Every day, thousands of devices, ranging from laptops and smartphones to physical security and building automation systems, depend on reliable connectivity to keep the campus running smoothly. Networking teams are challenged with not only ensuring nonstop uptime but also identifying and connecting an ever-evolving mix of device types, while trying to accommodate this growth in a secure and compliant manner.
These tasks become exponentially more difficult when admins rely on device-by-device management and manual processes to run the network. These antiquated techniques often slow down response times, increase risk of disruption, and lead to fragmented visibility.
Compounding these complexities is the accelerating growth of AI. Teams are being asked to prepare networks for the future while still struggling to meet the demands of today.
These challenges are driving the need for a new approach. One that abstracts complexity from daily operations while building an environment designed to accommodate future growth.?Enter the network fabric architecture.
The fabric architecture solution
Campus fabric architectures fundamentally transform how networks are operated by unifying multiple components of management and security into a single logical entity. The ability to provision new devices, easily add them into an existing network, and secure the users connecting to them becomes drastically more efficient.
With a network fabric, previously painstaking tasks like moving users between buildings, enforcing consistent security policy across hundreds of switches, or onboarding large numbers of IoT devices are simplified through an automated system where intent is defined once and enforced campus-wide in minutes rather than hours.? By moving away from manual, siloed approaches, fabric-based networks allow teams to reduce the time and number of steps required to complete a range of outcomes that power stronger user experiences, reduced time to value, and seamless scalability.
Cisco at the forefront of campus fabric solutions
When it comes to designing campus fabrics, experience and track record matter. Cisco Software-Defined Access (SD-Access) has been at the forefront of campus network fabrics for years, powering the networks of some of the world's largest and most demanding organizations.
Cisco pioneered the campus fabric model, and we have continually evolved our solutions to meet the needs of enterprise customers. With features like dynamic segmentation, automated policy enforcement, and seamless device onboarding, SD-Access sets a high standard for what modern campus networks can achieve. Backed by years of development and proven on a global scale, Cisco SD-Access offers organizations a mature, robust foundation to address both current challenges and future growth.
Expanding fabric to the cloud
As digital transformation accelerates and organizations increasingly look to the cloud, Cisco is developing solutions that bridge existing infrastructure with future-ready management. Today, users managing IOS XE-based switches can migrate their devices to the Meraki dashboard, combining the robust performance and enterprise capabilities of IOS XE-based hardware with the simplicity and intuitive experience of a unified cloud platform.
This isn't just a facelift. Over the past year, the Meraki dashboard has gained advanced enterprise features like Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), Virtual Routing and Forwarding (VRF), In-Service Software Upgrade (ISSU), and Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP). These capabilities have laid the foundation for the ability to manage network fabrics in the cloud.
The Cisco cloud-managed fabric solution simplifies campus network management by orchestrating Virtual Extensible LAN (VXLAN) and Ethernet Virtual Private Network (EVNP) fabrics through a unified cloud dashboard. It replaces manual, device-by-device configuration with centralized management that abstracts low-level complexities, allowing changes to be built and enforced across thousands of devices at once.
This fabric supports scalable, resilient, and secure network operations designed for large enterprises and modern cloud migration initiatives. Security is strengthened through multi-tier segmentation: macrosegmentation with Virtual Routing and Forwarding (VRF) and microsegmentation with adaptive policies using Security Group Tags (SGTs). The fabric supports a zero-trust architecture and integrates with Cisco ISE and Cisco Access Manager for simplified network access control.
For organizations seeking to modernize without starting over, Cisco's approach to cloud-managed fabric means you can leverage your existing investments, gain the operational agility of the cloud, and confidently scale your campus for whatever comes next.
Embrace the fabric, embrace the future
Our strategy is simple: one device, one operating system, and the freedom to manage your network in a way that works best for you.
A cloud-managed fabric provides a prescriptive, turnkey experience with simplified creation and operations. Software-Defined Access delivers similar outcomes while offering greater advanced control, data sovereignty, and the scale required by large or regulated organizations and complex sites. For globally distributed, high-demand environments, programmable fabric offers the deepest level of customization.
Figure 1. Cisco campus fabric solutions.Across all options, you gain consistent outcomes designed to simplify the management of large campus sites-all powered by IOS XE switches, wireless access points, and secure routers.
The strategy advantage of campus fabric
To help our customers understand the strategy behind our campus fabric solutions, we have established three guiding pillars:
Choice: We empower customers to select a fabric solution tailored to their unique environment. Whether you prefer a DIY approach through command line interface (CLI) or management via our on-premises or cloud controllers, Cisco provides a common operating system and hardware foundation for orchestrating campus fabric. With validated designs and a robust partner ecosystem, we support every step of your fabric journey.
Continuity: Cisco continues to deliver innovation for our trusted on-premises solution, ensuring deep customization and granular controls to address the most complex enterprise requirements. Our commitment to operational autonomy means you retain control over your environment, even as new features are introduced.
Cloud innovation: We are bringing fabric capabilities to our unified cloud platform by introducing EVPN fabric for cloud-managed IOS XE switches. This advancement allows customers to experience the benefits of cloud management while maintaining the security and performance expected from a fabric-based campus network.
Together, this strategy enables organizations of all sizes to build a modern, secure fabric architecture that fits the specific demands of their business.
The era of manually stitched networks, sprawling VLANs, and reactive troubleshooting is behind us. Embrace the future of campus networking with a secure and assured fabric architecture from Cisco designed to meet the evolving needs of large enterprises and AI-driven environments.
Discover how to modernize your campus networks with flexible fabric solutions from Cisco.
Software-Defined Access
Cloud-Managed Fabric