At one time it was adequate to scrutinize network and application performance using general identifiers such as an IP address. Nonetheless, enterprises now require more comprehensive user information to find performance events and rapidly execute root-cause analysis and remediation. Cisco brings these features together by assimilating the Cisco® Identity Services Engine with the partner network and application performance management platforms. Together, the systems deliver in-depth performance visibility along with relevant identity and device context. The incorporation of these solutions assists the IT manager in correlating circumstantial information with a performance episode and to prioritize investigation happenings. Network and application management platforms use the circumstantial data supplied by the Identity Services Engine for quicker root-cause analysis and remediation of performance problems.

How the Integration Works

Integration makes new visibility and actions possible. Here is how this is accomplished:

• The Identity Services Engine provides circumstantial user identity and device data to network and application performance management platforms. It employs Cisco Platform Exchange Grid (pxGrid) expertise to share circumstantial information such as user name, device type, operating system, and network location.

• The management application can use this circumstantial data for quicker root-cause examination and incident resolution. For example, use this circumstantial data to comprehend specific types of endpoint devices and OS version having performance problems with particular WLAN segments in particular buildings. Applications use the Identity Services Engine as a channel for taking extenuation actions inside the Cisco network. The Identity Services Engine can isolate or block users and devices as per the policies it defines.

The Identity Services Engine gathers and provides the following circumstantial data:

• User: User name, IP address, authentication status, location

• User class: Authorization group, guest, quarantine status

• Device: Manufacturer, model, OS, OS version, MAC address, IP address, network connection method (wired or wireless), location

• Posture: Posture compliance status, antivirus installed, antivirus version, OS patch level, mobile device posture compliance status through mobile device management (MDM) or MDM ecosystem partners

For more details on the Cisco Identity Services Engine, go to http://cisco.com/go/ise or contact our Cisco Licensing Specialists here.