To really nail password management for your Cisco DNA Center DNAC environment, you’ve gotta think beyond just what DNAC itself offers. I remember my first time grappling with all the credentials – from the DNAC server logins to the mountains of network device passwords, it felt like a full-time job just keeping track of everything securely. It’s tough, right? Especially when you’re dealing with something as critical as your network infrastructure. You’re not just trying to remember a few website logins. you’re safeguarding the very backbone of your network.

That’s where a good password manager comes into play, even for a complex beast like Cisco DNA Center. It’s not about replacing DNAC’s native credential handling, but about boosting it and filling in the gaps where centralized, robust security for all your administrative access is crucial. Think of it as your digital fortress for all things DNAC, keeping those precious keys safe and organized. If you’re looking for a solid all-around solution that balances top-notch security with super easy use, NordPass is definitely worth checking out for your team’s password management needs. It can seriously simplify how you and your team handle credentials, not just for DNAC, but for everything. In this video, we’re going to break down how to manage those passwords effectively, touching on DNAC’s built-in features, essential security practices, how external tools can help, and everything you need to keep your network secure.

Table of Contents

Understanding Cisco DNA Center’s Native Credential Management

let’s start with what Cisco DNA Center actually does on its own. DNAC isn’t just a management platform. it also has its own ways of handling credentials for the network devices it talks to. This is super important because DNAC is constantly interacting with your switches, routers, access points, and even firewalls, often needing login details to do its job.

What DNAC Handles: CLI, SNMP, HTTPS Credentials

When you set up DNAC, one of the first things you’ll do is tell it how to log into your network gear. It needs credentials for a few different protocols:

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CLI Command Line Interface Credentials: This is how DNAC talks directly to your devices, pushing configurations, running commands, and gathering information. Think of it as DNAC’s way of “SSHing” or “Telnetting” into a device, but in an automated fashion. You’ll input usernames and passwords and sometimes enable passwords into DNAC so it can manage your network devices.
SNMP Simple Network Management Protocol Credentials: SNMP is used for monitoring network devices and collecting data. DNAC uses these credentials community strings for SNMPv2c or usernames/passwords for SNMPv3 to poll devices for status updates and performance metrics.
HTTPS Credentials: Many modern network devices, and certainly DNAC itself, use web-based interfaces for management. DNAC might need HTTPS credentials to interact with device GUIs or APIs for specific tasks.

Global vs. Site-Specific Credentials in DNAC

One cool thing about DNAC is its flexibility. You don’t have to enter the same credentials for every single device if they share them. You can set up:

Global Credentials: These are credentials that apply across your entire network, or at least to a large group of devices that share the same login information. This makes initial setup and broad management a lot simpler.
Site-Specific Credentials: Sometimes, you’ll have different login details for devices at particular locations or in specific parts of your network. DNAC lets you configure credentials that are unique to a site, overriding any global settings for those devices.

This hierarchy helps keep things organized, but it also means you’re storing quite a few different passwords within the DNAC system itself.

How DNAC Manages These for Devices Discovery, Provisioning, Updates

DNAC uses these credentials throughout its lifecycle: Password manager discord

Discovery: When DNAC first scans your network to find devices, it uses the configured CLI and SNMP credentials to access and identify them. Without the right credentials, discovery just won’t work, and DNAC can’t “see” your devices.
Provisioning: Once devices are discovered and onboarded, DNAC uses these credentials to push configurations, apply templates, and set up services like SDA Software-Defined Access. If the credentials are wrong or change, DNAC can’t provision the devices.
Updates: Even for software image management or ongoing configuration changes, DNAC relies on having current and correct credentials to log into devices and perform updates. You can also create and update device credentials through Ansible modules like cisco.dnac.global_credential_v2, cisco.dnac.cli_credential, cisco.dnac.device_credential_workflow_manager, cisco.dnac.device_credential_create, and cisco.dnac.device_credential_update, which is super helpful for automation.

The Challenges of Password Management in a DNAC Environment

Even with DNAC’s native features, managing passwords in such a dynamic and critical environment isn’t a walk in the park. In fact, it brings its own set of unique challenges that can keep network engineers up at night.

Too Many Passwords: DNAC Server, Managed Devices, and Everything Else

The sheer volume of passwords is often the first hurdle. You’ve got:

DNAC Server Passwords: This includes your GUI login, the underlying Linux Maglev user account, and potentially accounts for services running on the server. Forgetting these can be a real headache.
Managed Device Passwords: Every router, switch, access point, and firewall DNAC manages has its own set of CLI, SNMP, and sometimes HTTPS credentials. If you’ve got hundreds or thousands of devices, that’s an astronomical number of login combinations.
External System Passwords: If you integrate DNAC with other systems like Cisco ISE for external authentication, or with a firewall management center FMC for security policies, you’ll have credentials for those integrations too.
Automated Script Passwords: Many teams use scripts like Ansible playbooks to automate tasks with DNAC. These scripts need credentials to access DNAC APIs or directly configure devices. Storing these securely without human interaction is a whole different beast.

Complexity and Length Requirements: Cisco Type 8/9 and NSA Recommendations

Network devices, especially Cisco gear, have specific recommendations for password strength. The NSA, for instance, strongly recommends using Type 8 passwords for all Cisco devices running software developed after 2013, and Type 6 passwords when reversible encryption is absolutely necessary. These aren’t just about length. they involve strong hashing algorithms like PBKDF2 with SHA-256.

The problem is, creating and remembering these super complex, long passwords some wireless controllers even require 12 characters minimum for every single device is practically impossible for a human. Password manager for dgn

Password Reuse Risks

It’s tempting to reuse passwords across devices or for DNAC and other systems. We’ve all been there! But in a network environment, this is a massive security vulnerability. If one device gets compromised, a reused password can give an attacker a “skeleton key” to unlock vast portions of your network. According to one survey, a staggering 84% of respondents admitted to reusing passwords, which is just asking for trouble in a critical infrastructure setting.

Password Recovery Difficulties for DNAC Itself

Losing the password to your DNAC appliance – especially the underlying Maglev CLI or the main web UI admin – can be a nightmare. Cisco provides documentation for recovery, but it can be a cumbersome, multi-step process often requiring console access, and sometimes even involving a warm boot and specific commands. If you’re not prepared, this could lead to significant downtime.

Automated Access and Secure Storage for Scripts

For teams leveraging automation with DNAC, securely storing credentials for scripts is a critical challenge. You don’t want plaintext passwords sitting in a script or a configuration file. Options range from encrypting passwords in databases with Hardware Security Modules HSM to using OS access controls, but each has its complexities and security considerations, especially for environments where human intervention isn’t always available to input a master password.

Best Practices for Securing Passwords with Cisco DNA Center

we know the challenges are real. Now, let’s talk about some solid best practices to really tighten up your password security when you’re working with Cisco DNA Center. Password manager data

Strong, Unique Passwords for DNAC Users and Devices

This one might sound obvious, but it’s the foundation. Every single account – from your personal DNAC GUI login to the CLI access for a single access point – needs a strong, unique password. We’re talking long, complex strings with a mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols. The NSA recommends Type 8 passwords for Cisco devices, which use modern hashing algorithms like PBKDF2 with SHA-256, making them much harder to crack.

Don’t use common words, personal information, or easily guessable sequences. And seriously, never, ever reuse passwords. A data breach on one system shouldn’t compromise another.

Leveraging External Authentication Cisco ISE, TACACS+

Here’s where things get really smart for enterprise environments. Instead of having local user accounts on DNAC, you can integrate it with an external authentication system like Cisco Identity Services Engine ISE using TACACS+.

What this does is centralize your user management. When someone tries to log into DNAC, it asks ISE for verification. This means:

Single Source of Truth: All user accounts, roles, and policies are managed in one place ISE, not spread across multiple DNAC instances or devices.
Granular Control: ISE allows for very precise role-based access control RBAC. You can define exactly what a user can do in DNAC based on their role in your organization.
Simplified Onboarding/Offboarding: When an employee joins or leaves, you manage their access in ISE, and it propagates to DNAC and other integrated systems.
Enhanced Logging: ISE provides detailed authentication and authorization logs, giving you a better audit trail.

If you have ISE, you absolutely should be using it for DNAC external authentication. Password manager dashboard

Securing the DNAC Appliance Firewall, SSH Access

Your DNAC appliance itself is a critical asset, so it needs robust protection:

Deploy Behind a Firewall: Cisco strongly recommends deploying DNAC behind a firewall in a private network. This acts as a defensive layer, controlling what traffic can reach and leave your DNAC. Make sure to only open necessary ports with specific IP addresses or ranges.
Secure SSH Access: If you need CLI access to the DNAC appliance for the Maglev user, ensure SSH is secured. Change default passwords immediately. Also, be mindful of SSH account lockouts after too many failed attempts – it’s a security feature, but it can lock you out if you’re not careful.
Regular Updates: Keep your DNAC software up to date. Updates often include security patches for known vulnerabilities.
Dedicated Management Network: Isolate your DNAC cluster on a dedicated management network. This prevents management traffic from mixing with regular production traffic and adds another layer of security.

Regular Password Rotation Where Feasible

While the NIST National Institute of Standards and Technology has shifted away from forced, frequent password changes for users because it often leads to weaker, predictable passwords, it’s still a good practice for critical system accounts or for devices that might be less frequently accessed. For DNAC device credentials, if a compromise is suspected, immediate rotation is essential.

Multi-Factor Authentication MFA

For administrator accounts accessing DNAC, MFA is a no-brainer. It adds a crucial layer of security, requiring not just “something you know” your password but also “something you have” like a token or phone app or “something you are” biometrics. The NSA recommends MFA for administrators managing critical devices. This significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access, even if a password is stolen.

Utilizing Advanced Hashing Algorithms Cisco Type 8/9

When configuring passwords for your Cisco network devices, always aim for the strongest available hashing algorithms. Cisco devices developed after 2013 support Type 8, which is robust, and Type 9. Avoid older, less secure types like Type 7 obfuscated, not encrypted or Type 5 MD5, easily crackable. When DNAC pushes configurations, be aware of the encryption type it uses. some users have noted DNAC pushing SHA256 when they preferred scrypt or Type 9, and there might not be a direct way to specify the algorithm within DNAC for device passwords. However, ensuring the underlying device configurations use the strongest possible method is paramount.

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How External Password Managers Can Supercharge Your DNAC Security

Even with DNAC’s built-in features and all those best practices, there are still areas where a dedicated, external password manager can be a must for your security posture. It’s not about replacing DNAC’s internal credential store for network devices, but about securing everything around DNAC and making your administrative life a lot easier and safer.

Beyond Native Capabilities: Where External Tools Fill Gaps

DNAC is great at managing credentials for network devices. But what about the credentials to access DNAC itself? Or those “break-glass” administrator accounts? Or the various accounts you use for your cloud services, software subscriptions, or even your VPN to access the network where DNAC lives? DNAC isn’t built for that. This is where an external password manager truly shines.

Secure Storage for Critical Credentials

A top-tier password manager gives you an encrypted vault to store all sorts of sensitive information securely. This is perfect for:

DNAC Console/GUI Passwords: Your main login to the DNAC web interface.
Maglev/Linux User Passwords: The underlying operating system credentials for your DNAC appliance.
“Break-Glass” Administrator Accounts: Those emergency accounts that bypass normal authentication, which need to be stored incredibly securely.
API Keys/Tokens: If you’re using automation scripts that interact with DNAC APIs, a password manager can store these sensitive keys.
Other IT Infrastructure Logins: Passwords for your virtualization platform VMware, Hyper-V, backup systems, monitoring tools, or other network management systems.

This ensures these crucial credentials are not written on sticky notes, in unencrypted spreadsheets, or reused.

Strong Password Generation

Let’s be real, coming up with unique, complex passwords for dozens of systems is exhausting. A good password manager does this for you instantly. It can generate random, cryptographically strong passwords that meet all your length and complexity requirements, taking that burden off your shoulders. This is especially useful for those Cisco Type 8/9 passwords you need for network devices – generate them, let DNAC push them, and keep a backup in your manager if needed. Password manager for cx5

Sharing Credentials Securely

In a team environment, you often need to share access to certain accounts, like a shared DNAC admin account though highly discouraged, sometimes necessary for specific roles or a super-admin account. A password manager designed for teams allows you to share credentials securely without ever revealing the plaintext password to the recipient. You can grant access, revoke it, and track who has access to what, which is light-years ahead of emailing passwords around.

Dark Web Monitoring

Many modern password managers include dark web monitoring. They scan for your stored credentials appearing in data breaches, alerting you if any of your critical DNAC-related logins might be compromised. This proactive approach lets you change passwords before an attacker can exploit them.

Cross-Platform Access

Whether you’re on your laptop, a tablet, or even your phone, a good password manager offers apps across all major platforms. This means you have secure access to your DNAC-related credentials whenever and wherever you need them, without compromising security.

Focus on Specific DNAC Elements

Let’s zero in on how a password manager helps with the specific DNAC components we talked about:

Password manager for DNAC server: This is your primary vault for the DNAC GUI and Maglev CLI credentials. If you forget your DNAC web UI password, you’d usually reset it via the command line shell, which itself needs SSH or console access. Having those Maglev credentials securely stored in your password manager makes that recovery path much smoother.
Password manager for DNAC CLI: While DNAC itself manages CLI credentials for network devices, your team might have dedicated CLI access to DNAC or other management tools. A password manager keeps these secure. If you’re using automation tools like Ansible to manage DNAC, the password manager can secure the dnac_password used by the Ansible modules cisco.dnac.global_credential_v2, cisco.dnac.cli_credential, etc.
Password manager for DNAC firewall: If your DNAC integrates with firewalls like Cisco Firepower Management Center, FMC, you’ll need credentials for that integration. These login details should be in your password manager.
Password manager for DNAC host: For deployments where you have access to the underlying OS of the DNAC appliance which runs on a Cisco UCS server, you’ll have host-level credentials. These are distinct from DNAC’s application-level credentials and should be securely managed.
Password manager for DNAC VM: If you’re running DNAC as a virtual appliance in a VMware environment or similar, you’ll have administrative credentials for the hypervisor like ESXi admin logins and potentially for the guest OS if you need direct access to the VM. These are critical and belong in your password manager.

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Choosing the Right Password Manager for Your Team

When you’re looking for a password manager to bolster your DNAC security, you’ve got to think beyond just saving a few logins. You need something robust enough for a serious IT environment.

Key Features to Look For

Strong Encryption: This is non-negotiable. Look for industry-standard encryption like AES-256 or xChaCha20. NordPass, for example, uses xChaCha20, which offers great performance and security.
Zero-Knowledge Architecture: This means only you can decrypt and access your vault. Even the password manager company can’t see your passwords, ensuring maximum privacy. Most reputable password managers, including NordPass, follow this principle.
Secure Sharing Capabilities: For teams, the ability to securely share specific passwords or vaults with granular permissions is essential. You want to control who sees what and when.
Audit Logs: For compliance and security, especially in IT, knowing who accessed a credential and when can be critical.
Multi-Factor Authentication MFA Support: Your password manager itself needs to be protected by MFA.
Cross-Platform Availability: Make sure it works seamlessly across Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android so your team can access credentials from any device they need.
Password Health/Auditing: Features that identify weak, reused, or compromised passwords are super valuable.

Popular Choices and Why NordPass Stands Out

There are a bunch of great password managers out there, each with its own strengths:

Bitwarden: Often praised for being open-source and having a very generous free tier, making it a favorite for budget-conscious users.
Dashlane: Known for its comprehensive security features, including a built-in VPN in some plans, and a clear password health score.
1Password: A long-standing player, excellent for families and businesses with strong sharing and security features like Watchtower for monitoring.
Proton Pass: Great for privacy advocates, with Swiss-based encryption and email masking.
Keeper: Offers strong features for individuals, families, and teams, including advanced sharing and compliance tools.
RoboForm: Excellent for its form-filling capabilities and dark web monitoring.

Now, if you’re looking for that sweet spot – a password manager that’s incredibly secure, easy to use, and offers a fantastic set of features without breaking the bank, NordPass is my top recommendation for most users and teams. Created by the cybersecurity experts behind NordVPN, it strikes an ideal balance, providing robust xChaCha20 encryption, secure sharing, and a very intuitive interface that makes adopting it across your team a breeze. It’s an all-in-one solution that truly simplifies and secures your digital life, including those critical DNAC credentials.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can Cisco DNA Center store all my passwords?

Cisco DNA Center is designed to store credentials for the network devices it manages like CLI, SNMP, and HTTPS logins. It’s not intended as a general-purpose password manager for all your IT administrative accounts, personal logins, or the login credentials for DNAC itself GUI/Maglev. For those, an external password manager is a much better and more secure solution.

What are Cisco Type 8 and Type 9 passwords?

Cisco Type 8 and Type 9 refer to different password hashing and encryption schemes used on Cisco devices to secure passwords stored in configuration files. The NSA strongly recommends using Type 8 passwords for all Cisco devices running software developed after 2013, as they use a robust algorithm PBKDF2, SHA-256 making them much harder to crack than older types. Type 9 is also very secure, but Type 8 is often recommended as it’s less resource intensive. Always aim for the strongest type your devices support.

How do I reset my DNAC admin password if I forget it?

Resetting a forgotten Cisco DNA Center web UI password typically requires command-line CLI access to the DNAC appliance. For the underlying Maglev user’s CLI password, you might need console access e.g., via Cisco IMC KVM for a physical appliance or VMware console for a VM and a specific multi-step recovery process, which can be quite involved. This highlights why having your Maglev credentials securely stored in an external password manager can be a lifesaver.

Is it safe to store DNAC credentials in a third-party password manager?

Yes, absolutely, as long as you choose a reputable, zero-knowledge, and highly secure password manager. Storing your DNAC GUI, Maglev CLI, and other critical administrative credentials in a top-tier password manager is generally much safer than relying on memory, spreadsheets, or sticky notes. These managers use strong encryption and best practices to protect your data, and they are built specifically for this purpose. Just ensure the password manager itself is protected by a strong master password and multi-factor authentication.

What about passwords for automated scripts connecting to DNAC?

Storing passwords for automated scripts is tricky because you want to avoid plaintext passwords in files. For automation with DNAC, consider using API tokens or service accounts where possible, which can have limited permissions and lifespans. If direct password authentication is unavoidable, a password manager can help by programmatically providing credentials to scripts, or by using encrypted vaults with restricted access. Some solutions involve Hardware Security Modules HSM or OS-level access controls to protect encrypted passwords used by automation. The goal is to ensure the password is never exposed in an easily readable format and that access to it is tightly controlled. Password manager cross platform

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