This year’s APJC leg of Cisco Live drew an eager crowd of thousands to Melbourne to hear about Cisco’s latest innovations. As always, there was an incredible buzz in the expo hall and the 4-day agenda was packed with announcements, leaving no doubt about the AI-powered direction the industry is heading.
Here are the standout announcements that captured my attention:
First up, and deservedly so, is HyperFabric – a prime example of Cisco using a single solution to address two major data centre challenges – cabling complexity and the configuration of advanced network architectures.
I recently had the opportunity to meet with Cisco’s product lead and experience the end-to-end process of designing and deploying switches with HyperFabric. I can confidently say this platform would have saved me countless weeks – if not months – of stress back in my engineering days!
Cabling is a common pain point in data centres, and I didn’t expect Cisco to tackle it, but they have. With an easy click-and-drag interface to design your data centre switch fabric, HyperFabric generates the necessary cabling plan and highlights any errors as you connect the switches. Even junior engineers will be able to instantly identify and fix misconnected cables.
Once everything is correctly connected, switches are automatically configured into stacks, and connectivity is optimised. Cable diagrams are auto-generated, making patching straightforward for anyone, and eliminating many hours of troubleshooting.
Even better, Cisco has embedded much of the value of its Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) software fabric into an AI-driven workflow. While engineers still assign traditional VLANs through an intuitive graphical interface, HyperFabric works behind the scenes to construct a robust fabric switching architecture.
This architecture sets the stage for upcoming enhancements such as micro-segmentation and identity-based access. While customers appreciated the promise of Cisco ACI, many customers found its complexity daunting due to the skills and resources required. HyperFabric simplifies this entirely, creating a foundation for data centre networks that are more secure, higher performing, and far easier to manage.
Innovative solutions can redefine the game, and the newly launched HyperShield is no exception. With organisations navigating emerging vulnerabilities, tighter patch windows, and complex change management, it’s no surprise that Cisco’s HyperShield has quickly gained the attention of leading players in finance, retail, and government sectors.
HyperShield’s standout feature is its ability to embed traffic filtering directly into the network fabric, potentially reducing or eliminating the reliance on standalone firewalls. For example, in a scenario where a critical vulnerability emerges, HyperShield allows organisations to mitigate threats by leveraging server firmware and enhanced switch capabilities, even before a patch can be deployed.
For those wary of network updates, HyperShield’s dual data plane provides peace of mind. It enables automated testing and seamless upgrades while ensuring any unforeseen issues can be rolled back without disruption. By simplifying these traditionally risky processes, HyperShield helps organisations maintain uptime while staying secure.
In essence, HyperShield will give your organisation more proactive threat mitigation, streamline updates, and provide a network architecture designed to adapt to modern security challenges.
This was an update many have been waiting for – how Cisco will be integrating Splunk into its portfolio. This integration combines Splunk’s powerful data analytics and security tools with Cisco’s networking and telemetry expertise, giving customers a unified view of their networks, applications, and security systems.
With Splunk’s analytics combined with Cisco’s data and telemetry, organisations can detect and resolve issues significantly faster – sometimes in minutes rather than hours or days. Machine learning further enhances this by predicting potential problems before they occur, reducing downtime and improving the overall user experience.
Cisco has further enhanced its security offerings by integrating Splunk with its Extended Detection and Response (XDR) platform. In this case, it delivers advanced threat detection and faster response times, bolstering overall security. Additionally, the integration of Splunk with Cisco ThousandEyes enhances observability across networks and applications, providing organisations with comprehensive insights into network performance and user experience. In short, customers will experience faster and more effective issue resolution, even in complex environments.
Cisco and Splunk have clearly shown the power of a strong strategic partnership, combining technologies to deliver a more robust data platform that converts raw information into practical, data-driven insights.
As people return to offices, the need to seamlessly merge the digital and physical worlds has become increasingly relevant. Cisco Spaces isn’t new, but with Jeetu Patel now driving Cisco’s product strategy, integrations seem to be happening at an impressive pace.
Given Cisco’s huge range of video devices, handsets, wireless access points, and environmental monitors, they’re effectively one of the biggest sensor companies on the planet. Cisco Spaces has taken this to the next level by adding digital intelligence to physical workplaces.
From what I’ve seen, facility managers can really leverage this data to fine-tune office layouts, keep an eye on occupancy levels, and even save on energy costs by tweaking lighting and temperature based on actual usage. Employees and visitors get perks like indoor navigation, alerts when a workspace frees up, and friction-free setups for meetings and collaborations.
Safety and well-being are also front and centre. Cisco Spaces monitors factors such as air quality and noise levels, which goes a long way toward making the office a more pleasant place to be. This focus on blending operational efficiency with user comfort is perhaps what truly differentiates Cisco Spaces from other platforms.
By bridging the gap between physical spaces and digital insights, Cisco Spaces is again transforming workplaces into environments that boost productivity, collaboration, and employee comfort.
What struck me most at Cisco Live this year wasn’t just the technology itself— although it was, at times, quite impressive. Rather, it was the way Cisco is tackling real-life problems with simplicity and pragmatism. Whether it’s making data centres less painful to manage, securing networks without adding complexity, or turning office buildings into intelligent, responsive environments, the focus was squarely on technology that fits into how people and businesses actually operate. It’s an exciting time to be part of this industry!
If you want to know more about Cisco’s AI advancements, check out our Security Minutes videos with Cisco – AI Edition. Richard Dornhart, Data#3’s Security Practice Manager, sits down with Carl Solder, Cisco’s Chief Technology Officer ANZ, to discuss the role of AI in cyber security – from Cisco’s latest AI-powered solutions to the challenges of adversarial AI.
