In short
Cisco WAN licences are sold per router through the Cisco Networking Subscription: WAN Essentials (LIC-CSWAN-x-E) or Advantage (LIC-CSWAN-x-A) for a Small, Medium, Large or Extra Large router class, on a 36 to 84-month term. Forever Systems, a Cisco Partner, can quote the right codes and add-ons, with terms confirmed at quote.
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Where Cisco WAN licences sit
The Cisco Networking Subscription is Cisco's way of buying networking software, support and platform access as one subscription. It can hold Cisco's unified licences, Wireless, Switching and WAN, each in Essentials or Advantage, and it can also hold Meraki subscription licences. Within one subscription you can align renewal dates, add licences mid-term on the same renewal date, upgrade tiers mid-term or at renewal, and mix Essentials and Advantage. Product support is included.
This page covers the WAN licences and their add-ons. For how the subscription works across Wireless and Switching, see Cisco Networking Subscription (opens in a new tab) on our Cisco Meraki site, and for Meraki licence part numbers see Meraki licence SKUs (opens in a new tab).
How Cisco WAN licensing works
Cisco WAN licences are sold per router, by platform class. Cisco groups its current secure routers into four classes, Small, Medium, Large and Extra Large, based on the throughput, performance and positioning of the hardware. Each router needs one WAN licence for its class, in one of two tiers:
| Router class | WAN Essentials | WAN Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Small | LIC-CSWAN-S-E | LIC-CSWAN-S-A |
| Medium | LIC-CSWAN-M-E | LIC-CSWAN-M-A |
| Large | LIC-CSWAN-L-E | LIC-CSWAN-L-A |
| Extra Large | LIC-CSWAN-XL-E | LIC-CSWAN-XL-A |
Both tiers are unified licences managed on-premises with Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Manager, and Cisco's Routing and WAN Licensing Feature Matrix lists what each tier includes. A few points shape the order:
- Term: WAN Essentials and Advantage are bought through a Cisco Networking Subscription or a Cisco Enterprise Agreement, on a term of 36 to 84 months. A new Networking Subscription has a standard minimum term of 36 months.
- Portability: a class licence can move between router models in the same class, so replacing a router within its class does not mean buying a new licence.
- No bandwidth tiers: licences for the current routers are not split by bandwidth.
- Licence management: WAN licences sit in Cisco Smart Software Manager and are used by Catalyst SD-WAN Manager, on-premises or in the cloud.
- Routing only: the routers come with Cisco Routing OS Essentials. Routing-only use with Cisco Routing Advantage is an 84-month subscription outside the Networking Subscription, which we can quote on request.
Sources: Cisco Networking Subscription data sheet, updated 1 Sep 2026 (opens in a new tab) and Cisco Next-Generation Licensing for Routing and WAN solution overview, updated 23 Sep 2025 (opens in a new tab).
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Cisco WAN licence part numbers
Cisco's WAN licence part numbers in the Cisco Networking Subscription. Order one WAN Essentials or Advantage licence per router for its class, then any cloud management and Advanced Security add-ons.
| Part number | Description | Unit | Term | Route | Basket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LIC-CSWAN-S-E | WAN Essentials, Small router class | Per router | 36 to 84 months (36-month minimum for a new subscription) | Annual | |
| LIC-CSWAN-M-E | WAN Essentials, Medium router class | Per router | 36 to 84 months (36-month minimum for a new subscription) | Annual | |
| LIC-CSWAN-L-E | WAN Essentials, Large router class | Per router | 36 to 84 months (36-month minimum for a new subscription) | Annual | |
| LIC-CSWAN-XL-E | WAN Essentials, Extra Large router class | Per router | 36 to 84 months (36-month minimum for a new subscription) | Annual | |
| LIC-CSWAN-S-A | WAN Advantage, Small router class | Per router | 36 to 84 months (36-month minimum for a new subscription) | Annual | |
| LIC-CSWAN-M-A | WAN Advantage, Medium router class | Per router | 36 to 84 months (36-month minimum for a new subscription) | Annual | |
| LIC-CSWAN-L-A | WAN Advantage, Large router class | Per router | 36 to 84 months (36-month minimum for a new subscription) | Annual | |
| LIC-CSWAN-XL-A | WAN Advantage, Extra Large router class | Per router | 36 to 84 months (36-month minimum for a new subscription) | Annual | |
| LIC-CSWAN-HCLD | Cisco Secure WAN Manager, Cisco cloud hosted | Management add-on, confirmed at quote | With the WAN subscription term, confirmed at quote | Annual | |
| LIC-CSWAN-HCLDPRO | Cisco Secure WAN Manager, Cisco cloud hosted PRO | Management add-on, confirmed at quote | With the WAN subscription term, confirmed at quote | Annual | |
| LIC-SEC-S-T | Advanced Security add-on: Threat Protection, Small router class | Per router | With the WAN subscription term, confirmed at quote | Annual | |
| LIC-SEC-S-M | Advanced Security add-on: Malware Defense (AMP), Small router class | Per router | With the WAN subscription term, confirmed at quote | Annual | |
| LIC-SEC-S-C | Advanced Security add-on: URL Filtering, Small router class | Per router | With the WAN subscription term, confirmed at quote | Annual | |
| LIC-SEC-M-T | Advanced Security add-on: Threat Protection, Medium router class | Per router | With the WAN subscription term, confirmed at quote | Annual | |
| LIC-SEC-M-M | Advanced Security add-on: Malware Defense (AMP), Medium router class | Per router | With the WAN subscription term, confirmed at quote | Annual | |
| LIC-SEC-M-C | Advanced Security add-on: URL Filtering, Medium router class | Per router | With the WAN subscription term, confirmed at quote | Annual | |
| LIC-SEC-L-T | Advanced Security add-on: Threat Protection, Large router class | Per router | With the WAN subscription term, confirmed at quote | Annual | |
| LIC-SEC-L-M | Advanced Security add-on: Malware Defense (AMP), Large router class | Per router | With the WAN subscription term, confirmed at quote | Annual | |
| LIC-SEC-L-C | Advanced Security add-on: URL Filtering, Large router class | Per router | With the WAN subscription term, confirmed at quote | Annual | |
| LIC-SEC-XL-T | Advanced Security add-on: Threat Protection, Extra Large router class | Per router | With the WAN subscription term, confirmed at quote | Annual | |
| LIC-SEC-XL-M | Advanced Security add-on: Malware Defense (AMP), Extra Large router class | Per router | With the WAN subscription term, confirmed at quote | Annual | |
| LIC-SEC-XL-C | Advanced Security add-on: URL Filtering, Extra Large router class | Per router | With the WAN subscription term, confirmed at quote | Annual |
Part numbers from Cisco Networking Subscription data sheet, updated 1 Sep 2026 (opens in a new tab); Cisco Next-Generation Licensing for Routing and WAN solution overview, updated 23 Sep 2025 (opens in a new tab), checked 2026-11-08. Add the licences you need to your basket and request a quote: we confirm the right part numbers, quantities and terms when we quote.
Cloud-hosted management and Advanced Security add-ons
Two kinds of add-on sit alongside the WAN licences.
Cloud-hosted WAN management: Cisco Secure WAN Manager hosted in Cisco's cloud, in two versions, LIC-CSWAN-HCLD and LIC-CSWAN-HCLDPRO (PRO). Choose one if you would rather Cisco host the SD-WAN management platform than run it yourself; we can confirm which version fits when we quote.
Advanced Security: security add-ons for each router class, in three options. The last letter of the code is the option:
| Router class | Threat Protection (T) | Malware Defense (M) | URL Filtering (C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small | LIC-SEC-S-T | LIC-SEC-S-M | LIC-SEC-S-C |
| Medium | LIC-SEC-M-T | LIC-SEC-M-M | LIC-SEC-M-C |
| Large | LIC-SEC-L-T | LIC-SEC-L-M | LIC-SEC-L-C |
| Extra Large | LIC-SEC-XL-T | LIC-SEC-XL-M | LIC-SEC-XL-C |
Cisco names the Malware Defense option AMP in its part descriptions. Each add-on matches the router's class, so a Medium router with WAN Advantage and Threat Protection takes LIC-CSWAN-M-A and LIC-SEC-M-T. If you need firewalling beyond the branch router, see Cisco Secure Firewall for the firewall licence options.
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Older Cisco DNA term licences
Before the unified licences, Cisco Catalyst switches were licensed with Cisco DNA Essentials and Advantage term licences. Those part numbers are tied to the switch model and port count, so we can quote them per switch: send us the models and quantities from your estate and we can confirm the matching renewal or the move to a Networking Subscription.
Wireless and Switching tiers of the Networking Subscription, and Meraki licences, are on our Cisco Meraki licensing (opens in a new tab) pages.
ThousandEyes and other Cisco subscriptions
Cisco lists ThousandEyes among the capabilities that can come with, or depend on, a Networking Subscription. If you want to test SD-WAN performance, branch-to-branch links or the applications your sites rely on, Cisco ThousandEyes is licensed separately with its own part numbers, including site bundles sized for multi-site networks. See ThousandEyes licensing for the codes, minimums and terms.
How we help
Send us your router list, or the sites and bandwidth you are planning, and tell us whether you want SD-WAN management on-premises or hosted by Cisco and which security functions you need at the branch. We can match each router to its class, recommend WAN Essentials or Advantage, add the cloud management and Advanced Security add-ons where they fit, and quote a term that lines up with your other Cisco renewals.
You can add the codes below to your basket and send them with your enquiry, or simply contact us and we can build the quote with you. For the rest of Cisco's portfolio, see Cisco licensing.
How Forever Systems supplies your software licences
Forever Systems supplies business software subscriptions to UK organisations from one account, with one invoice and a team who know the products.
- Help choosing the right edition: we check what you need before you buy, so you are not paying for features you will never use
- Monthly or annual terms where the vendor offers them, and help timing renewals and commitments
- Licence changes handled for you: add or remove users, upgrade editions and true-up without starting a new contract
- Deployment and support from our engineers, not just a reseller account
- Consolidated billing and renewal reminders to help stop subscriptions lapsing unexpectedly
We can supply businesses, schools, charities and public sector organisations of all sizes.
Frequently asked questions
How are Cisco WAN licences sized?
By router class. Cisco groups its current secure routers into Small, Medium, Large and Extra Large classes by throughput and performance. Each router takes the WAN Essentials or Advantage licence for its class, for example LIC-CSWAN-M-A for a Medium router on WAN Advantage.
What is the minimum term for a Cisco WAN licence?
A new Cisco Networking Subscription has a standard minimum term of 36 months, and WAN Essentials and Advantage are available on terms of 36 to 84 months through a Networking Subscription or an Enterprise Agreement.
What do LIC-SEC-T, LIC-SEC-M and LIC-SEC-C mean?
They are the Advanced Security add-ons for the WAN routers. T is Threat Protection, M is Malware Defense (AMP) and C is URL Filtering. The size letter in the middle (S, M, L or XL) matches the router class, for example LIC-SEC-L-C for URL Filtering on a Large router.
Where are the Cisco Wireless and Switching subscriptions?
The Wireless and Switching tiers of the Cisco Networking Subscription, and Meraki licences, are covered on our Cisco Meraki site, cloudnetworking.uk. This page covers the WAN licences and their add-ons.
Can a WAN licence move to a new router?
Yes, within the same class. Cisco makes class licences transferable between router models in the same platform class, so a like-for-like replacement keeps its licence.
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