The industrial landscape is transforming dramatically. AI-driven vision systems drive production improvements, autonomous vehicles transport materials across facilities, and thousands of sensors generate massive amounts of operational data. This transformation demands more than incremental networking improvements-it requires fundamental innovation in how we connect and secure industrial operations.
Cisco Industrial Networking's recent dual IoT Breakthrough Awards-for Cisco Wireless with URWB (Ultra-Reliable Wireless Backhaul) and Cisco Cyber Vision's AI-powered segmentation-confirm our commitment to delivering solutions that make enterprise-grade connectivity and security achievable at industrial scale.
The Challenge
Today's industrial organizations face a tough challenge: maintaining ultra-reliable connectivity for mission-critical operations, while meeting comprehensive security requirements such as CISA's Zero Trust and EU's NIS2 directives. Traditional approaches force a choice between operational continuity and security. That's no longer acceptable.
Next-generation industrial applications-from autonomous mobile robots to remote-controlled cranes-demand sub-10 millisecond latency and carrier-grade reliability that current wireless infrastructure can't deliver. Meanwhile, the convergence of IT and OT networks have created unprecedented vulnerabilities. A single breach can cascade across production systems, causing shutdowns that cost millions.
Redefining Reliable Wireless with URWB
Traditional Wi-Fi simply cannot fully support autonomous vehicles that need seamless handoffs or safety-critical applications requiring ultra-low latency. Cisco URWB is a wireless technology built on 802.11, designed specifically for mission-critical applications with stringent reliability and latency requirements-beyond the capabilities of even the latest Wi-Fi versions.
Cisco URWB's ultra-reliability is enabled by several key features:
- Near-zero latency (<10ms): achieved through end-to-end overlay technology
- Seamless mobility: "make-before-break" handoffs establish new connections before dropping previous ones
- Carrier-grade reliability: sub-500ms failover and Multipath Operations that replicate critical packets across eight independent paths
URWB enables real-world applications. Manufacturing facilities connect AGVs and robots without costly infrastructure overhauls. Transportation systems implement Communications-Based Train Control with confidence. Ports enable remote crane operations across large terminals. All using unlicensed spectrum that delivers private 5G-like performance without the costs or regulatory complexity.
URWB's near-zero latency and seamless roaming can now operate simultaneously with Wi-Fi in a broad selection of our Wi-Fi 7, 6E and 6 access points. This allows organizations to unlock new use cases and capabilities without overhauling their existing network.
Both technologies can run simultaneously on a single hardware platform and can be managed with the same tools your organizations rely on. This approach streamlines deployment, simplifies management, and reduces costs and complexities associated with worker training, licensing, and spectrum management.
Revolutionizing Industrial Security Through AI
With increasing industrial digitalization, having robust cyber defense is non-negotiable. This has placed a spotlight on the growing importance of Zero Trust-based network segmentation. But implementing network segmentation in industrial environments has been nearly impossible.
Why? Four key challenges:
- Limited visibility into legacy systems
- Infrastructure constraints
- Zero-downtime requirements
- Expertise shortages
Cisco Cyber Vision takes a different approach. Instead of adding security appliances, it embeds protection directly into your network infrastructure. The platform's award-winning AI-powered segmentation automatically analyzes network traffic, device behaviors, and communication patterns to group assets by operational role-turning months of manual work into weeks of automated processes.
Imagine thousands of OT assets automatically organized into logical security zones that match your actual operations. No guesswork. No production risk. When OT teams validate these AI-generated groupings, they sync in real-time with Cisco Secure Firewalls and ISE, enabling IT teams to apply policies without needing to understand industrial protocols or risk the uptime of production systems.
Organizations that use Cyber Vision are able to complete segmentation projects in weeks instead of months, achieve continuous compliance with regulatory requirements, and implement Zero Trust architectures without production downtime.
Built for Scale
Cisco Industrial Networking's real strength is the synergy between wired and wireless connectivity and security. This platform approach means organizations no longer need to use separate vendors for indoor, outdoor, and industrial networks and security. One vendor. One architecture. Multiple capabilities.
The business impact is immediate and measurable. Infrastructure costs drop by eliminating redundant systems. Management simplifies unified solutions. Most importantly, industrial operations gain the flexibility to scale and innovate without compromising reliability or security.
Our Commitment to Innovation
What sets Cisco apart isn't just individual breakthroughs-it's our commitment to continuous innovation based on real operational needs. We partner with industrial leaders, learn from field deployments, develop validated industrial design guides, and evolve our platforms based on actual operational requirements.
This approach creates an ecosystem advantage. Cisco URWB and Cisco Cyber Vision integrate seamlessly with Cisco's broader networking and security portfolio. Our global partner network extends capabilities for specialized applications. Our support infrastructure ensures successful deployments across industries and geographies.
Your Path Forward
The future of industrial operations depends on networking decisions made today. Organizations that embrace innovation in connectivity and industrial security will lead their industries. Those that don't, risk operational failures, falling behind competitors, and remaining vulnerable to cyber threats.
Start by evaluating your current gaps and pressure-testing readiness for what's next. Does your wireless infrastructure support emerging applications? Can it support future greenfield projects that require near-zero network latency? Can you achieve comprehensive OT visibility and network segmentation as your operations scale? Are you prepared for upcoming regulatory requirements?
Cisco Industrial Networking provides the scalable solutions to address these challenges. With ultra-reliable connectivity and AI-powered security we're not just solving today's problems-we're enabling tomorrow's industrial transformation.
The recognition from IoT Breakthrough confirms what our customers already know: industrial networking requires breakthrough innovation. Cisco is delivering it, ensuring your industrial operations are connected, secure and ready for whatever comes next.
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