Latest news with #SmartSwitch
Zawya
28-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
SmartSwitch Botswana brings financial inclusion to thousands of food grant recipients
SmartSwitch Botswana is blazing a trail for financial inclusion with a financial technology (Fintech) solution that puts dignity and financial services into food voucher beneficiaries' hands. Since it was established in 2006, Smart Switch has grown its footprint to more than 75 000 beneficiaries in underserved communities across Botswana. SmartSwitch Botswana, a subsidiary of Lesaka Technologies, was founded with the exclusive rights to deploy Botswana's Universal Electronic Payment System (UEPS). The UEPS has also been embraced and approved by the central banks of countries such as Namibia, Ghana, and South Africa as an accredited national payment system. At the heart of the offering is a secure, biometric-enabled smart card platform designed for the unbanked and underbanked. The system enables food grant recipients to safely receive, store, and spend funds at local merchant outlets while earning interest on unspent balances. The solution was developed in response to a Ministry of Local Government tender to overhaul Botswana's paper-based food basket system. The previous system—marked by inefficiencies, lack of choice, and social stigma—was failing the people it was meant to help. The tender had two main goals. Firstly, the Ministry of Local Government wanted to empower beneficiaries with choice in the food they acquired, when they could collect their food, and where they could collect their food. The second aim was to provide a dignified alternative to the stigma associated with the earlier system. 'Although we applied cutting-edge technology to the challenge, we also knew we needed to create a deeply human solution to address the audience's needs,' says France Mabiletsa, Managing Director of SmartSwitch Botswana. 'We had to provide beneficiaries with choice and restore their dignity.' Today, those goals have been exceeded. Beneficiaries no longer need to queue in the sun with wheelbarrows to collect pre-packaged goods. Beneficiaries receive a monthly allowance on a SmartSwitch card, which they can use at over 1,200 local shops, ranging from general dealers to corner stores. Each transaction is authenticated through biometric verification, ensuring security and privacy. The card looks like a bank-issued debit card, so it isn't apparent they are food allowance beneficiaries. In the first three years after implementation, more than 50,000 people, many of whom had never engaged with a financial institution, were integrated into Botswana's financial ecosystem. Today, over 75,000 beneficiaries have access to these smart banking tools, which include secure, offline-capable transactions via biometric-enabled POS devices The solution is equally transformative for merchants. Payments are settled within 48 hours, improving liquidity. Competition among stores has improved service quality, benefiting end users. 'The system has helped our business grow. We serve more customers, and we get paid quickly and securely,' said Kennete Mmusinyane of Obed Supermarket in Gumare in the Okavango District. With a track record of reliable delivery and innovation, SmartSwitch is gearing up for the next phase of its development. As the government prepares to issue a new tender, SmartSwitch has plans to introduce enhanced services and upgraded devices to further support beneficiaries and retailers. 'We're not standing still. We're reinvesting in the system to do more for more people,' says Mabiletsa. 'It is our aim to continue to be a trusted partner to the government, a reliable ally to merchants, and a gateway to dignity, choice, and empowerment for thousands of people in Botswana.' SmartSwitch is a member of Lesaka Technologies ( Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kazang. About Kazang: Kazang ( is a leading provider of cash and digital solutions to merchants in Southern Africa's informal economies. Our fintech solutions include a diverse range of value-added services (VAS), card acquiring, secure cash vaults and supplier payments platforms. Operating with a network of approximately 90,000 active devices, we process approximately 2.2 million transactions daily in markets such as South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, and Zambia. We are dedicated to helping small and medium merchants grow and succeed, through increasing their sales, making their businesses more efficient and reducing their risks with our holistic portfolio of products and services. Kazang is a member of Lesaka Technologies ( About Lesaka Technologies, Inc: The Connect Group and Kazang was acquired by Lesaka Technologies, Inc. in April 2022. Lesaka Technologies, (Lesaka™) is a South African Fintech company that utilizes its proprietary banking and payment technologies to deliver superior financial services solutions to merchants (B2B) and consumers (B2C) in Southern Africa. Lesaka's mission is to drive true financial inclusion for both merchant and consumer markets through offering affordable financial services to previously underserved sectors of the economy. Lesaka offers cash management solutions, growth capital, card acquiring, bill payment technologies and value-added services to retail merchants as well as banking, lending, and insurance solutions to consumers across Southern Africa. Lesaka has a primary listing on NASDAQ (NasdaqGS: LSAK) and a secondary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE: LSK). Visit for additional information about Lesaka Technologies (Lesaka ™). $LSK / $LSAK
Web Release
19-03-2025
- Business
- Web Release
Cisco Redefines Data Center Architecture with New Smart Switches, Embedding Services Directly into the Network
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) announced a family of data center Smart Switches, disrupting traditional data center network design by enabling networking and security services in a compact all-in-one solution. Utilizing programmable AMD Pensando™ data processing units (DPUs), the switch functions as a high-capacity, multifunctional service-hosting device, architecturally transforming data centers to simplify their design and make them more efficient. Cisco's first integrated offering, the Smart Switch with Cisco Hypershield, introduces a new approach to securing AI data centers by fusing security directly into the network fabric. As AI workloads multiply, building and managing data centers has become much more complex. Data center operators require a simpler way to design, build, and deploy infrastructure to fully benefit from AI. AI applications must sit where they are needed, whether a massive large language model sitting in centralized hyperscale facilities or a network drone monitoring crop irrigation at the very edge of the network. This shift in where data is created, accessed, and stored requires a new type of simplified data center infrastructure–one that integrates compute, storage, networking, and security in new ways, and allows for automated and predictive operations via simplified management platforms. 'Data center infrastructure needs be reimagined for both AI training and inferencing workloads that dwarf even the largest enterprise jobs of the past,' said Jeetu Patel, EVP and Chief Product Officer, Cisco. 'Simply upgrading data center infrastructure with higher 'speeds and feeds' switches does not address the requirements of modern data centers, which require acceleration of security and network services natively within the data center fabric.' 'Cisco's innovative approach to data center design, leveraging leadership AMD Pensando DPUs, marks a significant milestone in transforming enterprise infrastructure to address the evolving security demands of data center networks while dealing with the fast paced AI deployments,' said Soni Jiandani, senior vice president and general manager, Networking Technology and Solutions Group, AMD. 'Our collaboration with Cisco enables enterprises to achieve high-capacity throughput and impressive network security without compromising on workload performance on Cisco UCS servers or Hypershield enabled platforms. Together, we are paving the way for a new era of intelligent, adaptive, and secure data centers.' Cisco Smart Switches: a Game Changer As AI drives rapid growth, organizations must manage significantly increased power, compute and networking demands. In traditional data center architectures, when each new service required a specific device, growth led to complexity. It also required adding, changing, or upgrading the enforcement of security policies with each new service or workload. Cisco Smart Switches offer a simpler, more efficient and extensible architecture by integrating services directly with the data center fabric, rather than bolting them on top. By combining Cisco data center networking, Silicon One, and AMD DPUs, customers can scale services and adapt quickly to evolving business needs, all without the need for any additional hardware. The switches feature two processing engines: a high-performance network processor for stable data transfer and a network services sidecar for agile security processing. Traffic is intelligently steered between the two engines for optimal performance. This architectural shift drives cost savings through hardware consolidation, reduced power consumption, and operational simplicity. Cisco Smart Switches embrace all the capabilities of a NX-OS switch and management through Nexus Dashboard, and will unlock a diverse set of use cases like stateful segmentation, IPSec encryption, enhanced telemetry, DDoS protection and more. Reimagining Data Center Security with Smart Switch and Hypershield The first integrated service will combine Cisco Smart Switches and Hypershield to form a new approach to data center security. It will combine an advanced, AI-native, hardware-accelerated, distributed security architecture directly within the data center fabric to: Provide security that's melted into the data center network. Hypershield embedded in the switching layer reduces the number of appliances and allows data center operators to create a 'micro perimeter' around each service that makes up a workload. Enable autonomous segmentation policies. Customers can benefit from automatically updating security policies to the right enforcement points, ensuring consistent security with minimal manual effort. Keep security posture up to date reducing disruption. Organizations can minimize risks and drive policy lifecycle management at scale by using self-qualifying policy updates before deployment. Easily extend consistent policy enforcement across multiple domains. With the ability to manage policies consistently across a library of enforcement points in the cloud, on-prem, and on traditional next-gen firewalls, customers now have a single management system with Cisco Hybrid Mesh Firewall. Manage network and security workflows with persona-driven operations. The solution seamlessly integrated into existing processes, and supports common and separate workflows for NetOps, SecOps, or NetSecOps teams using a single solution to maintain connectivity and security. Fusing security directly into the data center network changes the fundamentals of data center security. Combined with Cisco Firewall Threat Defense, new AI Defense capabilities, and Security Cloud Control, Cisco will offer the first Hybrid Mesh Firewall optimized to protect AI applications in the data center and public cloud. General Availability The first available Cisco N9300 Smart Switch, which features 24 100G ports, is targeted for shipment in spring 2025. A top-of-rack model, which will feature 48 25G ports, two 100G ports, and six 400G ports, is targeted for first availability in summer 2025.
Arab News
18-03-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Cisco redefines data center architecture with new Smart Switches
Cisco announced a family of data center Smart Switches, disrupting traditional data center network design by enabling networking and security services in a compact all-in-one solution. Utilizing programmable AMD Pensando data processing units, the switch functions as a high-capacity, multifunctional service-hosting device, architecturally transforming data centers to simplify their design and make them more efficient. Cisco's first integrated offering, the Smart Switch with Cisco Hypershield, introduces a new approach to securing AI data centers by fusing security directly into the network fabric. As AI workloads multiply, building and managing data centers has become much more complex. Data center operators require a simpler way to design, build, and deploy infrastructure to fully benefit from AI. AI applications must sit where they are needed, whether a massive large language model sitting in centralized hyperscale facilities or a network drone monitoring crop irrigation at the very edge of the network. This shift in where data is created, accessed, and stored requires a new type of simplified data center infrastructure–one that integrates compute, storage, networking, and security in new ways, and allows for automated and predictive operations via simplified management platforms. 'Data center infrastructure needs be reimagined for both AI training and inferencing workloads that dwarf even the largest enterprise jobs of the past,' said Jeetu Patel, EVP and chief product officer, Cisco. 'Simply upgrading data center infrastructure with higher 'speeds and feeds' switches does not address the requirements of modern data centers, which require acceleration of security and network services natively within the data center fabric.' 'Cisco's innovative approach to data center design, leveraging leadership AMD Pensando DPUs, marks a significant milestone in transforming enterprise infrastructure to address the evolving security demands of data center networks while dealing with the fast paced AI deployments,' said Soni Jiandani, senior vice president and general manager, Networking Technology and Solutions Group, AMD. 'Our collaboration with Cisco enables enterprises to achieve high-capacity throughput and impressive network security without compromising on workload performance on Cisco UCS servers or Hypershield enabled platforms. Together, we are paving the way for a new era of intelligent, adaptive, and secure data centers.'
TECHx
18-03-2025
- Business
- TECHx
Cisco Unveils Smart Switches for AI-Driven Data Centers - TECHx Media Cisco Unveils Smart Switches for AI-Driven Data Centers
Cisco Unveils Smart Switches for AI-Driven Data Centers Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) has introduced a family of data center Smart Switches that are set to disrupt traditional network designs, offering an all-in-one solution for networking and security. Powered by programmable AMD Pensando™ data processing units (DPUs), these switches serve as multifunctional service-hosting devices, transforming data center architectures for improved efficiency and simpler designs. Cisco's Smart Switch with Cisco Hypershield is the first integrated offering, reimagining data center security by embedding it directly into the network fabric. As AI workloads surge, the complexity of managing data centers has grown significantly. To address these challenges, data center operators need a more efficient way to design, build, and deploy infrastructure that supports AI applications, whether in centralized hyperscale facilities or edge locations. This new approach requires simplified data center infrastructures that combine compute, storage, networking, and security, all while enabling automated and predictive operations. 'Data center infrastructure must be reimagined to meet the demands of AI workloads that are far more complex than traditional enterprise tasks,' said Jeetu Patel, EVP and Chief Product Officer at Cisco. 'Relying on upgraded infrastructure with higher speeds doesn't address the needs of modern data centers, which require integrated acceleration of network and security services.' Soni Jiandani, senior vice president and general manager of Networking Technology and Solutions Group at AMD, emphasized the collaboration with Cisco, stating, 'Our partnership with Cisco enables enterprises to deliver high-capacity throughput and advanced network security without compromising workload performance, paving the way for secure and intelligent data centers.' Cisco Smart Switches: A New Era of Data Center Efficiency With the rapid growth of AI, organizations are faced with increased demands for power, compute, and networking. Traditional data center architectures led to complexity as new services required additional devices and security policies had to be enforced with each new workload. Cisco Smart Switches simplify this by integrating services directly into the data center fabric, eliminating the need for additional hardware. The Cisco Smart Switch combines Cisco's networking technology, Silicon One, and AMD DPUs, offering customers scalability, adaptability, and cost savings through hardware consolidation, reduced power consumption, and operational simplicity. The switch features two processing engines for stable data transfer and agile security processing, ensuring optimal performance by intelligently steering traffic between them. With capabilities such as stateful segmentation, IPSec encryption, DDoS protection, and enhanced telemetry, these switches will redefine data center management. Revolutionizing Data Center Security with Hypershield Cisco is taking a revolutionary approach to data center security with its integrated Smart Switch and Hypershield solution. This advanced, AI-native security architecture is embedded directly into the data center fabric to provide: Embedded security, reducing the need for additional appliances by creating a 'micro perimeter' around each workload. Autonomous segmentation policies that automatically update security enforcement points, ensuring consistent security with minimal manual intervention. Real-time policy updates and management, reducing risks and enhancing security posture. Consistent policy enforcement across multiple domains, with management supported by Cisco Hybrid Mesh Firewall. This fusion of security directly into the data center network, combined with Cisco Firewall Threat Defense and new AI Defense capabilities, makes the Hybrid Mesh Firewall the first solution optimized to protect AI applications in both data centers and the public cloud. General Availability The Cisco N9300 Smart Switch, featuring 24 100G ports, is set for shipment in Spring 2025. Additionally, a top-of-rack model with 48 25G ports, two 100G ports, and six 400G ports will be available by Summer 2025.
Tahawul Tech
18-03-2025
- Business
- Tahawul Tech
Cisco on a mission to make data centers ‘smart' following introduction of new suite of solutions
Cisco have announced a new family of data center 'Smart Switches', which they believe will fundamentally redefine traditional data center architectectures in order to meet the requirements of modern data centers. Cisco have unveiled the family of data center Smart Switches, disrupting traditional data center network design by enabling networking and security services in a compact all-in-one solution. Utilizing programmable AMD Pensando™ data processing units (DPUs), the switch functions as a high-capacity, multifunctional service-hosting device, architecturally transforming data centers to simplify their design and make them more efficient. Cisco's first integrated offering, the Smart Switch with Cisco Hypershield, introduces a new approach to securing AI data centers by fusing security directly into the network fabric. As AI workloads multiply, building and managing data centers has become much more complex. Data center operators require a simpler way to design, build, and deploy infrastructure to fully benefit from AI. AI applications must sit where they are needed, whether a massive large language model sitting in centralized hyperscale facilities or a network drone monitoring crop irrigation at the very edge of the network. This shift in where data is created, accessed, and stored requires a new type of simplified data center infrastructure–one that integrates compute, storage, networking, and security in new ways, and allows for automated and predictive operations via simplified management platforms. 'Data center infrastructure needs be reimagined for both AI training and inferencing workloads that dwarf even the largest enterprise jobs of the past,' said Jeetu Patel, EVP and Chief Product Officer, Cisco. 'Simply upgrading data center infrastructure with higher 'speeds and feeds' switches does not address the requirements of modern data centers, which require acceleration of security and network services natively within the data center fabric.' 'Cisco's innovative approach to data center design, leveraging leadership AMD Pensando DPUs, marks a significant milestone in transforming enterprise infrastructure to address the evolving security demands of data center networks while dealing with the fast paced AI deployments,' said Soni Jiandani, senior vice president and general manager, Networking Technology and Solutions Group, AMD. 'Our collaboration with Cisco enables enterprises to achieve high-capacity throughput and impressive network security without compromising on workload performance on Cisco UCS servers or Hypershield enabled platforms. Together, we are paving the way for a new era of intelligent, adaptive, and secure data centers.' Cisco Smart Switches: a Game Changer As AI drives rapid growth, organizations must manage significantly increased power, compute and networking demands. In traditional data center architectures, when each new service required a specific device, growth led to complexity. It also required adding, changing, or upgrading the enforcement of security policies with each new service or workload. Cisco Smart Switches offer a simpler, more efficient and extensible architecture by integrating services directly with the data center fabric, rather than bolting them on top. By combining Cisco data center networking, Silicon One, and AMD DPUs, customers can scale services and adapt quickly to evolving business needs, all without the need for any additional hardware. The switches feature two processing engines: a high-performance network processor for stable data transfer and a network services sidecar for agile security processing. Traffic is intelligently steered between the two engines for optimal performance. This architectural shift drives cost savings through hardware consolidation, reduced power consumption, and operational simplicity. Cisco Smart Switches embrace all the capabilities of a NX-OS switch and management through Nexus Dashboard, and will unlock a diverse set of use cases like stateful segmentation, IPSec encryption, enhanced telemetry, DDoS protection and more. Reimagining Data Center Security with Smart Switch and Hypershield The first integrated service will combine Cisco Smart Switches and Hypershield to form a new approach to data center security. It will combine an advanced, AI-native, hardware-accelerated, distributed security architecture directly within the data center fabric to: Provide security that's melted into the data center network. Hypershield embedded in the switching layer reduces the number of appliances and allows data center operators to create a 'micro perimeter' around each service that makes up a workload. Enable autonomous segmentation policies. Customers can benefit from automatically updating security policies to the right enforcement points, ensuring consistent security with minimal manual effort. Keep security posture up to date reducing disruption. Organizations can minimize risks and drive policy lifecycle management at scale by using self-qualifying policy updates before deployment. Easily extend consistent policy enforcement across multiple domains. With the ability to manage policies consistently across a library of enforcement points in the cloud, on-prem, and on traditional next-gen firewalls, customers now have a single management system with Cisco Hybrid Mesh Firewall. Manage network and security workflows with persona-driven operations. The solution seamlessly integrated into existing processes, and supports common and separate workflows for NetOps, SecOps, or NetSecOps teams using a single solution to maintain connectivity and security. Fusing security directly into the data center network changes the fundamentals of data center security. Combined with Cisco Firewall Threat Defense, new AI Defense capabilities, and Security Cloud Control, Cisco will offer the first Hybrid Mesh Firewall optimized to protect AI applications in the data center and public cloud. General Availability The first available Cisco N9300 Smart Switch, which features 24 100G ports, is targeted for shipment in spring 2025. A top-of-rack model, which will feature 48 25G ports, two 100G ports, and six 400G ports, is targeted for first availability in summer 2025.
