Cisco Software-Defined Access Overview

GFI Digital
Jul 7, 2022
2 min read

Updated: 5 days ago

Cisco DNA Center, Policy, Automation, Assurance, IoT, Employee network, GFI Digital, Cisco Partner.

Building a Secure and Agile Network for Your Modern Enterprise

The Foundation for Cisco's Intent-Based Network

Software-Defined Access is part of the DNA (Digital Network Architecture) platform.

Built on the principles of intent-based networking, SD-Access helps organizations enable policy-based automation from the edge to the cloud. It gives network architects the tools to orchestrate key business functions like onboarding, secure segmentation, IoT integration, and guest access.

SD-Access automates user and device policy for any application across the wireless and wired network via a single network fabric. It is a transformational shift. It allows IT to set network access in minutes for any user, device, or application, without compromising on security.

SD-Access Automates Network Device Provisioning

Complete day-0 to day-N onboarding, configuration, assurance, and optimization.

SD-Access Defines and Applies Group-Based Policies with Better Automation and Scalability

Before by Best After Automated Comparison Design Policy Provision. More scalability shown.

SD-Access Segments the Network and Security Onboards Client Devices

Before SD-Access and After SD-Access diagram on network policy automation.

SD-Access Enforces Policy Consistently Over Wired and Wireless Networks

SD-Access diagram shows Before and After SD-Access with Simplified provisioning.

SD-Access Extends Secure Access Policies to IoT Devices

Before and after SD Access comparison: Enterprise security policies and integration.

SD-Access Extends Policies Across the Enterprise's Networking Domains

Diagram of Policy Exchange showing Users, Data Center, Public clouds, and other network components.

SD-Access Ensures Policies are Being Enforced

Diagram showing network observability, complex processing, formatted insights, and suggested recommendations.

SD-Access Provides Zero-Trust Security for the Workplace

Zero-trust security concerns and how SIO Access helps identify network activity, grant access.

SD-Access Identifies and Profiles Devices and Traffic for Defining and Enforcing Group-Based Access Policies

Image showing a diagram with labeled processes and access control for system analysis.

SD-Access Performs Behavior Analytics for Continued Trust Verification

Security incident diagram with Trust score, Firewall, Network activity, Threat metrics, and policy.

Deploying SD-Access

Wireless Optimize, personalize, and secure your wireless network.

Switches Get a single fabric to help simplify and secure your digital-ready network.

Routers Provide access to applications, services, and integrated technologies.

Cisco DNA Center Manage SD-Access with a central dashboard across the entire network.

Identity Services Engine (ISE) Simplify delivery of identity-based policy for users and devices.

Cisco DNA Subscriptions Easily buy, manage, and upgrade your network and infrastructure software.

To learn more about what deploying Cisco SD-Access can do for your business, contact us!