Cisco rolled out a series of portfolio additions designed to simplify networking and security as well as lay the groundwork for AI and ML workloads.

At Cisco Live in Las Vegas, the company outlined its Cisco Networking Cloud vision, which will unify the company's portfolio with a single platform to manage networking. The general idea is to proactively manage networks, automate and assure performance across Internet of things, Wi-Fi, 5G, AI and security deployments.

Cisco Networking Cloud will feature a nimbler Cisco Catalyst switch stack as well as tools to monitor data center power and energy consumption. Cisco Catalyst products will also have a flexible subscription model as well as simplified licensing. 

Cisco also added AI data center blueprints to improve performance.

The first step to Cisco Networking Cloud is enhancements to the company's portfolio including single sign-on, API key exchange/repository, cross platform navigation and a common user interface.

According to Cisco, its ThousandEyes software will expand visibility across any network, deliver insights and provide workflows tied into Cisco Networking Cloud. 

Among other items from Cisco Live:

  • Cisco Secure Access, a security edge system that offers access across locations, devices and applications. Other security enhancements include Secure Firewall 4200.
  • Cloud native application security tools being added to Panoptica to secure the multicloud application lifecycle from code to development to production.
  • Cisco Full-Stack Observability (FSO) is now generally available. FSO also has integration between AppDynamics and ThousandEyes for monitoring.
  • Webex by Cisco will add generative AI summaries of meetings. Cisco also launched Room Bar Pro, which can be deployed into workspaces.