Cisco Introduces Secure Network Architecture to Accelerate AI-Driven Workplaces

Key Takeaways

  • Radically Simplified Operations: A unified management platform and AgenticOps streamline IT and OT workflows.

  • Next-Gen AI-Ready Hardware: High-capacity, low-latency campus, branch, and industrial devices purpose-built for AI workloads.

  • Quantum-Resistant Security: Kernel-level protections, post-quantum encryption, and pervasive zero-trust controls embedded into the network.

  • Seamless AI-Native Observability: ThousandEyes and Splunk integrations deliver end-to-end visibility across all infrastructure.

SAN DIEGO, Calif., June 10, 2025 – At Cisco Live today, Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) rolled out a secure network architecture designed to meet the explosive demands of AI-powered enterprises. By combining a single-pane management experience with breakthrough devices and built-in security, Cisco aims to help organizations tame skyrocketing traffic, maintain mission-critical uptime, and defend against evolving cyberthreats as they expand AI across their campuses, branches, and industrial sites.

“AI is driving unprecedented growth in network traffic—and with downtime more costly than ever, we must rethink how networks are managed and secured,” said Jeetu Patel, President and Chief Product Officer at Cisco. “Our new architecture, purpose-built hardware, and AgenticOps approach set a new benchmark for operational simplicity and security in the AI era.”

Unified Management and AgenticOps: Simplifying IT and OT

To alleviate the growing complexity faced by IT teams, Cisco’s unified management platform brings Meraki and Catalyst devices, next-gen wireless, switching, routing, and industrial networks into one interface—on-premises, hybrid, or cloud. Key innovations include:

  • ThousandEyes Assurance Everywhere: Now extending visibility to mobile endpoints and industrial IoT, with real-time Splunk integration for richer network-to-application insights.

  • AgenticOps with Deep Network Model: An AI-driven operational framework powered by a domain-specific LLM trained on Cisco’s CCIE and Cisco U. content. It underpins both the Cisco AI Assistant—offering conversational issue resolution—and the new AI Canvas dashboard for NetOps, SecOps, and DevOps collaboration at machine speed.

Next-Gen Devices Built for AI Performance

Cisco unveiled a suite of hardware tailored for AI’s extreme throughput and latency requirements:

  • C9350 & C9610 Smart Switches: Silicon One–powered campus switches delivering up to 51.2 Tbps throughput, <5 µs latency, and quantum-resistant secure networking.

  • 8100–8500 Series Secure Routers: Integrated SD-WAN, SASE, NGFW, and post-quantum security in a single appliance—offering up to 3× the throughput of prior models.

  • Expanded Wireless & Industrial Portfolios: Wi-Fi 7 APs for stadiums (9179F Series), cloud-managed campus gateways, ruggedized industrial switches, and Ultra-Reliable Wireless Backhaul combined with Wi-Fi in one device.

Security Woven Directly into the Network

Addressing the sophisticated threat landscape, Cisco embeds advanced defenses at every layer:

  1. Infrastructure Protection: Cisco Live Protect delivers kernel-level compensating controls for switches and routers—no reimaging or downtime required.

  2. Data-in-Transit Defense: Post-quantum MACsec, WAN MACsec, and IPsec encryption guard against “harvest-now, decrypt-later” attacks; Hypershield-ready C9000 switches enforce segmentation at machine speed.

  3. Endpoint & Application Security: Microsegmentation, AI-driven device classification, and unified policy enforcement with Cisco ISE, Cyber Vision, Talos, and Secure Access SSE to secure every connected asset.

Matt Eastwood of IDC commented, “Legacy networks simply can’t handle AI’s scale, security, and reliability demands. Cisco’s new architecture provides the future-ready foundation enterprises need to embrace AI without compromise.”

Availability

The unified management platform is available now; Cisco AI Assistant is in public beta; AI Canvas previews with select customers this fall. All new hardware is orderable this month via Cisco and certified partners, with unified licensing and support across cloud, hybrid, and on-premises deployments.

Editorial Commentary

  1. Holistic AI Infrastructure
    Cisco’s integration of unified management and AgenticOps represents a shift from siloed tools to an AI-native operational model, empowering IT teams to focus on strategy rather than routine tasks.

  2. Built-In, Future-Proof Security
    By embedding quantum-resistant encryption and kernel-level protections directly into its hardware, Cisco ensures that AI workloads can run securely without adding complexity.

  3. Scalable Performance
    The new Silicon One–powered switches and secure routers deliver the capacity and low latency that AI applications demand, giving enterprises a robust platform for both current and next-generation AI use cases.

For Network-Switch.com customers, these AI-ready network innovations offer a clear path to modernize your infrastructure—simplifying operations today while safeguarding and scaling your AI initiatives for tomorrow.

Original News from: Cisco