In today’s fast-paced world businesses often struggle with keeping their network infrastructure up to date with the latest advancements in technology.
We sat down with Erik Albritton, Senior Network Engineer at Logista Solutions, to discuss how Cisco DNA can help solve network code management challenges. With real-time visibility and control, Cisco DNA is a powerful tool to streamline network operations and improve security.
What code management challenges do your customers have?
Erik’s response: One of the biggest challenges of our customers, especially our larger enterprise-sized customers, who have 75, 100, and 150 network devices out there, is keeping up with what code is on all those devices. Code changes happen pretty quickly; bugs are discovered, and security flaws are discovered. It’s really hard to keep a handle on code management, and it’s been a huge challenge.
What is CISCO DNA, and how can it help?
Erik’s response: So, one of the answers to that problem is a product from Cisco called DNA or Digital Network Architecture. It provides you with the ability to build a repository of images and mark those images as golden images that will correspond to what Cisco has marked as its preferred images. It will automatically push those images out and get security alerts on those images.
“As far as the time that it takes to upgrade code, if I was to do it on a switch-by-switch basis, it may take me a week. With Cisco DNA because of the way you can schedule, it will take me 10 minutes to get everything scheduled and then I’m done.”
– Erik Albritton, Senior Network Engineer, Logista Solutions
If a bug or a security flaw has been discovered you get a message saying there are some advisories out, and you need to take a look at them. And if you need to upgrade the code, then you know what you’ve got to do and go on back. Then you’ve got the image repository and you can push those images out to every device that’s affected. it’s all just click, click, click, and you’re good to go.
How long does it typically take to upgrade code?
Erik’s response: As far as the time that it takes to upgrade code, if I was to do it on a switch-by-switch basis, it may take me a week. With Cisco DNA because of the way you can schedule, it will take me 10 minutes to get everything scheduled and then I’m done. So, it’s a huge time saver. As well as keeping you updated on what code is out there with what’s good, and what’s bad. It gives you the life cycle of the code. So, it’s a huge advantage. It sounds simple, but it’s been a huge issue. It’s definitely worth looking into Cisco DNA just for that.
About Logista Solutions
Logista Solutions is a nationally recognized leader in a broad range of technology management solutions. As one of the largest technology support providers in the U.S., Logista provides innovative and holistic solutions to help companies take control of their IT infrastructure and achieve better business outcomes. Popular services include Managed IT as a Service, VoIP and Unified Communications, Managed Print, Cloud Services and Asset Disposition.
