Business Benefits of Segmentation with Software-Defined Access
The goal of moving applications to the cloud and integrating with SaaS platforms is to satisfy the growing demand for connectivity to data resources and applications at any time, from anywhere. However, achieving that goal with high levels of Quality of Experience (QoE) for applications depends on the enterprise wide area networks. Managing QoE connectivity among campus, branch, and cloud resources naturally increases network complexity. That translates into an increase in workload for IT teams to keep up with changing prioritization of traffic, network access rules, and data security policies.
But just because a network is complex doesn’t mean it has to be complicated. A Software-Defined Architecture (SDA) is the antidote for complicated. Separating data, control, and management planes makes networks both more flexible and manageable by automating many formerly manual tasks. A significant portion of those tasks are handled by Cisco Software-Defined Access (SD-Access) working at the controller plane level, reducing complexity and improving scalability and mobility of devices and the workforce.
Empowering IT with an Architecture for Access
When people, devices, and applications are located anywhere, automating the onboarding and provisioning of them with the correct access and security policies is paramount to maintaining control and security. SD-Access applies access and security policies generated by network intents. Translating intents into actions is the foundation of Intent-Based Networking, where higher-level business intents create network access and security policies that are automatically applied to devices and people to determine access rights and security privileges.
SD-Access simplifies network management, especially for segmentation and secure access policies, but also for operational consistency, increasing productivity, and a seamless experience. In this post we will examine the business and security benefits of automating segmentation and access control.