500-490 Designing Cisco Enterprise Networks exam Question and Answers

 A “one switch at a time” approach to integrating SD-Access into an existing brownfield environment is a method that allows network administrators to gradually migrate their legacy network devices to SD-Access fabric devices without disrupting the network operations. This approach has two main advantages:

• It is appropriate for campus and remote site environments, where there may be different types of devices and network topologies. By replacing one switch at a time, the network administrators can ensure that the existing network connectivity and functionality are preserved, while gaining the benefits of SD-Access features such as automation, segmentation, and assurance12.
• It allows simplified testing prior to cutover, as the network administrators can verify the performance and compatibility of each switch before adding it to the fabric. This reduces the risk of errors and failures during the migration process, and allows for faster troubleshooting and resolution of any issues34.

References:

• Cisco SD-Access Solution Design Guide (CVD)
• Discuss Cisco 500-490 Exam Topic 1 Question 33 - Pass4Success
• How to provision devices in SD-Access ( SDA ) - Cisco Community
• A quick-start guide to SD-Access - Cisco Blogs

 The easiest way to enable SD-Access for all your remote sites after you have your campus SD-Access fabric up and running is to treat all the sites as one fabric domain and use SD-WAN as the underlay. This option has the following advantages:

• It simplifies the network design and management by using a single fabric domain for all the sites, which reduces the complexity of VRF and SGT mapping, and enables consistent policy enforcement across the network.
• It leverages the benefits of SD-WAN as the underlay, such as dynamic path selection, application-aware routing, WAN optimization, and security services, which improve the network performance, reliability, and security for the remote sites.
• It allows the remote sites to communicate with each other and with the campus fabric using the same SD-Access technology, which eliminates the need for additional protocols or devices to support the transit network.

References:

Cisco SD-Access Solution Design Guide (CVD) - Cisco1 : Cisco SD-Access – Connecting Multiple Sites in a Single Fabric Domain2 : What Is Software-Defined Access? - SD-Access - Cisco3 : How SD-WAN Enables Remote Network Access & Scalability4

The node that enables Cisco ISE to share contextual information on a device with Cisco Stealthwatch is the pXGrid Controller. The pXGrid Controller is a component of the ISE Policy Service Node (PSN) that facilitates the exchange of contextual data between ISE and other security products, such as Stealthwatch, via the Platform Exchange Grid (pxGrid) protocol. The pXGrid Controller acts as a broker that registers, authenticates, and authorizes pxGrid clients, and allows them to publish and subscribe to topics of interest. For example, Stealthwatch can subscribe to the Session Directory topic to obtain user and device information from ISE, and use it to enrich the network flow data and provide better visibility and security analytics. Stealthwatch can also publish topics, such as Rapid Threat Containment (RTC), to allow ISE to take mitigation actions on compromised endpoints, such as quarantine or re-authentication. References:

• Cisco Identity Services Engine Administrator Guide, Release 2.4 - Manage Platform Exchange Grid Services [Cisco Identity Services Engine] - Cisco1
• Deploying Cisco Stealthwatch 7.x with Cisco ISE 2.4 using pxGrid - Cisco Community2
• Stealthwatch — Networking fun3
• pxGrid in Depth > Sharing the Context | Cisco Press4

According to the Cisco Design Zone website1, an SE’s demo process should include the following activities:

• Identifying which capabilities require demonstration: The SE should understand the customer’s business objectives, pain points, and technical requirements, and map them to the relevant Cisco solutions and capabilities. The SE should also prioritize the most important and impactful features and benefits that address the customer’s needs and challenges, and plan the demo accordingly. The SE should avoid showing irrelevant or unnecessary features that may confuse or distract the customer12.
• Determining whether the customer would like to dive deeper during a follow-up: The SE should use the demo as an opportunity to engage the customer in a dialogue, solicit feedback, and gauge the customer’s interest and satisfaction. The SE should also identify any gaps or questions that the customer may have, and offer to provide more information or a deeper dive during a follow-up session. The SE should also ask for the customer’s permission to schedule a follow-up meeting or call, and confirm the next steps and actions13.

The other activities are not recommended or necessary during an SE’s demo process, because:

• Highlighting opportunities that although not currently within scope would result in lower operational costs and complexity: The SE should focus on the customer’s current scope and needs, and not try to upsell or cross-sell other solutions or services that are not relevant or requested by the customer. The SE should also respect the customer’s budget and timeline, and not introduce additional costs or complexity that may jeopardize the deal or the relationship1 .
• Asking the customer to provide network drawings or white board the environment for you: The SE should prepare for the demo by doing the necessary research and discovery before the meeting, and not rely on the customer to provide the information or draw the network for them. The SE should also demonstrate their expertise and credibility by showing their knowledge of the customer’s environment and challenges, and not ask the customer to do their work for them1 .
• Leveraging a company such as Complete Communications to build a financial case: The SE should not outsource or delegate the financial analysis or justification of the solution to a third-party company, as this may undermine the SE’s role and value, and create a dependency or risk for the deal. The SE should also use the Cisco tools and resources available to them, such as the Business Value Calculator, to build a financial case and show the return on investment and total cost of ownership of the solution1 .

References:

1: Cisco Design Zone 2: [Cisco Demo Best Practices], page 3 3: [Cisco Demo Best Practices], page 6 : [Cisco Demo Best Practices], page 4 : [Cisco Demo Best Practices], page 2 : [Cisco Demo Best Practices], page 5

 The new operational paradigm is a way of designing, deploying, and managing networks that leverages the power of intent-based networking. Intent-based networking is a network architecture that aligns the network with the business goals and policies, and uses artificial intelligence and automation to translate the intent into network configurations and actions. The new operational paradigm requires three foundational elements:

• Fabric: A fabric is a network topology that consists of interconnected nodes that provide a consistent and scalable way of delivering network services and functions. A fabric can span across multiple domains, such as campus, branch, data center, and cloud, and can support multiple protocols, such as IP, Ethernet, MPLS, and VXLAN. A fabric enables the network to operate as a single entity, rather than a collection of disparate devices and links. A fabric also simplifies the network design and management, as it reduces the complexity and variability of the network elements and interfaces.
• Assurance: Assurance is the process of continuously monitoring, verifying, and optimizing the network performance and behavior, based on the defined intent and policies. Assurance uses telemetry, analytics, and machine learning to collect and process data from the network devices and applications, and to provide insights and recommendations for network optimization and troubleshooting. Assurance also enables the network to self-heal and self-optimize, by applying corrective actions and adjustments to the network configurations and policies, based on the feedback loop from the data and analytics.
• Policy-based automated provisioning of network: Policy-based automated provisioning of network is the process of applying the intent and policies to the network devices and services, using automation and orchestration tools. Policy-based automated provisioning of network abstracts the network complexity and heterogeneity, and allows the network operators to define the network requirements and outcomes in a high-level and declarative way, rather than specifying the low-level and imperative commands and parameters. Policy-based automated provisioning of network also enables the network to be agile and adaptive, as it can dynamically adjust the network configurations and policies, based on the changing network conditions and business needs.

References:

• Cisco Intent-Based Networking
• Cisco Digital Network Architecture
• Cisco Routed Optical Networking
• Cisco Operational Insights: A New Way of Seeing Operations

 SD-WAN demonstrations are an effective way to showcase the benefits and features of Cisco SD-WAN solutions to potential customers. However, not all demos are created equal, and there are some best practices to follow to ensure a successful and engaging demo. Here are some explanations for why C and E are true statements regarding SD-WAN demonstrations:

• C. During a demo, you should consider the target audience and the desired outcome. This is a true statement because different audiences may have different levels of technical knowledge, business needs, and expectations from the demo. For example, a demo for a C-level executive may focus more on the business outcomes and value proposition of SD-WAN, while a demo for a network engineer may dive deeper into the technical details and configuration options. Therefore, it is important to tailor the demo to the specific audience and the desired outcome, such as generating interest, building trust, or closing a deal.
• E. There is a big difference between demos that use a top down approach and demos that use a bottom up approach. This is also a true statement because the two approaches have different advantages and disadvantages, and may suit different scenarios. A top down approach starts with the high-level overview of the SD-WAN solution, such as the architecture, components, benefits, and use cases, and then drills down into the specific features and functionalities. A bottom up approach starts with the low-level details of the SD-WAN solution, such as the configuration, troubleshooting, and testing, and then builds up to the big picture and value proposition. A top down approach may be more suitable for a non-technical or business-oriented audience, while a bottom up approach may be more suitable for a technical or hands-on audience.

References :=

• Cisco SD-WAN Demonstration Guide
• SD-WAN Best Practices | Kentik Blog
• SD-WAN best practices for a successful implementation
• SD-WAN best practices - VMware Blogs

 The current digital business era is characterized by the rapid growth and adoption of digital technologies that enable companies to improve their business capabilities, operational efficiencies, and customer experiences. According to various sources, such as McKinsey1 and Forbes23, some of the key focus areas of the current digital business era are:

• IoT scale: The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the network of physical devices, sensors, and machines that are connected to the internet and can communicate, collect, and exchange data. The IoT scale represents the massive amount and variety of data that are generated and processed by the IoT devices, as well as the potential value and insights that can be derived from them. The IoT scale also poses new challenges and opportunities for businesses, such as enhancing customer engagement, optimizing operations, creating new products and services, and ensuring security and privacy45.
• Automation: Automation refers to the use of technology to perform tasks or processes that would otherwise require human intervention or effort. Automation can increase productivity, efficiency, accuracy, and consistency, as well as reduce costs, errors, and risks. Automation can also enable businesses to scale up or down their operations, respond to changing customer demands, and innovate faster. Automation can be applied to various domains and functions, such as manufacturing, marketing, customer service, finance, and human resources6 .
• Connectivity: Connectivity refers to the ability to access, share, and exchange information and resources across different platforms, devices, and locations. Connectivity can enhance the communication and collaboration among businesses, customers, partners, and employees, as well as enable new business models and value propositions. Connectivity can also create new customer expectations and preferences, such as personalization, convenience, and speed. Connectivity can be enabled by various technologies, such as cloud computing, mobile devices, social media, and artificial intelligence .

References:

1: Digital strategy in the postpandemic era | McKinsey 2: The Business Benefits Of Living In The Most Digital Era Yet - Forbes 3: Why The Era Of Digital Transformation Is Important For … - Forbes 4: [What is IoT? How Smart Devices Impact Businesses in 2021] 5: [The Internet of Things: How IoT is changing the world - Forbes] 6: [What is Automation? Definition, Benefits, and Examples] : [How Automation Is Changing The Future Of Work - Forbes] : [What is Connectivity? Definition, Types, and Examples] : [How Connectivity Is Driving Business Transformation - Forbes]