Cisco Smart Net Total Care - Extended Service - Service ncd Cisco Secure Firewall

The Cisco Smart Net Total Care (SmartNet) Extended Service for Cisco Secure Firewall is Cisco’s premier technical services solution designed to maximize uptime, security, and operational efficiency for modern networks. This service blends Cisco’s foundational support with proactive intelligence and actionable business insights, delivering continuous protection and performance for your Secure Firewall deployment. By combining hardware and software coverage with proactive monitoring and streamlined asset management, Smart Net Total Care helps IT teams anticipate issues, accelerate resolutions, and align security investments with business goals. It’s more than maintenance—it’s a comprehensive lifecycle service that turns risk into resilience for organizations of every size.

• 24x7 access to Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC) with expedited case handling for urgent firewall incidents, ensuring rapid incident resolution and minimal downtime during security events or hardware faults.
• Hardware and software coverage that includes timely hardware replacement options and access to the latest security-enabled software updates and patch releases, helping you stay ahead of emerging threats and vulnerabilities.
• Proactive monitoring and health analytics from the Smart Net Total Care platform, delivering health checks, usage insights, and recommended remediation actions before issues impact performance or compliance.
• Centralized asset, license, and warranty visibility through the Smart Net Total Care Portal, enabling a unified view of Secure Firewall deployments and simplifying governance, budgeting, and renewal planning.
• Improved operational efficiency and cost control via streamlined renewal processes, consolidated support coverage, and a predictable annual expense model that aligns with IT budgeting cycles and asset lifecycle strategies.

Technical Details of Cisco Smart Net Total Care - Extended Service

• Service type: Extended service integration for Cisco Secure Firewall deployments, encompassing hardware and software support.
• Support access: 24x7 access to Cisco TAC with defined escalation paths for high-priority security and performance issues.
• Hardware coverage: Replacement options for covered devices to minimize downtime, subject to contract terms and device eligibility.
• Software coverage: Access to software updates, bug fixes, security advisories, and feature enhancements relevant to Secure Firewall platforms.
• Health monitoring: Proactive device telemetry, health checks, and policy recommendations through the Smart Net Total Care portal.
• Asset management: Centralized inventory, license status, and warranty information to support compliance and lifecycle planning.
• Renewal model: Annual renewal required to maintain continuous coverage and access to ongoing Cisco service benefits.

How to install Cisco Smart Net Total Care - Extended Service

Note: This service is a contractual enablement rather than a physical installation. Activation involves linking the Extended Service to your Cisco Secure Firewall assets and your Cisco account so you receive proactive monitoring, access to updates, and TAC support. Follow these steps to activate and optimize Smart Net Total Care coverage for your firewall environment:

• Verify eligibility: Confirm that your Cisco Secure Firewall devices and related hardware/software are eligible for Smart Net Total Care Extended Service and gather the relevant serial numbers or product identifiers.
• Register devices: Ensure all eligible devices are registered in the Cisco Service Portal or through your authorized Cisco reseller to establish coverage boundaries and asset ownership.
• Attach the contract: Associate the Extended Service contract with the registered devices within the service portal, aligning the coverage with your deployment footprint and renewal timelines.
• Enable telemetry: Activate device telemetry and health reporting so the Smart Net Total Care platform can monitor performance, capacity, and security posture in real time.
• Configure alerts: Set notification preferences for security advisories, software updates, warranty expirations, and hardware replacement events to align with your operations team’s response process.
• Access TAC and support routines: Establish escalation contacts and ensure your IT staff knows how to open and escalate cases through the Cisco TAC when critical firewall events occur.
• Ongoing governance: Regularly review the Smart Net Total Care dashboard for coverage accuracy, asset inventory, renewal status, and alignment with your security roadmap.

Frequently asked questions

What is Cisco Smart Net Total Care Extended Service? Cisco Smart Net Total Care is Cisco’s premier technical services portfolio that pairs core technical support with proactive intelligence. The Extended Service adds enhanced coverage for Cisco Secure Firewall devices, delivering 24x7 TAC access, hardware replacement options, software updates, and actionable business insights to help you optimize security deployment, risk management, and operational efficiency across your network.

What devices and software does this service cover? The service is designed to cover Cisco Secure Firewall hardware and the associated security software stack. It includes maintenance and support for eligible devices, firmware and software updates, and security advisories that help maintain a robust security posture. Coverage extends to the device and its core software components as defined in the contract terms with your Cisco reseller or Cisco account team.

What are the main benefits for an enterprise firewall deployment? The Extended Service offers comprehensive protection and visibility: 24x7 TAC support for rapid incident resolution, proactive health monitoring to prevent outages, timely software updates to address vulnerabilities, hardware replacement to minimize downtime, and a centralized portal for asset and warranty management. Together, these benefits reduce risk, improve uptime, and streamline security governance for organizations with complex firewall environments.

How is the service billed and renewed? Typically, the Extended Service is billed on an annual basis. Renewal timing aligns with device lifecycle management and warranty windows. You can manage renewals through the Cisco Service Portal or via your authorized Cisco reseller. Ongoing renewal ensures uninterrupted access to TAC support, software updates, and proactive monitoring capabilities.

How does it integrate with Secure Firewall deployments? The service integrates deeply with Cisco Secure Firewall ecosystems by providing continuous monitoring, automatic software updates, and timely security advisories. It helps maintain secure configurations, ensures signatures and policies stay current, and offers escalation support for critical threats or faults—reducing mean time to resolution and accelerating security maturity across distributed sites.