Cisco DNA overview summary: Growing enterprises need intelligent, automated networks to keep pace with the speed of the business.
If you are an IT professional, your network needs to just work. It can’t slow to a crawl as you deploy new business applications, analyze real-time data, and collaborate with partners. Your business needs a network that it can rely on.
But in reality, many enterprise networks aren’t up to the task of today’s business needs. They can be sluggish, slowed by manual processes, and hardware that isn’t built for agile, fast-paced enteprises. In contrast, today’s world is indelibly marked by the technology waves of cloud computing, mobile users and Internet of Things technologies. Companies need infrastructure that can accommodate these trends and move quickly.
Many companies need to migrate to a modern, intelligent network architecture but are mindful of the cost of upgrading. Consider Backcountry.com, an online outdoor apparel e-commerce site, which now uses software-defined networking and analytics to operate a more efficient, cost-effective network. “The margins are very thin and it’s a very competitive environment,” said C.J. Singh, the chief technology officer at Backcountry. “My focus is trying to expand margin as we grow,” he said.
If your IT team has delayed modernizing your network infrastructure because you’ve categorized it as a nice-to-have project, consider this data. It indicates that IT modernization has priority for many companies.
Your data center infrastructure, and your network, are the onramp to your business goals. Virtualizing, automating and centralizing management of your networks enables cost savings, augmented network security, and flexibility as you introduce new devices, applications and collaborative partners to your network.
Enterprises need intelligent networks that can prevent traffic bottlenecks, that can proactively identify security threats, and that grow as the business grows.
Cisco’s digital network architecture (Cisco DNA) embraces that vision. Here are the four key components of Cisco DNA:
"It’s all about having a network that is automated, that has very sophisticated dashboarding capabilities, and is easy to configure and maintain," Singh said.
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Managing Editor, Cisco.com