CISCO LIVE—On February 11, 2025, Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) made waves in the technology sector with the announcement of a groundbreaking family of data center Smart Switches. This innovative product line aims to redefine traditional data center network designs by integrating networking and security services into a single, compact solution.

1. Revolutionizing Data Center Design

As artificial intelligence (AI) applications proliferate, the complexity of building and managing data centers has escalated. According to Cisco, data center operators now require streamlined infrastructure that can accommodate both centralized and edge-based AI workloads. The new Smart Switches leverage programmable AMD Pensando™ data processing units (DPUs), enabling a multifunctional service-hosting device that promises to simplify data center architecture and improve operational efficiency.

"Data center infrastructure needs to be reimagined for both AI training and inferencing workloads that dwarf even the largest enterprise jobs of the past," stated Jeetu Patel, Executive Vice President and Chief Product Officer at Cisco. He emphasized that merely upgrading existing infrastructure with faster switches was insufficient to meet the modern demands of data centers.

2. Key Features of Cisco Smart Switches

The newly unveiled Smart Switches are designed to tackle the growing power, compute, and networking demands that accompany the rapid adoption of AI technologies. Traditional architectures often lead to increased complexity due to the necessity of adding new devices for each service. Cisco's Smart Switches aim to mitigate this by integrating services directly within the data center fabric, thus enhancing efficiency and scalability.

Dual Processing Engines

The Smart Switches come equipped with two processing engines: a high-performance network processor for stable data transfer and a network services sidecar for agile security processing. This dual-engine architecture allows for intelligent traffic steering, optimizing performance while driving cost savings through hardware consolidation and reduced power consumption.

Customers will benefit from a range of capabilities, including stateful segmentation, IPSec encryption, enhanced telemetry, and DDoS protection, all while maintaining management through the Nexus Dashboard.

3. Enhanced Data Center Security with Hypershield

One of the standout features of the Cisco Smart Switches is their integration with Cisco Hypershield, which offers a new approach to data center security. This innovative service combines an AI-native, hardware-accelerated security architecture directly within the data center fabric. Key benefits include:

Embedded Security: Hypershield reduces the need for separate security appliances and allows for the creation of a 'micro perimeter' around services.

Autonomous Policy Management: The system updates security policies automatically, ensuring consistent enforcement with minimal manual intervention.

Real-time Risk Management: Organizations can maintain an up-to-date security posture by utilizing self-qualifying policy updates before deployment.

Unified Policy Enforcement: Customers can manage security policies consistently across multiple environments, including cloud, on-premises, and traditional firewalls.

4. General Availability and Future Outlook

The first Cisco N9300 Smart Switch, featuring 24 100G ports, is slated for shipment in spring 2025, while a top-of-rack model—boasting 48 25G ports, two 100G ports, and six 400G ports—is projected for release in summer 2025.

"As AI drives rapid growth, organizations must manage significantly increased power, compute, and networking demands," noted Soni Jiandani, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Networking Technology and Solutions at AMD. "Our collaboration with Cisco enables enterprises to achieve high-capacity throughput and impressive network security without compromising on workload performance."

5. Conclusion

Cisco’s latest innovations in data center architecture reflect a nuanced understanding of the evolving landscape shaped by artificial intelligence. The company's Smart Switches, combined with the Hypershield security framework, promise to simplify and secure data center operations, enabling organizations to adapt to the growing demands of AI while enhancing their operational resilience.

With its commitment to technological advancement and security, Cisco is well-positioned to lead the charge in transforming enterprise infrastructure for the AI era. For more updates and insights, interested parties can follow Cisco on X at @Cisco or visit The Newsroom for additional resources.

Original press release