Cisco is expanding its Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) solution by introducing the Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC) Enterprise Module, which extends ACI solutions beyond the data center to the WAN and access networks.

Cisco has been updating its data center and networking portfolio to become open, programmable and secure, and this extension of APIC delivers Software Defined Networking (SDN) capabilities that allow the network to become more agile and responsive to the dynamic demands of applications and users.

The extension Enterprise Module of the Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC) allows IT organizations to have complete visibility into their networks, automating network and policy configuration while managing applications across the WAN and access networks.

This automated process can handle traditionally repetitive and complex tasks, eliminating mundane operations from IT personnel so they can focus on more strategic work that will help grow their businesses.

The Cisco APIC Enterprise Module provides the unique ability to see the entire network as a single entity, instead of individual network elements. The result is reduced network complexity, accelerated application rollout across wired and wireless infrastructure, and more efficient network management and troubleshooting.

Cisco APIC also frees up time for IT that would otherwise be spent configuring networking equipment and updating policy changes device by device. It automates many IT functions enabling configuration and policy changes to be pushed out to the individual components of the network instead of requiring IT to update each one manually.

It also enables policies to automatically adapt to network changes which would be very difficult to set otherwise. As a result, IT can instead spend time creating innovative business applications using network intelligence, and have a direct impact on the business.

Additionally, Cisco APIC uniquely supports both new and existing network infrastructures, supporting a selection of network Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), including OpenFlow, Cisco onePK and Command Line Interface (CLI).

The Cisco APIC Enterprise Module also supports both new SDN-ready devices as well as older Cisco network equipment, enabling the same IT automation as with Cisco ACI for a large existing installed base that eliminates the need to rip and replace existing networking equipment to take advantage of this new functionality.

The Cisco APIC Enterprise Module is constructed of three elements: a consolidated network information database, policy infrastructure and automation. Combined, that can substantially increase network automation and agility, lowering the time that IT spends on operational activities by up to 36 percent.

To address security concerns, Cisco APIC automates network-wide rapid threat detection and mitigation by integrating and automating Cisco Sourcefire security solutions.

For compliance management across branches and headquarters, Cisco APIC also provides network-wide Quality of Service (QoS), and accelerates Intelligent WAN (IWAN) deployments. It can also be used with third-party solutions to provide an end-to-end WAN orchestration and management.

The Cisco APIC Enterprise Module will be available at the end of the first half of 2014 and at no additional cost for existing and new Cisco SMARTnet customers.