Why is Cisco focusing on branch offices?
In the U.S., about 50% of employees work in branch offices. In addition, there has been a drive toward using browser-based interfaces for applications that require increased connectivity. You can get more productivity out of 50% of the workforce if they can access the same applications as those people working in the corporate headquarters. That requires more than basic connectivity. You now have to build robust networks. You need things like security, voice over Internet protocol, content. I meet with network designers and they say, ‘Please help me grow and keep what I’ve got. Don’t force me to redo major parts of my network.’ What benefits can businesses gain from these blades? The biggest benefit is that now network designers can lay out a multi-year vision for these remote offices. In the past, network planning was something that would happen to you. A company would make an acquisition, and the new company would have different types of LANs. You had to scramble to make ends meet and
