Cisco Crosswork Network Automation
Network automation tools
- Features
- Ease of use
- Ease of management
- Quality of support
- Affordability
- Market presence
Take the quiz to check if Cisco Crosswork Network Automation and its alternatives fit your requirements.
Contact the product provider
Free TrialFree version
Small
Medium
Large
- Energy and utilities
- Transportation and logistics
- Information technology and software
What is Cisco Crosswork Network Automation
Cisco Crosswork Network Automation is a network automation and orchestration platform for service provider and large enterprise networks. It supports closed-loop automation use cases such as provisioning, traffic engineering, and policy-driven changes by combining network data collection with workflow automation. The product is typically used by network operations and engineering teams managing Cisco-centric environments and seeking to automate changes across domains using controllers and APIs. It is delivered as a modular suite (with specific Crosswork applications) that integrates with Cisco network platforms and telemetry sources.
Closed-loop automation capabilities
Crosswork is designed to pair network state/telemetry with automated actions, enabling closed-loop workflows such as remediation or optimization based on observed conditions. This approach supports operational use cases beyond one-time configuration pushes. It is particularly relevant for environments that need ongoing assurance and policy-driven changes. The modular app model lets teams adopt specific automation functions without deploying a single monolithic tool.
Deep Cisco ecosystem integration
The platform integrates closely with Cisco network operating systems, controllers, and telemetry mechanisms commonly used in large networks. This can reduce integration effort compared with more vendor-neutral tools when the network is predominantly Cisco. It also aligns with Cisco’s intent-based and controller-led architectures used in service provider deployments. For teams standardizing on Cisco tooling, this can simplify operational workflows and support models.
Service provider scale focus
Crosswork targets large-scale networks and includes capabilities oriented to carrier operations, such as traffic engineering and multi-domain orchestration patterns. It is built to work with high-volume network data and operational processes typical of NOC environments. This focus can be advantageous where automation must account for complex routing, capacity, and change-control requirements. It is less centered on ad-hoc scripting and more on repeatable operational workflows.
Cisco-centric applicability
Crosswork’s strongest integrations and value are realized in Cisco-heavy environments, which can limit suitability for heterogeneous networks. Organizations with significant multi-vendor infrastructure may need additional tooling or custom integration to achieve comparable coverage. This can increase implementation time and reduce the benefit of a single automation control plane. Vendor-neutral automation frameworks may be a better fit for broad device diversity.
Complexity and deployment overhead
Deploying Crosswork typically involves multiple components, integrations, and operational prerequisites (data sources, controllers, and workflow design). This can require specialized skills and cross-team coordination to implement successfully. Smaller teams may find the operational overhead high relative to simpler configuration automation tools. Time-to-value often depends on the maturity of existing network telemetry and process standardization.
Licensing and module planning
Crosswork is commonly licensed as a suite with modular applications, which can make scoping and cost forecasting more complex. Teams may need to plan carefully which Crosswork apps are required for their target use cases. Budgeting can be harder when capabilities are distributed across modules and dependent integrations. Procurement and renewal management may be more involved than for single-purpose automation utilities.
Plan & Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key features & notes |
|---|---|---|
| Crosswork Cloud — Free tier | Free (no cost) | Legacy BGPmon.net free tier continued; limited feature set and usage requirements to retain free subscription (see Cisco datasheet). |
| Crosswork Cloud — Essentials | Contact Cisco (not publicly listed) | Entry paid tier; subscription tier based on number of configured IP prefixes to be monitored; feature/price parity with legacy BGPmon noted in Cisco materials. |
| Crosswork Cloud — Advantage | Contact Cisco (not publicly listed) | Mid-tier paid subscription with additional features vs Essentials; priced by IP prefixes/entitlement. |
| Crosswork Cloud — Premier | Contact Cisco (not publicly listed) | Top-tier paid subscription; includes full feature set and priority/first-access features; priced by IP prefixes/entitlement. |
| Crosswork Network Automation (suite: Optimization Engine, NSO, Hierarchical Controller, Planning, etc.) | Contact Cisco / Custom pricing | Multiple applications offered; flexible purchase options (license individually or packaged suites); Cisco site directs customers to contact sales for pricing and purchase. |
Seller details
Cisco Systems, Inc.
San Jose, California, USA
1984
Public
https://www.cisco.com/
https://x.com/Cisco
https://www.linkedin.com/company/cisco/
