First Look:

The networking vendor announced upgraded for access control, network management, and application management across both types of networks. Also new: options for these infrastructure products; two new lower-priced 802.11n access points for business networks; a new high-end WLAN controller, with a new high-availability feature for Wi-Fi clients.

The changes are part of a strategy that the vendor labels "Cisco Unified Access," now being formally announced though it's been featured on the ,  and talked about with customers, for over a year. The basic idea, according to Cisco marketers, is to centralize and automate policy enforcement, security and authentication, and network management, regardless of how business end users connect to the company network, or with what kind of de-client device.

For access control functions, Cisco offers the Identity Services Engine (ISE), unveiled in 2011 as a central point to create and enforce a range of network policies based on the user's identity, role, and devices. [See our ] 

A new update to the ISE software adds two features: