Again in February, Cisco launched a daring architectural shift to knowledge middle networking with the launch of the Cisco N9300 Sequence Sensible Switches—a brand new class of change that unifies networking and safety right into a single, future-proof platform. As we speak’s knowledge middle operators are on the lookout for easier and safer methods to scale their environments, with out the necessity to layer on a number of safety options. N9300 Sequence Sensible Switches, a part of the Cisco Nexus portfolio, ship on this want, offering strong L4 segmentation throughout each single- and multi-fabric deployments.
By embedding superior safety instantly into the community material, this modern platform allows superior segmentation, higher visibility, and helps cut back whole value of possession (TCO) with this transformative strategy to community design.
With the final availability of top-of-rack (ToR) N9300 Sequence Sensible Switches in Networking Mode, fashionable knowledge facilities are empowered to scale each effectively and securely. ToR L4 segmentation with Cisco Hypershield integration will probably be obtainable in an upcoming launch.
At all times-on safety with Cisco Reside Shield
Cisco Reside Shield, one other latest modern launch, provides an additional layer of resilience to N9300 Sequence Sensible Switches and different Cisco Nexus collection switches by immediately guarding towards software program vulnerabilities. The answer operates with out requiring upgrades, reboots, patching, or downtime. Native to NX-OS, Reside Shield makes use of real-time, eBPF-based coverage enforcement to immediately mitigate superior frequent vulnerabilities and exposures (CVE).
Future-proof top-of-rack switches with Networking Mode
The brand new Networking Mode launch consists of the brand new Cisco N9324C-SE1U Sensible Change and Cisco N9348Y2C6D-SE1U Sensible Change, each powered by Cisco NX-OS 10.6(1s). These versatile platforms are optimized for leaf, border leaf, and border gateway roles, supporting VXLAN-EVPN and BGP-routed materials for each single-fabric and multi-site deployments.
These sensible switches ship complete L2/L3 capabilities, QoS, multicast help, and superior options equivalent to L2 mobility, active-active multi-site deployment, and catastrophe restoration continuity. When working in Networking Mode with DPUs powered down, they supply the excessive stage of efficiency wanted to assist future-proof knowledge middle infrastructure. Networking Mode additionally facilitates the seamless integration of latest deployments and brownfield expansions with current Nexus knowledge middle materials, whereas laying the groundwork for future ToR L4 segmentation.
The result’s simplified operations, lowered deployment complexity, and vital TCO financial savings with ToR L4 segmentation.
Strengthening knowledge middle safety with ToR L4 segmentation
The upcoming Networking and Safety launch will combine ToR L4 segmentation instantly into the community material, delivering superior safety on the edge—simplifying operations, strengthening safety, and delivering tangible enterprise outcomes, together with:
- Optimized operations: Nexus Dashboard streamlines NetOps administration, serving to cut back prices and speed up challenge decision.
- Stronger safety and compliance: On-premises Hypershield and Cisco Safety Cloud Management (SCC) SaaS ship strong coverage enforcement to NetSecOps groups, decreasing dangers and supporting regulatory adherence.
- Quicker deployment and funding safety: Versatile VXLAN/BGP material integrates seamlessly into each greenfield and brownfield environments, accelerating deployments whereas defending current investments.
- Minimized danger and scalable safety: Superior stateful or stateless L4 segmentation (as much as 800G throughput) ensures safety insurance policies observe workloads, confining breaches and delivering constant, adaptive safety.
- Decreased deployment danger: CRD schema-based coverage administration with validation/canary rollouts contribute to safe, steady deployments.
- Enhanced management: On-premises Hypershield management aircraft gives higher operational management and improved knowledge governance.
- Elevated agility: Streamlined upgrades reduce downtime and speed up adoption of latest capabilities.
- Proactive insights: Complete observability from Nexus Dashboard, Splunk, and Prometheus/Grafana integrations allow proactive challenge detection and data-driven determination making.
Air-gapped management and unified safety with Hypershield
The on-premises Hypershield management aircraft is light-weight, extremely obtainable, and air-gapped for safe operation. Complete international visibility is supported via each API- and UI-driven automation. Constructing on this, Cisco Safety Cloud Management allows unified coverage administration for distributed segmentation throughout sensible switches, brokers, and perimeter firewalls—streamlining safety operations and safeguarding vital property.
Constant safety with Hypershield’s distributed segmentation
Hypershield’s distributed segmentation ensures constant, stateful safety by permitting safety insurance policies to observe workloads throughout the material. Inline enforcement throughout sensible switches and brokers (kernel to community) eliminates blind spots and helps distributed insurance policies for agentless workloads equivalent to bare-metal servers and mainframes.
Enhanced observability: whole readability and safety
By integrating Cisco Nexus Dashboard with the on-premises Hypershield management aircraft, NetOps and NetSecOps groups keep unbiased controls whereas working extra collaboratively. This strategy accelerates downside decision and reduces operational overhead.
Extra integrations with Splunk and Grafana present actionable, real-time insights, empowering knowledge middle operations groups to proactively detect points, guarantee steady compliance, and optimize system efficiency—minimizing downtime and defending vital enterprise features.
Unprecedented resilience with Reside Shield
Organizations can now improve safety on Cisco NX-OS-based Nexus collection switches with out downtime or ready for PSIRTs and software program upgrades. Reside Shield leverages the Isovalent Tetragon agent and eBPF-based shields to quickly deploy compensating controls towards threats equivalent to privilege escalation CVEs.
Cisco is first to market with this modern function, serving to knowledge facilities stay safe and operational towards rising CVE threats.
Prepared now, constructed for what’s subsequent
“We’re excited in regards to the potential of Cisco’s Hypershield-enabled N9300 Sequence Nexus Sensible Switches. Our funding on this know-how allows us to seamlessly align our safety and networking methods, whereas sustaining the flexibleness to evolve every independently. This functionality enhances our agility, reduces operational danger, and ensures our infrastructure continues to maintain tempo with the rising calls for of our enterprise.”
— Eric Bradley, Chief Data Officer, TaxSlayer
Cisco N9300 Sequence Sensible Switches in Networking Mode provide speedy efficiency enhancements and operational simplicity, assembly the necessities of in the present day’s and tomorrow’s knowledge middle environments. For superior segmentation and built-in safety, Community Mode ensures infrastructure can scale securely and supply lasting worth. And with steady vulnerability safety from Cisco Reside Shield, knowledge middle operations profit from resilience, scalability, and sustained worth over time.
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