This streamlined way of handling packets enables Cisco routers to greatly increase performance for network services. NetFlow Switching provides increased performance for Cisco IOS services relating to security, quality of service and traffic accounting. For example, access privileges are determined not just according to IP address, but according to whether the traffic is World Wide Web, file transfer or telnet, etc. Before, when information primarily resided 'all in one place' on a mainframe, it was easier to control access and provide security. NetFlow Switching also enhances performance with new Cisco IOS services such as network encryption.
Network managers can selectively apply encryption to just the applications which require it.
This improves overall network performance and is less expensive than encrypting all traffic on each link. The ability to encrypt data on a per-session basis also will enable corporations to use the public Internet to safely transport confidential information. For service providers, delivering varying QoS levels is fundamental to offering the differentiated services needed in an increasingly competitive industry. RSVP enables applications to request a specific QOS across a network, and techniques like Weighted Fair Queuing enable each router to meet the requested service level. Currently, NetFlow Switching and Weighted Fair Queuing each operate independently on incoming and outgoing packet flows.