3 ways Cisco is betting big on AI to simplify network management

Cisco’s annual user conference delivered a clear strategic message this year: the networking giant is betting big on artificial intelligence to transform how businesses manage their digital infrastructure. At Cisco Live 2025, the company unveiled a comprehensive vision for helping organizations become “AI-ready” by embedding intelligence into networking, security, and observability systems.

The announcements signal Cisco’s response to mounting competitive pressure and customer demands for simpler, smarter infrastructure management. After years of criticism for having a fragmented, complex product portfolio, Cisco is positioning itself as the company that can help businesses navigate the dual challenge of adopting AI while securing it.

For business leaders evaluating their technology infrastructure, Cisco’s latest moves represent both opportunity and complexity. The company’s strategy centers on three interconnected themes that could reshape how organizations think about their IT operations.

1. Accelerating AI adoption across IT operations

Cisco’s most significant announcement was AI Canvas, a collaborative workspace designed to revolutionize how IT teams troubleshoot network problems. Think of it as a digital command center where network operations (NetOps) and security operations (SecOps) teams work alongside AI agents to diagnose and resolve complex issues before they impact business operations.

The system represents a fundamental shift from reactive to proactive IT management. Instead of waiting for network problems to surface and then scrambling to fix them, AI Canvas continuously monitors infrastructure and can predict potential failures. For businesses, this translates to fewer unexpected outages and faster resolution times when problems do occur.

Cisco is also addressing the infrastructure requirements for organizations building their own AI capabilities. The company announced AI PODs—pre-configured data center solutions built on NVIDIA graphics processing units combined with Cisco’s server and networking hardware. These systems are designed for companies that want to run AI workloads on their own premises rather than relying solely on cloud providers.

This matters because many organizations are discovering that certain AI applications—particularly those involving sensitive data or requiring ultra-low latency—perform better when hosted internally. Financial services firms analyzing trading patterns, manufacturers optimizing production lines, and healthcare organizations processing patient data often need the control and performance that comes with on-premises AI infrastructure.

The company is also embedding AI assistants throughout its workplace collaboration tools, including Webex video conferencing and network management platforms. These AI agents help ensure that infrastructure remains operational and can automatically optimize network traffic patterns as demand changes throughout the day.

2. Securing AI infrastructure from emerging threats

Cisco’s security strategy follows a “use AI to protect AI” philosophy, recognizing that artificial intelligence creates both opportunities and vulnerabilities. The company announced several hardware and software solutions designed to secure the increasingly complex environments that AI applications require.

The centerpiece is an expanded lineup of “smart” networking equipment that combines multiple security functions into single devices. Cisco’s new Secure Routers integrate software-defined wide area networking (SD-WAN)—which optimizes traffic across multiple internet connections—with advanced firewall capabilities and post-quantum cryptography, which protects against future quantum computing threats.

This consolidation addresses a common business pain point: the proliferation of security appliances that require separate management, maintenance, and expertise. By embedding firewall-grade protection directly into network switches and routers, organizations can reduce both hardware costs and operational complexity.

The company also expanded its Secure Firewall portfolio with new models specifically designed for branch offices and data centers. These devices work as part of what Cisco calls a “Hybrid Mesh Firewall” strategy, where security policies are consistently enforced across all locations and cloud environments, regardless of which specific Cisco products are deployed.

For businesses grappling with hybrid work environments and distributed operations, this approach promises to simplify security management while maintaining consistent protection. A retail chain, for example, could apply the same security policies across headquarters, distribution centers, and individual stores, even if each location uses different networking equipment.

3. Simplifying operations through unified platforms

Perhaps Cisco’s most ambitious goal is consolidating its historically fragmented product portfolio into unified management platforms. The company has struggled with a reputation for complexity, as customers often needed to manage multiple separate systems for networking, security, and collaboration tools.

Security Cloud Control represents Cisco’s answer to this challenge. This platform aims to provide a single interface for managing network and security policies across an organization’s entire infrastructure. The system uses AI to optimize policies automatically, detect network issues, and recommend solutions—reducing the specialized expertise required to maintain complex networks.

The platform includes what Cisco calls “AI Defense,” which specifically protects internal AI projects and data. It also features Universal Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), a security approach that treats every user and device as potentially untrusted until verified. This includes integration with Duo, Cisco’s authentication platform that enables passwordless login using methods like biometrics or mobile device notifications.

For data center operations, Cisco announced the Unified Nexus Dashboard, which consolidates management of local area networks (LANs), storage area networks (SANs), and the specialized networking fabrics required for AI and machine learning workloads. This single interface approach aims to reduce the training and expertise required to manage modern data centers.

The business impact extends beyond IT efficiency. When network and security management is simplified, organizations can redirect technical resources toward innovation rather than maintenance. A manufacturing company, for instance, could have its IT team focus on developing AI applications for predictive maintenance rather than managing multiple networking systems.

Implementation challenges ahead

Despite the comprehensive vision, Cisco faces significant execution challenges. The company acknowledges that adoption of its newest technologies, particularly Hypershield—its AI-driven security architecture—remains slow. Cisco expects it will take another six to nine months for pilot deployments to scale into full production environments.

This timeline reflects the reality that enterprise infrastructure changes happen gradually. Organizations need time to test new technologies, train staff, and integrate solutions with existing systems. For businesses considering Cisco’s new offerings, this suggests a measured approach: identify high-impact areas for modernization while maintaining current operations.

Cisco’s leadership emphasized that the company remains fundamentally focused on networking rather than becoming purely an AI vendor. Chief Marketing Officer Carrie Palin and Chief Security Officer Oliver Tuszik positioned AI as a tool to enhance Cisco’s core networking and security capabilities rather than replace them.

This positioning matters as organizations evaluate whether to invest in Cisco’s integrated approach or continue using best-of-breed solutions from multiple vendors. Companies with significant existing Cisco investments may find the unified platform approach compelling, while those with diverse infrastructure might prefer maintaining flexibility with multiple suppliers.

The announcements at Cisco Live 2025 represent a critical juncture for the networking industry. As AI adoption accelerates and security threats evolve, organizations need infrastructure that can adapt quickly while remaining secure and manageable. Cisco’s bet is that businesses will choose integrated simplicity over fragmented flexibility—a wager that will likely determine the company’s competitive position for years to come.