Together, the two companies have developed, tested and validated designs that enable building management systems to be connected to an IP network with a secure, scalable and robust architecture and easy management.

Smart buildings are becoming increasingly digitalized and use the Internet of Things for greater efficiency, optimized user comfort and increased building security. The solution from Schneider Electric and Cisco brings IT and OT together in a secure and efficient IP network solution. It enables the integration of multiple Schneider Electric EcoStruxure Building IP architecture topologies.

The IP architecture topologies can be integrated into existing building layouts, using Cisco Industrial Ethernet switches to connect to Schneider's SmartX IP controllers. The solution meets system availability requirements for deployment, saving customers time and resources while increasing their security.

"EcoStruxure Building, a secure, open and IoT-enabled architecture, enables solutions to collect, connect and correlate data seamlessly and in real time, to analyze and react to events and trends, and to create a solid basis for decisions - for example for modernization measures. With this, Schneider Electric is leading the digital transformation of smart buildings," said Kaynam Hedayat, VP Product Management, Digital Energy, at Schneider Electric. "It's exciting to see the results that can be achieved by combining our solutions with Cisco's IT expertise. This allows our EcoXpert partners, for example, to offer the best solutions to their customers while helping them to grow their business, differentiate themselves from the competition and become more profitable."

The solution from Schneider and Cisco makes building management systems more secure, scalable, resilient and easier to manage.

Through the partnership, Schneider Electric and Cisco have extended their Solution Technology Integrator (STI) agreement to qualified Certified and Master EcoXpert System Integrator partners. As "Cisco Select" or higher tier partners, Schneider EcoXperts gain access to Cisco training and education on IP Ethernet architectures and can take advantage of special pricing on Cisco products, including Industrial Ethernet Switches, Catalyst Switches, Industrial Network Director (IND) software and more.