Cisco Introduces a New Era in Networking, Powered by Software Innovation and Subscription Buying

Yesterday’s introduction of Cisco DNA Advantage and Essentials subscription-based network software will transform how infrastructure software is bought and deployed in the new era of networking. These latest innovations reinforce Cisco’s commitment to transition its business to a software-centric, subscription-based model, while helping accelerate our customers’ digital transformation.

Advantage and Essentials, introduced in conjunction with our Catalyst 9000 series of switches, also support Cisco’s Catalyst 3K, 4K, 6K series and will give customers the flexibility to access advanced Digital Network Architecture (DNA) software capabilities by subscription, either via Cisco ONE software suites or a-la-carte components. (Subscription offers will be available for Wireless in Q1 FY18 and WAN later in FY18.)

Essentials offers all of the capabilities customers need including base automation and monitoring, and with Advantage, customers also get Software Defined Access (SDA), Assurance, and Encrypted Traffic Analytics (ETA). And Advantage and Essentials are supported with full lifecycle Services including readiness assessment, scalable design, automation tools and proactive support.

The value of subscription buying becomes clear as customers take advantage of this new era in networking:

Software evolves at lightning speed. Subscription buying assures customers that their software is always up-to-date in today’s changing environments

Subscriptions simplify the purchase of software suites across Cisco’s portfolio, and help the customer scale throughout their business as they grow and take advantage of additional capabilities from Cisco

As Cisco continues to add value and features, subscription offers give customers quick, easy access to ongoing innovation

Subscriptions enable customers to accelerate deployment of new capabilities and implementation of new business models by reducing entry costs through the use of OPEX instead of CAPEX

In addition to transactional purchasing, customers can also choose to access the latest DNA innovation across their infrastructure through the Cisco Enterprise Agreement (Cisco EA), which I blogged about last month. Cisco EA is a single, simple agreement that gives customers a flexible, attractive way to consume and deploy Cisco Software. Cisco EA is more than a licensing agreement. It’s our platform for building deep, meaningful customer relationships wherein Cisco continually adds value to what we offer our customers, and is a key part of our strategy to connect more directly to our customers’ business needs.

Welcome to the new era in networking! We look forward to partnering with our customers to make this journey together.

Mark