Cisco’s latest updates merge SD-WAN and security domains more easily

Cisco’s latest updates merge SD-WAN and security domains more easily

To make it easy for enterprises to secure their WAN-connected resources and data centers, Cisco has released two updates to its core software programs.

The company has introduced what it calls Integrated Domain, combining the domain controllers of Cisco DNA Center and Cisco SD-WAN vManage to bring together network connectivity between the two domains and ensure end-to-end security-policy consistency.

Justin Buchanan, the Cisco director of product management, security policy, and access, confirmed the news.

In addition to all that, it allows enterprises to consolidate functions within the Cisco SD-Access domain to coexist alongside the Cisco SD-WAN domain on a single device, further bringing together and simplifying operations, Buchanan added.

What the updates promise

DNA Center and SD-WAN vManage control and manage data center communications and SD-WAN connectivity.

DNA Center comes with support for automation, analytics and assurance, security, virtualization, and IoT (internet of things) connectivity. SD-WAN vManage collects data that includes network telemetry from Cisco vEdge device, performance data from SD-WAN connected resources, and event alerts.

In a blog about the new features, Buchanan said that the hand-off between the domains in question is typically the LAN/WAN boundary.

Get the latest release to enjoy Integrated Domain support

Buchanan wrote that the integrated Domain approach consolidates the software-defined access (SDA) border and control-plane functions onto the Cisco SD-WAN edge router. Cisco DNA Center integrates with vManage to exchange information about Virtual Private Networks in SD-WAN and seamlessly map them to SD-Access Virtual Networks on LAN.

It doesn’t end there. DNA Center also configures the SD-Access portion of the configuration that is then moved on by vManage to the Cisco SD-WAN edge routers.

Integrated Domain support can be enabled through the most recent release of DNA Center software, version 2.2.3, and SD-WAN vManage 17.6, all available now.