Which Cisco SD-WAN feature accelerates branch deployment by automatic controller discovery and onboarding?

• A. Zero-touch provisioning
• B. BFD monitoring
• C. STP optimization
• D. BPDU filtering

Answer: (A)

Zero-touch provisioning accelerates branch deployment by letting devices automatically discover the SD-WAN controllers and enroll into the fabric without manual configuration. When a new branch edge powers up, it uses a predefined bootstrap to reach the control plane—typically starting with the vBond orchestrator for initial authentication and connectivity. Once trust is established, the device pulls its policy and configuration from the central manager (vManage) and registers with the vSmart controllers, enabling the branch to start forwarding traffic with minimal human intervention. This automation dramatically speeds up site-by-site deployments and reduces the risk of misconfiguration.

Bidirectional Forwarding Detection is about rapid link-failure detection, not onboarding. STP optimization and BPDU filtering relate to Layer 2 bridging behavior, not the provisioning or onboarding of SD-WAN devices.