Experiencing Cisco Live from the Technical Solution Clinics
Cisco Live is always an exciting moment in the year, but being part of it from the inside, working directly with customers and partners, makes the experience even more special.
Deep Technical Conversations with Customers
This year I had the opportunity to support the Cisco Live Technical Solution Clinics, focusing on AAA topics and Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE). The clinics are a unique space within Cisco Live: instead of formal sessions, they allow customers to sit down with Cisco engineers and have open technical conversations about their environments, designs, and challenges.
Throughout the event we had many engaging discussions with customers looking to better understand how identity fits into their overall security architecture. A recurring topic was how Cisco ISE integrates with the broader Cisco Security portfolio, and how organizations can design identity-based controls that work seamlessly with other platforms across the stack.
What makes these conversations particularly valuable is the depth they reach. Customers come with real-world design questions: how to structure identity policies, how to integrate identity into segmentation strategies, or how to align identity services with broader security operations. Being able to discuss these topics directly, and help translate product capabilities into practical architectures, is one of the most rewarding parts of the experience.
AI and the Future of Security Operations
Of course, AI was everywhere at Cisco Live this year, and many conversations naturally moved in that direction. Customers showed strong interest in how Cisco is approaching AI Defense and how AI can enhance security operations, particularly through platforms like Cisco XDR. There’s clearly a growing awareness that as organizations adopt AI technologies, they also need to think carefully about how to secure them.
Finally, none of this would be possible without the incredible Technical Solution Clinics team. The energy, collaboration, and willingness to help customers tackle complex challenges is what makes the clinics such a valuable part of Cisco Live.
It was a fantastic experience to be part of it again, connecting with customers, exchanging ideas with colleagues from around the world, and seeing firsthand how the industry is evolving around identity, security, and AI.
This article is part of our mini-series, Voices of Cisco Live, where we follow different Cisco employees who had their own unique experience and perspective on the event.
Authors