partners: The shift from hardware- to software-centric networking is driving Cisco’s channel partners to evolve their networking practices, develop new skills and pursue new business opportunities. Cisco is providing the programs, incentives and tools to help its partners build networking practices that incorporate software, security, automation and analytics for their customers. Read this blog to learn more.
Customer quotes
“IT can easily orchestrate global policy to secure, differentiated access for staff and students across multiple campuses with SD-Access’ network segmentation. The new network from Cisco makes our IT faster, more flexible, and more intuitive.”
– Ulrich Hauptmann, head of IT, Jade University of Applied Sciences (Germany)
“As a leader in state-of-the art healthcare services we depend on our ‘always on’ network. The resiliency, scale and management simplicity of the Catalyst 9000 will allow our network to securely grow as quickly as our needs grow.”
– Thomas Noppe, lead IT architect, UZ Leuven (Belgium)
Partner quotes
“Dimension Data is excited to see Cisco looking to reinvent the network. We have clients all over the world, and we’re confident that by having more intuitive networks we will profoundly change the services that we deliver to our clients as they look to accelerate their digital transformation. Dimension Data is committed to helping our clients navigate their transition to Cisco’s new network. We believe this will change the way we all view the network, and that it will further strengthen the long-standing partnership we have with Cisco.”
– Rob Lopez, group executive, Networking, Dimension Data
“WWT is excited about Cisco’s new intent-based approach to networking. Security is top of mind for every customer and this approach will fundamentally redesign what the network can do to provide a more intelligent and more secure network platform. WWT is committed to helping customers realise the benefits this new approach offers and to support them through the journey of migrating to Cisco’s new network.”
– Jim Kavanugh, CEO, World Wide Technology