It’s increasingly difficult to defend your organization from cyberattacks, especially as attackers evolve their approaches with new tactics to evade detection and use generative AI to become more a… Read more on Cisco Blogs

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It’s increasingly difficult to defend your organization from cyberattacks, especially as attackers evolve their approaches with new tactics to evade detection and use generative AI to become more advanced. Many security teams cannot quickly and effectively detect and respond to attacks due to a lack of resources, high operational complexity, and an overload of alerts. Some organizations also find it time- or cost-prohibitive to build and run their own security operations, while others have small teams that struggle to monitor their environment 24/7.

We address these challenges with Cisco Breach Protection Suite Premier, which we’re excited to announce is now generally available! Breach Protection Premier enables you to operate with confidence, helps future-proof your security, and allows you to realize faster time to value for your investment through an elite team of Cisco security experts. It is the new top tier of Cisco Breach Protection, a comprehensive security suite that defends your organization from sophisticated attacks across multiple threat vectors while accelerating incident response and simplifying security operations.

Breach Protection Premier delivers managed extended detection and response (MXDR) powered by Cisco XDR and run by a dedicated team of Cisco security specialists who monitor, detect, and investigate threats across your environment while quickly remediating threats through guided response actions. It also includes Cisco Technical Security Assessment and select Cisco Talos Incident Response services to help you prepare, protect, and respond from an attack through a full set of proactive and incident response services.

Operate with Confidence

Breach Protection Premier gives you peace of mind because we have the knowledge, advanced tools, organized playbooks, and comprehensive threat intelligence from Cisco Talos that’s needed to effectively detect and respond to threats. You can shift the burden of recruiting, training, and managing security staff to us, since Cisco Security Operations Center (SOC) specialists detect, prioritize, and investigate incidents 24×7. This includes integration support for Cisco security solutions and select third-party tools to reduce complexity, unify visibility, and provide contextual insights. Breach Protection Premier also detects and responds to advanced threats sooner by prioritizing the most critical alerts and combining our human expertise with AI-driven processes and tool sets. When threats are found, you can shorten remediation times with automated response actions that we carry out on your behalf.

Future Proof Your Security

Breach Protection Premier helps you support your organization’s growth and expansion plans. Our expert-led, always-on security operations means you can augment your existing capabilities or fully delegate your security to our highly skilled team, giving you the scalability and flexibility needed to adapt to changing requirements.  In addition, our specialists have the security expertise and Talos threat intelligence to stay ahead of the latest threats for you. When combined with our XDR solution that takes a unique network-led approach to security, we can help you reduce the risk across the threat landscape to your organization.

Realize Faster Time to Value

Breach Protection Premier unlocks the full value of the Cisco XDR solution through turnkey SOC operations that speed time to value and shrink the total cost of ownership since you get robust security expertise at a fraction of the cost of building and maintaining an in-house XDR team. As a result, your team can focus on their core competencies and strategic priorities while ensuring a strong, proactive approach to security. Finally, you can accelerate adoption of new security tools – regardless of vector or vendor – since our managed service includes integration support for third-party solutions.

If you’re looking for a strategic partner who can meet you where you are now, work with the security tools and telemetry sources you currently have, grow with you as you expand your overall organization, and is up to the challenge of dealing with an ever-evolving threat landscape, Cisco is the right partner for you. Breach Protection Premier defends your organization from the most sophisticated threats while helping you operate with confidence, future proof your security, and realize a faster time to value. Learn more about Breach Protection Premier.

Additional Resources:

Cisco Breach Protection Page
Cisco Breach Protection Premier At-A-Glance
Cisco Breach Protection At-A-Glance
Cisco Security Suites At-A-Glance
Cisco Breach Protection Webinar

We’d love to hear what you think. Ask a Question, Comment Below, and Stay Connected with Cisco Security on social!

Cisco Security Social Channels

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"}]]  Breach Protection Premier defends your organization from the most sophisticated threats while helping you operate with confidence.  Read More Cisco Blogs 

In my last blog Co-Selling Made Simple, you may have read about the major shift in the market indicating that a majority of Information Technology (IT) spend is now being influenced by new customer… Read more on Cisco Blogs

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In my last blog Co-Selling Made Simple, you may have read about the major shift in the market indicating that a majority of Information Technology (IT) spend is now being influenced by new customer buyers and how Cisco has solved for this market shift by accelerating its momentum by Co-Selling with our partner ecosystem.

Co-Selling Made Simple: Setting the Stage

A multi-partner collaborative sales engagement between Cisco and its partner ecosystem, Co-Selling’s goal is to deliver a differentiated joint customer outcome. By surrounding our customer challenges with the right partner ecosystem, the entire Co-Sell team builds relationships with new customer buyers in the accounts and according to Cisco data can increase the Co-Sell team’s deal size by an average of 6X and software mix by 2X.

Co-Selling Made Simple: Part 2

Activate is the first of three steps in the Ecosystem Co-Sell Go-to-Market (GTM) sales execution, followed by Accelerate and Scale. This important first step sets up an Ecosystem partner such as an ISV or domain consultant, etc., to Co-Sell with Cisco. This includes developing digital accounts to track opportunities, digital sales plans to define sales targets and pipeline growth building activities, and how to drive sales awareness and enablement content to cultivate joint offers that scale to Cisco sales growing Co-Sell pipeline.

A Deeper Dive into Activate

Activating as an ecosystem partner is a simple three-step process:

Enrollment – Before an Ecosystem partner can be enrolled in our Co-Sell GTM, they must be registered as a Cisco Partner. They can then enroll in the Cisco Partner Program, where they can select applicable roles as an Advisor, Developer, Provider or Integrator. Once a partner has chosen an applicable role and achieved minimum Select status, they will then be eligible to be invited to Digital Co-Sell. During the Digital Co-Sell enrollment phase, partners are educated on the Cisco Co-Sell Market Development Funds (MDF) Incentive that may be available. Once this has been completed, they can be digitally enrolled in our Co-Sell opportunity management system called PXP Digital Co-Sell. This is where they will focus their opportunity collaboration with both Cisco and Channel partner sellers. This is also an important opportunity to showcase co-sell collaboration and contribution to all partnerships engaged.
Co-Sell Plan – Next, a Cisco Co-Sell Business Development Manager (BDM) begins to quarterback a Co-Sell Plan with all the identified partners. This Co-Sell Plan contains the joint value proposition, Greater Together story, and target markets. The Co-Sell sales targets are tracked digitally and are accessible to each partner connected to the plan. Co-Sell Plans are reviewed quarterly for progress and to identify pipeline growth and win stories.
Co-Sell Ready – Once the Enrollment and Co-Sell Plan phase are complete, it’s time to get Co-Sell Ready! This involves generating the right enablement content to introduce and cascade Co-Sell partnership awareness across all target customer industries and every sales team that will be engaged. Emphasis is placed on why the Greater Together Co-Sell partnership is critical to joint customers, defining the compelling solutions stack, and how each Seller will benefit.

A Critical Step to Co-Selling

In conclusion, the Activate step is a critical path to Co-Selling and is the prerequisite to the next step—Accelerate—where Co-Sell pipeline is built. The upfront organization in the Activate step is the first step in surrounding our customers with the right partners, bringing the most valuable solutions to them, and achieving their business outcomes. It captures and recognizes the value of each ecosystem partner Co-Selling together. It speeds time to market, sharpens the Greater Together story for our joint customers and sets up the Co-Sell partnership to expand to new markets.

Ecosystem Co-Selling is a Big Deal!

There are billions of dollars in potentially untapped new buyer opportunities and Cisco Ecosystem Co-Sell is the key to accessing it!

Be on the lookout for the next Ecosystem Co-Sell blog in the series—Accelerate. And in the meantime, check out our Cisco Co-Sell SalesConnect Page for more information on becoming part of Ecosystem Co-Sell at Cisco!

Visit SalesConnect and Learn Why Ecosystem Co-Selling is a Big Deal!

For more information on Co-Selling or if you have Co-Selling questions, connect with a contact for your region:

US/CAN: digital_coSell_us@external.cisco.com

APJC: digital_coSell_apj@external.cisco.com

EMEA: digital_coSell_emea@external.cisco.com

LATAM: digital_coSell_latam@external.cisco.com

We’d love to hear what you think. Ask a Question, Comment Below, and Stay Connected with #CiscoPartners on social!

Cisco Partners Facebook  |  @CiscoPartners X/Twitter  |  Cisco Partners LinkedIn

"}]]  Activate is the first of 3 steps in the Ecosystem Co-Sell Go-to-Market (GTM) sales execution, setting up an Ecosystem partner such as an ISV or domain consultant, etc., to Co-Sell with Cisco.  Read More Cisco Blogs 

How to be a network engineer in the age of automation

I’ve been involved with network engineering for the better part of 20 years now and I’ve observed massive changes in the industry during those two… Read more on Cisco Blogs

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How to be a network engineer in the age of automation

I’ve been involved with network engineering for the better part of 20 years now and I’ve observed massive changes in the industry during those two decades, from Frame Relay and ATM becoming obsolete to Ethernet taking over and becoming a pervasive technology. But besides me getting older and different transport technologies going through existential crises, the biggest development in all these years was the emergence of network automation and programmability. This is the change that has probably affected the most what it means to be a network engineer these days.

Yes, different technologies and protocols come and go in classical network engineering, but automation requires a completely new set of skills. These new skills vary in complexity and usability from learning how to write YAML files and working with Ansible, to writing HCL files for Terraform configuration, to being fully proficient in a programming language such as Python or Golang. The basis and foundation for all these new skills comes from software development. This has always been tangential to network engineering, but with the advent of automation is taking a front row seat.

Depending on the size of the networks and environments you are working on, and how your company is organized, it might be you that has to become a proficient software developer and bring automation into your organization. Or, you might have to work with software developers and explain to them how the network is running, what needs to be done to automate your business processes and workflows in a language and with concepts that they understand and that they can easily turn into source code.

You are not alone

If all of this sounds daunting to you, don’t despair, you are not alone on your automation journey. We have a fantastic community of engineers at different stages in their careers that are more than happy to share their hard learned automation lessons with you. I host a weekly live stream on Wednesdays at 9:00AM PT called Simplifying Network Automation with NetGru that is being broadcast live and recorded on the Cisco DevNet YouTube channel and LinkedIn account.

In two recent episodes I’ve had the privilege of hosting Julio Gomez, Principal Sales Architect at Cisco. We’ve discussed how applications have evolved over the years – from monoliths to micro services architectures, containerized applications and Docker, Kubernetes, CI/CD pipelines, telepresence (not the Cisco one), mirrord, Okteto, and more. Most importantly, we talked about how to be a network engineer in this new world surrounded by all these exciting technologies. Here are links where you can watch these recorded episodes:

Watch the first episode
Watch the second episode

Mark your calendars to tune in to the weekly live stream

Simplifying Network Automation with NetGruWednesdays at 9:00AM PT
Broadcast live and recorded on the Cisco DevNet YouTube channel and LinkedIn

"}]]  Here's help for being a network engineer in the age of automation and programmability. Mark your calendars to tune in to the weekly live stream "Simplifying Network Automation with NetGru." Wednesdays at 9:00AM PT.  Read More Cisco Blogs 

In the electrifying realm of sports stadiums, where every cheer, roar, and momentous play unfold, Cisco’s High-Density WiFi emerges as the unsung hero, reshaping the very fabric of fan experiences. L… Read more on Cisco Blogs

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In the electrifying realm of sports stadiums, where every cheer, roar, and momentous play unfold, Cisco’s High-Density WiFi emerges as the unsung hero, reshaping the very fabric of fan experiences. Let’s delve into the ways in which this cutting-edge technology is driving a new era of connectivity and engagement within the grand arenas of sports.

Blanket Coverage for Every Fan:

Cisco’s High-Density WiFi casts a digital net across the entire stadium, ensuring that every fan, regardless of their seat location, enjoys a seamless and powerful internet connection. From the nosebleeds to the front row, this technology eliminates connectivity dead zones, creating an inclusive digital experience for all. We do this by leveraging the Marlin (purpose built for sports) antenna for large venue overhead design.

Empowering Real-Time Engagement:
The roar of the crowd, the thrill of a last-minute goal—these are moments that fans crave and wish to share instantly. Cisco’s solution empowers fans to engage in real-time, whether it’s streaming live footage, sharing jubilant updates on social media, or participating in interactive polls. The result is a collective, shared experience that amplifies the joy of being part of the live event.

Elevating Mobile App Interactions:
Stadiums are evolving into smart spaces, and Cisco’s High-Density WiFi is at the forefront of this transformation. Mobile apps become immersive hubs, offering fans exclusive content, live statistics, and augmented reality features that elevate the entire event experience. The result is a dynamic and personalized interaction that transcends the traditional spectatorship.

Uninterrupted Connectivity, Always:
In the midst of an epic game, the last thing fans need is a buffering symbol. Cisco’s technology ensures uninterrupted connectivity, even during peak moments of demand. This reliability is a cornerstone of delivering a fan experience that is seamless, frustration-free, and consistently exceptional.

Navigating the Stadium with Precision:
Getting lost in the excitement is one thing; getting lost in the stadium is another. Cisco’s High-Density WiFi enables precise location-based services, allowing fans to navigate the stadium effortlessly. Whether finding the closest concession stand or locating the nearest restroom, fans can rely on technology to enhance their in-stadium journey.

Security, Trust, and Reliability:
Cisco places a paramount focus on security. With High-Density WiFi, fan data is safeguarded, ensuring a secure digital environment. The trust and reliability associated with Cisco’s brand instill confidence in fans, enabling them to freely connect, share, and engage without concerns about privacy or data security.

Scalability for Major Events:
From regular-season games to championship showdowns, Cisco’s High-Density WiFi is designed to scale seamlessly. The robust network infrastructure ensures that the connectivity remains steadfast, even when the stadium is filled to capacity during major events.

As we stand at the intersection of technology and sports, Cisco’s High-Density WiFi is not merely a tool for internet access—it’s the invisible force that unites fans, players, and the entire stadium experience. In this era of connectivity, Cisco stands as a pioneer, driving a revolution that transforms every cheer, every moment, and every game into an immersive, digital spectacle. Welcome to the future of fan engagement—powered by Cisco.

"}]]  In the electrifying realm of sports stadiums, where every cheer, roar, and momentous play unfold, Cisco’s High-Density WiFi emerges as the unsung hero, reshaping the very fabric of fan experiences. Let’s delve into the ways in which this cutting-edge technology is driving a new era of connectivity and engagement within the grand arenas of sports.  Read More Cisco Blogs 

In the ever-evolving world of digital connectivity, Cisco continues to pave the way with innovative solutions not just centered around technological advances, but also around how those advances can… Read more on Cisco Blogs

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In the ever-evolving world of digital connectivity, Cisco continues to pave the way with innovative solutions not just centered around technological advances, but also around how those advances can easily be consumed by customers. Over the last three years, Cisco and Megaport have collaborated deeply by:

Integrating Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN with Megaport global network connectivity services (Megaport Virtual Edge and Megaport Virtual Cross Connects)
Delivering a single vendor consumption model for customers to purchase Megaport services via Cisco (available since September 2021 on Cisco Global Price List)

Cisco’s Pay-as-You-Go Initiative

Today, we are happy to announce that Cisco and Megaport are extending their partnership by introducing a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) offer for Megaport Virtual Edge, Virtual Cross Connects, and Ports through Cisco’s Global Price List. As an alternative to the existing term-based offer, Cisco’s pay-as-you-go offer provides businesses with unprecedented flexibility, scalability, and a cloud-like consumption model for Megaport underlay services.

Cisco’s PAYG offer for Megaport services is a dynamic approach to network resource management. It is designed to ensure businesses only pay for the infrastructure resources they utilize, providing an efficient and economical solution. This model signifies a shift from the traditional, static network infrastructure to a more dynamic, flexible, and cost-effective alternative. The pay-as-you-go offer will be available in March 2024 and will be integrated with Megaport Virtual Edge, Megaport Virtual Cross Connects, and Megaport Ports.

Both consumption models give customers a single vendor experience for their global connectivity requirements through Catalyst SD-WAN Manager, allowing them to bring up network infrastructure to create global wide area networks, connect to multiple cloud environments, and setup easy data recovery systems in a matter of minutes. There’s no need for customers to deal with multiple vendors, manage various contracts, or navigate multiple portals.

We’re excited to expand our partnership with Cisco. Megaport was the first to integrate its middle-mile connectivity with Cisco’s Catalyst SD-WAN. Enabling the new pay-as-you-go consumption model with Cisco provides customers with even greater flexibility.

– Matt Simpson, Executive Vice President Business Development, Megaport

Key Benefits of Cisco’s PAYG for Megaport Services

Currently adopted by a wide variety of business verticals (healthcare, tech, global IT services, financial services, and public sectors), middle-mile optimization with Catalyst SD-WAN and Megaport, allows businesses to realize a range of benefits.

Flexibility and scalability: The PAYG offer allows for dynamic scaling of network connectivity, thus creating a cloud-like consumption model for site-to-cloud, site-to-site, and cloud-to-cloud connectivity requirements. This flexibility is crucial in today’s ever-changing business environment, where adaptability, agility, and ease of use are key determinants of success.
Cost-effectiveness: Organizations can manage their network resources based on their specific requirements and only pay for the resources they consume. With a $0 upfront commitment and a single billing and support platform, Cisco aims to reduce the multi-vendor requisite customers must deal with for their global networking infrastructure needs.
Secure and reliable: By leveraging Megaport’s robust global platform with a 99.999% SLA, businesses can enjoy seamless, secure connections to a vast network of service providers (data centers, public clouds, and SaaS) in a colocation-agnostic manner, while Catalyst SD-WAN ensures end-to-end encryption for data at rest and data in transit.
Global WAN: Megaport’s extensive global footprint allows businesses to deploy Megaport Virtual Edge hosting the Catalyst 8000V in 70+ metros across the globe, giving users access to Megaport’s backbone in a data center agnostic manner. Multi-national enterprises have deployed resilient and responsive global WANs in a manner of minutes using Catalyst SD-WAN and Megaport underlays, thus empowering them to do away with their legacy networks, long term contracts, and the insecurities of using public internet services. This global reach, combined with Cisco’s Catalyst SD-WAN, enables organizations to create a truly borderless and responsive network infrastructure.

Cisco’s launch of the pay-as-you-go offer for Megaport services delivers unparalleled flexibility, scalability, and cost-efficiency to organizations looking to modernize their global network infrastructure while transforming to a cloud-first environment by providing a network that mimics the same.

Check out these additional resources:

Cisco Cloud Interconnect with Megaport AAG

Cisco Cloud Interconnect with Megaport FAQ

We’d love to hear what you think. Ask a Question, Comment Below, and Stay Connected with #CiscoPartners on social!

Cisco Partners Facebook  |  @CiscoPartners X/Twitter  |  Cisco Partners LinkedIn

"}]]  We are happy to announce that Cisco and Megaport are extending our partnership by introducing a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) offer for Megaport Virtual Edge, Virtual Cross Connects, and Ports through Cisco’s Global Price List.  Read More Cisco Blogs 

Every Cisco Live, we have the opportunity to meet our esteemed Cisco Designated VIPs in person. It is one of the most significant highlights for the Cisco Learning Network’s community managers and… Read more on Cisco Blogs

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Every Cisco Live, we have the opportunity to meet our esteemed Cisco Designated VIPs in person. It is one of the most significant highlights for the Cisco Learning Network’s community managers and the Cisco Learning & Certifications organization’s leaders. This time was no different, as we had the pleasure of engaging with them throughout the week at Cisco Live Amsterdam, February 5–9, 2024.

The Cisco Designated VIP program recognizes the top contributors among Cisco online communities, including the Cisco Learning Network and the Cisco Support Community. Cisco VIPs are recognized for their expertise and tireless contributions. So, whenever you see an online community member identified as a Cisco VIP,  you can trust their experience and the quality of their contributions. 

Dinner with Cisco VIPs and distinguished guests

We had the privilege of honoring Cisco Designated VIPs with a special celebratory dinner hosted at Wolf Atelier on Monday, February 5, 2024. The dinner served as a humble gesture of our gratitude for all of the amazing work our VIPs have accomplished in their respective communities. Moreover, the evening gave VIPs an opportunity to connect with key members and executive leadership in Learning & Certifications, as well as within the Cisco Community. Distinguished guests in attendance from Learning and Certifications included Par Merat, Vice President; Joe Clarke, Distinguished Engineer; and Quinn Snyder, Sr. Technical Advocate.

We also took advantage of the chance to surprise our VIPs with the chance to win tech prizes, adding an element of fun to an already remarkable evening. We conducted a raffle for Apple AirPods and a mini projector, to name a few. Of course, we ended the event with group photos, capturing the joy of an amazing night with our Cisco VIPs, distinguished guests, and community leaders.

Until next time…

As we continue with our esteemed Cisco VIP Class of 2024, we convey our deepest appreciation for their outstanding accomplishments and contributions. We anticipate the opportunity to collaborate further, fostering a year filled with growth, learning, and even more unforgettable memories. 

We invite you to learn more about the Cisco Designated VIP program and explore our Appreciation & Recognition Programs on the Cisco Learning Network. You can also keep up with the latest Cisco VIP news, featured contributions, and accomplishments on social media via #CiscoVIP.

Join the Cisco Learning Network today for free.

Follow Cisco Learning & Certifications

Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube

Use #CiscoCert to join the conversation.

Read next:

Celebrating our Cisco Designated VIPs at Cisco Live 2022

"}]]  The Cisco Learning Network hosted its Cisco VIP dinner at Cisco Live Amsterdam 2024, a night to honor their outstanding dedication and contributions to Cisco online communities.  Read More Cisco Blogs 

Today, Cisco announced that it joined more than 200 of the nation’s leading artificial intelligence (AI) stakeholders to participate in a U.S. Department of Commerce initiative to support the d… Read more on Cisco Blogs

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Today, Cisco announced that it joined more than 200 of the nation’s leading artificial intelligence (AI) stakeholders to participate in a U.S. Department of Commerce initiative to support the development and deployment of trustworthy and safe AI. Established by the Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the U.S. AI Safety Institute Consortium (AISIC) will bring together AI creators and users, academics, government and industry researchers, and civil society organizations to meet this mission.

“Responsible AI offers enormous potential for humanity, businesses, and public services, and Cisco firmly believes that a holistic, simplified approach will help the U.S. safely realize the full benefits of AI. Guided by our own Responsible AI principles and framework, and with over a decade of experience deploying AI at scale, Cisco proudly endorses the mission of AISIC. We are proud to collaborate with NIST and other consortium members to maintain a commitment to transparency, fairness, accountability, reliability, security, and privacy in this new digital era.”— Nicole Isaac, Cisco VP of Global Public Policy

“The U.S. government has a significant role to play in setting the standards and developing the tools we need to mitigate the risks and harness the immense potential of artificial intelligence. President Biden directed us to pull every lever to accomplish two key goals: set safety standards and protect our innovation ecosystem. That’s precisely what the U.S. AI Safety Institute Consortium is set up to help us do. Through President Biden’s landmark Executive Order, we will ensure America is at the front of the pack – and by working with this group of leaders from industry, civil society, and academia, together we can confront these challenges to develop the measurements and standards we need to maintain America’s competitive edge and develop AI responsibly.”— U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo

The consortium includes more than 200 member companies and organizations that are on the frontlines of developing and using AI systems, as well as the civil society and academic teams that are building the foundational understanding of how AI can and will transform our society. These entities represent the nation’s largest companies and its innovative startups; creators of the world’s most advanced AI systems and hardware; key members of civil society and the academic community; and representatives of professions with deep engagement in AI’s use today. The consortium also includes state and local governments, as well as non-profits. The consortium will also work with organizations from like-minded nations that have a key role to play in setting interoperable and effective safety around the world.

View the full list of U.S. AI Safety Institute Consortium (AISIC) participants.

"}]]  Cisco joins more than 200 of the nation’s leading artificial intelligence (AI) stakeholders to participate in a U.S. Department of Commerce initiative to support the development and deployment of trustworthy and safe AI.  Read More Cisco Blogs 

At Cisco, virtually all customers I’ve met with have a cloud presence — regardless of the size of their industry. While each one of these organizations has their own unique journey, infrastructure, an… Read more on Cisco Blogs

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At Cisco, virtually all customers I’ve met with have a cloud presence — regardless of the size of their industry. While each one of these organizations has their own unique journey, infrastructure, and security stack recipes, the most common question among them is:

“How do I bring our on-prem and cloud security closer together?”

At Cisco Live US 2023, we announced our Cisco Security Cloud vision: a cloud-delivered, AI-driven security platform that protects across hybrid and multicloud infrastructures, with phenomenal user experiences. Today, at Cisco Live EMEA 2024, we are announcing further tangible results in converging data center and multicloud security fabrics, protecting customers from ground to cloud. Two new capabilities — hybrid cloud connectivity and network object sharing — deliver a simplified, unified security experience across environments, helping organizations save time when creating network security policies, reducing complexity, and minimizing risk when sharing infrastructure between on-premises and cloud infrastructure.

Hybrid cloud connectivity: Create secure connections from ground to cloud

Imagine your organization has a cloud application requiring communication with a particular application residing on-premises or in another cloud. How would you securely connect this infrastructure? In the past, organizations would look to direct connection, which is costly, limited in availability, and may require partnering with intermediary organizations to facilitate connections between your environments.

The hybrid cloud connectivity capability brings together Cisco Multicloud Defense, Cisco Secure Firewall, and Cisco Defense Orchestrator to help organizations securely connect cloud applications to on-premises infrastructure and vice versa. To make these on-ramp connections, you would deploy Multicloud Defense Gateways and Secure Firewall (both hardware and virtual appliances) at the beginning and the end of the tunnel. Afterwards, organizations would leverage Cisco Defense Orchestrator to orchestrate an IPsec tunnel for “site-to-cloud” infrastructure connectivity and “cloud-to-cloud” infrastructure connectivity. This is critical for organizations:

When dedicated cloud service provider connection (e.g. AWS Direct Connect or Azure ExpressRoute) or secure connection isn’t available
Who need to save time by keeping operations in-house
Looking to mitigate risk by staying in control of their connections between environments

Network object sharing: Simplify policy creation across on-premises and the cloud

All too often, organizations feel the pain of operating security tools in silos when protecting both on-premises and cloud infrastructure. A great example of these silos can be seen in hybrid cloud deployments where an organization has both a firewall to protect on-premises infrastructure and cloud network security controls to protect their cloud environments. Each of these solutions would require their own isolated set of network objects for policy enforcement and maintenance of objects, resulting in increased management complexity and overhead for organizations.

The release of network object sharing from Cisco alleviates these silos for organizations, simplifying policy creation and reducing complexity across their hybrid cloud by removing duplicative processes and ongoing maintenance of operating separate network security solutions. With the help of Cisco Defense Orchestrator’s object management feature, organizations can find and share already created objects between Secure Firewall Threat Defense (through Firewall Management Center and Cloud-delivered Firewall Management Center), Secure Firewall ASA, and Multicloud Defense.

This means if a network object was already created for Secure Firewall Threat Defense, organizations can use that same object when creating a security policy within Multicloud Defense. The ability to share network objects:

Saves organizations time and decreases overhead cost by removing redundant processes
Reduces risk by simplifying security policy creation
Removes complexity by allowing organizations to consolidate objects to a single set
Gives organizations greater flexibility and solution choice when solving network security use cases

Today’s launch is another example of how Cisco is converging the fabrics of best-in-class data center and multicloud security to protect customers from ground to cloud. By introducing hybrid cloud connectivity and network object sharing in the network security platform, organizations will enjoy a more simplified, unified security experience across their hybrid cloud.

To learn more about how Cisco is bringing your on-premises and cloud security closer together with these capabilities, reach out to your Cisco sales representative.

We’d love to hear what you think. Ask a Question, Comment Below, and Stay Connected with Cisco Security on social!

Cisco Security Social Channels

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"}]]  Hybrid cloud connectivity and network object sharing from Cisco provides teams with a more simplified, unified security experience across their hybrid cloud.  Read More Cisco Blogs