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Sign of the Times: Cisco Launches AgenticOps Model for IT Management
Cisco launched a new solution this week to help organizations automate and streamline IT management across networking, security and application domains using -- of course -- AI.
The new AgenticOps platform, launched at the company's recent Cisco Live event, is an AI-powered operational model designed to help enterprises tackle the growing complexity of IT systems while enabling teams to work faster and smarter. Combining tools like the Cisco AI Assistant, AI Canvas and Deep Network Model, AgenticOps enables organizations to use AI-driven agents to perform tasks autonomously -- using real-time telemetry, advanced automation and decades of domain expertise. With it, Cisco says it IT teams can gain more control and insight, even as operations become increasingly automated.
Key components of AgenticOps include:
- Cisco AI Assistant: A conversational interface that identifies issues, diagnoses root causes, and automates complex workflows.
- Cisco AI Canvas: A shared, interactive workspace featuring a generative UI that unifies data across networking, security, and observability domains.
- Deep Network Model: A domain-specific large language model (LLM), a specialized LLM trained on Cisco's networking knowledge, including CiscoU and CCIE materials, built on over 40 years of Cisco expertise.
Cisco AI Assistant: Conversational Control Across the Ecosystem
The Cisco AI Assistant serves as the foundational layer of AgenticOps, providing a natural language interface that allows IT professionals to interact with their systems more intuitively. By leveraging the Deep Network Model, the AI Assistant can:
- Quickly identify critical issues and diagnose root causes.
- Assist with network configurations and policy management.
- Automate routine tasks, such as NAC configurations or switch migrations, reducing task time from hours to minutes.
- Provide actionable insights and recommendations, enhancing decision-making processes.
By integrating deeply into Cisco's platform, the AI Assistant ensures that IT teams can easily incorporate its capabilities into their existing workflows, streamlining operations and improving efficiency.
Cisco AI Canvas: A Collaborative Workspace for Cross-Domain IT
Building upon the AI Assistant, the Cisco AI Canvas introduces a generative user interface designed to facilitate real-time collaboration among NetOps, SecOps, and application teams. Key features of the AI Canvas include:
- Integration of real-time telemetry from sources like Meraki, ThousandEyes, and Splunk, providing a unified view of the IT environment.
- Dynamic generation of dashboards and visualizations tailored to specific incidents or workflows.
- Advanced reasoning models that break down troubleshooting into structured steps, guiding teams through diagnostics and remediation.
- Collaborative features that allow team members to share dashboards, invite collaborators, and persist sessions across time.
- Execution capabilities that enable the AI Canvas to implement configuration changes or execute runbook steps upon team agreement.
By centralizing data and collaboration tools, the AI Canvas empowers IT teams to resolve issues more efficiently and with greater transparency.
Deep Network Model: The Intelligence Behind AgenticOps
At the core of Cisco's AI innovations lies the Deep Network Model, a specialized LLM trained on over 40 years of Cisco's networking expertise, including CCIE-level content and CiscoU courseware. This model enables:
- Enhanced understanding of complex network topologies and configurations.
- Accurate diagnostics and troubleshooting based on real-world reasoning paths.
- Continuous learning through reinforcement learning techniques and chain-of-thought reasoning.
- Scalable deployment across various environments, from edge devices to air-gapped industrial IoT systems.
The Deep Network Model's integration into both the AI Assistant and AI Canvas ensures that Cisco's AI solutions are grounded in deep contextual awareness and practical expertise.
Moving to a More Agentic World
Cisco's introduction of AgenticOps, underpinned by the AI Assistant, AI Canvas, and Deep Network Model, marks a significant step forward in the evolution of IT operations. By harnessing the power of AI to automate, collaborate, and optimize, Cisco is enabling organizations to navigate the complexities of modern IT environments with greater agility and confidence, the company indicated.
As Jeetu Patel, Cisco's president and chief product officer, stated in a video announcing Cisco AI Canvas, the company is moving to "a world that's going to be far more agentic, where agents can conduct tasks and jobs almost fully autonomously."
You can explore more about AgenticOps in these Cisco resources:
Meanwhile, also at Cisco Live 2025, the company:
- Introduced a new AI-ready secure network architecture with unified management across Meraki, Catalyst, and new devices.
- Launched new smart switches and industrial Ethernet switches designed for AI traffic and industrial AI applications.
- Expanded ThousandEyes vantage points, including new Wi-Fi 7 access points and industrial IoT devices.
- Announced new 8000 Series Secure Routers with integrated SD-WAN, next-generation firewall, and post-quantum security.
- Enhanced network security with Live Protect controls and quantum-resistant encryption across multiple layers.
- Introduced AI-powered Webex Room Vision PTZ camera for intelligent meeting experiences.
- Expanded Webex AI Agent capabilities for customer service, with pre-built industry templates and enhanced AI engine support.
About the Author
David Ramel is an editor and writer at Converge 360.