Tech Mahindra, Cisco deepen partnership to create digital network architecture

Software services major Tech Mahindra is deepening its association with networking giant Cisco to drive outcomes around automation, analytics and security, the companies said in a statement. 

Pune-headquartered Tech Mahindra has deployed Cisco's Digital Network Architecture at its Hyderabad campus, which has become one of the largest software-defined campus networks with over 14,000 live users, the company said. The office is the IT services firm's offshore development centre (ODC). 

According to Tech Mahindra, the partnership with Cisco has been effective and has converged on areas such as the Digital Network Architecture.

CP Gurnani, managing director and chief executive at Tech Mahindra, said, “Networks today across enterprises play a critical role but need modernisation to keep pace with the demands of today’s digital age. Modern networks are intuitive, data-driven and enable a seamless convergence of business and technology."

He added that Cisco’s experience was helping the partnership to reboot networks and the collaboration will create value. “Leveraging Cisco’s technology, we have deployed one of the largest software-defined networks in our ODC campus,” Gurnani said. Through this deployment, the ODC onboarding time has reduced by over 70% and could offer enhanced user mobility and security, the company said.

The two companies have a long-standing partnership and have collaborated on go-to-market strategies, Tech Mahindra said. Late last year, the firms had launched a digital experience centre in Bengaluru to showcase the latest technologies available for digitisation in sectors like manufacturing, retail and smart cities.

“We have a 360-degree relationship that is beneficial for both of us across many aspects, including areas such as cybersecurity and the internet of things (IoT). As the world digitises, the underlying technology grows more complex,” said Chuck Robbins, chairman and chief executive of Cisco. He added that the partnership focusses on reducing that complexity for their customers while helping them to digitise in an agile way.

Tech Mahindra will take the digital-ready infrastructure that the company has deployed to its end customers, especially in the vertical of financial services, manufacturing and retail, it said.   

“Digital is now business and it is all pervasive. In order to navigate the age of digital transformation, the onus is on us to collaborate and co-create to deliver connected experiences,” Gurnani added. The companies said that the partnership will be a key driver of growth for the companies and was expected to grow in the next year.