The growing demand for advanced networking solutions in Multiple Dwelling Units MDUs presents significant business opportunities for MSPs to offer a range of cross-sale and up-sale of managed and professional IT services.

​[[{"value":"

What is an MDU?

Multiple Dwelling Units (MDUs) refer to residential buildings designed to house multiple families or households within a single structure or complex. These versatile living spaces typically include apartment buildings, condominiums, dormitories, residence halls, student housing, senior/assisted living facilities, retirement communities, cooperative housing (co-ops), and the like. The MDU categorization also extends to various commercial scenarios such as malls, hotels, motels, hostels, and outdoor markets. All these environments typically require robust, scalable, and secure network solutions to support the connectivity needs of their occupants, users, and guests.

The MDU opportunity for MSPs

The growing demand for advanced network solutions in MDUs presents a significant opportunity for Managed Service Providers (MSPs). A survey by the National Multi-Family Housing Council found that 91.7% of apartment residents consider high-speed Internet important, and 74.8% value pre-installed Wi-Fi. Instead of residents setting up their own networks, MSPs can offer efficient, high-density Wireless Private Networks (WPNs) (or Wi-Fi Personal Networks) that enhance connectivity, security, and user experience. WPNs provide reliable coverage, high-speed Internet access, and secure data privacy, while enabling shared resources to reduce costs and minimize wireless interference. They also facilitate seamless roaming, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity as users move throughout the property. With capabilities for network management, bandwidth allocation, traffic prioritization, and easy scalability, WPNs allow MSPs to deliver tailored, robust, and future-proof network solutions for MDUs, meeting the growing needs of modern living.

Wireless Private Networks (WPNs) in MDU Deployments

The importance of WPNs in MDUs has never been greater due to the increasing need for security, privacy, and reliable connectivity. With the rise of smart home devices, such as smart thermostats and security cameras, along with the pervasive use of personal devices like smartphones, tablets, and laptops, robust wireless networks are essential. The shift to remote work and online learning further underscores the necessity for dependable Internet connections, supporting telecommuting and high-quality virtual meetings. Additionally, the demand for high-bandwidth, low-latency networks driven by streaming services, online gaming, and virtual reality applications highlights the critical role of WPNs. By providing secure, high-speed, and reliable Internet access, WPNs can enhance the user experience, boost resident/user satisfaction, and offer a competitive edge for property managers, making them an indispensable part of the modern residential infrastructure.

Why Cisco Meraki?

Cisco/Meraki is THE market leader in cloud-managed networking solutions, offering a comprehensive portfolio of products including wireless access points, network switches, security appliances, smart cameras, and sensors. Key differentiators include its centralized cloud management platform, which simplifies deployment and configuration through an intuitive dashboard accessible from anywhere. Cisco Meraki’s user-friendly interface and zero-touch provisioning further enhance ease of use. The platform’s scalability allows seamless addition of new devices, while automatic updates ensure security and performance. Comprehensive security features, such as integrated firewalls and advanced threat protection, safeguard the network. Deep analytics and real-time monitoring provide valuable insights and quick issue resolution. Cisco Meraki’s unified ecosystem ensures a consistent user experience across all device types, supported by comprehensive APIs and automation capabilities for enhanced manageability and flexibility. Additionally, reduced operational costs due to simplified management and automated updates make Cisco Meraki the ideal choice for MSPs and organizations seeking robust, scalable, and secure network solutions.

High Level Cisco Meraki Design for MDU Deployments

Cisco Meraki platform has all the essential tools and components for seamless and efficient network management. This includes the ability to create private networks and manage a single SSID for simplified connectivity. Cisco Meraki’s AI Powered Wi-Fi channel and power management, along with advanced RF management tools like heatmaps and spectrum analyzers, ensure optimal wireless design and real world performance. The platform’s single pane of glass reports and management consolidate all network insights and controls into one intuitive interface. Additionally, device pre-configuration and API-based automation and integration streamline setup and enable custom solutions, making Cisco Meraki a comprehensive and ideal choice for MDU network deployments.

A Cisco Meraki based design for MDU deployments offers reliable, scalable, and secure network infrastructure tailored to the needs of residents and property managers alike. Key components include Meraki MX security appliances, which serve as central firewalls and security gateways with advanced features like IDS/IPS, content filtering, and malware protection.  Meraki MR Wireless Access Points (WAPs) provide high-speed, dependable Wired and Wi-Fi based coverage across individual units, common areas, and outdoor spaces, and supporting customizable guest Wi-Fi networks. Meraki MS switches can deliver PoE to power various devices, enable network segmentation through VLANs, and offer efficient Layer 2 and Layer 3 switching.

The Cisco Meraki Cloud Dashboard provides a centralized platform for network management, simplifying monitoring, configuration, and troubleshooting with real-time visibility. It supports multi-tenant deployments, making it an ideal platform for managing multiple locations, buildings, or units within MDU deployments efficiently. Advanced security features, including integrated firewalls and automated firmware updates, safeguard the network, while various user authentication methods ensure secure access for users. Additionally, dedicated guest Wi-Fi networks with customizable splash pages and bandwidth management can be used to enhance the resident and guest experience, again, making Cisco Meraki the perfect choice for MDU deployments.

Automate the Guest Onboarding/WPN Process

The Cisco Meraki platform can significantly enhance the MDU experience by integrating with third-party solutions like SplashAccess.

SplashAccess is a Captive Portal service that offers advanced guest Wi-Fi management and user authentication solutions, featuring customizable splash pages for branded access. The platform supports multiple authentication methods, including social media login, email verification, SMS, and voucher codes, and provides secure, role-based user authentication. It also bolsters security and compliance by enforcing access controls and user agreements during the onboarding process.

Leveraging marketplace solutions like SplashAccess alongside the Cisco Meraki platform creates a robust, secure, and user-friendly network solution tailored specifically for MDU deployments. With pre-packaged customizations targeting education, retail, senior living, and various other common use cases, the possibilities are numerous!

Growth Opportunities for MSPs

The growing demand for advanced networking solutions in MDUs presents significant business opportunities for MSPs to offer a range of cross-sale and up-sale of managed and professional IT services. MSPs can deliver end-to-end network design and deployment, ensuring scalable infrastructures that grow with the property and the needs of its users. They can provide managed Wi-Fi services for residents and guests, implement bandwidth management policies, and offer advanced security solutions including firewalls, IDS/IPS, and malware protection. Additionally, MSPs can offer management of IoT devices, offer smart home/home automation services, smart cameras, various security services, and provide 24/7 remote monitoring and troubleshooting services. By providing and managing the underlying network connectivity services, MSPs can also expand into cloud storage and backup solutions, VoIP, and unified communications. Like any Network-aaS (NaaS) type offering, the service offering can be further differentiated by leveraging products like Cisco ThousandEyes, to provide Digital Experience Assurance (DXA), providing deep insights into network performance and ensuring optimal user experiences. By offering these types of comprehensive managed services, MSPs can improve operational efficiencies, ensure network security and reliability, and capitalize on the lucrative MDU market for long-term profitability.

Register to learn more at the upcoming event:

Managed Services Voice of the Engineer

Visit the Cisco Partner Managed Services SalesConnect page for recordings of previous MS VoE sessions, including the recording for Cisco Meraki MDU Design MS VoE session

Check out my latest blogs for insights into Managed Services opportunities for MSPs

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

Cisco Partners Facebook  |  @CiscoPartners Twitter  |  Cisco Partners LinkedIn

"}]]  The growing demand for advanced networking solutions in Multiple Dwelling Units MDUs presents significant business opportunities for MSPs to offer a range of cross-sale and up-sale of managed and professional IT services.  Read More Cisco Blogs 

With its investment in Aliro, Cisco’s Aspire Fund delivers on the promise to invest in underrepresented founders and build a more diverse and inclusive technology community.

​[[{"value":"Dr. Prineha Narang, Founder and CTO, Aliro Quantum

Dr. Prineha Narang never set out to be an entrepreneur. But then the university professor’s students and postdoctoral scholars started asking if quantum networking was ready for commercialization. As they worked on answering that question, she realized the time was right to dive into a new world.

Today, Narang wears several hats. She is a professor of physical sciences and electrical and computer engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles, a United States Science Envoy, appointed by the State Department, and the founder and chief technology officer at Aliro Quantum, which runs advanced secure networks using quantum networking.

Founding Aliro opened a whole new world for Narang, who is now learning to operate outside the walls of the classroom engaging with investors.

Leading the way for a broader definition of technology founders

Narang has experienced first-hand the need to change the perception of tech founders. “I frequently go into meetings with investors and have to remind them that I am not a graduate student or post-doc. I am not an associate or assistant professor. I am a senior faculty member at a major university, and the technology we are talking about is coming out of my research group—NarangLab.”

Even then, Narang says, “I can just see on some investors’ faces that they can’t get their head around it. That’s when I immediately pause and ask myself whether this is the kind of investor who can be a full partner to me. That was never a question with Cisco Investments’ Aspire Fund.”

Cisco Investments launched the Aspire Fund in 2020 as part of Cisco’s Social Justice Beliefs and Actions with an initial commitment of $50 million to be distributed over five years. The fund makes direct investments in startups led by women founders and founders of color.

An opportunity for Cisco

The Aspire Fund helped bring a partnership to life as Cisco looked to expand to quantum networking. While the market is currently in its early stages, Cisco is looking ahead to the day when quantum computing and networking services and solutions will be offered alongside those for traditional networking.

Quantum computers connected to a quantum network can offer unparalleled security. That’s why Aliro is working to develop a commercially viable way to deliver the world’s first advanced secure networks.

With both Cisco and Aliro seeing value in working with companies in adjacent areas of expertise, there was a compelling argument for a partnership.

Narang explains, “The funding from Cisco’s Aspire Fund came in at a perfect time. We had formulated our vision and put together the team for where we want to go with quantum networks. The funding from the Aspire Fund has gotten us to a point where we are getting real commercial traction. In fact, we’re now talking with product teams at Cisco about opportunities for collaboration on joint products.”

The definition of a partner

Narang has carefully cultivated investors who can be trusted partners. “All the investors we have today, I can text them or call them, even when they’re traveling or it’s late at night and we need to make a decision. They’re really here to help, and we feel very supported. That’s the kind of experience every founder should be able to have, regardless of their background.”

Asked what advice she would give to other founders in a similar position, Narang was clear: “I have to filter early and be very direct in explaining what the company looks like and why I’m the CTO. Otherwise, it’s just a waste of everyone’s time. So, I would counsel other founders to lead with their objectives, why they are the right person to be in their role, and why their company is the best one. In fact, as one of my mentors said, ‘Don’t assume you are there in spite of who you are, but perhaps you are there because you can do something that others in that position might not.’”

Aspire Fund investment accelerates development

Through the Aspire Fund, Cisco is pursuing positive progress in business through technology and positive progress in society through diversity and inclusion. Thanks to that investment and its growing partnership with Cisco, Aliro is set to deliver on that promise. As interest in the company ramps up, the team is accelerating its roadmap and looking forward to more product announcements later this year. Stay tuned to see where Pri Narang and her team go next!

For more information:

Aliro Quantum website

Cisco Investments Aspire Fund

"}]]  With its investment in Aliro, Cisco’s Aspire Fund delivers on the promise to invest in underrepresented founders and build a more diverse and inclusive technology community.  Read More Cisco Blogs 

Check out all the IOS XE sessions from the recent Cisco Live in Las Vegas. Sessions cover topics including getting started with Cisco IOS XE programmability and automation, tooling with YANG Suite and Terraform, and open-source solutions for Model Driven Telemetry.

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Check out all the events and sessions from the recent Cisco Live AMEA in Las Vegas. Hopefully we’ll catch you at the next Cisco Live event coming up November 11-14, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia! Learn more and register.

These sessions cover topics ranging from getting started with Cisco IOS XE programmability and automation, tooling with YANG Suite and Terraform, and gaining hands-on experience with open-source solutions for Model Driven Telemetry. See the details of the upcoming Cisco Live sessions below:

Breakout Sessions

3 Cisco Catalyst Center and ITSM Workflows: CMDB, Incident Management, and SWIM – BRKOPS-2032

Do you have Cisco Catalyst Center in production or maybe in your lab, and you’re looking to increase efficiencies, simplify and automate tasks, or integrate with other platforms? Then this session is for you. Participants will learn about the most common, ready-to-use workflows, available with the Cisco Catalyst Center integration to ServiceNow. The session provides an overview of the Cisco Catalyst Center integration with ServiceNow, the integration architecture, software required, and compatible versions. We will review in detail all steps required to configure the configuration management database (CMDB) synchronization, network issue monitor, and enrichment and automation events (software image management) workflows. This integration will increase IT efficiencies, reduce the cost of creating and updating incidents, and decrease the time between when the network issue is detected and the network engineer starts troubleshooting. The automation events for the ITSM workflow creates change requests for network configuration changes that may impact the uptime or segmentation policies, avoiding costly unapproved configuration changes. Demos for each use case are included.

ChatBot for Catalyst Center – an Open-Source GenAI based Bot – DEVNET-3000

Do you have Cisco Catalyst Center in production or, maybe in your lab, and you are looking to increase efficiencies and visibility using Cisco Catalyst Center REST APIs? This session is for you! Participants will learn how to develop a Cisco Catalyst Center open-source AI based ChatBot. We will step-by-step build the ChatBot, reviewing the options to use real-time or near-real time data retrieved with API calls to Catalyst Center. The ChatBot allows network engineers to easily find relevant information using natural language, filtering only what is important. The open-source ChatBot will transform how we manage network infrastructure, enriching and simplifying network management tasks. Demos and Python sample code are included.

Cisco Catalyst Center Platform: APIs, Event Notifications, Integrations, and DevOps Resources – DEVNET-1087

Do you have Cisco Catalyst Center in production, in the lab, or are you just interested in getting started? This session will focus on how to manage your network infrastructure-as-code using the Catalyst Center platform. We will review the Catalyst Center REST APIs, real-time event notifications, out-of-the-box and open-source integrations, and how to build a custom integration. We will also go over the developer resources available to accelerate the consumption of Catalyst Center REST APIs. The session is use case–based, exploring the options to build innovative new solutions, services, and integrations on top of the Catalyst Center platform. Demos and Python and JavaScript sample code are included, as needed.

gRPC, gNMI, gNOI… Oh My! An Enterprise Network Automation Journey – BRKDEV-2017

How many Google API micro services are there on Cisco IOS XE, and what are their capabilities? At the end of this session not only will you be able to answer this question with confidence but you will also have a deep understanding of the solutions and real world use cases that are enabled as part of the Google Network Management API. But what about Model Driven Telemetry? What are the best practices for mutual TLS authentication and collection of large amounts of telemetry data ? This session covers the complete Programmability & Automation lifecycle of the Cisco Catalyst 9000 when managed using gRPC, gNMI and gNOI… oh my!

Let’s Talk about Catalyst Center Integrations – IBOOPS-2882

This session reviews existing ready-to-use Catalyst Center integrations, open-source integrations, and how to build custom integrations. Attendees will be able to drive the conversation toward the integrations of their choice.

We could start with the ready-to-use integrations between Cisco Catalyst Center and ITSM (ServiceNow), PagerDuty, Webex notifications, and Splunk. Details, best practices, and demos could be shared for each of these integrations.

If there is interest, we may evaluate the published, open-source integrations between Catalyst Center and Jenkins, GitHub and GitLab, as well as the architectural options for integrating with third-party platforms and how to build these integrations.

The concepts presented in this session are valuable when building integrations for real-time event notifications, asset management, network insights and dashboards, or API-based automations.

Demos and sample code are included.

Network Troubleshooting Using Cisco Catalyst Center APIs – BRKOPS-2548

Are you looking for API-based options to enhance and automate your network troubleshooting workflows?

Do you want to improve consistency, enhance visibility and compliance, while saving time troubleshooting your network? Then, this session is for you.

During the session, we will review the options available to automate common, repetitive tasks network engineers undertake while troubleshooting network issues.

Step by step, we will build a runbook environment that will be triggered when Cisco Catalyst Center identifies a new network issue. The open-source solution will call upon Cisco Catalyst Center APIs to collect all relevant information about the issue and the devices impacted, then update the network engineer. This information is very valuable, assisting the network engineer in troubleshooting the network problem based on the state of the network at the time the issue occurred. A simple troubleshooting knowledge base library will be included.

Demos and open-source sample code will be included.

Programmability, Automation Model Driven Telemetry on Cisco IOS XE with a dash of YANG Suite  – DEVNET-1283

This programmability and automation session on Cisco IOS XE and Catalyst includes an overview of the YANG based API’s and the associated YANG Suite tooling will be used extensively. The Model Driven Telemetry capabilities will also be discussed and the example Docker container for collection and visualization will be demonstrated. As well as ways to create new telemetry subscriptions using the Telegraf, Influx and Grafana stack and YANG Suite.

Stay Connected

No matter where you are on your programmability and automation journey there is always new and exciting content to help you dive even deeper while learning about new technologies and capabilities for the enterprise network.
Here are links where you can check out Cisco IOS XE programmability sessions from previous Cisco Live Events:

2024 – Amsterdam

3 Cisco Catalyst Center and ITSM Workflows: CMDB, Incident Management and SWIM – BRKOPS-2032
Automate Cisco IOS XE Device Configuration Using Terraform – DEVLIT-2083
Automation using multiple API’s in the IOS XE Device Programmability Lab – DEVLIT-1965
Catalyst 9000 Virtual topology simulation and configuration management solutions – DEVNET-1441
Cisco Catalyst Center-as-Code Network Compliance Use Cases – DEVNET-2157
Custom Workflows for the Cisco Catalyst Center Integration with ServiceNow – BRKOPS-2471
Explore and visualize YANG models with YANG Suite – DEVLIT-2787
Getting Started with Secure Zero Touch Provisioning – DEVLIT-2062
How to Become a Cisco IOS XE Terraform Expert – DEVNET-2464
Infrastructure as Code with Cisco Catalyst 9000 Virtual – BRKOPS-2455
Programmability, Automation Model Driven Telemetry on Cisco IOS XE with a dash of YANG Suite – DEVNET-1468
Version Control Tools Integrations – Cisco Catalyst Center Infrastructure-as-Code Use Cases – DEVNET-2958

 2023 – Melbourne

Catalyst 9000 Virtual topology simulation and configuration management solutions – DEVNET-2525
Cisco Catalyst Center-as-Code Network Compliance Use Cases – DEVNET-2634
How to Become a Cisco IOS XE Terraform Expert – DEVNET-2476
Version Control Tools Integrations – Cisco Catalyst Center Infrastructure-as-Code Use Cases – DEVNET-2632

 2023 – Las Vegas

3 Cisco DNA Center and ITSM Workflows: CMDB, Incident Management and SWIM – BRKOPS-2032
3 Cisco DNA Center and ITSM Workflows: CMDB, Incident Management and SWIM – BRKOPS-2032
Custom Workflows for the Cisco DNA Center Integration with ServiceNow – BRKOPS-2471
Infrastructure as Code with Cisco Catalyst 9000 Virtual – BRKOPS-2455
Jenkins Automations for Cisco DNA Center – DEVNET-2151
Secure Zero Touch Provisioning on Cisco IOS XE – DEVNET-2122
Infrastructure as Code (IAC) with Catalyst 9000 – DEVNET-2119
Test Automation with Cisco Catalyst 9000 Virtual Switch – BRKDEV-2467
Version Control Tools Integrations – Cisco DNA Center Infrastructure-as-Code Use Cases – BRKOPS-2854

 2023 – Amsterdam

3 Cisco DNA Center and ITSM Workflows: CMDB, Incident Management and SWIM – BRKOPS-2032
ClickOps to GitOps – Cisco DNA Center Infrastructure-as-Code Use Cases – DEVNET-2739
Custom Workflows for the Cisco DNA Center Integration with ServiceNow – BRKOPS-2471
Everyday Wireless Operational Headaches: Cured using Programmability! – BRKEWN-2730
Jenkins Automations for Cisco DNA Center – DEVNET-2151
Three Cisco DNA Center Integrations: Splunk, Webex Notifications, and PagerDuty – DEVNET-2031

2022 – Melbourne

Automating Enterprise Deployments with Zero Touch Provisioning – DEVNET-2569
ClickOps to GitOps – Cisco DNA Center Infrastructure-as-Code Use Cases – DEVNET-2739
Jenkins Automations for Cisco DNA Center – DEVNET-2151
Programmability and Automation with Catalyst IOS XE Platforms – DEVNET-2745
Three Cisco DNA Center Integrations: Splunk, Webex Notifications, and PagerDuty – DEVNET-2031

2022 – Las Vegas

Cisco DNA Center Integrations with 3rd Party Platforms – BRKDEV-2637
Jenkins Automations for Cisco DNA Center – DEVNET-2151
Programmability and Automation with Catalyst IOS XE Platforms – BRKDEV-2016
Programmability & Automation on Catalyst Wireless Platforms – BRKEWN-2730
Three Cisco DNA Center Automation Use Cases using Python SDK, Ansible and Terraform – DEVNET-1840
Three Cisco DNA Center Integrations: Splunk, Webex Notifications, and PagerDuty – BRKOPS-2031

2021 – Digital

Back to the Office – API-Based Pandemic Proximity Use Cases – BRKEMT-2005
DevNet: Dive into Building your Cisco DNA Center Automation Workflow – BRKDEV-2013
DevNet: Implementing Model Driven Telemetry in Your Network ? – BRKDEV-2012
Enterprise Telemetry and Automation with gRPC – BRKPRG-2330
How to Get Started with Telemetry – DEMDEV-305

2020 – Digital

APIs-enabled NOCs – DGTL-DEVNET-3008
Build Your API-Based Network Troubleshooting Kit – DGTL-BRKNMS-2497
Campus Programmability with Cisco IOS-XE – DGTL-DEMCRS-707
Cisco Catalyst Wireless – leveraging APIs & telemetry to deploy & optimize your wireless network – DGTL-BRKEWN-2050

2020 – Barcelona

Behind the scenes of the IOS XE Programmability Lab – DEVLIT-4010
Build Your API-Based Network Troubleshooting Kit – BRKSDN-2497
Operational Dashboarding with Wireless Streaming Telemetry – DEVNET-2415
Project WhatsOp – A Messaging Platform for Network Devices – DEVNET-3841
Telemetry and Programmability in the Next Generation Wireless Stack – BRKEWN-2050

2019 – San Diego

Operational Dashboarding with Wireless Streaming Telemetry – DEVNET-2415

"}]]  Check out all the IOS XE sessions from the recent Cisco Live in Las Vegas. Sessions cover topics including getting started with Cisco IOS XE programmability and automation, tooling with YANG Suite and Terraform, and open-source solutions for Model Driven Telemetry.  Read More Cisco Blogs 

Cisco XDR turns one year old. Here is the backstory of how we developed relationships and alliances with “competitors” to have the open ecosystem of today.

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Cisco XDR is an Open Platform

Cisco XDR turns one year old this week, and it is a good time to share the backstory of how we developed relationships and alliances with “competitors” to have the open ecosystem of today.

The story begins in the Black Hat Network Operations Center, which provides a high security, high availability network in one of the most demanding environments in the world – the Black Hat event. This is accomplished with the help of best of breed solutions providers and seasoned security and engineering teams led by Black Hat’s NOC Team Leads. The Security Operations Center is within the NOC.

Cisco XDR at the Black Hat USA 2023 NOC/SOC

This is our eighth year supporting Black Hat USA. Cisco is the Official Mobile Device Management, Malware Analysis and DNS (Domain Name Service) Provider. We work with other official providers to bring the hardware, software and engineers to build and secure the network, for our joint customer Black Hat: Arista, Corelight, Lumen, NetWitness and Palo Alto Networks.

The NOC Team Leads allow Cisco (and the other NOC partners) to bring in additional software to make our internal work more efficient and have greater visibility; however, Cisco is not the official provider for Extended Detection & Response, Network Detection & Response or Collaboration. The Cisco team brings the Breach Protection Suite, including:

Cisco XDR: Threat Hunting / Threat Intelligence Enrichment / Executive dashboards / Automation with Webex
Cisco XDR Analytics (Formerly Secure Cloud Analytics / Stealthwatch Cloud): network traffic visibility and threat detection
Integrations at Black Hat Asia SOC in the NOC, to be implemented at Black Hat USA 2024

It Started at Black Hat

While working side-by-side with the Palo Alto Networks engineers year after year deployed to Singapore, London and Las Vegas, we developed trust and the desire to work closer together and build more integrations between the products in the NOC/SOC. A reporter with The Register toured the Black Hat USA 2023 NOC and wrote an article about this close collaboration between partners. The working relationship with Palo Alto Networks opened doors with Check Point and Fortinet, as we publicly demonstrated our commitment to cooperation in the SOC.

The Black Hat experiences expanded into building the RSA Conference SOC. During his keynote at RSAC 2022, Cisco Security Executive VP and GM Jeetu Patel stated, “We all know this is a hypercompetitive industry. But beating competitors is nowhere near as important as stopping the bad actors. Collectively, we can work together to defeat our real adversaries.” We implement this challenge everyday with Cisco XDR.

Tour at the RSAC 2024 Security Operations Center

We took our experiences at Black Hat and RSAC SOC to the National Football League SOC for the Super Bowl and Draft. Protecting these large events required cooperation with companies such as Microsoft and CrowdStrike, now two of the most robust integration partners with Cisco XDR. We took those skills and technology integrations to Paris, actively protecting the Paris 2024 Games today.

We engaged other industry leaders, including SentinelOne, Trend Micro, Cybereason, Darktrace and Proofpoint; building relationships and integrations with Cisco XDR.

New Palo Alto Networks (and other) Integrations

From proof-of-concept connections at Black Hat, we took these ideas and built them into the XDR product. The most recent additions include Cisco Meraki MX, Cisco Umbrella DNS detections and now Palo Alto Networks firewall.

Recent and upcoming third-party integration additions include:

Detections and Incident Generation
Palo Alto Cortex-enabled Next-Generation Firewall
Microsoft Defender for Office 365
Proofpoint Threat Protection

Threat Investigation
Palo Alto Cortex-enabled Next-Generation Firewall
Check Point Quantum
Microsoft Defender for Office 365

Workflows
Palo Alto Networks Panorama – Add IP, Domain, or URL to Group or Category
This workflow appears in the pivot menu and allows you to add a URL, IP, or domain name to a group or category in Palo Alto Networks Panorama.

Jira Cloud, Xmatters, ZenDesk
These workflows allow SOCs/NOCs to collaborate more effectively using the team collaboration tools they already have

Elastic
Integrations with SIEMs and data storage apps allow for long-term retention of incident history for compliance and policy purposes

Asset Insights
Microsoft Azure Cloud

Automated Ransomware Recovery
Rubrik Security Cloud

New Integration Opportunities

Cisco Partners can publish their own integrations in the Cisco XDR Integrations “Exchange”, with our new Verified Integrations Program. Some of the first integrations brought to XDR by participants in this program are:

Threat Investigation
Red Sift Pulse
Bastille Networks
Radware Cloud WAF Service
Radware Cloud DDoS Protection Service
Signal Sciences Next-Gen WAF

Workflows
Radware Cloud DDoS Protection Service
Rubrik Security Cloud

If you have a product that you want to make Cisco XDR compatible, email our Cisco Security Technical Alliance at partnering-csta@cisco.com

Check Out the NOC and SOC Dashboards at Black Hat

While you are at Black Hat USA, plan to visit the Cisco Booth, 7-8 August, where you can speak with one of the engineers from the Black Hat SOC inside the Network Operations Center and check out the Cisco XDR and ThousandEyes dashboards up close.

Cisco XDR Dashboard – Black Hat USA 2023

You can also attend a scheduled NOC Presentation to learn more about the technology partners who come together to build and protect the Black Hat network:

Wednesday, August 7:
10:20 AM – 10:50 AM in Lagoon G, Level 2
4:45 PM – 5:35 PM in Business Hall Theater E

Thursday, August 8:
10:20 AM – 10:50 AM in Lagoon G, Level 2
2:35 PM – 3:25 PM in Business Hall Theater E

Be sure to attend the 10th Annual Black Hat USA Network Operations Center (NOC) Report, afternoon of Thursday, August 8, 3:20pm-4:00pm (Oceanside A, Level 2).

The 9th Annual Black Hat USA NOC Report 2023

We are excited for the 2nd year of Cisco XDR innovation, accelerating the evolution of the SOC of the Future. We will continue to build upon the lessons learned and relationships developed at Black Hat events globally.

About Black Hat

Black Hat is the cybersecurity industry’s most established and in-depth security event series. Founded in 1997, these annual, multi-day events provide attendees with the latest in cybersecurity research, development, and trends. Driven by the needs of the community, Black Hat events showcase content directly from the community through Briefings presentations, Trainings courses, Summits, and more. As the event series where all career levels and academic disciplines convene to collaborate, network, and discuss the cybersecurity topics that matter most to them, attendees can find Black Hat events in the United States, Canada, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and Asia. For more information, please visit www.blackhat.com.

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

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"}]]  Cisco XDR turns one year old. Here is the backstory of how we developed relationships and alliances with “competitors” to have the open ecosystem of today.  Read More Cisco Blogs 

Cisco is pleased to announce Cisco Umbrella for Government has achieved the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program FedRAMP® Moderate Authority to Operate (ATO).  Discover how it will help protect your government agency.

​[[{"value":"

Cisco is pleased to announce Cisco Umbrella for Government has achieved the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program FedRAMP® Moderate Authority to Operate (ATO)*. This reflects Cisco’s commitment to providing one of the most comprehensive and reliable cloud-native cybersecurity solutions to federal, state, and local government agencies.

Cisco Umbrella for Government:  Now is the time  

Cisco Umbrella for Governmentis a key step to securely accelerate Information Technology modernization, and cloud and hybrid work adoption. This solution enables a holistic cloud-centric security infrastructure for government agencies. It delivers advanced DNS threat intelligence, Protective DNS (PDNS) integration, and secure internet gateway features for enhanced security, flexibility, and compliance. Umbrella for Government is key part of a full SSE product family with Cisco Secure Access to address the challenging security reality of managing connectivity from anything to anywhere while simultaneously protecting against sophisticated, motivated threat actors.

How Cisco Umbrella for Government adds value  

Advanced security: Umbrella for Government delivers an advanced recursive DNS-powered intelligence, powered by Cisco Talos that quickly blocks threats, protecting users and devices, regardless of location. One of the world’s largest commercial threat intelligence teams, Cisco Talos provides a long-term partnership to maintain and improve your security posture and reduce risk by defending customers against known/emerging threats, discovering new vulnerabilities, and maintaining key open-source software packages like Snort.

Umbrella for Government integrates with Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) Protective DNS, adding significant policy creation, reporting, and analytic capabilities. Additional capabilities including Secure Web Gateway, Cloud-Delivered Firewall with Snort IPS, Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB,) and Data Loss Prevention (DLP) will be added in a future phase to provide expanded protection.

Compliance: Umbrella provides stringent FedRAMP requirements such as advanced threat protections and secure communications that align with TIC 3.0 Policy Enforcement Points for User, Traditional, Branch office and Cloud Use cases; Executive Order on Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity 14828; and Moving the US Government toward Zero Trust OMB Memo M-22-09. Details on additional cybersecurity mandates such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and how Cisco assists in ensuring compliance are available here.

Flexibility: Umbrella for Government optimizes and protects remote workers with the resilience to enable productivity without compromising security. It can be deployed with other Cisco FedRAMP Moderate authorized offers, such as Duo and Cisco Catalyst and Meraki SD-WAN, providing a comprehensive zero-trust cybersecurity ecosystem tailored to government needs.

Umbrella for Government provides the first line of defense against threats on the internet, delivering visibility into cloud services in use across your environment, with the ability to block risky applications. Cisco is committed to delivering FedRAMP solutions that help agencies securely achieve their missions.

For additional information, please visit the following resources

Cisco Umbrella: Cybersecurity for Government and Public Sector   
Cisco FedRAMP Authorized solutions  
Cisco Modernizing Government Security  

*Please Note: Cisco Umbrella for Government has been granted FedRAMP Authorization to Operate as of August 1, 2024. The change from ‘In Process’ to ‘Authorized’ can take up to two months to appear on the FedRAMP Marketplace website. However, Cisco Umbrella for Government is approved and available for your agency’s use today.

"}]]  Cisco is pleased to announce Cisco Umbrella for Government has achieved the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program FedRAMP® Moderate Authority to Operate (ATO).  Discover how it will help protect your government agency.  Read More Cisco Blogs 

When natural disasters or cyberattacks strike, communications are often the first to be impacted. In response, Cisco NERVs are on 24/7 standby for rapid deployment, providing advanced and secure communications for emergency responders during disaster recovery.

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As hurricane season in the southern United States hits its stride and damage from the first storm of the season is cleared, government agencies at all levels are continuing their preparations for the months ahead. Meanwhile, deadly tornado outbreaks continue to sweep across the middle of the United States, leaving many communities without basic government services.

As disaster recovery efforts continue for these and other weather events, one thing is clear; the damage to infrastructure is immediate and often long-term. This includes taking down critical communications networks needed to coordinate search and rescue, recovery, and emergency services. In response, the Cisco Crisis Response team has outfitted two new assets to help—the Cisco® Network Emergency Response Vehicles (NERVs).

How Cisco helps with disaster recovery

Cisco NERVs are operated by Cisco Crisis Response, a small team of technical engineers, operations experts, and logistics coordinators who work in tandem with an extended group of more than 500 Cisco volunteers, known as the CCR Community. The NERVs are part of a suite of solutions that include trailers and portable kits, with similar yet less extensive capabilities than the NERVs. When disaster strikes, including cyberattacks, Cisco NERVs can provide impacted communities with disaster recovery capabilities to:

Rapidly deploy field mobile communications: Each vehicle exceeds the National Incident Management System (NIMS) standards for Type III Mobile Communication Centers and provides up to 3 days of continuous operations before requiring utility power or refuel. Cisco NERVs also operate seamlessly with police, fire, emergency medical services, National Guard, and other responders within an incident command system or unified command structure. Plus, they receive 24-hour, proactive intelligence and logistical support from Cisco Operations Centers.
Deploy anywhere, and with confidence, to assist with disaster recovery: The Cisco NERV is a self-contained vehicle in which all technology travels together as a preconfigured package. Once on scene, the Cisco NERV can be fully operational within 15 minutes, shut down within 15 minutes in order to redeploy to another location, and power its systems using its on-board battery pack, multiple generators, or external shore power connection.
Enable automated and secure cloud-enabled communications: Each Cisco NERV uses an IP network foundation and Internet-based voice/video platforms to scale communications beyond the range of traditional push-to-talk (PTT) radio and repeaters. This approach ensures response organizations can engage and employ all available resources on-scene, regardless of where important resources geographically reside, interoperate with existing communications systems, enable access to cloud applications, and provide a path to emerging internet based communications systems.

Cisco technology for disaster recovery

“When communications infrastructure has been compromised, the truck is designed to roll on to the scene and re-establish communications for emergency responders,” stated Joseph Harrison, global communications manager for Cisco Crisis Response. “That would include public and private agencies, like local and state emergency response and on up to federal agencies, like FEMA. But also, nonprofits and other organizations that work together to provide support to affected communities.”

A NERV is located on each coast of the United States. One in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina and the other in San Jose, California. They replace two older vehicles that served a similar disaster recovery role for fifteen years. But the new vehicles offer more advanced Cisco and Cisco Meraki solutions that can be sent to the scene of a disaster immediately to setup fast, low-latency secure connections for first responders and others. This suite of communications options includes:

Wired, cellular and WiFi wireless
Cisco Webex for video collaboration
Integration with Webex Desk Pro and Webex Cameras
Meraki Internet of Things (IoT) and smart-camera technology to supply constant data, monitoring, and control of systems and the surrounding environment.

According to Matt Runyan, CCR’s mission readiness and deployments lead, “On the networking side we decided on fully redundant components. The new trucks are Meraki network based. So, we have wireless access points, as well as a hyperflex compute-cluster. And we have dual switches, dual security, and dual servers, while still using less energy than the older trucks.”

How to engage our Cisco Crisis Response team

Cisco Crisis Response leverages our people, technology, and financial resources to support nonprofit and emergency response partners that are working tirelessly on disaster preparedness and response. Cisco NERVs are available for disaster recovery assistance throughout the continental United States, during the acute phase of an emergency. To engage the Cisco NERV, or any of the other services provided by Cisco Crisis Response, please contact your Cisco account team.

Also, check out our additional resources for state and local governments:

How Cisco connects communities in need
How a Whole of State approach helps leverage security platforms for government
Explore state and local technology for government

"}]]  When natural disasters or cyberattacks strike, communications are often the first to be impacted. In response, Cisco NERVs are on 24/7 standby for rapid deployment, providing advanced and secure communications for emergency responders during disaster recovery.  Read More Cisco Blogs 

While summer is synonymous with vacations and relaxation, small and medium-sized business (SMB) owners cannot afford to let their cybersecurity take a break alongside their employees. Statistics show that 43% of cyberattacks target small businesses, underscoring the constant threat, regardless of the season. And recovering from a cyberattack isn’t cheap – small businesses spend an […]

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While summer is synonymous with vacations and relaxation, small and medium-sized business (SMB) owners cannot afford to let their cybersecurity take a break alongside their employees. Statistics show that 43% of cyberattacks target small businesses, underscoring the constant threat, regardless of the season. And recovering from a cyberattack isn’t cheap – small businesses spend an average of $955,000 per attack to restore their normal operations.

If you’re running a hybrid or fully remote SMB, there are some important things you should factor in if you plan to close your office or have employees traveling during the summer season.

The Benefits of a Hybrid Work Environment

We’ve written a lot about the benefits of a hybrid work environment. The ability to work remotely has been a boon for both employees and SMB owners. Remote work environments can significantly reduce the cost of living for employees and reduce energy costs for businesses.

But another huge benefit is the ability for employees to better manage their work-life balance, allowing them to take work on the road with them (if they choose to do so) and have more control over their workdays, which, studies have shown, leads to increased productivity.

However, for all their benefits, hybrid work environments do introduce additional hurdles to overcome — especially when it comes to cybersecurity.

How to Protect Your Data When Remote 

Hackers are fully aware that SMBs may not have the same resources as larger enterprises, which can make them an easy target. This includes safety protocols employees should practice in-office, best practices to follow when remote, and equipping both offices and remote workers with the best technology that gives them full access to the network safely.

Safety Starts in the Home… Office

When employees are scheduled to be out of the office, they should follow some best practices to keep their equipment and company data safe while away.

Shutdown policies should be in place so that any employee who may be leaving their equipment (e.g., work computers, digital work devices, company phones, etc.) make sure they are locked and shut down properly. If anyone were to gain access to their work equipment, it’s likely that no one would find out until they return from vacation, leaving your systems and data exposed for days on end.
Scanning all endpoints and servers for any potential threats can protect you if you expect several employees will be taking time off, say during the summer months. Both your servers and the devices they are connected to (endpoints) have access to your company’s data. It’s an important best practice to scan both to make sure that the most recent security updates are active. Scanning will also ensure there are no malware or other vulnerabilities that may provide unauthorized access to your data when everyone is away. Again, the more employees there are out of office, the longer it will take for someone to notice your system has been compromised. By then, hackers can cause more damage without ever being found.

CYA: Cover Your Assets

Just because you might be away on vacation doesn’t mean your system has to go unprotected.

Managed service providers (MSPs) offer remote IT protection, helping you manage and secure your system while you are away. There has been a tremendous shift toward MSPs in the last few years, and for good reason. Between 2021 and 2023, data breaches rose by 72%, increasing the need for more dedicated remote IT protection—whether offices are open for business or not.
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is another vital requirement when employees are on vacation. MFA provides an extra layer of protection, and a practice that should be implemented at all times but is especially important while out of office. It’s important to ensure that all your employees have it enabled on their network-connected devices, especially if they plan on logging in while on vacation. If they happen to leave their phone or work computer in a hotel, you want to make it as difficult as possible for a hacker to access your system. Products like Cisco Duo provide zero-trust MFA protection for all your devices, so you can feel safe knowing they have the best remote SMB security

Ensure Productivity from Home and Beyond

For those employees that wish to work while on vacation, it’s imperative that they can get safe access to your network when they need it and are able to collaborate with people in-office, as well.

Having a stable video service to hold meetings and remote brainstorms is a fantastic way to maintain productivity remotely, but these services also need the utmost security. Collaboration tools like Cisco’s Webex provide end-to-end protection with zero-trust encryption to ensure meetings stay confidential. Webex makes sure only your employees have access to messages and recordings on your system.

Everyone needs a vacation from time to time, but unfortunately, your network security can’t [take a break like your employees can]. Cisco provides a huge array of digital tools and devices that keep your SMB network stable and secure. Contact a Cisco expert today, and our team will help you find the right combination of tools and services that will keep your SMB safe no matter where life takes you.

"}]]  While summer is synonymous with vacations and relaxation, small and medium-sized business (SMB) owners cannot afford to let their cybersecurity take a break alongside their employees. Statistics show that 43% of cyberattacks target small businesses, underscoring the constant threat, regardless of the season. And recovering from a cyberattack isn’t cheap – small businesses spend an  Read More Cisco Blogs 

Plan your route to Cisco certification success with insights, tips, and advice from our experts.

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Two to eight hours of sitting still—sometimes completely alone. No breaks. Someone watching your every move. No snacks, no drinks, no paper, no watch, no wallet—just a computer.

What’s the activity? Some kind of spy training exercise? Nope. It’s a Cisco certification exam.

It’s no wonder Cisco certification exams are nerve-wracking, especially if it’s your first one. That’s not even taking into account all the studying you have to do prior to the actual exam day. Where do you start? How do you maximize your odds of passing the exam? If you have test anxiety or need accommodations, what can you do?

This blog is here to help you plan for Cisco certification exam success. I’ll tell you how to use the resources inside Cisco U. to help you pass, and share insights from two people who set exam parameters: Training Content Product Manager Geoff Anderson and Learning Path Author and Engineering Leader Mubasher Nawaz.

Why are Cisco certification exams important?

First, in case you’re brand-new here, a little primer on what certification exams are and why they matter. For nearly 40 years, Cisco has been a leader in networking and communications solutions. As a networking professional, getting a Cisco certification serves as a stamp of expertise and competency in your chosen area.

Getting Cisco Certified isn’t something you can knock out in a day—it requires a significant time commitment with plenty of active learning, practice, and study hours. In the past, learners have put together their own ad hoc study programs around their chosen certification exam. But it’s difficult to figure out exactly what content you should be studying and understand whether it’s high-quality enough to help you pass.

Cisco U. helps you make your next career move.

Starting your certification studies with Cisco U.

That’s where Cisco U. comes in. The learning platform provides the organized resources you need to successfully pass your certification exam. The key is knowing how to utilize all the features and content inside Cisco U. to make your path to certification easier.

Even with all these resources, you’ll have to figure out what study methods and content types work best for you.

“Remember, everybody learns differently,” Anderson points out. “Some people like to use flashcards, some like to do hands-on exercises. Experiment.” That’s why Cisco U. includes labs, practice exams, podcasts, tutorials, courses, and videos to cater to your learning mood or needs.

What are Cisco U. Learning Paths and how do you use them?

If you’re new to Cisco U., you may not have yet discovered Learning Paths. This is the best place for a newcomer to start. The Learning Paths inside Cisco U. eliminate the guesswork of studying by putting together courses, labs, tutorials, and assessments all in one place—giving you an entire exhaustive Learning Path that teaches you the subject from top to bottom.

Can I skip around the Learning Paths in Cisco U.?

A lot of people ask whether they can skip around Learning Paths. The answer is…it depends. “If you’re new to the subject, you should do the entire Learning Path,” Anderson recommends. “If you already have some expertise, you can just study the subjects you’re not as familiar with.” After all, the point of the certification is that when you pass, you’ll be able to take on professional duties dealing with that certification—not have only partial knowledge.

Learning Paths also contain assessments and self-tests along the way so you can make sure you really know the subject as well as you think you do. And after you’ve successfully completed the Learning Path, you can move on to taking practice exams.

Give yourself a competitive edge with exam blueprints and practice exams

Next, you’ll want to take a peek at the Cisco certification exam topics on the Cisco Learning Network (and soon to come, inside each Cisco U. practice exam overview) to develop a study plan.

“I recommend learners look at the exam blueprint and see what topics it covers and how they’re weighted,” says Nawaz. “For example, if you look at the CCNA topics, you’ll see the first three count for 65% of your score. I’d spend most of my time studying those.”

Cisco U. practice exams for the win

The best way to ensure you’re efficiently hitting those weighted topics is by utilizing the practice exams in Cisco U. “If you can do well on a practice exam, you should be in pretty good shape to pass the certification exam,” says Anderson.

Each entry into a practice exam presents the candidate with 75 items that change with every attempt. “I recommend taking the practice exam multiple times,” Anderson says. Practice exams can be purchased separately or come as part of a Cisco U. subscription; if purchased as an individual title, they’re good for 180 days (about six months). Subscriptions to Cisco U. are valid for a year.

The practice exams contain the exam objectives and a score report telling you how well you did in each area. That way, post-practice exam attempt, you can see what topics you’re scoring low in, switch back to the Learning Path, and redo those areas.

Practice exams will also help you replicate the exam day—super helpful for test anxiety. More on that later.

What to avoid when prepping for Cisco certification exams

There’s one important thing both Anderson and Nawaz want you to avoid as you prepare: brain dumps. “Brain dump sites are websites where someone takes an exam and memorizes what’s on there, then uploads it as a list of test items and sells it,” Anderson says.

Nawaz notes, “If you can access a brain dump site, we can also. We have dedicated security personnel monitoring them for leaked content.”

“Once those exam items are compromised, we switch them out. Thus, relying on these sites will not be a shortcut to passing the exam,” says Anderson. Instead, sticking with high-quality learning materials and having a solid study plan are the keys to certification exam success.

What is the actual Cisco certification exam experience like?

Certification exams are meant to show you’ve attained a level of competency and that you can perform in a specified role, which means they’re difficult by nature. And this means even the test taking environment itself can be a little intimidating. A certification exam typically lasts for two to three hours, but a lab test for a CCIE could last up to eight hours.

You can take a certification exam either at home or in a test center. “If there’s a test center in your area, I recommend going there,” says Anderson.

Taking a certification exam at a test center

At a test center, the environment is already set up for you, so all you have to do is show up.

Other things to know:

You’ll have to leave your phone, wallet, watch, pen, paper, and calculator at home (bring your ID!). You can check with the test center on whether they have lockers.
You’ll be observed by a proctor and take the test alongside others taking non-Cisco tests.
Bathroom breaks can last no more than 10 minutes.
There are no drinks or snacks permitted in the exam room.
The CCIE Lab exams include a 20-minute break and may include lunch.
You’ll be provided with a small whiteboard and marker to work out things like subnetting.

You’ll be given more specific instructions that depend on the exam you’re taking and the specific test site. Read more about exam policies.

Overall, though, the only bad thing about an in-person test, according to Anderson, is that you may be jealous of the person next to you who’s not taking a Cisco exam—which means they have different testing parameters. “The contractor taking a test next to me was allowed a calculator,” Anderson notes drily. Cisco exams have a calculator built into them.

An online certification exam needs to take place in an empty room.

Taking a certification exam online

Taking a certification exam remotely is also an option, but there are extra-strict criteria you must meet.

You’ll have to show the proctor your exam environment to ensure there are no books, papers, screens, or electronic devices that could help you cheat.
You must be in a walled room with a closed door.
Nobody else is allowed in the room.
You may have water in a clear glass.
There are no bathroom breaks, since the proctor can’t see what’s happening beyond that room. If you leave the web camera view, your test will be over.
Your computer will be running software that monitors your test-taking, and you must always have the camera on you.
During the exam, if deemed necessary, the proctor may ask you to turn the camera so they can see the rest of the environment.
No paper is allowed, but you will get an electronic whiteboard.

Sometimes it’s easiest to set up a different room for the day instead of using your typical workspace, where you’ll have to disassemble and put away all your electronic items. People often set up a table in an empty room.

For a full list of at-home testing requirements, check out these online testing FAQs.

Advice for certification exam day

No matter what, taking the exam can be nerve-wracking. Anderson’s advice for the big day:

Hydrate beforehand.
Get a good night’s sleep.
Don’t over-caffeinate.
Don’t freak out.

Not freaking out is definitely easier said than done. So, no matter where you decide to take the actual exam, try to replicate the test environment during the practice exams. Give yourself a small whiteboard or electronic whiteboard. Eliminate distractions. Do the practice exam without a beverage or snack. If you’re successful enough times, your test anxiety should lessen, if not go away entirely.

But what if you have a documented anxiety disorder or another condition, and you’re not sure you can handle the test environment, even with all this practice? Set your worries aside—there are accommodations available.

Applying for certification exam accommodations

You can qualify for a Cisco certification exam accommodation through Pearson VUE (the test administrator) if you have a condition that falls into one of these categories:

Learning/other cognitive disorders (LCD)
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD)
Emotional, psychological, psychiatric disorders (EPP)
Physical disabilities/chronic health conditions (PCH)
Hearing
Wheelchair access
Physical impairments

You’ll have to apply BEFORE you schedule the test and provide documentation about your condition.

Test accommodations include:

Text magnifiers such as Zoom Text
A separate testing room
Additional testing time
A reader or scribe

If you need other accommodations, the test administrator may be able to help. Visit Pearson VUE to request test accommodations for a Cisco exam.

Final tips for Cisco certification exam success

As you start studying, Anderson wants you to remember this: “Don’t be discouraged if it takes you longer than what the training says. Though it says to spend 30-40 hours training, the average is more like 110 hours,” he notes.

What if you’ve studied and practiced as much as you can—and you still don’t pass? Regroup and try again.

“If you do not pass, do not despair,” Anderson says. “You will get a report with details on what areas you didn’t meet the mark on. This is a perfect starting point for preparing for your second attempt.”

A final note: Many people taking certification exams tend to be perfectionists who fret about not getting the highest possible score. If you’re among those, try to relax, says Anderson. “A pass is a win!” Anderson says. “Celebrate! You’ve earned it.”

Ready to start studying for a Cisco certification? Leave a comment below and let me know which exam you’re going for. Thanks for reading!

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It’s almost time for another year of cutting-edge research and innovative talks, as thousands of hackers and security professionals descend upon Las Vegas for Black Hat 2024.

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It’s almost time for another year of cutting-edge research and innovative talks, as thousands of hackers and security professionals descend upon Las Vegas for Black Hat 2024. We invite you to join us, as we celebrate a few important milestones, share the latest threat research, and educate the public with a workshop geared towards accelerating incident response.

Visit Cisco at Booth #1732

At the Cisco booth, we’ll feature talks on the latest Talos research, as well as demos aligned to said research, addressing the latest innovations for stopping identity-based attacks; detecting and stopping breaches; and closing the exploit gap.

We hope you’ll stop by to see Talos in action for yourself and catch one of the 22 talks our researchers are presenting.

Black Hat 2024: Events and Training

Cisco will be hosting an incident response workshop on August 7. During this event – full details and registration here – participants can get hands-on experience to develop their skills (e.g., find patterns and correlations, prioritize incidents based on risk and impact), and test these abilities as they learn how to scope, contain, and eradicate threats like a pro.

On August 7, at 12:05 p.m., members from Talos Threat Intelligence will lead tables through a game of Backdoors & Breaches over lunch and discuss recent trends and events. On August 7 at 3:00 p.m., Talos’ Nick Biasini will present a threat briefing with insights and mitigation strategies related to identity attacks, zero-day exploits, ransomware, and infostealers.

Every year is a busy one for us at Black Hat, but we invite you to stop by the booth, chat with our experts, play a game or two, and see how Cisco is innovating for a new era of security.

Read on for some additional insight into Cisco’s presence this year during Black Hat.

Network Operations

Cisco has been a longtime supporter and protection partner of the Black Hat security conference. This is Cisco’s eighth year supporting the Black Hat Network Operations Center, and this year we are the Official Mobile Device Management, Malware Analysis and DNS (Domain Name Service) Provider.

Cisco Talos: 10 Years of Defending Customers and the Internet

Ten years ago, during Black Hat 2014, the world met Talos Threat Intelligence for the very first time.  The name Talos is a unifying moniker that describes three groups that existed within Cisco after the Sourcefire acquisition: the Vulnerability Research Team (VRT), the Cisco Threat Research, Analysis, and Communications (TRAC) team, and Security Applications (SecApps).

Talos has recently published a blog detailing their history, which you can view here.

Visit Splunk at Booth #1940

Don’t forget to visit Splunk to see how they’re delivering unified threat detection, investigation and response to power the SOC of the future with speed, scale and choice for greater digital resilience. An overview of Splunk’s activities at Black Hat 2024 can be seen here.

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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"}]]  It’s almost time for another year of cutting-edge research and innovative talks, as thousands of hackers and security professionals descend upon Las Vegas for Black Hat 2024.  Read More Cisco Blogs 

Discover how smart technology is revolutionizing our understanding of the oceans and aiding fishermen, with innovative gear that collects vital data to help navigate changing seas and support sustainable fishing practices.

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Picture our world as a giant game of dominoes. One tiny nudge can set off a chain reaction where everything topples over. While climate shifts are altering our atmosphere and landscapes; they are reshaping the oceans, too, and tiny nudges in the ocean have big impacts on our daily lives.  

Think about it; our oceans are life’s supermarkets for more than three billion people, and they provide a livelihood for 12 percent of the global population, according to the Nature Conservancy. But if fishermen cannot find fish, we have major problems. Climate change is throwing fish migration off-kilter, which can contribute to overfishing, meaning there are not enough adults to breed and sustain a healthy fish population. Imagine casting your net, only to pull it in empty or filled with species you cannot keep. That is becoming the reality for many around the world. 

Now, imagine a solution that does not just help fishermen fish, but can also help us better understand our marine ecosystems.  

Innovation below the waves

According to Fish Focus, “In Orkney, fishermen report that Brown Crab’s migration is happening later each year. Fishermen and fisheries scientists think that increasing temperatures are causing this change. However, they do not have the numerical evidence to support their observations. Data collected will help fishermen and scientists know what factors are influencing the Brown Crab migration.”

Enter the heroes of our story: Heriot-Watt University, SafetyNet, and the Cisco Research Centre, with support from Cisco’s Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) program. Together, they are on a mission to empower fishermen with knowledge about the changing seas. 

The secret weapon? Smart fishing gear. They have equipped the fishermen in Orkney Island, UK, with gear decked out with tiny ocean sensors. These little marvels collect vital data on water temperature, salinity, and more – ultimately, they are like underwater weather forecasters. 

But here is where the magic happens: our IoT edge intelligence swoops in, processing all that data faster than you can say “fish tacos.” Then, it is off to the dashboard via our IoT edge gateway and Cisco Ultra Wireless Backhaul. Fishermen can now get real-time insights into what’s happening below the waves, helping them navigate the seas and avoid barren spots.  

What is the payoff? Time and money saved for fishermen, and a win-win for marine life. By helping fishermen avoid unproductive areas, we are giving fish populations a chance to rebound and ecosystems time to heal. 

These efforts are not just about big corporations or governments saving the day or stopping the dominoes from falling. Every organization, big or small, has a role to play. By teaming up with the right partners and supporting local communities, we can build a stronger, better future for all, not just on land, but below the waves as well. 

Learn how CDA can benefit your customers.
Contact our Country Digital Acceleration Team

"}]]  Discover how smart technology is revolutionizing our understanding of the oceans and aiding fishermen, with innovative gear that collects vital data to help navigate changing seas and support sustainable fishing practices.  Read More Cisco Blogs