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At our recent “Vision 2025” session, Cisco experts and partners gathered to share the latest updates on enterprise networking, collaboration, and the transformative role of AI in shaping the future of work. Here’s a look at the highlights and key takeaways from the session.
Reinventing the Network: Performance, Security, and AI
Over the past year, Cisco has refreshed its entire networking portfolio—from wireless access points to routers—building every product with the AI era in mind. The focus? Delivering top-tier performance, advanced security, and seamless integration for modern organizations.
Key Innovations:
- Catalyst 9350X Switches: These new access layer switches offer up to 10-gig multi-gigabit speeds, 48 ports, and 90 watts of PoE power, all powered by the latest Silicon One processors. This architecture allows for offloading security services onto a co-processor, boosting both performance and security without sacrificing CPU cycles.
- AI-Ready Infrastructure: Cisco’s hardware is designed to handle the demands of IoT proliferation, 4K video streaming, and high-density wireless environments. Features like the Trust Anchor Module guarantee hardware and software authenticity, while post-quantum computing resistance is being built into future firmware updates.
- Unified Management: With the latest iOS XE versions, organizations can manage their entire network—wired and wireless—through a unified dashboard, supporting both on-premises and cloud-managed environments. New “Workflows” in the Meraki dashboard now offer low-code automation, allowing IT teams to use drag-and-drop tools to automate tasks like inventory reporting directly through Webex.
As AI workloads grow and collaboration becomes more distributed, organizations can no longer afford networks that simply “connect.” Cisco’s approach shifts the network into an intelligent platform and one that actively supports productivity, security, and resilience instead of reacting after issues occur.
Wi-Fi 7 and Beyond: Simplifying Deployment and Compliance
Cisco’s Wi-Fi 7 access points, such as the 9172 and 9179 models, are engineered for flexibility and global deployment. These devices auto-identify management tools and adjust their radios to comply with local regulatory domains, making it easier than ever to deploy secure, high-performance wireless networks anywhere in the world.
Highlights:
- Omnidirectional and Directional Antennas: The 9172 is ideal for hospitality and localized access, while the 9179 is built for large venues and public spaces, featuring high-gain directional antennas that can be controlled via software.
- Mesh Networking: Industrial wireless updates now allow for ultra-reliable wireless backhaul, forming self-healing mesh networks that ensure uptime even in challenging environments where fiber isn’t feasible.
Collaboration in the AI Era: WebEx, Copilot, and Connected Intelligence
The collaboration segment, led by Cisco’s Brian Gon, explored how AI is revolutionizing meetings, messaging, and customer experience.
AI-Powered Productivity:
- WebEx AI Assistant: Cisco’s answer to Microsoft Copilot, this assistant can generate meeting summaries, action items, translations, and even schedule follow-up meetings—all with a single click. This now includes a mobile AI Notetaker that can even transcribe and summarize in-person meetings that take place away from a conference room.
- Task and Polling Agents: AI agents can automatically create to-do lists, follow-up meetings, and real-time polls, streamlining workflows and boosting engagement.
- AI Receptionist and Contact Center: Intelligent agents handle routine calls, freeing up human staff for more complex interactions and enhancing the customer experience.
Interoperability and Integration:
- Cisco is committed to “playing nice” with other platforms, including deep integration with Microsoft Copilot and Salesforce. Whether you’re running meetings on WebEx, Teams, or Zoom, Cisco’s devices and AI tools are designed to provide a seamless, unified experience.
What stood out during Vision 2025 was how deeply connected Cisco’s networking and collaboration strategies have become. AI isn’t confined to meetings or dashboards, it’s embedded end-to-end. From detecting network anomalies that impact call quality to dynamically optimizing room acoustics in real time, Cisco is treating the network itself as a collaboration participant.
The IT Experience: Smarter Management and Analytics
Managing a modern workplace means having visibility and control over every device and meeting space. Cisco’s Control Hub and Workspace Advisor bring together analytics, optimization, and troubleshooting in one place.
Features:
- Room and Device Optimization: AI-driven insights help IT teams optimize audio, video, and device placement, ensuring every meeting space delivers the best possible experience.
- Workspace Designer: Plan and simulate room setups ahead of time, reducing the need for costly AV consultations and ensuring technology investments deliver maximum value. New Campfire-style room blueprints leverage AI-driven intelligent framing, quad cameras, and eye-level displays to deliver a more natural, face-to-face meeting experience for both in-person and remote participants.
- Sustainability: New power-saving modes and high-efficiency Silicon One chips help organizations reduce their carbon footprint while maintaining peak network performance.
Imagine a hybrid organization where a global team joins a meeting from offices, homes, and mobile devices. WebEx AI summarizes the discussion, flags action items, and schedules follow-ups automatically while the network dynamically prioritizes traffic to maintain call quality. Meanwhile, IT receives proactive alerts before users ever notice an issue.
Looking Ahead: The Roadmap to Connected Intelligence
Cisco’s vision is clear: unify hardware, software, and management platforms to create secure, resilient, and AI-accelerated environments. With ongoing advancements in post-quantum security, device interoperability, and AI-powered collaboration, organizations can confidently future-proof their operations and empower teams to work smarter—wherever they are.
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Watch the full recording of this session on-demand now.
