Cisco Powers Secure Infrastructure for the AI Era
At Cisco Live in San Diego, Cisco introduced a series of innovations aimed at helping companies adapt to the AI era. Enterprises face increasing pressure to adopt AI securely and extract value from their AI investments. Cisco is focusing on reshaping data centers and workplaces to meet these challenges effectively.
Jeetu Patel, President and Chief Product Officer at Cisco, emphasized the company’s commitment: “Cisco is delivering the critical infrastructure for the AI era—secure networks and experiences, optimized for AI that connect the world and support the global economy.” He highlighted how organizations are now using agentic AI to automate workflows and solve complex problems, and how Cisco is building on its history of infrastructure expertise to support this next generation of AI.
Patrick Milligan, Chief Information Security Officer at Ford Motor Company, shared how agentic AI is integrated across Ford’s operations, from design to manufacturing and customer support. He noted that Cisco’s networking and security solutions play a vital role in managing these advanced AI capabilities at scale.
Workplaces for the Age of AI
Modern workplaces require network infrastructure that adapts to increased traffic, guarantees uninterrupted access, and maintains strong security. Cisco announced new devices for campus, branch, and industrial networks, alongside AI-powered unified management tools. These innovations move organizations from reactive to proactive and autonomous network management.
One standout product is Cisco’s AI-powered Room Vision PTZ camera, which enhances meeting experiences with cinematic quality. The Jira Workflow Automation integrated with the Cisco AI Assistant for Webex Suite increases operational efficiency, while the Webex AI Agent simplifies customer self-service using industry-specific templates.
Simplified Operations with AgenticOps
Cisco is launching AI-driven solutions that simplify IT operations through automation. Key among these is Cisco AI Canvas, a generative user interface enabling real-time collaboration between network and security teams. The Cisco AI Assistant offers conversational control across Cisco’s product range.
Central to these tools is Cisco’s Deep Network Model, a domain-specific large language model trained on extensive Cisco knowledge, including professional courseware and certifications. This model enables AI to understand complex network environments and enhance IT team productivity.
Data Centers Built for AI
Data centers supporting agentic AI require high bandwidth, low latency, and power efficiency. Cisco continues to innovate in compute and network solutions tailored to these demands. The company has also joined the EPRI Open Power AI Consortium to advance AI-driven power grid solutions.
Additionally, Cisco is introducing new capabilities to help service providers deliver and monetize AI services, providing new business opportunities in the evolving AI landscape.
Security in the AI Era
As applications multiply and workforces become more distributed and mobile, security becomes increasingly critical. Cisco is enhancing its Hybrid Mesh Firewall and Universal Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) offerings, introducing two new firewall series—the 6100 and 200 series—that deliver competitive price and performance.
Further capabilities across the Cisco Security Cloud address the specific challenges of securing environments powered by agentic AI, helping organizations protect their assets effectively.
Digital Resilience at the Core
Several AI enhancements, including updates to Splunk Observability Cloud and Splunk AppDynamics, improve visibility into network health and performance. Deeper integration between Cisco and Splunk solutions enables more resilient, insight-driven digital operations.
Notably, a bidirectional integration between Splunk Observability, Cisco ThousandEyes Assurance, and Cisco Enterprise Networks supports proactive management and issue resolution.
Unified Management for AI
Cisco previewed Cisco Cloud Control, a unified management platform that spans networking, security, and observability portfolios. This platform features AI-native tools like Cisco AI Canvas and the Cisco AI Assistant, enabling IT teams to execute workflows across products, identify issues proactively, and manage infrastructure with greater ease.
About Cisco
Cisco has been a technology leader for over 40 years, securely connecting organizations worldwide. Its AI-powered solutions and services help customers, partners, and communities innovate, increase productivity, and strengthen digital resilience. The company remains committed to creating a more connected and inclusive future.
For professionals aiming to enhance their AI knowledge and skills, exploring tailored AI courses can be a practical step. Resources like Complete AI Training's latest AI courses offer relevant learning opportunities to keep pace with AI-driven changes in business infrastructure.
Your membership also unlocks:
