Network Modernization: An Essential Part of AI Adoption

The compute demands of AI are well understood. Organizations know they need advanced servers with powerful GPUs to run AI workloads. They also know they need high-performance storage with the scalability to handle growing volumes of data.
The network demands of AI are often overlooked. AI needs a high-speed, high-bandwidth network to transfer large datasets with minimal latency. In addition, AI applications often involve multiple data centers, cloud platforms, edge facilities and clients, and need an interoperable network with seamless Internet access for reliable, lossless connectivity.
AI workloads are pushing many existing networks to the limits. These networks were not designed for the data-intensive nature of AI with its large volume of traffic and demand for high levels of availability and resilience. Not surprisingly, 97 percent of respondents to a recent Cisco survey said a network upgrade was critical to the success of their AI initiatives.
Cisco has introduced a new network architecture to meet the demands of AI and help organizations prepare for the future. The Cisco Secure Network Architecture offers significant performance increases and embeds advanced security into the network. It also simplifies network operations with unified management and an AI-driven approach.
Performance, Agility, Resilience
According to the Cisco IT Networking Leader Survey conducted in December 2024, organizations now view network modernization as a strategic priority. A dynamic and responsive network plays a key role in the implementation of AI, IoT and cloud technologies, and 91 percent of IT leaders plan to allocate more of their IT budgets to networking.
Resilience is an essential feature of the modern network. According to data from Statista, just one major outage per organization per year adds up to $160 billion in costs globally. In the Cisco survey, 77 percent of respondents said they faced major outages due to congestion, cyberattacks and misconfigurations, and 95 percent say network resilience is critical.
The Cisco Secure Network Architecture addresses these challenges with a portfolio of purpose-built hardware. New Cisco Smart Switches power the campus network with up to 51.2Tbps of throughput and less than 5 microseconds of latency. Cisco has also expanded its portfolio of ruggedized switches for industrial AI use cases.
The Need for Built-In Security
Robust security is also critical for AI workloads. AI models must access large volumes of data for training and inference, and adversarial attacks can expose sensitive data. Although AI security requires a multipronged approach, building security controls into the network can thwart many attacks. In the Cisco survey, 94 percent of respondents said that an improved network would enhance their overall cybersecurity posture.
The Cisco Secure Network Architecture starts by securing the network infrastructure at the hardware level. Multiple types of encryption protect data in transit, while enhanced network segmentation contains threats at machine speed. The technology even defends against “harvest now, decrypt later” attacks, in which malicious actors collect encrypted data with the intent of decrypting it once quantum computers become available.
Cisco extends these protections to every endpoint and application connected to the network. Advanced access controls, microsegmentation, AI-powered device classification and threat intelligence combine to enforce security at every point.
Streamlined Management and Agentic AI
The Cisco Secure Network Architecture reduces operational complexity with a unified management platform and integrated visibility from Cisco ThousandEyes. Administrators can monitor the network from end to end, including mobile and industrial IoT endpoints, and gain the context needed to pinpoint the source of problems.
AgenticOps enables end-to-end automation using real-time telemetry and AI-powered intelligence. It leverages Cisco’s Deep Network Model, a domain-specific LLM trained on the same Cisco courseware that human administrators learn to obtain and maintain their certifications.
If your network lacks the performance, security and resilience to meet the demand of AI, Cerium is here to help. Our Cisco-certified engineers have the training and experience to help you take advantage of the Cisco Secure Network Architecture to modernize your network and streamline your operations. Let’s set a time to discuss your specific needs and develop a strategic vision and modernization plan.