Cisco Secure Network Server 3800 Series Data Sheet

 

Product overview

Cisco^® Identity Services Engine (ISE) plays a critical role in implementing Universal Zero Trust Network Access (UZTNA), providing a comprehensive framework for identity and access management. Within the UZTNA model, Cisco ISE enforces strict access controls and continuous monitoring based on user identity, device health, and other contextual data, such as device profile, location, group membership and more. It dynamically verifies and authenticates users and devices, embodying the zero-trust principle of "never trust, always verify." By seamlessly integrating with diverse network components, Cisco ISE helps organizations maintain a secure, adaptive environment, preventing unauthorized access and reinforcing security at every layer.

The Next Generation: Cisco Secure Network Server 3800 Series

The Cisco Secure Network Server (SNS) 3800 series, powered by the Cisco UCS^® C225 M8 Rack Server, sets a new standard for performance and reliability in network access control. Designed specifically for Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE), the SNS-3800 series redefines efficiency and speed through its modern architecture.

Performance Breakthroughs with NVMe and SSD

One of the most significant advancements in the SNS-3800 series is the complete transition from traditional Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) to Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) and Solid-State Drive (SSD) (Self Encrypted Drives [SED] or SED-FIPS) storage. This shift delivers:

●      Faster reboots: Reduced boot times that get ISE nodes up and running more quickly.

●      Accelerated upgrades: Streamlined update processes that minimize downtime and improve efficiency.

●      High-speed report generation: Enhanced disk I/O performance enables faster analytics, troubleshooting, and visibility into network activity.

●      Improved resilience: With no moving parts, SSDs and NVMe drives are inherently more reliable and durable than mechanical HDDs.

The SNS-3800 series supports three models to align with varying deployment sizes:

●      SNS-3815: Ideal for small deployments, optimized for performance and cost-efficiency.

●      SNS-3855: Configured for medium to large environments with robust redundancy in power supplies and storage. The SNS-3855 can be order in two configurations:

◦    Policy Services Node (PSN) only, with a single disk

◦    PAN and Monitoring and Troubleshooting Node (MnT), fully equip with four disks for medium deployments.

●      SNS-3895: The flagship model, designed for the most demanding ISE roles such as dedicated PAN, dedicated MnT, or combined PAN/MnT personas. Equipped with enhanced memory, it handles high transaction volumes and complex data operations effortlessly.

The SNS-3800 series is fully supported by ISE 3.3 patch 7 or later, ISE 3.4 patch 3 or later, and ISE 3.5 or later, ensuring forward compatibility with the latest ISE capabilities.

Figure 1 shows the Cisco Secure Network Server.

Cisco Secure Network Server

Product specifications

Table 1 lists specifications of the Cisco Secure Network Server.

Table 1.        Secure Network Server 3800- Specifications

Security applications

The Cisco Secure Network Server supports Cisco’s powerful network access and control security applications:

Cisco Identity Services Engine: The Policy Anchor for UZTNA

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) is the policy engine at the heart of Cisco’s Universal Zero Trust Network Access (UZTNA) architecture. As the industry’s most comprehensive Network Access Control (NAC) platform, Cisco ISE enables organizations to implement identity-driven access controls that extend across the entire enterprise infrastructure—wired, wireless, VPN, and private 5G.

ISE plays a foundational role in delivering secure access in a Zero Trust environment by continuously verifying user and device identity, assessing contextual attributes, and enforcing adaptive access policies based on trust levels—not just credentials. This aligns with the core ZTNA principle: never trust, always verify.

With ISE, organizations can:

●      Implement identity-based segmentation to contain lateral movement.

●      Automate device onboarding and posture validation to support dynamic, context-aware policy enforcement.

●      Enable secure access anywhere—supporting hybrid work, BYOD, and guest access with centralized policy control.

●      Leverage advanced profiling to dynamically identify and classify devices on the network, enabling policy enforcement even when devices lack full identity or posture attributes.

●      Integrate seamlessly with Cisco's broader security ecosystem, including Secure Access, Secure Access Service Edge (SASE), and third-party integrations.

ISE supports UZTNA across the full lifecycle: from initial access decisions, to posture checks, to automatic remediation and revocation of access when trust is no longer justified. Administrators can dynamically restrict access to non-compliant or high-risk endpoints, protecting critical assets from compromise.

Whether deployed as part of a self-managed infrastructure or integrated into a broader zero trust strategy, Cisco ISE provides the visibility, control, and automation needed to reduce risk, simplify operations, and accelerate secure access across distributed environments.

Table 2 lists Cisco ISE endpoint scalability metrics for the Secure Network Servers.

Table 2.        Identity Services Engine deployment scalability (ISE 3.4 P3 and later)

Note:      Cisco SNS-3895 is equipped with better memory, and Disk R/W performance. It is best suited for dedicated PAN, dedicated MnT, or dedicated PAN/MnT personas.

Ordering information

Table 3 lists ordering information for the Cisco Secure Network Servers.

Each Cisco SNS server can be ordered with NVMe, Self Encrypted Drive (SED) or Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS)-certified Self Encrypted Drive as a configuration option.

Table 3.        Product ordering information

Table 4 lists the Cisco Secure Network Server component spares that can be used as Field Replaceable Units (FRUs).

Table 4.        Spare components for the Cisco Secure Network Server

Network connective

Copper PID:

GLC-TE - 1000BASE-T SFP transceiver module for Category 5 copper wire.

Fiber PIDs: UCS M6 10G NIC Interoperability with Cisco Cables/Optics.

Supported Cisco ISE versions

The Cisco Secure Network Server 38xx supports Cisco ISE 3.3 P7 and later, 3.4 P3 and later, and 3.5 versions only. Upon receiving the SNS-38xx, it is recommended to install the latest patch of the Cisco ISE suggested release.

Connectors and LEDs

Table 5 lists Connectors and LEDs on the Cisco SNS-3815, SNS-3855, and SNS-3895.

Table 5.        Cisco SNS-3815, SNS-3855, and SNS-3895 Connectors and LEDs.

Form factor

Physical dimensions (H x W x D) 1RU: 1.7 x 16.9 x 30 in. (4.3 x 42.9 x 76.2 cm).

Power Specifications

Table 6 lists power specification for the Cisco Secure Network Servers 3800.

Table 6.        Secure Network Server 3800- Power Specifications

Notes:

Environmental

Table 7 lists environmental information for the Cisco Secure Network Servers.

Table 7.        Environmental Specifications

Compliance requirements

Table 8 lists compliance requirements information for the Cisco Secure Network Servers.

Table 8.        Compliance Specifications

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How to buy

To view buying options and speak with a Cisco sales representative, visit www.cisco.com/c/en/us/buy.html.

For more information

For more information, please visit the following resources:

●      Cisco Identity Services Engine: www.cisco.com/go/ISE.

●      Cisco UCS Servers: www.cisco.com/go/UCS.

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