Unified Branch Networking

Transform every branch into a smart, secure, and scalable platform

Run your branches like physical extensions of your digital business. Deliver great user experiences, enforce consistent policy, and scale securely with the Cisco AI-powered unified branch platform.

Overview Resources Secure campus Industrial networks

Why modernize your branch?


Unified Branch Overview Video

Most branches were designed for static traffic patterns and trusted users. Today's reality requires a nimbler approach—with automation, intelligence, and security built in.

Simplify policy enforcement

Branches must serve as secure gateways for remote work, guest devices, IoT sensors, and AI applications all at once.

Control application sprawl

Business applications are hosted everywhere—SaaS, data center, and cloud—requiring smarter WAN and better performance.

Gain agility to scale securely

Network teams need to roll out new locations quickly and resolve issues faster, without always sending someone on site.

Overcome key challenges

Workloads that outrun the network

Real-time applications run at the branch edge. Without Wi-Fi 7 or PoE switching, app-aware routing, QoS, or visibility across unowned networks, branches on best-effort WAN are stuck.

Systemic security gaps

Flat VLANs and unmanaged devices let threats spread; weak firmware, shared passwords, and open access add risk; while "tunnel everything" DIA/SD-WAN approaches over-expose networks and users.

Poor user experiences

Every millisecond affects POS speed, kiosk responsiveness, and video clarity. Teams need instant fault isolation across every network domain: Wi-Fi, LAN, WAN, ISP, SaaS.

Strained IT operations

Scaling compounds pressure to deploy fast, monitor continuously, and diagnose and fix issues across hundreds, even thousands of sites. In a legacy branch architecture, that adds IT headcount.

Building a branch network for the AI era and beyond

Branch networking doesn't have to be complicated. Cisco Unified Branch delivers a full-stack solution designed to simplify and streamline branch network deployments.

Simplified operations, powered by AgenticOps

The Cisco unified operations platform for branch streamlines the full lifecycle of configuration, monitoring, diagnosis, and resolution—bringing together unified management, multilayer assurance, and AgenticOps intelligence to simplify operations in the AI era.

Unified management

Flexible management with enterprise or cloud simplicity, combined with Branch-as-Code automation to deploy and update thousands of branches consistently using templates, APIs, and CI/CD workflows.

Multilayer assurance

Diagnose performance issues across both owned and unowned networks with ThousandEyes and embedded telemetry, ensuring visibility and faster resolution from user to application.

AgenticOps

AgenticOps further enhances operations through agentic capabilities that combine cross-domain telemetry with AI reasoning powered by the Cisco Deep Network Model to autonomously troubleshoot issues, continuously optimize network performance, and validate remediation actions before they are safely applied.

Scalable devices ready for AI

Faster, safer, smarter networking begins with Cisco-designed silicon, supporting seamless experiences and AI-powered operations at the edge.

Cisco 8000 Series Secure Routers

Get platform-level security, next-generation firewall, high-performance routing, and more.

Cisco 8300 Series Secure Routers

Get high-performance, secure routing that scales for complex and demanding large branch environments.

Cisco 8400 Series Secure Routers

Get robust, scalable campus performance with centralized management and advanced threat protection.

Meraki MG fixed wireless access

Scale 5G connectivity deployments faster with cloud-managed eSIM, instant-on data, and 5G Standalone.

Cisco C9350 Fixed Access Smart Switches

Get deterministic latency and MACsec encryption in an AI-ready access switch built on Silicon One.

Cisco Catalyst 9200 Series Switches

Deliver secure, high-performance connectivity with modular uplinks and advanced Layer 3 features.

Meraki MS150

Easily scale, enforce policy, and troubleshoot with cloud-managed switching for branch deployments.

Cisco Wi-Fi 7 Access Points

Future-proof every workplace with intelligent, secure access points that can deploy anywhere.

Outdoor and Industrial Access Points

Extend connectivity for secure operations with Wi-Fi 7 and Ultra-Reliable Wireless Backhaul (URWB).

Meraki MV cameras

Improve safety for those in and around your workplace with next-level analytics and security tools.

Cisco Spaces

Create a smart, secure, and inviting workplace with data and insights from your network.

Security fused into the network

Attackers aren't outside anymore—they're already inside. Security can't be centralized in a distant data center or bolted on after the fact. Cisco fuses security directly into the network so identity, policy, and enforcement exist wherever traffic flows—including the branch edge. The result: zero-trust protection enforced by design across infrastructure, users, devices, and applications.

Securing network devices

Security begins with the network itself. Cisco embeds protection directly into branch routers, switches, and wireless access points with trusted boot and runtime protections that prevent infrastructure compromise.

Securing network traffic

Traffic is protected in motion with MACsec and IPsec encryption across branch LAN and SD-WAN connections, with post-quantum-ready cryptography protecting data today and in the future.

Implementing post-quantum encryption

Post-quantum-ready encryption protects WAN and internet traffic.

Managing the explosion of entities

Branch networks connect employees, contractors, IoT devices, cameras, and point-of-sale systems.

Authorizing every entity

Every entity is identified the moment it connects. Identity—not location—defines what communication is allowed, preventing lateral movement across the network.

Implementing identity-based segmentation

Cisco enforces this through identity-based segmentation using Security Group Tags and Software-Defined Access policies orchestrated by Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE).

Verifying trust continuously

Zero Trust requires continuous enforcement—not a one-time decision.

Protecting inside the enterprise

Branch users and devices connect directly to applications across data centers, cloud services, and the internet. Hybrid-mesh firewalling provides coordinated, distributed policy enforcement across the branch, SD-WAN edge, data center, and cloud—ensuring every flow is verified and stopping unauthorized lateral movement.

Connecting remote users to applications safely

Zero Trust Access from Cisco and SASE secure user connectivity to applications and the internet from anywhere.

Transform branch networks for the cloud and AI era

Boost branch performance with unified architecture

Join IDC's Brandon Butler and Cisco experts to discover how unified branch architectures eliminate the performance and security bottlenecks of fragmented networks—so you can deliver seamless digital experiences and empower your IT teams.

Modernizing the Branch for the AI Era

Modernizing the Branch for the AI Era

Meet application and workload demands with insights and guidance for efficiently reducing downtime, complexity, and risk.

A network for every business need

Go beyond the branch and explore other network solutions. 

Secure campus

Support real-time collaboration, immersive learning, smart buildings, and AI-powered applications—on a network that's ready for the future. Reimagine your campus network with Cisco.

Secure industrial networks

Industrial environments are becoming more connected—and more complex. Cisco brings AI-driven security, visibility, and automation to the most mission-critical places in your network.

SASE

Applications and users are everywhere, creating complexity and greater threats than ever before. Cisco SASE offers a simpler way to securely connect anywhere.


Recognized by industry experts

IDC MarketScape for Global Enterprise WLAN

IDC has recognized Cisco as a Leader for Enterprise Wireless LAN in their MarketScape report in 2025.

Let's build a smarter, more secure branch

Ready to deploy faster, troubleshoot smarter, and scale securely across every branch? We're here to help you transform your edge.