AEGIS NaaS - Technical Deep Dive

AEGIS NaaS: A Modern Branch Network

Why the NaaS stack matters

When it comes to delivering Network as a Service (NaaS), architecture isn’t a behind-the-scenes detail—it’s the foundation that defines performance, security, scalability, and operational simplicity.

Most NaaS offerings in the market are pieced together with disparate tools, inconsistent management layers, and vendor-neutral abstractions that often result in compromise. What looks flexible on paper frequently creates fragmentation, poor visibility, and operational overhead in practice.

AEGIS NaaS is different by design.

At Intelligent Visibility, we built AEGIS NaaS on a purposefully selected and deeply integrated technology stack:

• Arista powers the LAN and Wi-Fi infrastructure with a unified OS, deep telemetry, and cloud-native orchestration.
• Cato Networks delivers converged SD-WAN and SASE capabilities through a single global platform that combines performance and Zero Trust security.
• AEGIS, our managed services toolchain, processes, and people, ties it all together—streamlining deployments, changes, and day-to-day operations.

This architecture wasn’t chosen by vendor relationship or checkbox features—it was engineered to support real-world enterprise outcomes:

• Faster deployment of new sites and services
• Consistent policy enforcement from core to cloud
• Built-in security without bolted-on tools
• Visibility and control across every layer
• Lower operational burden and predictable cost structure

By building AEGIS NaaS on this tightly aligned stack, we ensure our clients aren’t just getting “managed infrastructure”—they’re getting a network ready for what comes next.

In the sections that follow, we’ll break down each component of the AEGIS platform and show how they work together to deliver one of the most complete and operationally mature NaaS solutions on the market.

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Overview of AEGIS NaaS Architecture

AEGIS NaaS is a fully managed network architecture built on the principle of best-of-breed technology without compromise. It combines enterprise-proven platforms—Arista for LAN and Wi-Fi, and Cato Networks for SASE and SD-WAN—into a cohesive service, operated end-to-end by Intelligent Visibility.

Unlike vertically integrated NaaS offerings from OEMs like Cisco+ or HPE GreenLake, AEGIS NaaS doesn’t force customers into rigid stacks where compromises in performance, visibility, or security are baked into the architecture. We also avoid the risks of emerging white-box “all-in-one” platforms like Nile, which offer simplicity at the cost of maturity, scale, and extensibility.

With AEGIS, the stack is intentionally curated, not consolidated for vendor lock-in. Each layer is built to lead in its domain—then tightly integrated, delivered, and supported as a service.

Core Components of AEGIS NaaS

Arista – LAN and Wi-Fi Infrastructure

Arista provides the wired and wireless foundation of AEGIS NaaS. With a single operating system (EOS) across all switches and access points, Arista delivers consistent performance, high reliability, and advanced telemetry across the edge and core.

Key elements include:

• High-performance campus switching, built on the world’s most reliable Network Operating System (Arista EOS)
• Enterprise-grade Wi-Fi 6/6E access points for the ultimate in WiFi performance
• Arista AGNI (Guardian for Network Identity) for integrated NAC and identity-based access control

This ensures secure, segmented connectivity for users and devices—without needing bolt-on NAC appliances or third-party integrations.

Cato Networks – SASE and SD-WAN

Cato powers the secure WAN and cloud edge. Unlike traditional SD-WAN point solutions or firewall-centric platforms retrofitted for cloud, Cato delivers SASE as a native service—integrating SD-WAN, firewall-as-a-service (FWaaS), secure web gateway (SWG), and zero trust network access (ZTNA) into a single platform.

This delivers:

• Optimized, resilient connectivity between sites, users, and cloud applications
• Unified policy enforcement and threat prevention across the entire edge
• Simplified operations through a single management interface and global private backbone

• Predictable, reliable performance from its Global Private Backbone

AEGIS Solution Management

The technology stack is only half the story. AEGIS NaaS is fully delivered, operated, and supported by Intelligent Visibility. This includes:

• Design, planning, deployment, and policy setup
• 24x7x365 monitoring and incident response
• Configuration management and change control
• Lifecycle management, including upgrades and patching
• Subscription-based pricing for predictable budgeting

Designed for Operational and Strategic Advantage

AEGIS NaaS is built for customers who need:

• Enterprise-grade performance without vendor lock-in

• Zero Trust security delivered as part of the architecture—not bolted -on

• Simplified branch and cloud access without compromising on capability

• An extensible foundation to support growth, acquisitions, and modernization

In the next sections, we’ll examine each layer of the AEGIS NaaS architecture, starting with how Arista enables secure, high-performance connectivity at the branch and campus edge.

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Arista in AEGIS NaaS: High-Performance LAN and Wi-Fi, Built for Security and Scale

Arista is the foundational platform for LAN and Wi-Fi within AEGIS NaaS. Unlike legacy networking stacks built on decades of bolt-on features and OS sprawl, Arista was engineered from the ground up for modern enterprise environments—offering clean software architecture, operational stability, and true scale-out design.

While many OEMs offer monolithic, inflexible “enterprise networking” platforms, Arista takes a fundamentally different approach. Its network operating system, EOS (Extensible Operating System), sets the standard for code quality, reliability, and operational transparency.

Why Arista EOS Stands Apart

At the heart of every Arista switch and access point is EOS—a single, modular software image that powers everything from low-density edge switches to high-performance data center cores.

Key EOS advantages include:

• Single code base across all hardware – no platform-specific branches or inconsistencies
• Modular architecture with protected memory spaces – faults in one process don’t crash the system
• Linux-based kernel with open APIs – ideal for integration, automation, and future-proofing
• Deterministic behavior and operational predictability – engineered for large-scale, production environments

This matters not just for uptime—but for ease of management, troubleshooting, and long-term lifecycle support. There’s no “consumer-grade” tier in Arista’s portfolio. Whether it’s a branch switch or a campus core, customers get the same resilient OS and enterprise-ready performance.

Integrated Wi-Fi with Enterprise Reliability

AEGIS NaaS includes Arista Wi-Fi 6/6E access points, delivering fast, reliable wireless coverage for branch, retail, and campus environments. Unlike many wireless platforms that rely on disconnected management and weak security integration, Arista’s wireless stack is part of the EOS ecosystem, allowing for consistent policies, telemetry, and control across both wired and wireless environments.

With Arista, the same principles that drive high-performance switching extend to the edge of your wireless network: clean design, robust telemetry, and identity-aware access.

Identity-Based Access with Arista AGNI

Network security starts at the point of connection. As part of every AEGIS NaaS deployment, we enable AGNI (Arista Guardian for Network Identity)—a native NAC platform built directly into Arista EOS.

AGNI allows for:

• Secure device onboarding (wired and wireless)
• User and device identity enforcement through dynamic segmentation
• Elimination of third-party NAC appliances or overlays
• Role-based access tied to policy, not static VLANs

Most NAC solutions are complex, expensive, and brittle. AGNI simplifies the entire model by treating identity as a first-class citizen in the network fabric. Devices are profiled, classified, and given access dynamically—all without adding layers of software or external enforcement points.

Designed for Operational Simplicity and Growth

Arista’s architecture allows AEGIS NaaS to scale without adding complexity. Whether you’re deploying a single clinic, a large warehouse, or dozens of retail sites, you get the same enterprise-class infrastructure with:

• Consistent policies across locations
• Predictable performance
• A single OS to support, monitor, and secure

With AEGIS, Arista’s capabilities are delivered as a service—so you don’t have to train staff, manage upgrades, or maintain disparate tools. It’s high-performance networking without the burden of ownership.

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CATO Networks for SASE and SDWAN

In the AEGIS NaaS architecture, Cato Networks delivers secure, cloud-native connectivity for all users, devices, and locations. It replaces the complexity of traditional WANs, VPNs, and perimeter security with a unified Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) platform—designed from day one to converge networking and security into a single global fabric.

While other vendors market “SASE” solutions, what they’re often offering is a loosely coupled set of legacy product lines stitched together with centralized licensing and marketing language. In contrast, Cato is one of the only platforms that delivers SASE as a true cloud-native service, not as an integration project.

What Sets Cato Apart from Traditional “SASE” Vendors

Most legacy networking and security vendors—Cisco, Palo Alto, Fortinet, and others—built their portfolios through acquisitions. Their approach to SASE typically includes:

• A firewall product (e.g., Palo Alto NGFW or Cisco ASA/FTD)
• A VPN or SD-WAN solution (e.g., Broadcom Velocloud, Cisco Viptela, Silverpeak)
• A secure web gateway or CASB (e.g., Umbrella or Prisma Access)
• A cloud-delivered ZTNA point solution (often still maturing)
• A central “cloud controller” that aggregates policy and management

The result?

• Multiple policy engines
• Fragmented logging and visibility
• Inconsistent enforcement points
• Disconnected user and app experiences
• High operational overhead and long deployment cycles

Cato solves this differently—because they started differently.

Cato’s True SASE Architecture

Cato was purpose-built for SASE from the ground up. The platform includes:

• Global private backbone with built-in optimization and redundancy
• Integrated security stack: Firewall-as-a-Service (FWaaS), Secure Web Gateway (SWG), Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB), and Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)
• Cloud-native policy engine that unifies access control across users, apps, devices, and networks
• One platform, one UI, one policy model

No product stacking. No virtual appliances. No multi-vendor support matrix.

Key Benefits in AEGIS NaaS Deployments

• Consistent user experience across all locations—no need for traditional VPNs or traffic backhaul
• Real-time policy enforcement at the edge, without complex rule syncing between systems
• Built-in redundancy and availability across every site and connection
• Global threat protection and analytics without needing to deploy or manage hardware
• Scalable Zero Trust Access—users authenticate once and are granted dynamic access based on identity, role, and posture

Simpler Operations, Better Security

With Cato in the AEGIS NaaS stack:

• Threat detection, policy enforcement, and traffic optimization are handled in the cloud
• Identity-based access control becomes the default
• Security posture improves without increasing toolsets or headcount

And because AEGIS NaaS includes 24x7 monitoring, incident response, and lifecycle management, your team never has to manage or troubleshoot the underlying infrastructure. You get enterprise-grade SASE delivered as a service, not a project.

SASE Platform Comparison

Summary:

• AEGIS NaaS with Cato offers the only fully converged, cloud-native SASE experience with no compromise across networking and security.
• Other solutions attempt to “assemble” SASE using legacy product portfolios, often leading to integration gaps, policy fragmentation, and operational overhead.

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AEGIS NaaS: Turnkey Delivery and Managed Services

AEGIS NaaS isn’t just a product—it’s a service experience. From the earliest stages of network planning to ongoing monitoring, support, and lifecycle management, Intelligent Visibility delivers a fully managed, white-glove solution that eliminates operational burden and accelerates business outcomes.

We don’t drop off a box of hardware and a login to a cloud dashboard—we handle everything end-to-end.

Full Lifecycle Delivery: From Design to Day 2+

Every AEGIS NaaS engagement is structured around clearly defined phases, each owned and executed by our expert engineering and project teams:

Planning & Design

Before we touch hardware or configuration, we lead with strategy. This phase includes:

• Discovery & Business Alignment - We meet with your stakeholders to understand business goals, application dependencies, user needs, and risk posture.

• Architecture Design - Our solution architects design a best-fit network based on performance, security, and scalability—not vendor quotas.

• Project Planning & Scope Definition - Timelines, roles, success metrics, and communication cadences are clearly defined and documented.

Site Survey & Readiness Validation

• Onsite Surveys - We assess physical site conditions, cabling, power, IDF/MDF layout, RF environment, and WAN connectivity to ensure deployment success.

• Design Validation & Updates - Architectural decisions are adjusted based on real-world conditions to eliminate surprises during deployment.

• Staging & Readiness Checklist - Each site is validated for readiness before shipping or installation begins.

Hardware Staging & Pre-Configuration

• Hardware Provisioning - All Arista and Cato hardware is received, tested, and pre-configured in our lab environment by certified engineers.

• Security Policies & Identity Access Setup - AGNI NAC policies, LAN segmentation, SASE rules, and identity-based access controls are configured in advance.
• End-to-End Testing - Devices are tested as a site stack (switch, Wi-Fi, edge) before shipment to ensure fast, error-free installs.

Deployment & Activation

• Installation Coordination - Whether done by IVI or a local partner, deployments are coordinated with your team to minimize disruption and align with business hours.

• Remote Cutover Support - Our engineers are engaged in real-time during activation to validate connectivity, user experience, and policy enforcement.

• Go-Live Validation - Network functionality is tested against documented goals—everything from WAN failover to SSID broadcasting to NAC enforcement.

Operational Onboarding & Long-Term Support

Once live, the network enters a fully managed operations phase. This includes:

• 24x7x365 Monitoring & Alerting - We watch the network continuously—connectivity, performance, system health, and security posture.

• Incident Response & Troubleshooting - Our team handles everything from root cause analysis to vendor escalations and resolution tracking.

• Configuration Management (MACD) - Adds, changes, and updates are handled by us, aligned to business policy and change control standards.

• Lifecycle Management - Firmware, patching, renewals, hardware refresh—we manage the full lifecycle to ensure platform health and vendor support alignment.

• Ongoing Optimization & Business Reviews - We provide reporting, recommendations, and planning support as your network needs evolve.

A Truly Turnkey Experience

From the first workshop to the full rollout, your team doesn’t need to lift the hood or chase tickets across multiple vendors. With AEGIS NaaS:

• You get a single partner, a single platform, and a fully supported service
• Your infrastructure is monitored, supported, and optimized around the clock
• You gain a future-proof network, ready to scale with your business—without scaling your IT burden

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Integrations and API-First Design: Built to Work with the Rest of Your IT Stack

A modern network shouldn’t operate in a silo. Whether you’re managing incidents in ServiceNow, automating identity policies from Azure AD, or correlating network data in a SIEM, your network infrastructure should speak the same language as the rest of your tools.

AEGIS NaaS is designed to integrate cleanly and efficiently across your IT ecosystem—without requiring custom scripting or manual workarounds.

Both core platforms in the AEGIS stack—Arista and Cato Networks—are built from the ground up with extensibility in mind. Their robust APIs and modern design standards ensure seamless interoperability with enterprise systems, automation pipelines, and security platforms.

Native API Support Across the Stack

Arista EOS APIs

• Expose real-time state and configuration via REST, gNMI, and eAPI
• Enable automation of port changes, VLAN mapping, and ACL enforcement
• Integrate directly with internal tools or third-party orchestration platforms like Ansible and Terraform
• Enable real-time event streaming to logging platforms and SIEMs

Cato Networks APIs

• Provide programmatic access to network analytics, user sessions, application visibility, and security policies
• Integrate with identity providers (Azure AD, Okta, Google Workspace) for dynamic access control
• Push alerts and telemetry into SIEM, SOAR, or ITSM platforms
• Automate configuration rollouts or changes based on workflow triggers

Key Integration Use Cases

AEGIS Delivers the Integration, Not Just the API

While APIs unlock potential, Intelligent Visibility ensures that potential becomes reality. As part of the AEGIS NaaS service:

• We build and maintain integrations as part of onboarding or continuous service improvement these include integrations with
• We monitor API health and adjust workflows when vendors update endpoints
• We tie automation to actual business logic, not just config management

You’re not just getting open APIs—you’re getting a team that knows how to make them useful in your specific environment.

Future-Ready, Automation-Enabled

Whether you’re building toward zero-touch MACD, compliance automation, or intelligent network-triggered workflows, AEGIS NaaS gives you the foundation to get there—with:

• Open, standards-based architecture
• Operational guardrails built into every integration
• Expert support to align technology with business process

Your network doesn’t need to be a black box—or a snowflake. With AEGIS NaaS, it becomes an integrated part of your overall IT strategy.

Platform Security by Design: Zero Trust and Secure Connectivity from the Ground Up

In today’s threat landscape, network security can’t be something you layer on after the fact—it must be built into the fabric of the infrastructure itself. AEGIS NaaS is engineered with security at every layer, combining Zero Trust principles, identity-driven access control, full-stack visibility, and cloud-native threat protection into a unified, managed solution.

This is not security as an add-on or separate product. With AEGIS NaaS, security is delivered as part of the architecture, automatically enforced, continuously monitored, and aligned to your business.

Zero Trust Enforcement Everywhere

AEGIS NaaS applies Zero Trust principles across the LAN, WAN, Wi-Fi, and cloud edge. That means:

• No implicit trust based on location, device, or network segment
• All access is identity-based, authenticated, and evaluated in real time
• Policies are centrally managed and enforced consistently across users, devices, and locations

Whether a user connects from the office, a remote branch, or a home network, they are subject to the same authentication, authorization, and segmentation policies.

Built-In SASE Security with Cato Networks

Security services are delivered natively via Cato’s SASE cloud platform, including:

• Firewall-as-a-Service (FWaaS) with DPI and policy control
• Secure Web Gateway (SWG) for web filtering and malware protection
• Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) for application-level access enforcement
• Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) to govern SaaS usage and data movement
• Threat prevention and traffic inspection in the cloud—not on the device or branch

This eliminates the need for on-prem firewalls, VPN concentrators, or dedicated security appliances—and removes the overhead of managing multiple disconnected tools.

Native NAC with Arista AGNI

On the wired and wireless side, Arista AGNI (Guardian for Network Identity) provides integrated network access control (NAC) without the cost and complexity of legacy NAC platforms.

Key capabilities:

• Secure device onboarding and profiling

• Dynamic segmentation based on identity and policy

• Inline enforcement at the switch or access point level

• Eliminates VLAN sprawl and manual port management

Every device on the network is authenticated, authorized, and appropriately segmented—whether it’s a user laptop, contractor tablet, or an IoT sensor.

Micro and Macro Segmentation

AEGIS enables both macro-segmentation (between business units or device classes) and micro-segmentation (granular policies based on user role, device type, application, or risk score).

This drastically limits lateral movement and reduces the blast radius of any compromise.

Examples:

• Keep IoT devices segmented from business-critical systems
• Enforce different controls for managed vs. unmanaged devices
• Isolate guest Wi-Fi from internal traffic, even on the same hardware

Continuous Monitoring, Alerts, and Response

As part of the managed service, Intelligent Visibility delivers:

• 24x7x365 monitoring of all security events and anomalies

• Proactive alerting tied to risk severity and business impact

• Incident response workflows managed by our expert team

• Audit trails and reporting for compliance and executive visibility

No handoffs, no escalations to multiple vendors—just rapid response and clear accountability.

Security That Evolves with the Threat Landscape

Threats change. So do requirements. AEGIS NaaS includes ongoing security lifecycle management:

• Policy tuning based on usage and threat patterns
• Cloud-delivered updates from Cato’s global threat intelligence
• Support for new identity providers or access workflows
• Built-in logging for audits, investigations, and compliance reviews

With AEGIS NaaS, you’re not buying a product—you’re operationalizing a security-first network architecture. Delivered. Managed. Always-on.

Summary: NaaS Built for Performance, Security, and Simplicity

AEGIS NaaS isn’t just a different way to procure network infrastructure—it’s a fundamentally better way to design, deploy, and operate your network. It’s built for modern IT teams who need to move fast, scale intelligently, and protect their users without compromise.

While many vendors offer “as-a-service” networking built on limited, proprietary stacks, AEGIS NaaS delivers a best-of-breed architecture backed by enterprise-class operations—fully managed, deeply integrated, and aligned to real business outcomes.

Performance That Scales with Your Business

• Enterprise-grade switching and Wi-Fi with Arista EOS
• Cloud-optimized WAN and edge security via Cato SASE
• Fast deployments and zero-touch site activation

Security Without Complexity

• Zero Trust enforcement across LAN, WAN, and cloud
• Built-in NAC (AGNI), ZTNA, FWaaS, and more
• Real-time visibility and 24x7 incident response

Simplicity in Delivery and Operations

• White-glove, turnkey deployment—from design to go-live
• One partner, one service, fully managed
• Predictable cost model with no CapEx surprises

AEGIS NaaS eliminates the friction and fragmentation of traditional network infrastructure—and replaces it with a platform that works the way your business does: fast, flexible, and secure by design.

Whether you’re rolling out new branches, supporting hybrid work, preparing for M&A, or modernizing legacy environments—AEGIS NaaS gives you the confidence and control to get there faster.

Let’s build a network that’s ready for what’s next.

Connect with our team to explore how AEGIS NaaS can simplify your environment and strengthen your infrastructure—without slowing you down.