Why should you consider Cisco DNA for your organization?
With technology being such a big driver in the business world, companies depend on the reliability of their networks to remain productive and competitive. However, the complexity of handling network management and control led many companies to implement software-defined networking, which automated many tasks required to run the network. Cisco Digital Network Architecture (Cisco DNA) takes things one step further by giving admins complete network control.
What is Cisco Digital Architecture (DNA)?
The best way to define digital network architecture is that it is a management system used to automate, secure, and connect network operations. Previously, you had to configure the access points for each individually. Cisco DNA combines controller architecture with APIs and analytics to keep networks running seamlessly.
With companies making significant investments in cloud infrastructure and expanding their mobile workforce, there’s a more substantial need than ever to ensure that networks don’t go down when businesses need them. Cisco DNA provides a centralized management system that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to securely automate essential network operations and give companies more digital agility.
Essential Cisco DNA Components
- DNA Center — Controller for managing company environments.
- SD-Access - A network access control method meant to navigate software-defined networking (SDN) limitations
- HCI software — Combines storage, compute, networking, and virtualization software into one package.
Cisco DNA Center helps companies manage the following capabilities.
- Automation — Cisco DNA uses controller-based automation to help network administrators model, provision, and configure their networks.
- Policies — Cisco DNA Center provides a dashboard that uses policies to set up workflows. In addition, administrators have access to drag-and-drop tasks that let them design policies for different categories like users and applications.
- Analytics — Administrators can use Cisco DNA’s intelligence to perform analytics on data pulled from the network. From there, they can set up automation as needed to accommodate changes within network environments.
Below are some of the operations tasks supported by Cisco DNA Center.
- NetOps — You can run all management and network automation operations through a single dashboard. In addition, Cisco DNA lets you set up workflows and reusable templates for managing critical network tasks. The platform allows network administrators to configure multiple network devices for their organization in minutes instead of hours.
- AIOps — The AI and machine learning (ML) capabilities embedded in the Cisco DNA center adapt to real-time changes in wireless and network conditions. Cisco DNA sets up sensors using wireless and wired networks. That way, network administrators constantly receive feedback on current network conditions. The dashboard also shows you health scores that tell you immediately if there are performance issues and help you identify the probable cause.
- DevOps — Your IT department can integrate other Cisco and third-party solutions with the Cisco DNA center to set up a single platform. That way, businesses can streamline their IT workflows, allowing for more innovation and increasing business value. In addition, you can use Cisco DNA to interface with other business applications. It also integrates with other IT operations and technology.
How can companies benefit from Cisco DNA?
Cisco’s open platform scales to meet the needs of enterprises. It allows businesses to customize their networks and deploy applications designed to make IT – and whole companies – more productive. In addition, administrators can use the open APIs provided by the Cisco DNA Center to make their networks more flexible.
Companies that include Cisco DNA Assurance receive a comprehensive solution that provides insights into issues within networks, applications, and clients. It also offers system and self-guided troubleshooting assistance to help administrators diagnose the source of problems that could slow down their networks. In addition, Cisco DNA Assurance gives administrators potential solutions to the problem.
Because Cisco DNA Center is software-based, network engineers have more control over traffic. They can allow it to flow as needed without the need to access individual network switches and routers. Thanks to plug-and-play provisioning, admins can dynamically set up the initial configuration quickly and the platform updates changes based on user-defined policies.
Additional Cisco DNA Benefits:
- AI and automated provisioning allows admins to set up and run networks more quickly
- Human workers save time and money through the automation of routine tasks
- Cisco DNA Center APIs allow for more efficient business process automation
- Intuitive security policy management and zero-trust network access make networks more secure
- Saves energy and enables smart buildings through efficient energy management
Top Cisco DNA Features
Companies need a dedicated physical environment to run Cisco DNA Center. Below are some of the key features of the product.
- Software image management (SWIM) — Lets administrators build a centralized software image repository and apply them to devices. You can automate software upgrades and ensure that all networks are consistent regarding having the same version on each.
- Plug and Play (PAP) — The plug-and-play capabilities of Cisco DNA Center make it easy for administrators to provision new devices quickly. Off-the-shelf Cisco devices start working immediately once you plug them into the network. That lets IT teams enable deployments without needing onsite support.
- Dashboards — Administrators have a clear view of the status of network devices. That makes it possible to understand a network’s health by looking at the dashboard overview or drilling down into details.
- Workflows — Clients can tap into Cisco DNA Center’s library of built-in guided workflows. They cover tasks like onboarding network devices, configuring integrations, and endpoint registration. In addition, they allow you to reduce setup errors and simplify complex routines.
- Machine Reasoning Engine— An AI-enabled automated interface engine that conducts root cause analysis and offers guidance on corrective actions for administrators to undertake
- Application 360 — Offers insights and greater visibility into application performance. Administrators can locate and isolate network issues from applications, improving the user experience.
Take a new approach to networking
R2 Unified Technologies helps companies design network solutions that help them maintain consistency and service their customers. Learn more about how we can transform your networking environment by setting up a consultation with one of our IT experts.