Go from novice to pro-level prowess with the Cisco Data Center Nexus Dashboard Essentials | DCNDE Learning Path in Cisco U., free through July 8, 2024, during Rev Up to Recert: Nexus Dashboard.

​[[{"value":"

Get started >>

I’ve always been fascinated by data centers. Massive (usually non-descript) buildings, filled with similar-looking server cabinets, humming away as they generate great amounts of noise and heat. In addition to their vast physical appearance, they house untold amounts of data and applications. All of these are connected seamlessly to one another as well as the outside world, creating a link between us and places unknown.

Of course, all this data and scale comes with a challenge. How do you manage the massive amounts of network infrastructure that enable the flow of data—whether it’s to a cabinet, cage, or carrier—within your data center(s)? If you manage Cisco Nexus-based networks, the answer is simple: Nexus Dashboard. However, this leads to a new set of questions, like “How can I learn how to manage Nexus Dashboard?” and “How does the Fabric Controller work on top of Nexus Dashboard?”

We’ve heard questions like these before. That’s why I’m excited to share that we are delivering a special new program that’s sure to please tech learners, Cisco certification holders, and our Data Center community: Rev Up to Recert: Nexus Dashboard.

Now through July 8, 2024, the Cisco Data Center Nexus Dashboard Essentials | DCNDE Learning Path is available in Cisco U. for free. It’s not only an opportunity to learn how to manage your Cisco Nexus Dashboard (and the Fabric Controller application on top of it) for free, but if you’re an active Cisco certification holder, you can also gain some sweet Cisco Continuing Education (CE) Credits to boost your recertification journey—up to 26 CE credits, in fact.

Let’s explore how you can learn to manage your data center fabric like a pro with the Data Center Nexus Dashboard Learning Path. Read on for an overview of the material, how the content is structured, and what you need to know to make the most of Rev Up to Recert: Nexus Dashboard.

I’m skeptical. What’s in the Nexus Dashboard Essentials Learning Path? 

A lot. To be more specific, the Nexus Dashboard Essentials Learning Path contains roughly 42 hours of assessments, lectures, and labs to take you from a Nexus Dashboard novice to pro-level prowess—someone who can not only administer the platform and its applications but also use it to deploy and manage Cisco NX-OS fabrics, from the UI as well as the API (something near and dear to my heart).

While the DCNDE Learning Path won’t provide the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything (with apologies to Douglas Adams),  it will provide a well-rounded experience in running the platform and using it to accomplish an everyday use case, managing NX-OS EVPN-VXLAN fabrics.

OK, but what specifically does it cover? 

The DCNDE Learning Path has three major sections:

Nexus Dashboard Essentials | 13h 20mNexus Dashboard Essentials is a great primer for understanding how the architecture has changed from a services-based Nexus Dashboard platform. The section covers the administration and operation of the underlying Nexus Dashboard platform and includes:
Deployment options and considerations (physical, virtual, cloud)
How to install applications on top of ND (like Nexus Dashboard Data Broker, Nexus Dashboard Orchestrator, or Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller)
User administration and role-based access control, as well as the ability to ensure the overall health (resource and licensing) of the system

Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller Essentials | 13h 25mNexus Dashboard Fabric Controller Essentials takes the same operator and administrator approach (as in the previous section) but applies it specifically to the Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (NDFC) application. You’ll see topics such as:
Licensing
Switch image management
How NDFC generates configuration and compliance using templating
How to manage a network using NDFC’s built-in observability and monitoring toolsIf you’re familiar with Cisco Data Center Network Manager (DCNM, which became NDFC), you will feel comfortable with a lot of this information. You may even feel tempted to skip over some of it. However, you’ll want to pay attention to the differences in the UI and the templating in case this topic comes up in the post-assessment.

Managing LAN Infrastructure with Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller | 15h 10mManaging LAN Infrastructure with Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller takes you from administrator to deployment engineer, walking you through the standard workflows to deploy a fabric within NDFC.  You’ll learn about:

PowerOn Auto Provisioning (POAP)
Device Discovery
How to deploy an EVPN VXLAN fabric
How to perform functions using the REST API within NDFC. This section also discusses the fabric-specific management and monitoring associated with deploying these fabrics so you’ll feel confident that what you deployed works.

I’m interested—what’s the catch? 

No catch. This Learning Path is free through July 8, 2024 (when Rev Up to Recert: Nexus Dashboard ends). If you haven’t participated in Rev Up, simply sign in to Cisco U. with your Cisco account. Then, accept the Continuing Education (CE) agreement, so your CE credits are automatically mapped to your active Cisco certifications. Now, you’re ready to start learning!

Track your progress with pre- and post-skills assessments. Pre-assessments are available for each section to establish a baseline of knowledge. So don’t discount the included questions! These assessments can give you a strong feeling for what the section is about (and what you should look for to pass the post-assessment).

Finally, when you’re satisfied with how much knowledge you’ve taken in, make sure you take the post-assessments for each section. Passing scores achieved for all post-assessments will net you a cool 26 CE credits—almost enough to recertify an Associate-level certification! Visit Cisco Continuing Education to see how many CE credits are required for each Cisco certification. It’s well worth the investment of time, for sure!

Don’t skip lab day, either! This free Learning Path includes access to ND and NDFC labs, so use them to your advantage!

OK, I’m sold, but one more thing; where do I go? 

D’oh! (I’m facepalming right now). To get started, sign in to Cisco U. and access the Cisco Data Center Nexus Dashboard Essentials | DCNDE Learning Path here. You can also swing by the Cisco Learning Network to join the discussion and find additional resources, like the terms and conditions, FAQ, and tips to get more out of your learning. View now

I’ll also be working through the DCNDE Learning Path, providing insights, guidance, and helpful hints, which will be released as videos on our channels. If you missed this Snack Minute episode, you can watch it right here:

With the hustle and bustle of life, it’s easy to understand how people can get stuck or forget to complete things, so I will do what I can to help keep you on track. If you’d like to reach out, need guidance on the Learning Path, or just want some help or inspiration, please leave a comment below. You can also find me on X (formerly Twitter) @qsnyder.

Sign up for Cisco U. | Join the Cisco Learning Network.

Follow Cisco Learning & Certifications

X | Threads | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube

Use #CiscoU and #CiscoCert to join the conversation.

"}]]  Go from novice to pro-level prowess with the Cisco Data Center Nexus Dashboard Essentials | DCNDE Learning Path in Cisco U., free through July 8, 2024, during Rev Up to Recert: Nexus Dashboard.  Read More Cisco Blogs 

As thousands make their way to Las Vegas for Cisco Live 2024, go beyond the love of learning and discover a unified, holistic learning experience in the all-new Up-Skill Hub, where you'll find the Learning & Certifications booth and the DevNet Zone under one roof.

​[[{"value":"

Cisco Live is all about learning, as are Cisco Learning & Certifications and Cisco U. We’re here to provide the opportunities you need to learn everything you can and apply your newfound knowledge as soon as possible in the tech career you want. Cisco Live 2024 promises to enlighten and educate more than ever this year, with enriching opportunities to help you build skills and achieve your future career goals.

June 2–6 in Las Vegas, NV, we’ll be introducing so many new learning opportunities, especially those surrounding AI, Cloud, Security, and of course, Automation—all of which are front runners in the future of your work. (Learn more about these themes and learning sessions in the next Cisco Live blog by Kareem Iskander.)

Read on to find out what’s in store for your next learning and certification journey as well as more nuggets to look forward to in Vegas. We hope to see you there!

Learning & Certifications joins forces with DevNet

Learning & Certifications is joining forces with DevNet at Cisco Live to introduce a new end-to-end experience, the Up-Skill Hub. Here is where innovation, knowledge, and community come together to provide a unified up-skilling journey and ensure you get the most out of your time with us. Within the Up-Skill Hub, you’ll have the chance to engage with Learning & Certifications and visit the DevNet Zone. Then, head into the brand-new Skills Stage and the Cisco U. Theater—all in one spot.

The DevNet Zone will feature how-to sessions, hands-on workshops, a DevNet Sandbox arcade, and the space to share your feedback in real time on Cisco’s products and solutions. Collaborate with technical experts through design thinking exercises and live Q&A.
On the Skills Stage, you’ll see demos with experts leading both sessions, which will cover popular Cisco platforms, including Catalyst Center, Thousand Eyes, Meraki, and IOS XE. From ClickOps to Automation, you’ll step into a guided technical journey that will transform your workflows from command line, GUI, and dashboards into the world of IDE, APIs and automation, helping you optimize and scale your deployments.

Limited seating is available, so register today! 

All roads lead to the Cisco U. Theater

You’ll find the Cisco U. Theater inside the Learning & Certifications space (we also live stream on YouTube). With so many technical themes, you can drop in for impromptu sessions whenever you want—in person or virtually. Check out the Session Catalog to see what’s on the docket for the Cisco U. Theater. You can add these sessions to your schedule, or just stop by when you have a minute, regardless of your registration package.

Join us in the Cisco U. Theater or watch online from anywhere.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel and turn on notifications.

Automating with Continuing Education

Automation is one of our big themes this year, and naturally, the Learning & Certifications team has automated the tedious task of logging Continuing Education (CE) credits, which means less manual data entry, fewer manual submission headaches, and a more seamless learning and recertification experience so you can stay focused on learning.

As you are planning your Cisco Live experience, keep an eye out for sessions that are eligible for Continuing Education (CE) credits. For a breakdown of how many credits you can earn per session, please visit the Cisco Continuing Education Program.

You can also earn CE credits at Cisco Live by completing Capture the Flag missions.

Rev Up to Recert: Nexus Dashboard

Rev Up to Recert gives you free, limited-time access to premium learning content. What’s more, if you are an active Cisco certification holder, you can also earn CE credits! Now through July 8, 2024, you can learn and earn 26 CE credits with free access to the Cisco Data Center Nexus Dashboard Essentials | DCNDE Learning Path in Cisco U.

Need more CE credits to recertify? You can also complete the Understanding Cisco Network Automation Essentials | DEVNAE Learning Path for free.

There’s never been a better time to certify

Learning never stops, especially when you’re part of a growing and changing industry such as ours. We get it, and we’re here to make your certification process as painless as possible.

As Cisco’s only organization to create certifications, Learning & Certifications offers ANSI-certified industry certifications that reflect the skills you need in the industry today and tomorrow. We serve more than 1 million Cisco Learning Network members and just celebrated the 30th Anniversary of our CCIE program in 2023.

Check out these on-site certification opportunities:

Don’t forget to schedule your exam on-site for 50% off. Space is limited, so schedule your exam early.
We will now offer CCST exams at no cost to attendees who schedule and test on-site.
You can also earn CE credits when you register for eligible sessions.
Not attending Cisco Live this year? Up your chances for exam success with Cisco Exam Safeguard! If you don’t succeed at your first exam attempt, retry at no additional cost. For added assurance, you can upgrade to Safeguard Plus to gain access to official Cisco exam review practice tests.

Also within the Learning & Certifications space are demos, the Certification Lounge, and Cisco Modeling Labs (Cisco’s premier platform for network simulation).

Save on Cisco Modeling Labs during Cisco Live!

Save 25% on CML-Personal / -Personal Plus from June 2–6, 2024. (No code required.)

Save more: Get scanned in the Learning & Certifications space to save 50% off. Ask us how.

Get ready for CCNA v1.1 updates

In the ever-changing world of networking and IT infrastructure, it’s critical to stay up to date in the latest technology trends. That’s why the CCNA certification is undergoing some minor (but important) updates. Beginning August 20, 2024, the 200-301 CCNA exam topics will include Generative AI, Cloud Network Management, and Machine Learning. These topics are obviously important, relevant areas for today’s IT professionals (or anyone aspiring to become a networking professional).

Rest assured these are minor updates to the overall exam and account for only 10 percent of the updated questions. So if you’re studying for your CCNA certification exam today, keep going. You have plenty of time to complete the current exam!

Exam topics are available now for download.

Happy Birthday, Cisco U.!

Do you love cupcakes as much as I do? If so, you’ll want to join us during our first Happy Hour on Tuesday at 4 pm in the Learning & Certifications space. We’ll be celebrating one year of Cisco U., our new digital learning experience that continues to offer you personalized recommendations and progress tracking for your learning, with diverse content types to suit your learning style as well as community connections to keep you engaged. Over the past year, Cisco U. has enhanced learner features, enterprise features, and commerce capabilities.

Cisco U. recommends content just for you and your team. You’ll receive:

Support from your peers
Holistic training for Cisco products and beyond
Personalized, self-paced learning
In-depth, multi-vendor training

And we’re not done yet! You can look forward to even more content as we grow. Stay tuned!

Subscriptions to Cisco U. include one year’s access to Cisco in-depth product, solution, and certification training and labs, plus Cisco-adjacent content to support multi-vendor tech stacks.

Learn more about Cisco U. or create a free account.

Stop by the Learning & Certifications space to learn more in person!

A digital experience

Not only are we live, we’re also online. Take a look at the Learning & Certifications Digital Events page, where you’ll find the latest offers and updates from Cisco Live for our entire #CiscoCert Community.

If you can’t make it to Vegas, check out our YouTube live-streaming playlist.

Prep help for Enterprise Network Assurance Specialist exam

Don’t prep alone! Get some help with the new Enterprise Network Assurance (ENNA) specialist certification study program, designed to help you reach your certification goals with confidence. The Network Assurance Prep Program is a free resource for Enterprise Network Assurance exam candidates, jam-packed with expert-led discussions and webinars, step-by-step guidance through the exam material, practice tests, and more. Don’t miss out; sign up today and get exam-ready. Sign up for Network Assurance Prep.

Let’s party!

The CCIE Party happens Tuesday, June 4, 2024, 7pm – 10pm at the Virgin Hotel Sky Bar. Invite only please.
Join us for Happy Hour Tuesday and Wednesday (June 4 & 5), 2:30 to 3:30 in the Learning & Certifications space.

Something for everyone

Just remember, we are dedicated to your learning, whether you own your business, you’re seasoned in your career, you want to build your technical prowess, or you’re just starting out. There’s something for everyone here, and we know you’ll find useful and even inspiring information as you join us on this journey into your work future.

Sign up for Cisco U. | Join the  Cisco Learning Network today for free.

Follow Cisco Learning & Certifications

X | Threads | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube

Use  #CiscoLive, #CiscoU and #CiscoCert to join the conversation.

"}]]  As thousands make their way to Las Vegas for Cisco Live 2024, go beyond the love of learning and discover a unified, holistic learning experience in the all-new Up-Skill Hub, where you'll find the Learning & Certifications booth and the DevNet Zone under one roof.  Read More Cisco Blogs 

OSIM is a great advancement towards a more secure and resilient supply chain ecosystem.

​[[{"value":"

Supply chain security has emerged as a critical concern for businesses in every sector. The importance of standardized, trustworthy, and interoperable information models cannot be overstated. Addressing this need, the OASIS Open Supply Chain Information Modeling (OSIM) Technical Committee (TC) is being formed to enhance supply chain management worldwide. The initial TC members include AT&T, Cisco, Google, Microsoft, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the National Security Agency (NSA), and others listed in the charter.

Mission and Objectives of OSIM TC

The OSIM TC has a multifaceted mission aimed at enhancing the efficiency and security of supply chains through precise and flexible information modeling, as illustrated below:

The OSIM TC is committed to researching existing supply chain activities and sharing findings with its members. The goal is to identify, reference, and, wherever possible, reuse existing work to avoid reinventing the wheel. The OSIM TC will focus on articulating clear value propositions and developing comprehensive use cases for supply chain information modeling, ensuring the relevance of models to real-world applications.

The committee will develop and maintain standards for supply chain information models, covering all aspects of supply chains. These standards are designed to be both relevant and applicable to current and future industry needs. By developing standards that promote conformance and interoperability, OSIM TC aims to create seamless integration across different platforms and industries, enabling a more interconnected and efficient supply chain ecosystem.

A significant part of OSIM TC’s work will involve promoting the widespread adoption of these standards. The goal is to ensure broad application across hardware and software vendors and open-source communities. The OSIM TC will provide ongoing technical expertise and guidance to stakeholders on the application and evolution of these information model standards, ensuring they remain at the cutting edge of technology and industry requirements.

Related Standards and Work

The following table summarizes the adjacent activities to the work of the OSIM TC.

Activity
Description
Comparison and Consideration for OSIM
Asset Administration Shell (AAS)
Supports consistent information sharing across a supply chain. Provides multiple sub-models for information modeling.
Consider using established structures from AAS.
Software Bill of Materials (SBOMs)
A nested inventory, a list of ingredients that make up software components. Provides software supply chain information for review and modeling.
Review for value propositions and use cases.
Common Security Advisory Framework (CSAF)
A standard that provides a structured way to publish and share security advisories and Vulnerability eXploitability Exchange (VEX) information.
May specify the underlying information model and standard, as well as compare it with other models.
OASIS Computing Ecosystem Supply-Chain (CES)
Defines blockchain data schemas, APIs, and smart contracts for supply chains.
Monitor for opportunities in information modeling.
CycloneDX
Specifies serializations for sharing SBOM and VEX information.
Specify and compare its underlying information model with other models.
In-toto
A framework to protect supply chain integrity.
Monitor for opportunities in information modeling.
ISO/IEC/IEEE 12207:2017
Software life cycle processes.
Monitor for opportunities in information modeling.
JSON Abstract Data Modeling (JADN)
Information modeling language that may be used by OSIM.
Information modeling language that may be used by OSIM.
OpenEoX
Standardizes the exchange of EOL and EOS information in the industry.
May specify the underlying information model.
OpenVEX
A lightweight implementation of VEX.
Specify and compare its underlying information model with other models.
ProtoBom
Protobuf representation of SPDX and CycloneDx SBOMs, funded by CISA.
Specify and compare its underlying information model with other models.
Sigstore
Focuses on open source supply chain security.
Monitor for opportunities in information modeling.
SLSA
A set of incrementally adoptable security guidelines aimed at enhancing the security of software supply chains.
Monitor for opportunities in information modeling.
Static Analysis Results Interchange Format (SARIF)
Defines a standard format for static analysis tool outputs.
May specify and compare its underlying information model with others.
Supply Chain Integrity, Transparency and Trust (SCITT)
IETF initiative for supply chain transparency.
Monitor for opportunities in information modeling.
System Package Data Exchange (SPDX)
Implements SBOMs, standardized as ISO/IEC 5962:2021.
Specify and compare its underlying information model with other models.
OASIS Universal Business Language (UBL)
Focuses on traditional supply chain and trade facilitation. It supports the digitization of the commercial and logistical processes for domestic and international supply chains such as procurement, purchasing, transport, logistics, intermodal freight management, and other supply chain management functions.
Investigate and utilize relevant UBL specs or concepts.

I am honored to be the chair of the Common Security Advisory Framework (CSAF) and the founder and co-chair of OpenEoX.  I am looking forward to seeing how the OSIM TC will provide practical advice to help integrate these standards with others into their operations.

Key Deliverables of OSIM TC

The work of OSIM TC is geared towards producing tangible and actionable deliverables, including:

Value Propositions and Use Cases: Used to explain the information models, why they are essential, and how they can be leveraged in different supply chain scenarios.
Supply Chain Information Model Standards: OSIM TC will release one or more comprehensive specifications that detail the information models.
Implementation Guides: OSIM TC will provide guides that offer practical advice to help integrate these standards into their operations.
Open-Source Tools and Repositories: The OSIM TC will create tools, reference implementations, FAQs, and other resources to support the awareness and adoption of the TC’s work products.

OSIM is a great advancement towards a more secure and resilient supply chain ecosystem. This effort underscores the critical role of standardization and demonstrating how cohesive guidelines can significantly enhance the integrity and security of infrastructures globally.

We’d love to hear what you think. Ask a Question, Comment Below, and Stay Connected with Cisco Security on social!

Cisco Security Social Channels

InstagramFacebookTwitterLinkedIn

"}]]  OSIM is a great advancement towards a more secure and resilient supply chain ecosystem.  Read More Cisco Blogs 

Ramping up our presence on Google Cloud Marketplace reflects Cisco’s adaptive approach to market preferences, and the company’s commitment to achieving customer outcomes.

​[[{"value":"

Cisco is expanding its presence on Google Cloud Marketplace! Starting with Cisco Secure Workload and Cisco Multicloud Defense, Cisco is working with Google to grow the number of transactable solutions offered on the marketplace. Stay tuned for more coming in FY25.

Our Senior Vice President and Chief Product Officer for Cisco Security, Raj Chopra, highlights the significance of this expanding collaboration with Google Cloud:

“This will enable our customers and partners to have direct access to Cisco’s platforms for securing cloud-native environments. This will help organizations achieve efficient and effective security outcomes using the best tools available to them.”

Ramping up our presence on Google Cloud Marketplace reflects Cisco’s adaptive approach to market preferences and the company’s commitment to achieving customer outcomes. We expect sales of our cloud-based solutions on the platform to continue to expand in the coming years, generating significant opportunity and cementing Cisco’s status as one of the world’s largest software companies.

“Bringing Cisco to Google Cloud Marketplace will help customers quickly deploy, manage, and grow the security solutions on Google Cloud’s trusted, global infrastructure,” said Dai Vu, Managing Director, Marketplace & ISV GTM Programs at Google Cloud. “Cisco can now securely scale and support customers on their digital transformation journeys.”

The benefits of this expansion extend to our channel partners as well. By making advanced SaaS more readily available on the marketplace, Cisco and Google Cloud partners can tap into existing customer commitment agreements with Google Cloud Marketplace to easily procure Cisco’s industry-leading solutions.

According to our Security Chief Revenue Officer, Emma Carpenter:

“Enabling channel partner participation is a cornerstone of our business.  With this expanded partnership with Google Cloud, we are empowering partners with the tools and opportunities to succeed in an increasingly cloud-first world.”

Looking at the numbers, the growth of cloud marketplaces is truly remarkable. According to Canalys, global sales of third-party vendor software and services through cloud marketplaces are expected to hit US$45 billion by 2025, with close to a third of online marketplace transactions involving channel partners during this time.

As Alastair Edwards, Chief Analyst at Canalys puts it:

“This expansion of Cisco’s market reach supports the evolving trend of customers turning to cloud marketplaces to procure a wide range of software products and solutions, fuelled by the ability to use their committed cloud spend.”

Stay tuned for more updates as Cisco expands its presence on Google Cloud Marketplace, taking another step towards a more efficient and secure digital future for our customers and partners.  Thank you for your continued partnership and support.

Let’s keep innovating and driving success in a cloud-first world! Come see us at the Google Cloud booth (#6257) at Cisco Live! 

Check out Cisco on Google Cloud Marketplace!

We’d love to hear what you think. Ask a Question, Comment Below, and Stay Connected with #CiscoPartners on social!

Cisco Partners Facebook  |  @CiscoPartners X/Twitter  |  Cisco Partners LinkedIn

"}]]  Ramping up our presence on Google Cloud Marketplace reflects Cisco’s adaptive approach to market preferences, and the company’s commitment to achieving customer outcomes.  Read More Cisco Blogs 

Picture a factory floor. The air hangs heavy, thick with the metallic tang of machinery and the oil that keeps it all turning. Every square foot seems to be utilized. Rows of hulking machines dominate the space. Between them are narrow pathways that workers and machines must navigate. These are the conditions for which E80 […]

​[[{"value":"

Picture a factory floor. The air hangs heavy, thick with the metallic tang of machinery and the oil that keeps it all turning. Every square foot seems to be utilized. Rows of hulking machines dominate the space. Between them are narrow pathways that workers and machines must navigate.

These are the conditions for which E80 Group, an Italian multinational, based in Viano, Italy, builds its autonomous and laser guided vehicles (AGVs and LGVs) that can move around a facility, transport materials, and interact with other machines and systems in warehouses, distribution centers, and manufacturing plants. E80 Group has equipped more than 450 integrated factories in various parts of the world installing over 2,800 robotic systems, more than 9,000 AGVs and LGVs, and several high-density automatic warehouses. Every day, E80 solutions handle more than 1 billion€ of products worldwide.

Modern AGVs utilize sophisticated technologies like laser scanners, vision cameras, and LiDAR that allows for dynamic path planning, obstacle detection, and safe operation in complex environments. Modern AGVs are also networked – communicating with other AGVs, robots, and central control systems, which enables better coordination and fleet management. They are a key enabler of smart manufacturing, and a component of Industry 4.0, making possible more automated, data-driven, and optimized manufacturing processes, by delivering the right thing to the right place at the right time.

But extensive connectivity can also increase the threat of cyberattacks. “The increased reliance on technology and connectivity in modern AGVs introduces new cybersecurity challenges that manufacturers and distributors need to address,” says Fabio Oleari, Manager of OT cybersecurity at E80 Group, “In addition to data theft, malware attacks, etc., malicious actors could potentially hack into the AGV’s control system, hijack its movement, or disrupt its operations.”

Bringing together industrial security, mobility, and networking

E80 Group is committed to making their AGVs as secure as possible. For that purpose, they rely on Cisco’s unified industrial security and networking architecture. This architecture embeds security within industrial networking equipment such as Catalyst Industrial Ethernet Switches and Catalyst Industrial Routers, and serves to eliminate point security products, simplify the architecture, and make deployments easier to scale.

“At E80 Group we use Catalyst IE3400 Rugged Series switches with expansion modules in our AGVs to connect the PLC, sensors, and other equipment in the vehicle,” said Oleari, “The IE3400 switches host Cisco Cyber Vision sensors that provide us with visibility into all connected equipment and the network traffic.” This depth of visibility lets E80 Group detect any unauthorized equipment or any unusual traffic that might indicate presence of a threat.

“We use ISE [Cisco Identity Services Engine] to authenticate connected equipment, Cyber Vision to logically group equipment on each AGV, and ISE to set segmentation policies.  Segmenting the network restricts traffic in and out of the AGV and helps prevent malware or any malicious activity from entering or propagating within the system,” remarked Oleari. Thanks to Cisco’s converged OT cybersecurity and networking architecture, E80 Group can accomplish all this without deploying additional equipment.

The diagram below shows the simple three step process that allows E80 Group to secure their AGVs. Device and traffic details gathered by Cyber Vision sensors are sent to Cyber Vision Center for visualization and formulating segmentation policies that are defined in Cisco ISE, which communicates these policies to the Catalyst IE3400 for enforcement.

Making it easy to automate, deploy, and monitor

E80 Group delivers hundreds of AGVs to a customer. Configuring and monitoring switches and Cyber Vision on these many vehicles manually is not only time consuming but can also lead to inaccuracies. To automate such tasks and reduce time to deploy, E80 Group teamed up with Italtel, a system integrator and Cisco Gold Partner. Founded in 1921 and headquartered in Milan, Italy, Italtel has a storied past and has long been a pioneer in telecommunications, software defined networking, 5G, and industrial IoT, with specialization in areas of smart manufacturing and OT cybersecurity.

“We designed a system for E80 Group that allows them to provision and configure Catalyst IE3400 switches and Cyber Vision in hundreds of AGVs at their customer locations”, said Simone Ogadri, Cyber Security Engineering Manager at Italtel. This system allows E80 Group to provide managed services to ensure security of their AGVs deployed in customer sites.

“We used the APIs available in Catalyst IE3400’s IOS XE operating system, Cyber Vision, and ISE to build this dashboard,” explained Ogadri, “By using open-source tools for IT automation such as Ansible, we are able to provision switches, configure Cyber Vision, and update software automatically.”

Using these tools, E80 Group can remotely activate their AGVs at customer sites. “Once provisioned, we use Cyber Vision and ISE to group connected assets in each AGV, create segmentation policies, and instruct the Catalyst IE3400 to enforce these policies, with point-and-click simplicity”, explained Oleari. Using Cyber Vision, they can now continuously monitor each AGV.

The diagram below shows connected components and associated traffic within an AGV as visualized in Cyber Vision.

Driving smart manufacturing

As the momentum towards the evolution to Industry 4.0 accelerates, analyst data shows a steady growth in adoption of AGVs, AMRs, mobile handheld tooling, etc. Left unaddressed, the resulting increase in the threat surface can have several negative consequences that could impact productivity, lead to financial losses, and even threaten worker safety. By taking proactive measures to secure mobile devices, organizations can mitigate these risks and ensure safe, efficient, and reliable operations.

With comprehensive security built into the networking equipment, Cisco makes it easy for machine builders to connect, protect, and deploy their industrial solutions, and offer managed services to their customers.

Learn more about Cisco Industrial Threat Defense, our manufacturing solutions, or schedule a free, no obligation, consultation with one of our industrial experts.

"}]]  Picture a factory floor. The air hangs heavy, thick with the metallic tang of machinery and the oil that keeps it all turning. Every square foot seems to be utilized. Rows of hulking machines dominate the space. Between them are narrow pathways that workers and machines must navigate. These are the conditions for which E80  Read More Cisco Blogs 

See how Cisco Spaces lets your existing network infrastructure become a sensor that allows you to extract network data to make your buildings smarter.

​[[{"value":"

Check out the new Cisco Spaces Developer Center. With Cisco Spaces your existing network infrastructure becomes a sensor that allows you to extract network data to make your buildings smarter.

Cisco Spaces Firehose API

Designed for the cloud-first era, the Firehose API offers a low-latency, high-volume streaming channel that consolidates multiple event types from Catalyst, Meraki, Webex, and third-party IoT sources. This powerful API seamlessly streams data to partner and customer applications. The processed information can be visualized, published, and graphed to align with your specific business requirements, providing valuable insights and enabling data-driven decision-making.

Cisco Spaces SDK

The Spaces SDK is a versatile tool that empowers you to integrate network data into your mobile application, enabling a streamlined and secure onboarding process. With this SDK, app developers can configure iOS and Android devices with a Wi-Fi profile of their choice. Moreover, enterprises can leverage this capability to engage with app users contextually and seamlessly integrate data with their CRM and loyalty systems, enhancing the overall user experience and facilitating data-driven business operations.

You can also find information about Webhooks and REST APIs for location data and Cisco Spaces code samples published on Cisco Code Exchange.

Related resources

Cisco Spaces community
Cisco Spaces Resource Center
Cisco Spaces Developer Center

"}]]  See how Cisco Spaces lets your existing network infrastructure become a sensor that allows you to extract network data to make your buildings smarter.  Read More Cisco Blogs 

Cisco's Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual (formerly FTDv) now integrates with Azure Virtual WAN to effortlessly insert next-generation virtual firewalls into the Azure vWAN hub. Version 7.4.1 simplifies how customers secure their enterprise network as they expand their cloud footprint to Microsoft Azure.Azure Virtual WAN.

​[[{"value":"

Enterprise networks have become more complex as the number of branches, data centers, and cloud deployments have increased. The complex spiderweb of connectivity makes it challenging to comprehensively secure all the applications and workloads without needing to deploy firewalls everywhere. To help customers manage complex connectivity, Microsoft Azure launched the Virtual WAN (vWAN) networking service, bringing together networking, security, and routing functionalities into a single operational interface.

Today, with the release of version 7.4.1 – Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual (formerly FTDv) now integrates with Azure Virtual WAN to effortlessly insert next-generation virtual firewalls into the Azure vWAN hub. This integration simplifies how customers secure their enterprise network as they expand their cloud footprint to Microsoft Azure.

With Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual, customers receive comprehensive protection against known and unknown threats that target their networks and applications. Delivered in a virtualized form factor, it contains Snort 3 IPS, malware defense, URL filtering, sandboxing, and leverages threat intelligence from Cisco Talos — which sees and analyzes over 550 billion security events per day to better protect customer environments from sophisticated cyber threats and zero-day attacks.

Figure 1: Azure Virtual WAN hub – High-level overview

With this integration – customers can seamlessly extend Cisco’s advanced firewalling capabilities to the cloud, providing consistent policy enforcement and greater control over the attack surface across their hybrid environment.

Integrating Secure Firewall with Azure Virtual WAN offers additional benefits including:

Built-in availability and resiliency: Virtual WAN Network Virtual Appliance (NVA) deployments are Availability Zone (AZ) aware and are automatically configured to be highly available.
Quick and easy provisioning: A managed application is prequalified for provisioning and boot-strapping for the Virtual WAN platform.
Simplified routing: Leverage Virtual WAN’s intelligent routing systems. NVA solutions peer with the Virtual WAN hub router and participate in the Virtual WAN routing decision process like Microsoft Gateways.
Integrated support: Partners have a special support agreement with Microsoft Azure Virtual WAN to quickly diagnose and resolve any customer problems.

With cloud environments growing more complex, it is critical to simplify security insertion to better protect cloud workloads and infrastructure. By integrating Secure Firewall with Azure Virtual WAN, we are able to bring together networking, advanced network security, and routing functionalities into a single operational interface—elevating Azure customer’s cloud security posture to reduce risk and safeguard critical assets and data from the ever-evolving cyber threats of the cloud era.

Want to learn more about this integration? See additional details in the Getting Started Guide.

Learn more about the Azure Virtual WAN offer: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-wan/virtual-wan-about

Additional Resources

Website: Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual

Azure Marketplace: Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual for Azure WAN

Data sheet: Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual

We’d love to hear what you think. Ask a Question, Comment Below, and Stay Connected with Cisco Security on social!

Cisco Security Social Channels

InstagramFacebookTwitterLinkedIn

"}]]  Cisco's Secure Firewall Threat Defense Virtual (formerly FTDv) now integrates with Azure Virtual WAN to effortlessly insert next-generation virtual firewalls into the Azure vWAN hub. Version 7.4.1 simplifies how customers secure their enterprise network as they expand their cloud footprint to Microsoft Azure.Azure Virtual WAN.  Read More Cisco Blogs 

Cisco Networking Academy marks a decade of empowering women in tech through its Women Rock-IT initiative, with a 35% global cumulative increase in female student participation over ten years.

​[[{"value":"

Ten years ago, Cisco Networking Academy launched the Women Rock-IT initiative in the APJC region to help address the gender imbalance in the tech industry.

The program was designed to show young women that there is a future for them in tech, with activities including Learn-A-Thons, volunteer events, and live virtual broadcasts featuring prominent women in IT who could serve as inspiring role-models for Women Rock-IT participants. During this time, Women Rock-IT has hosted 82 broadcast events with 141 speakers, seen by over 2 million viewers, resulting in 868,481 course registrations.

Current LinkedIn data suggests women compromise just 29.2% of all Science Technology Engineering Math (STEM) workers. Because this underrepresentation of women in the STEM workforce today reinforces an underrepresentation in the future, it is vital we address this issue.

At Cisco our corporate purpose is to power an inclusive future for all, and addressing a gender imbalance in STEM is an integral part of that.

Attracting women to tech

I’m thrilled to report that efforts like Women Rock-IT are paying off. Over the past ten years, we’ve increased the presence of women and girls in Cisco Networking Academy courses from 20 percent to 27 percent, globally. Clearly, we have further to go, but a 35 percent increase in participation of women in the program is a significant achievement that speaks volumes about our collective dedication.

Big issues

Every year since the inception of Women Rock-IT in 2013, women at the cutting edge of technological innovation speak about their experience in the field. Participants gain valuable insights about how women can thrive in what is still too frequently seen as a male domain.

From its first regional APJC speaker Monica Morrow who, at the time, was the region’s Chief Technical Officer and spoke about having a seat at the table, to last year’s inspiring global panel broadcasting on successfully applying technology to climate tech challenges, Women Rock-IT participants get to hear from those who have forged meaningful careers in tech, addressing pressing issues of the day.

Girls in ICT Day: a marquee Women Rock-IT event

The annual marquee event of Women Rock-IT aligns with International Girls in ICT Day. This year, the Women Rock-IT program addressed Artificial Intelligence (AI), which has the potential to change everything, along with its inherent ethical challenges.

Cisco Mexico organized a local event on Girls in ICT Day

AI is set to change the world, and tomorrow’s IT workforce needs to be AI-literate. In our Q2 FY24 Cisco Networking Academy Student Outcome Survey of 1,400 students, 63 percent of Cisco Networking Academy students tell us they are using AI today and 17 percent already have advanced skills in this area.

We are proud our students are at the leading edge of technology learning. In fact, 88 percent of our students believe Cisco Networking Academy is at the forefront of this rapidly evolving tech world.

Our recent Cisco Networking Academy student survey reveals that 53 percent of males are already harnessing AI at work, compared to just 44 percent of females, but that more women than men are eager for AI education.

Girls in ICT Activities

This year’s Girls in ICT Day on April 25 impacted 36,025 students reached via the live broadcast, Global Learn-A-Thon, and Cisco employee volunteer events, with 1.23 million reach on social media channels.

Congratulations to the Women Rock-IT team and Cisco volunteers for orchestrating a truly impactful Girls in ICT Day event. It was an inspiring showcase that highlighted our commitment to fostering diversity in the tech industry.

Inspiring speakers

For our live broadcast, leading women in AI shared their experience in the field.

Dr. Tanya Berger-Wolf discussed her work as a computational ecologist working at the unique intersection of computer science, wildlife biology, and social sciences. Tanya is Director of the Translational Data Analytics Institute and Professor of Computer Science Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, as well as Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology at the Ohio State University.

Dr. Elizabeth Bondi-Kelly, Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan explored the impact of AI on society. She discussed ethical considerations of AI and advocates for responsible AI development to mitigate risks and ensure beneficial outcomes for all.

Global Learn-A-Thon

This year, the Global Learn-A-Thon saw students team-up to take introductory courses in Data Science or Cybersecurity, with a digital badge awarded to those achieving 70 percent or more on their exam and a Cisco Learn-A-Thon experience digital badge.

“I am really inspired by Women Rock-IT,” says attendee Thendeka Zesuliwe Zikode from rural Bergville, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. “My wish is to study more and get full support in technology and AI, so that I can help other girls around my ’hood.”

Cisco Bangalore Girls in ICT Day employee volunteer team

Cisco events

Over 230 Cisco volunteers organized events in Cisco offices and schools worldwide this year. Attendees were able to meet women working for Cisco and talk to them about their experience in tech.

Cisco Brussels team on Girls in ICT Day

Get involved

Finally, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all the Cisco employees, Academy partners and instructors, and our speakers for getting behind Girls in ICT. The impact this makes wouldn’t be possible without you. 

Learn how you can get involved in 2025

Women Rock-IT

"}]]  Cisco Networking Academy marks a decade of empowering women in tech through its Women Rock-IT initiative, with a 35% global cumulative increase in female student participation over ten years.  Read More Cisco Blogs 

Even with his glass “overflowing,” Cisco Insider Rob Taylor finds time to embrace new experiences and opportunities for learning, so he can serve his customers more effectively.

​[[{"value":"

Cisco’s advocacy community, Cisco Insider Advocates, brings our customers together and provides a way for them to make powerful connections, expand their professional and personal networks, and learn from top experts in their field. One of our goals with our advocacy community is to deepen relationships with our customers. Our Q&A series allows us to shine a spotlight on some of our most passionate advocates as we learn more about their stories and backgrounds.

Today, we have one of the friendliest faces in the community joining us for a chat. I’m excited to welcome Rob Taylor from Prosperity 24/7.

Welcome, Rob! It’s so great to talk with you today. Let’s kick things off by learning a little bit about who you are.

I live in the beautiful island of Jersey, Channel Islands. It’s the southernmost gem in the English Channel’s crown, nestled just 19 km west of the Cotentin peninsula of France.

I’m married with two grown children, and my family is everything to me. We’re all about those family holidays and spontaneous adventures—the more active, the better!

I’m not a pro, but you’ll often catch me on the padel tennis court or trying my luck at badminton. Let’s just say my skills are a work in progress, but it’s all about the fun, right?

One thing you can count on with me is my glass is forever half full. I believe in making the most out of every moment. So, here’s to embracing life’s twists and turns with a grin and brightening each day with a smile!

Where did you start your career in IT? And, what professional decision or opportunity helped lead you to your current role?

I was introduced to IT in 2001, when traditional business telephone systems (PABXs) began transitioning toward IP telephony. I was a fish out of the water; just four years prior, I was a budding electrician, moving from apprentice to electrician, at an offshoot of Jersey Electricity Company (JEC).

Then, JEC created a small splinter company named Jersey Electricity Telecommunications; I was selected to retrain as a telephone systems engineer. During my time at JET, I took on many responsibilities, gaining experience across sales, procurement, accounting, and eventually, management. It was the most challenging and fun time of my career at that point.

Five years later, I was offered a senior engineering position with Jersey Telecom. Within the year, I was appointed as senior account manager for corporate businesses. Unfortunately, after four years, I realized I was losing my strengths as an engineer, and especially in staying current on technology and tools, which was my passion.

Fate stepped in, and I was introduced to the world of Cisco by a couple legendary consultants. These consultants became great friends, and I have the pleasure of working in partnership with one of them to this day. Some of you may have heard of him, CIA Rockstar Legend Simon Watkins. (Read more about Simon in this Cisco Insider Advocates Q&A!)

Rob Taylor (center) with his fellow Cisco Insider Advocates at Cisco Live Amsterdam 2024.

How has partnering with Cisco helped you in your role?

Partnering with Cisco has become the greatest game changer in my career to date, enabling me to upskill and, even better, to leverage experiences in engineering, sales, marketing, and procurement to become one of just a few experts within the Channel Islands to deliver a compelling value to service providers and digital integrators alike. By dedicating hours of studying and self-development, I was able to begin deploying and designing robust network solutions for businesses throughout the Channel Islands. All credit to Cisco and their pre-sales and technical specialists who I have worked with on the more advanced solutions, just one of the many “olive branches” Cisco offers to support its partners.

Fast forward a decade, and I’m now jointly heading up the network solutions team within an amazing digital integrations business, Prosperity 24/7, a Premier Integrator for Cisco. We now hold two Cisco specialisations: the Networking Specialisation and the Environmental Sustainability Specialisation. We are especially proud of the latter since sustainability plays a very important role within our business.

Prosperity 24/7 have a dedicated Environment & Sustainability focus team that works toward reducing the impact businesses have on the environment. We partner with local businesses that are aligned and dedicated to reducing unnecessary waste and preserving our planet’s resources to achieve this goal. It is fair to say that nearly all reputable businesses prefer to partner with organizations working toward a zero emissions baseline and as such, new opportunities and lines of revenue have opened. An example is when a business relocates to new premises; Prosperity 23/7 takes care of their old premises by managing the recycling and repurposing of their old network infrastructure, from the racks through to the users desks, computers, and monitors.

Let’s move on to our customer advocacy community. It looks like you recently joined the program and are already climbing up in the ranks as an Advocate Rising Star. How would you describe Cisco Insider Advocates to those who aren’t familiar with it?

I joined Cisco Insider Advocates in 2023. I immediately saw the value in this community and how, through gamification, I could enjoy learning about new products and services that provoke constructive conversations with clients, while building points to redeem on future purchases through the Cisco Store. Joining and playing an active role within CIA really is a win-win situation, and I genuinely recommend everyone join.

What made you want to join, and how has being a part of Cisco Insider Advocates impacted you both professionally and personally?

Over the past couple of years, a few colleagues and friends joined the community and were clearly enjoying the experience and the plentiful challenges they participated in. Not least, they enjoyed the challenge of rising through the ranks together.

After I joined the community, I too began taking part in the challenges and found many of them to be both inspiring and insightful. Meeting a few of the CIA members at Cisco Live brought an immediate connection with them, especially when we were discussing our shared approaches to technology and developing business. I formed new and valued friendships, and I’m looking forward to the next time we meet, whether that’s at another Cisco Live or when we visit each other’s country.

On a professional level, Cisco Insider Advocates is proving to be the perfect destination for self-development and encouragement to step outside of your comfort zone. An amazing team supports Cisco Insider Advocates, and they’re excited to assist and encourage advocates to develop themselves and in turn, their careers. To reach the higher ranks, advocates can complete challenges that can involve writing online reviews, speaking at a Cisco event, etc. These may be out of the ordinary for many engineers and consultants; however, with Cisco Insider, you’re given the opportunity to excel and grow your value at your own pace. Many organizations see these newfound skills as positive attributes and justification for a potential salary boost, or the reason to choose one candidate over another.

Let’s move on to Cisco Live 2024 Amsterdam held this past February. You met some of your peers from the community and members of Cisco’s Customer Marketing team for the first time! What did you enjoy most about meeting everyone at Cisco Live this year?  

Cisco Live 2024 in Amsterdam was nothing short of amazing. Meeting peers from within the community felt like I was seeing old friends that I hadn’t yet met in person. What a great bunch they were!

Even though we’re new friends, living in disparate jurisdictions, we could collaborate and share ideas and experiences with each other. It’s safe to say that the Insider community has enabled like-minded experts, ordinary guys who share a thirst for life, to connect and make a positive difference.

I will be staying in touch, and we’re looking forward to the next time we reconnect in person. Cisco Live 2025, here we come!

During the conference, we offered a lot of fun activities at the Cisco Insider booth. Among them, which was your favorite and why?

There was a plethora of fun activities available during Cisco Live 2024, all of which were truly great! What stands out for me most was the panel session (and wine tasting!) held in the booth. The event featured one of the world’s Masters of Wine, of which there are less than 500 in total. We all learned a great deal and enjoyed the newfound taste explosions during the wine sampling (the best bit).

My thanks to all the team for their work and effort in making the whole experience memorable.

Before I let you go, I’ve saved the best questions for last! Do you have any advice for anyone attending Cisco Live for the first time? What are your best tips to them to help them prepare, both before and during the conference? 

Make sure to join the Cisco Insider Advocacy community and climb those ranks.
Be sure to book Cisco Live early and begin scheduling your events before they fill up.
Make sure to give yourself time in between sessions to recoup—they’re going to be long days!
Take advantage of the free Cisco exam and begin preparing as early as you can.
Take the time to socialise with like-minded friends that you simply haven’t met yet.
Choose your hotel and location wisely.

       …and we’d love to finish with three things you can’t live without?

That’s easy (but it’s going to sound very boring!)

No.1 My family & friends (cheating here)

No.2 My health

No.3 My zest for life—adventures, fun, moral compass, and spontaneity

It’s been a pleasure to chat with you, Rob! Thank you for being a valued Cisco Insider and for joining us!

Read more advocate interviews.

You might enjoy this interview with Wouter Hindriks.

Join us!

For our customers who have already joined our Cisco Insider Advocates community, say hello to Rob if you haven’t met yet. And if you’re a Cisco customer but aren’t a community member, consider joining. You’ll be able to:

Connect with peers in a gamified, online community
Have an opportunity to meet with Cisco’s executives
Share your feedback, questions, and best practices
Get access to ‘insider’ content and resources
Grow your professional and personal brand
Amplify your company’s success story with Cisco technology

Ready to get started?

Head over to the Cisco Insider Advocates community and say hello!

(Requires registration / login)

"}]]  Even with his glass “overflowing,” Cisco Insider Rob Taylor finds time to embrace new experiences and opportunities for learning, so he can serve his customers more effectively.  Read More Cisco Blogs