What role does the fabric border node play in the SD-Access architecture?

In the SD-Access architecture, the fabric border node serves a crucial function as the gateway to external traffic. This node is responsible for providing connectivity between the internal fabric and external networks, such as the Internet or other enterprise networks. It handles the routing of traffic that enters or exits the fabric, ensuring that external requests and responses are managed efficiently.

By serving as this gateway, the fabric border node also plays a vital role in applying security policies and controlling access based on the organization's requirements. It helps in maintaining the integrity of the internal fabric while allowing necessary interactions with external entities. The design of SD-Access emphasizes the importance of segmentation and policy enforcement at the border to enhance security while providing seamless user experiences.

Other potential roles in the architecture, such as tracking endpoint information or handling packet encryption, are handled by different components of the SD-Access framework, but the border node's primary duty is to manage connections to external traffic.