Overview of the C9105AXW-S

The ​​C9105AXW-S​​ is a ​​Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) access point​​ from Cisco’s Catalyst 9100 series, tailored for enterprises requiring advanced security and scalable performance. Designed as a step-up model from the C9105AXW-C, it integrates ​​Cisco’s Threat Defense​​ framework and ​​AI-driven analytics​​ to protect against evolving network threats while supporting high-density deployments.

Core Technical Features

• ​​4×4 MU-MIMO​​: Manages ​​1,200+ concurrent clients​​ with ​​OFDMA​​ for efficient bandwidth allocation in crowded environments.
• ​​Cisco Encrypted Traffic Analytics (ETA)​​: Identifies malware in encrypted traffic without decryption, critical for GDPR/HIPAA compliance.
• ​​Dynamic Segmentation​​: Automatically isolates IoT devices and guest traffic using ​​Cisco ISE policies​​.
• ​​PoE++ Support​​: Delivers ​​60W power​​ for peripherals like security cameras or dual-radio IoT gateways.
• ​​Dual 5GHz Radios​​: Avoids 2.4GHz congestion and enables dedicated backhaul for mesh deployments.

Primary Use Cases

• ​​Financial Institutions​​: Secures high-frequency trading floors and customer data zones with zero-trust policies.
• ​​Government Facilities​​: Meets ​​FIPS 140-2​​ standards for encrypted communications in restricted areas.
• ​​Enterprise Campuses​​: Scales seamlessly for BYOD-heavy environments, such as corporate headquarters or R&D labs.

Addressing Critical User Concerns

​​Q: How does the “S” model differ from the C9105AXW-C?​​
A: The ​​C9105AXW-S adds Threat Defense and ETA​​, whereas the “C” model focuses on cost-effective basics like WPA3 and cloud management.

​​Q: Is it compatible with older Cisco WLCs?​​
A: Requires ​​Catalyst 9800-CL 17.6+​​ or ​​9800-80 hardware controllers​​ for full security features. AireOS 8.10+ supports basic functionality.

​​Q: Can it detect rogue devices in real time?​​
A: Yes—via ​​Cairo-based AI analytics​​ that flag unauthorized APs or spoofed MAC addresses.

Deployment Best Practices

• ​​Mesh Networking​​: Use the secondary 5GHz radio for ​​wireless backhaul​​ in hard-to-wire areas like warehouses.
• ​​Policy Enforcement​​: Pair with ​​Cisco Stealthwatch​​ to automate quarantining of compromised endpoints.
• ​​Thermal Design​​: Deploy in well-ventilated areas; the 4×4 MIMO design generates 15% more heat than 2×2 models.

Procurement and Support

For enterprises prioritizing security without compromising scalability, the C9105AXW-S is available through ITmall.sale. Their Cisco-certified team provides tailored threat assessment templates for large deployments.

Hands-On Experience

In a recent rollout for a multinational bank, the C9105AXW-S’s ETA uncovered encrypted cryptojacking traffic that legacy tools missed. However, its PoE++ demand necessitated upstream switch upgrades—budget for Catalyst 9200L or similar. For organizations with hybrid cloud environments, its integration with Cisco SecureX simplifies cross-platform threat hunting.