I just finished watching the Workflows for Cisco Networking demo, and I want to share some technical highlights and practical takeaways. If you work with network automation, you’ll want to see what’s possible now that Workflows for Cisco Networking is generally available.
Ed Novak —Technical Marketing Engineer— ran a demo that went beyond typical product launches. He showed real workflows, fielded technical questions, and demonstrated how this automation engine fits into modern network operations. If you missed the session, the full recording is now available.
Workflows for Cisco Networking: Quick Overview
Workflows for Cisco Networking is a cloud-hosted, drag-and-drop automation tool embedded in the Meraki dashboard. It’s designed for multi-domain orchestration: Meraki, Catalyst Center, SD-WAN, Umbrella, ISE, and third-party tools like NetBox, ServiceNow, and Jira are all in scope.
The value proposition is straightforward: you don’t need to script in Python for every routine task. The visual builder lets you construct logic, connect APIs, and automate across hybrid environments—cloud, on-prem, or both.
Demo Recap: Real Automation, Real Time
Ed led with a scenario: “Deploy a wireless service across Meraki and Catalyst.” The Meraki dashboard’s AI assistant located a relevant workflow, built a form, and executed a deterministic configuration across both platforms—no code required.
Other workflow examples included:
- Triggering from alerts or scheduled rules
- Human approvals and prompts within workflows
- Cloning switch port configs between devices
- Parallel audits across multiple organizations
- Using AI to extract and process JSON data
Every input, output, and logic branch is logged for troubleshooting and optimization. The interface makes it easy to step through executions and identify issues quickly.
What Makes Workflows for Cisco Networking Different
Some differentiators stood out during the session:
- No-code, drag-and-drop logic—Build workflows without Python, but you can still drop into code or JSONPath as needed.
- Workflow Exchange—Import and adapt Cisco-authored or community workflows.
- Cross-domain reach—Automate tasks across Meraki, Catalyst, ISE, and external systems in a single flow.
- Deterministic automation—Same inputs, same outputs, every time.
- Full visibility—Inspect variables and execution steps live, including loop iterations and failure points.
- AI integration—Not just prompts; the assistant matches you to workflows and helps drive execution.
See Workflows for Cisco Networking in Action
Curious about how Workflows for Cisco Networking operates in real-world scenarios? Don’t miss the full Workflows for Cisco Networking demo session, where Ed Novak dives deep into setup, cross-domain integration, automation best practices, and answers tough technical questions from the community. This session is packed with practical insights for network engineers and IT professionals exploring the next generation of automation.
After watching, you can immediately experiment with building your own workflows. Just log in to the Meraki dashboard and open the “Automation” tab to get started.
Get Started with Workflows for Cisco Networking
- Create a free Meraki dashboard account
- Workflows for Cisco Networking product overview
- Join the Workflows for Cisco Networking Community: Connect with peers, ask questions, and get the latest updates.
- Self-learning video series: Step-by-step YouTube guides for building and customizing workflows.
- Workflows for Cisco Networking documentation: Explore technical docs, FAQs, and integration details.
- Subscribe to the Cisco DevNet YouTube Channel
