Product Overview

In this exclusive interview, we delve into the strategic role Cisco products play within ING’s global banking infrastructure, as explained by Daniele Tonella, Chief Technology Officer at ING. With over two decades of experience in enterprise IT and digital banking transformation, Tonella provides a comprehensive perspective on how Cisco’s advanced networking solutions underpin ING’s commitment to secure, scalable, and agile financial services.

ING, a leading multinational banking corporation, has embraced Cisco’s portfolio to modernize its network architecture, enhance cybersecurity posture, and accelerate cloud adoption. Tonella highlights the criticality of Cisco’s integrated technologies—ranging from Cisco DNA Center for network automation to Cisco SecureX for unified threat management—in enabling ING’s digital-first strategy.

The interview explores how Cisco’s solutions facilitate seamless connectivity across ING’s global branches, data centers, and cloud environments, ensuring high availability and compliance with stringent financial regulations. Tonella emphasizes the importance of Cisco’s programmable infrastructure in supporting ING’s agile DevOps pipelines and real-time analytics capabilities.

Product Specifications

Cisco DNA Center and Network Automation

Cisco DNA Center serves as the centralized management platform for ING’s enterprise network. It provides intent-based networking capabilities, enabling automated provisioning, policy enforcement, and real-time telemetry. Tonella explains that ING leverages Cisco DNA Center’s advanced analytics and AI-driven insights to proactively detect anomalies and optimize network performance.

Key specifications include:

• Support for multi-vendor devices and hybrid cloud environments
• Integration with Cisco SD-Access for micro-segmentation and enhanced security
• REST APIs for seamless integration with ING’s IT orchestration tools
• Scalable architecture supporting thousands of endpoints and devices

Cisco SecureX Platform

Security is paramount in banking, and Cisco SecureX provides ING with a unified security platform that integrates threat intelligence, endpoint protection, and network security. Tonella details how SecureX’s orchestration capabilities enable ING to automate incident response workflows and reduce mean time to detect (MTTD) and mean time to respond (MTTR).

Specifications include:

• Cloud-native architecture with global threat intelligence feeds
• Integration with Cisco Umbrella, Firepower, and AMP for Endpoints
• Customizable dashboards and playbooks tailored to financial compliance requirements
• Support for zero-trust security models and continuous monitoring

Cisco SD-WAN and Cloud Integration

ING’s global footprint necessitates a resilient and flexible WAN architecture. Cisco SD-WAN enables secure, high-performance connectivity between branch offices, data centers, and cloud platforms. Tonella highlights the use of Cisco SD-WAN’s application-aware routing and integrated security features to optimize user experience and reduce operational costs.

Technical specifications include:

• Support for multiple transport types including MPLS, broadband, and LTE
• End-to-end encryption and segmentation for PCI DSS compliance
• Centralized orchestration with policy-driven automation
• Integration with leading cloud providers such as AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud

Features and Benefits

Enhanced Network Agility and Automation

Cisco’s intent-based networking solutions empower ING to transition from manual network management to fully automated operations. Tonella explains that this agility allows rapid deployment of new services, reduces human error, and accelerates time-to-market for innovative banking applications.

Benefits include:

• Dynamic policy enforcement aligned with business intent
• Automated device onboarding and configuration
• Real-time network health monitoring and predictive analytics

Robust Security Posture with Integrated Threat Intelligence

The integration of Cisco SecureX across ING’s infrastructure provides a holistic security framework. Tonella emphasizes the platform’s ability to correlate data from disparate security tools, enabling faster threat detection and automated remediation.

Benefits include:

• Reduced attack surface through micro-segmentation and zero-trust policies
• Improved compliance with GDPR, PCI DSS, and other regulatory mandates
• Streamlined security operations with centralized visibility and control

Optimized WAN Performance and Cloud Connectivity

Cisco SD-WAN’s intelligent path selection and application-aware routing ensure optimal performance for critical banking applications. Tonella notes that this capability is essential for maintaining service-level agreements (SLAs) and delivering consistent user experiences across ING’s global network.

Benefits include:

• Cost savings by leveraging broadband and LTE alongside MPLS
• Improved application performance with dynamic traffic steering
• Seamless integration with multi-cloud environments supporting hybrid workloads

Ordering and Price Information

Cisco’s enterprise-grade solutions deployed at ING are available through authorized resellers and Cisco’s official distribution channels. Pricing varies based on deployment scale, licensing models, and support packages. For detailed pricing,