Published: Apr 23, 2026
Transforming Network Infrastructure with NCS and Cisco
From fragmented WAN management to a centrally governed, software‑defined network
For large enterprises operating hundreds of remote sites, traditional router‑based networks make change slow and control difficult. Limited automation, decentralised management, and inconsistent configurations increase operational overhead and constrain agility-especially as applications and users become more distributed.
To address these challenges, NCS partnered with Cisco to modernise a large enterprise’s aging WAN infrastructure. By deploying Cisco Software‑Defined WAN (SD‑WAN) at scale and migrating firewalls across more than 500 sites, the organisation moved to a centrally managed, software‑driven network model. The result was faster deployment, reduced operational effort, and greater flexibility to support future growth.
Key takeaways
- Over 800 Cisco SD-WAN routers deployed to replace a traditional router‑based WAN architecture.
- Firewalls migrated across 500+ sites, enabling consistent security and policy enforcement.
- Centralised management improved network visibility, automation, and operational efficiency.
- Faster deployment and improved agility across remote sites and WAN transport connectivity.
- A long‑standing 20+ year NCS-Cisco partnership enabled a trusted, end‑to‑end transformation.
The challenge
Legacy networks limiting agility at scale
The organisation operated a traditional router‑based WAN that had become increasingly difficult to manage. Network changes required manual intervention, automation was limited, and central visibility across hundreds of remote sites was constrained. As the organisation expanded its digital footprint, these limitations translated into slower deployments, higher operational overheads, and reduced flexibility in managing WAN connectivity. The need was clear: a modern network architecture that could be centrally managed, automated, and scaled efficiently across remote locations.
The solution
A software‑defined, centrally managed WAN
NCS and Cisco collaborated to transition the organisation to a Cisco Software-Defined WAN architecture. More than 800 SD‑WAN routers were deployed, and firewall infrastructure was migrated across over 500 sites. Cisco SD-WAN combined networking, security, and observability capabilities into a single, cloud‑native platform. This simplified the complexity of managing distributed networks while enabling consistent policy enforcement and secure access to applications over any network.
The impact
Faster deployment and improved operational efficiency
The transformation delivered measurable operational benefits. Deployment times were reduced, ongoing network operations became more efficient, and the organisation gained greater agility in managing remote sites. Centralised control improved visibility and reduced the effort required to maintain and update the network. Beyond immediate efficiency gains, the modernised WAN established a scalable foundation to support future digital initiatives.
Summary
Enabling network transformation through trusted partnership
By modernising a legacy WAN with Cisco SD-WAN, NCS helped the organisation move from a rigid, manually managed network to a centrally governed, software‑defined infrastructure. The transformation improved automation, security, and agility across hundreds of sites.
Backed by a partnership spanning more than two decades, NCS and Cisco continue to support large enterprises in building resilient, future-ready network foundations that enable digital growth.