Cisco ACI is an application focused, software-defined networking solution utilizing both software and traditional switching hardware. The solution is an overlay on Cisco's high-performance switches, operating in an ACI mode managed by a controller. The Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC) is a central management appliance that handles policy, visibility, security, and overall network control for the ACI environment.
Cisco ACI provides the following features within the ACI domain:
- Multi-tenant security
- Microsegmentation
- Application specific policy management
- Network availability and QoS
- Network automation