Network
Campus Fabric / DNA
Cisco’s forward-thinking vision of the network is based around the Digital Network Architecture (DNA). Historically, Cisco has not been well-known for centralized management tools, or with management GUIs—with DNA, Cisco has flipped the script on that notion and has the industry rethinking enterprise networking as a whole.
One of the most interesting components of DNA is Software-Defined Access. Using ISE, DNA determines the user’s identity. Then, using overlay transports, the layer 3 and layer 2 links can follow the user. In this fashion, the user could maintain the same IP address cross-campus, whereas an IP Address change would’ve previously been required. This means a consistent user experience can be preserved cross-campus. If that sounds like something that might benefit your organization, let us know—Crossconnect is an early adopter and can advise on deployment that fits your needs.
Learn more about this exciting, evolving technology here and contact us today to get started.
Enterprise Networking
Cisco is synonymous with enterprise networking. Cisco’s latest switch offering, which is the largest product launch in Cisco’s history, is the Catalyst 9000 series. It is designed for Cisco’s Digital Network Architecture, and features innovation for SD Access and Encrypted Threat Analytics, as well as network programmability.
Crossconnect maintains three CCIE route/switch engineers on staff to ensure we have the necessary expertise on-hand for our clients.
Wireless
Crossconnect offers sales and support of Cisco, Meraki Wireless and HPE Aruba, as well as conducting nationwide active site surveys. Our experience includes outdoor high-density site surveys and designs for challenging mixed guest/corporate access.
Why Cisco?
Easily view and manage your network. Cisco DNA Center is the workhorse behind your Cisco network, allowing you deeper management and insight to your network. You can automate your workflow, enhance the customer experience, and quickly detect and stop threats with policy design and provisioning all controlled from one place. DNA’s analytics will show you real-time user and application behavior, giving you that deeper look into your network.
Location Based Services. Cisco DNA Spaces is a scalable locations platform that leverages your existing wi-fi infrastructure to centralize location services. With spaces you can monitor for population density, investigate self-reported incidents, drive a contactless experience, and utilize wayfinding technology for your end users. Spaces can integrate with a wide variety of 3rd party software vendors too, allowing you more flexibility.
Why Meraki?
Wireless without the complexity.Meraki delivers full enterprise-grade wireless without the “nerd knobs” – all the wireless features a large company needs without the high-end skillset needed to build out a traditional Wireless LAN Controller.
Skip the on-premises controller, get more features. Meraki’s multitenant cloud controls your APs for you – and allows for great deployment features like plug-and-play. Also, traffic reporting such as Netflow are collected and reported in the cloud, instead of requiring a 3rd-party server.
Seamless Updates Keep You Current. Firmware and dashboard updates are pushed seamlessly from the cloud to all your Cisco Meraki devices without any pre-staging, manual downloads, or trips onsite to install patches.
Why Aruba?
Multiple Deployment Options. Aruba offers quite a bit of flexibility in how to deploy and manage their APs. For users looking for a cloud managed option, Aruba Central can manage both Aruba APs and Aruba access switching. For local control, Aruba’s controllers are available in both hardware and virtual options. Virtual options can be deployed in local virtualization infrastructure or in a public cloud environment as needed.
Policy Enforcement Firewall (PEF). The PEF provides full NGFW capabilities on Aruba controllers that allow for internal segmentation capabilities. The PEF integrates with Active Directory, RADIUS, or LDAP service to provide a user-based security policy. The PEF also supports application-based firewall rules, so modern applications which all work over common protocols like HTTPS can be identified and access controlled as needed. For users of Aruba access switching, the controller can also act as an internal segmentation firewall for wired traffic as well – in this mode, the switch is managed and treated like an AP.
Flexible Licensing without Subscriptions. For on-premises controllers, Aruba does not require the use of subscription services. AP licenses, base PEF licenses, and wireless IPS/RFProtect licenses are all perpetual. A few licenses, however, are subscription – cloud-managed APs via Aruba Central are naturally a subscription service, and for the PEF, there is an optional subscription service to enable URL filtering, geoblocking, and IP reputation capabilities.