I started my career as a contractor with Cisco back in December 2003 with the Support Delivery Services IT Finance team. Even as a contractor, I could see from day one the incredible culture Cisco… Read more on Cisco Blogs

​

I started my career as a contractor with Cisco back in December 2003 with the Support Delivery Services IT Finance team. Even as a contractor, I could see from day one the incredible culture Cisco had, and everyone made me feel like I was part of the team and not a newbie. That’s when I knew that this was the company I wanted to build my career with. This is where I belonged.

Cisco as a company is very diverse, not just in the people who work here, but also in the available roles and opportunities. When the time came for me to look for a new role, I never thought of looking at any other company. I was fortunate to find a position quickly within Cisco in another group, and as I had expected, the new team was just like the old one when it came to exemplifying Cisco’s principles.

It’s not just the culture that’s drawn me towards staying at Cisco and building my career; it is the relationships I built. Especially the mentorship I receive from the various leaders in the company. Early in my career, with their support, I was able to find a full-time role, which not only helped me with my career progression but also gave me and my wife the stability we needed to start a family. We were always anxious living in the U.S. on an immigrant visa. Cisco helped us convert that to a permanent residency and eventually to citizenship to help us with our American Dream. Anytime I need some guidance, I know I can still reach out to any of the leaders within the company.

I have been with Cisco for almost 20 years now, and I have never looked at any other company for a role or career change because the career growth options Cisco offers are unparalleled. With the diverse options internally, I have the freedom to move around and explore new opportunities, new roles, and new challenges every couple of years. That way, I’m never stagnated. I’m always learning new technology and growing and expanding my career. I even recently started a new position as Principal Customer Success Manager with Duo in January of this year, and that’s what I love about working here: Cisco is truly one company with many career options.

And I cannot say enough about the benefits and flexibility I’ve experienced in my time at this company. I still remember the day a few years back when I was in a meeting and got a call from India saying my dad had a heart attack. My manager, who was in that meeting with me sensed that something was off after I came back. He immediately told me to get the first available ticket, go be at my dad’s side, and not worry a bit about work. The compassion, empathy, and support I received from him, all of my team, and leadership gave me the strength to go and take care of my dad and not worry about my job. Because they had my back, I was able to be there for my family, then come back and jump right back into work. The ability to manage a professional and personal life like this allows us to thrive. I’ve not seen any other company offer this kind of balance, and I’m thankful for a culture that feels like a wider family outside of my personal family.

Throughout the years, I’ve always told my wife about the things Cisco offers, from a healthy work environment where everyone is respected to the awesome work-life balance. She has seen first-hand the reasons why I have never looked at any other company for a career, and because of all of that, she decided to join Cisco as well. She’s currently an Engineering Program Manager and has been here almost 13 years now.

Cisco has been such a big part of our lives that neither I nor my wife can think of any other company we’d want to work for. Our daughters have grown up hearing about our love for Cisco and talk fondly about becoming engineers themselves to work for the company one day, just like their parents. Being a Cisconian runs in our family!

Do you want to make Cisco a part of your family? Find a career and grow with us!

Subscribe to the WeAreCisco Blog.

  Principal Customer Success Manager Nitesh has thrived so much through Cisco's benefits and career opportunities that his wife joined the company. Now, his daughters want to be Cisconians, too!  Read More Cisco Blogs 

On 27 November the European Council adopted the EU Data Act, a first-of-its-kind law that aims to unlock the value of ‘industrial data’ in the European Union (EU). It will enter into force early 202… Read more on Cisco Blogs

​

On 27 November the European Council adopted the EU Data Act, a first-of-its-kind law that aims to unlock the value of ‘industrial data’ in the European Union (EU). It will enter into force early 2024, starting the 20-month clock for companies to comply with its requirements.

This is the culmination of almost four years of work stretching back to the European Data Strategy. Cisco has been engaging throughout the legislative process and welcomes the opportunity to work with regulators, customers, and partners to navigate the next stage.

Read more from our Chief Legal Officer, Dev Stahlkopf, in her blog “Unlocking Industrial Data: The EU Data Act”

What’s new: data sharing and cloud switching

Laws looking at how data is governed aren’t original. It’s just that to date they have focused either on opening up government data for reuse or protecting data. The Data Act, on the other hand, looks to shift the point of data control over to the user and business customers.

The Data Act covers a lot of ground. In this blog, I focus on access, sharing, and use of data generated by connected devices and related services, as well as cloud switching provisions from the Act, and what it means for a company like Cisco and our customers.

Data governance: from challenge to opportunities

The EU Data Act requires device manufacturers to design products and interconnected services to allow customers to access them and to be transparent about what data is being generated by the products about their environment and use, and how that data is being used. To stimulate competition and innovation in after-market services, such as for repair, management and operation of products, users will also be able to share their data with a third party.

From the perspective of a manufacturer of connected devices like Cisco, data governance operations deployed to meet existing data privacy requirements are a good starting point for a new programme. You need to know, and be transparent about, what data you have and how you’re using it. You also need to build in features and controls that allow customers to access and use the data about them and their environment. At Cisco, we pioneered transparency on personal data governance on a product-level basis through our Privacy Data Sheets and Maps.

When designing products, a key aspect is building in standardised interfaces for data accessibility and consumption by customers and third parties they engage. We also see the new data streams as a possible opportunity across our platform suite and encourage our customers to explore their potential.

Cloud switching

The Act aims to enable customers to easily migrate from one cloud service provider to another by porting their data and applications in a timely and cost-effective manner and being able to effectively use them in the new environment.

It also covers interoperability between similar applications (‘same service type’), enabling them to work together. For Infrastructure-as-a-Service providers, that means porting of data and applications and facilitating ‘functional equivalence’ in their use in the destination service.  For Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications, it’s largely about porting customer-generated data and related metadata.

As a SaaS provider, we intend to leverage our Cisco Secure Development Lifecycle and Cisco Cloud Controls Framework as a foundation for structuring the controls and audit artifacts that will enable cloud offers to demonstrate compliance with the requirements.

And to the extent the law encourages businesses to consider multi-cloud strategy, we have a portfolio of products and services to help connect, protect, secure, and consume cloud services.

Next steps: model clauses, standards and more

While the law has been adopted, not all the details on how it will be interpreted and implemented in practice are settled. That’s to be expected for a new area of law.

The EU Data Act will be enforceable in approximately September 2025. In the intervening months, some of the details will be debated and filled in. The issues that need to be addressed include the exact types of data and products in scope and how that is defined in edge cases; how access to data is provided and in what format; and safeguards for data that should not be as readily shared – to ensure trade secrets and personal data are appropriately protected and rights respected. The standards around cloud data portability and interoperability are also not yet mature.

The European Commission has established an Expert Group on B2B Data Sharing and Cloud Contracts, which is working on non-binding model contract terms in these two sections of the law and is hopeful to deliver results by the end of 2024. The Act also envisages a central standards repository for meeting the cloud portability and interoperability aspects. And, the Commission will call on the European standards development organisations to develop the relevant standards.

We look forward to engaging in that work and potentially including the emerging standards in our Cloud Controls Framework.

Preparing for the EU Data Act implementation

Cisco, our customers, our partners, and our peers will have to consider a range of actions to prepare for the regulation and new requirements. While this list isn’t comprehensive, here’s a set of actions to consider:

Establish cross functional team to define and oversee strategy for compliance and opportunities.
Leverage existing product development, security, and privacy programmes, tools, and processes.
Identify and document relevant product and cloud data.
Adopt process to identify and protect trade secrets.
Insert data access and portability in product secure development lifecycle processes.
Adapt data and cloud strategies to leverage opportunities with vendors and products.
Review and update relevant vendor and customers contracts.
Monitor or engage in forthcoming guidance and tools for compliance – including model clauses, codes of conduct, and standards.

At Cisco, we believe in the vast opportunities of a responsible data economy. We are committed to contributing to efforts to build on its success.

  This blog analyses the 2023 EU Data Act, focusing on access, sharing, and use of data, as well as cloud switching, and what it means for a company like Cisco and our customers.  Read More Cisco Blogs 

InsureTech Connect (ITC) 2023, the premier conference for the insurance technology industry, brought together 9,000+ innovators, leaders, and solution providers to Las Vegas in early November to… Read more on Cisco Blogs

​

InsureTech Connect (ITC) 2023, the premier conference for the insurance technology industry, brought together 9,000+ innovators, leaders, and solution providers to Las Vegas in early November to explore the latest trends, technologies, and disruptions in the insurance technology space.

Cisco’s ITC 2023 booth was dedicated to showcasing Webex Connect – a Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS) solution that transforms business messaging into a powerful tool for insurers. Thus, along with a few Cisco colleagues, I had the opportunity to learn and network with customers, partners, and industry analysts regarding the significant transformations taking place in the insurance industry. I’d like to share a few key themes that emerged from this year’s event.

Key Themes from ITC 2023

As anticipated, generative AI was topically everywhere accompanied by high expectations of significantly improving the impact artificial intelligence and machine learning has already had on the insurance sector. Generative AI has the potential to further enhance operational efficiency, transform customer experience, and redefine how insurers understand, manage, and mitigate risks in an increasingly complex business environment. From underwriting and claims processing to customer engagement and risk management, a host of sessions as well as vendor expo booths discussed and demonstrated how AI is reshaping the industry and improving operational efficiency.

Customer experience was also a key focus at ITC, with companies like Cisco emphasizing the need for personalized, seamless interactions. The integration of digital platforms, chatbots, and virtual assistants to enhance customer engagement and streamline communication is fundamentally important for meeting evolving customer expectations and providing a more user-friendly experience throughout the entire insurance lifecycle. The addition of AI-enabled ‘co-pilot’ capabilities for brokers, contact centers, and other areas will be the engine for increased agent / broker efficiency and enhanced customer experiences.

Cybersecurity and data privacy were top of mind too, reflecting the industry’s awareness of the growing risks associated with the increasing volume of sensitive data. The discussions underscored the importance of building trust with customers and stakeholders by prioritizing diligent data security practices. Alternate distribution channels, embedded insurance, and other areas such as telematics are key growth opportunities, with security and privacy a priority as insurers navigate new opportunities in the digital frontier. Interest also continues in cyber insurance driven by an increase in cyber threats.

Established insurers showcased successful collaborations that leveraged their strengths and those of insuretech solution providers. These partnerships aim to combine the industry know-how of traditional insurers with the agility and disruptive potential of insurtechs to drive innovation, enhance digital capabilities, and stay competitive in a rapidly changing landscape. This ongoing shift to collaboration over competition reflects the necessity for partnerships in order to meet consumer expectations and improve profitability.

Last and certainly not least, navigating the evolving regulatory landscape was an important topic at ITC. Regulatory frameworks are adapting to accommodate technological advancements, leading to discussions among insurers about a balanced approach that encourages innovation while safeguarding consumer interests and market stability. This is true for insurtechs too who must ensure regulatory adaptability as they continue to push boundaries within the industry.

Cisco’s relevance to the insurance industry

The convergence of technology and insurance on display at ITC reflected the significant impact on the insurance business from external influences including inflationary costs, climate-related disasters, geopolitical instability, and rising repair costs among other areas. Within each of the themes highlight above, insurer IT organizations are concentrating on reducing technical debt and enabling efficiencies that can free up investment in new tools and capabilities.

Cisco’s expertise in networking solutions can be crucial for insurers looking to build and enhance their digital infrastructure. Robust networking solutions play a fundamental role in ensuring seamless connectivity and communication.
Given the increasing focus on cybersecurity and data privacy in the insurance sector, Cisco’s cybersecurity products and services help insurance companies protect sensitive customer data, prevent cyber threats, and comply with evolving regulatory requirements.
In addition to showcasing Webex Connect in our expo booth, the Webex Collaboration and Contact Center solutions can aid insurers in improving internal communication, enhancing customer interactions, and streamlining business processes.
Cisco cloud and edge computing solutions facilitate scalability, flexibility, and accessibility, and improve the performance of customer-facing applications, telematics, and real-time data analysis.

In summary, ITC 2023 provided a comprehensive overview of the current state of the insurance industry and offered a glimpse into its future. The conference showcased the non-stop pace of innovation, the increasing collaboration between traditional insurers and startups, and the industry’s commitment to leveraging technology to create a more efficient, customer-centric, and resilient insurance ecosystem. As the insurance technology landscape continues to evolve, the insights and connections from ITC provided great insights into the future of the insurance industry.

  See what the key themes were at InsureTech Connect's 2023 conference and how Cisco is able to meet the Insurance industry's needs.  Read More Cisco Blogs 

The momentum of Cisco’s Managed Service Provider (MSP) partners is undeniable. Despite global economic uncertainty, the projected 2023 outlook for managed services indicates a worldwide growth of… Read more on Cisco Blogs

​

The momentum of Cisco’s Managed Service Provider (MSP) partners is undeniable. Despite global economic uncertainty, the projected 2023 outlook for managed services indicates a worldwide growth of 12.7 percent, reaching a total value of US$472 billion. In 2022, total managed services revenue saw a remarkable 12% growth, reaching US$419 billion. A recent Canalys study¹ indicates that a striking 79% of partners anticipate growth in this sector in 2023, with 56% expecting growth rates to exceed 10%. By 2027, the managed services route to market is projected to surpass resale for Cisco solutions.

Unlocking MSP Growth

MSP growth opportunities often revolve around five core areas:

Cybersecurity: Providing a comprehensive strategy for customers, including consulting, architecture, and risk management.
Cloud Infrastructure: Offering expertise in cost management, data security, compliance, and DevOps.
Endpoint Management: Addressing the core of many MSPs’ business models, from basic monitoring to patch and license management.
Data Center Management: Managing data centers, upselling hybrid infrastructure and disaster recovery solutions.
Network Managed Services: Delivering solutions like DRaaS and full-stack observability.

Across the board, these areas align with the core capabilities of MSP partners and leverage Cisco innovation.

Impressive Margins and Magic

There is a big opportunity for Cisco MSP partner margins, with renewal rates exceeding 90%, further bolstered by Cisco’s transition to an almost even 50% split between resell hardware and high-margin software.

Naturally, the magic unfolds when MSP partners bundle their unique services with Cisco hardware, software, and services to deliver customer outcomes under a Service Level Agreement (SLA) and with flexible consumption options. These outcomes typically encompass the following areas:

Refresh Opportunity: In some cases, the decision to opt for a managed service begins with a refresh opportunity. Here, the customer prefers not to make up-front purchases of equipment and software, seeking instead an Opex-driven approach to procure hardware, software, and services.
Assistance with Day-to-Day Operations: Other clients may wish to dedicate their time to new business transformation projects and, therefore, seek assistance with day-to-day operations.
Skill Gap Augmentation: Customers often require support to bolster skill gaps, particularly in rapidly evolving domains such as cloud and security.

Regardless of the customer’s particular needs, conversations about managed services invariably begin by focusing on desired outcomes, rather than immediately delving into product discussions.

Opportunities Aren’t without Their Challenges

However, it’s important to acknowledge that opportunities come with their fair share of challenges. These challenges range from uncertainties regarding how the economy may impact inflation and customer budgets to supply chain volatility and the persistent challenge of acquiring new customers.

Additionally, recruiting and retaining IT talent presents an added obstacle. Delivering distinctive managed services requires staying ahead of the curve, and deciding where to invest in capabilities becomes a skill in itself. Nonetheless, this challenge offers a mixed bag of both opportunities and obstacles. On the positive side, it encourages our customers to explore partnerships with managed service providers rather than expanding their in-house teams.

Cisco’s Dedication to MSP Partners

Cisco remains resolute in our commitment to assist our MSP partners achieve success through a 3P strategy:

Platform: Cisco ensures that its platforms are designed to support best-in-class managed services. We work closely with engineering teams to establish a framework for provider partner offerings.
Preference: Cisco provides tailored sales models and flexible software purchasing programs.
Performance: Cisco recognizes and rewards partners based on their intended use, underscoring their pivotal role in shaping this significant route-to-market.

By delivering platform, preference, and performance-based rewards, Cisco empowers partners to provide high-value, distinctive managed services to their clientele.

Let me illustrate this point with a partner example.

Introducing Logicalis’ Digital Fabric Platform

Logicalis conducts an annual CIO study, surveying 1,000 global CIOs. The findings revealed a compelling statistic: a staggering 74% of customers urgently require managed service support, in harnessing their data’s potential for successful business transformation. This need has become even more pressing as organizations grapple with resource constraints and talent shortages. Consequently, many are turning to Managed Service providers for support and solutions.

In response to this growing demand and the evolving landscape of digital transformation, Logicalis has introduced its innovative AIOps-powered Digital Fabric Platform (DFP). This platform is a game-changer for managed services customers, providing them with a real-time, holistic view of their digital infrastructure. The DFP underpins Logicalis’ key architectures, including cloud, security, workplace, and connectivity, focusing on five key performance metrics: Reliability, User experience, Security, Environmental impact, and Economics.

Distinguished as one of only six Global Gold Cisco Integrators and boasting 11 Cisco Powered Services, Logicalis has harnessed Cisco technology to create a global managed services platform that consistently delivers proven outcomes for its customers. An illustrative case from one of their global managed services clients highlights the platform’s remarkable capabilities: by leveraging DFP, the client uncovered a startling environmental insight. Their daily cumulative CO2 emissions were equivalent to the environmental impact of running over 32,000 smartphones continuously. Logicalis is now collaborating with them to implement strategic carbon reduction initiatives throughout their IT infrastructure, aligning technology with sustainability goals.

Shaping the Future

By 2025, Cisco foresees that nearly half of all customers will embrace outcomes delivered through managed services. Cisco partners will play a central role in delivering value and tangible results to these customers, infused with Cisco’s innovative spirit. Furthermore, Cisco remains dedicated to assisting our MSP partners in expanding their businesses, offering our expertise to ignite momentum and enhance partner margins.

By 2025, Cisco envisions that nearly half of all customers will adopt technology through managed services. Cisco partners will play a pivotal role in delivering value and outcomes to these customers, infused with Cisco’s innovation magic and commitment to our partners’ continued success.

See the full announcement of our Managed Services study with Canalys to learn more about this burgeoning opportunity and how our partners can #GoManaged.

Read the full Canalys Managed Services study

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

[1] This study was initiated by Canalys, not commissioned by Cisco. In order to refresh their November 2022 data, Canalys surveyed 324 Candefero partner members from around the world in June 2023. They set out to look at the evolution of MS, discover which types of services partners are building, identify the potential benefits and challenges involved in providing MS, and lay out areas where partners see the biggest growth opportunities.

  The momentum of Cisco's Managed Service Provider (MSP) partners is undeniable. Despite global economic uncertainty, the projected 2023 outlook for managed services indicates a worldwide growth of 12.7 percent, reaching a total value of US$472 billion.  Read More Cisco Blogs 

Predicting the future of new technology is often like gambling. Predicting the future of a massive locomotive on a railway track is quite predictable. The future of edge compute is more like a… Read more on Cisco Blogs

​

Predicting the future of new technology is often like gambling. Predicting the future of a massive locomotive on a railway track is quite predictable. The future of edge compute is more like a locomotive with a predictable future. It is already impacting the energy and mining industry today and there’s much more to come in the next few years.

Let’s start with some general enterprise market numbers for context. In early 2023 Grand View Research identified that the edge compute market had grown from $1.9B in 2020 to $11.24B in 2022. Their research predicts an exponential growth curve that will continue at 37.9% compounded annual growth rate and reach $155.9B in 2030. That’s a very big number, almost 100X increase in 10 years. It’s safe to say this technology will touch almost every enterprise.

Industry Trends

These edge compute numbers may explain my boldness, but the business value of specific outcomes are what drives this growth in energy and mining. The following trends are what provide fuel for this growth in the near term.

Digital Instrumentation

I’m often reminded that digital instrumentation has been around for dozens of years in process control. In spite of our history with digital instrumentation, a surprising number of instruments are still read manually and entered by hand into computer systems. This is changing. The use of centralized operations centers and remote experts raises the need for visibility across all process elements from remote tools and dashboards. The move to more complete digital instrumentation is making the role of compute and data infrastructure critical to operations.

Cloud Challenges

Almost everyone has drastically shrunk their corporate data center footprint and moved their compute functions to the cloud. This approach continues to be problematic for many operational environments that struggle to get reliable connectivity. Even with the improvement of today’s connectivity options, the risk of failure is still too high for critical operations. In addition to the reliability risk, the latency risk for certain operations is also too high for cloud services. These two factors make compute at the edge an important consideration.

Artificial Intelligence

In 2023, It seems like every conversation or publication must contain a reference to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and for good reason. AI can cut through the noise and focus our attention on the critical data points that affect meaningful business outcomes. In many cases the resulting algorithms are quite simple and can be deployed in lightweight container apps at the edge.

Container Apps at the Cisco Edge

AI is one of multiple use cases that benefit from container-based compute at the edge. Cisco’s container feature (IoX) directly addresses this trend today in energy and mining companies. Here are a few examples of edge software that address operating outcomes today. Each software solution has an instance running at the edge, in a container, on a Cisco router or switch.

Cisco Cyber Vision

What if your network’s routers and switches could give you visibility to the OT inventory on your network and identify any security anomalies that occur?  Cisco’s Cyber Vision can provide this visibility from your Cisco infrastructure. The Cyber Vision agents that monitor OT traffic and describe it in meta data for central analysis, live in containers on Cisco routers and switches. There is no need to invest in separate monitoring devices and an expensive backhaul network to reroute that traffic for analysis. It’s built in.

Industrial Network Solutions

What if you could implement a small SCADA function in a router or switch that lives in a small cabinet or pumphouse? Industrial Network Solutions has integrated multiple container based agents that can perform all needed functions from a container on a router or switch. This avoids the old model of putting expensive purpose built boxes at every little site. It puts SCADA into locations with Ignition Edge, Node-RED and others where dedicated SCADA devices were not feasible before.

Cheetah Networks

What if you could objectively measure the communication experience that your remote site is experiencing? A small container app from Cheetah Networks gives you visibility to modem metrics and other local data points that were very difficult and cumbersome to aquire and manage with other solutions. As you guessed this container app can live in Cisco’s routers and switches without additional compute hardware.

Cisco Edge Intelligence

What if you need customized data management? Sometimes data acquisition requires a more flexible tool that can read data locally, normalize it and then send it to a central server as required. Edge Intelligence from Cisco is one such tool that’s highly programmable and comes with a wide variety of connectors and normalization capabilities. As with previous examples, it lives in a container app on Cisco’s routers and switches without additional compute hardware.

And More

These are just a few of the apps that have found a home in the small container space on Cisco routers and switches. The sweet spot for this approach is a small site that can’t justify a dedicated compute platform or an app that is tightly associated with network traffic on the router or switch.

The edge compute trend is coming like a freight train and needs to be assessed across every enterprise. Before investing in a dedicated edge compute platform for every possible location, take a look at the capabilities already built into your network infrastructure. You may be surprised by the capability that’s already there.

Reference Links

Grand View Research ReportCisco Cyber VisionIndustrial Network SolutionsCheetah NetworksCisco Edge Intelligence

  Predicting the future of new technology is often like gambling. Predicting the future of a massive locomotive on a railway track is quite predictable. The future of edge compute is more like a locomotive with a predictable future. It is already impacting the energy and mining industry today and there’s much more to come in  Read More Cisco Blogs 

Securing data in today’s information-saturated, hyperconnected world is not for the faint of heart. It takes savvy leadership and security ambassadors with a vision to lead the charge into a more s… Read more on Cisco Blogs

​

Securing data in today’s information-saturated, hyperconnected world is not for the faint of heart. It takes savvy leadership and security ambassadors with a vision to lead the charge into a more secure digital future. Here at Cisco, we build a community around those security stalwarts. Known as The League of Cybersecurity Heroes, it provides a place where our customers can meet, mindshare, and learn from the best.

This year, Cisco is pleased to announce that John Carse, CISO at Dyson, is the recipient of this year’s Cybersecurity Defender Award for the Asia Pacific region.

John’s security journey has taken him from the IBM of the 1990s to consulting with Fortune 500s on custom eCommerce solutions at the genesis of the online consumer era. From opening his own consulting business to becoming Vice President of Global Security Engineering at a global financial services firm with over $2.4 trillion in assets, and from Cupertino to Bahrain to Japan (and finally to Singapore), his diverse background has given him a context for the innovative solutions that will move the industry forward today. At Cisco, we are proud to be a part of that process.

Known for his zeal and ability to master the topic, he has been recognized as an accomplished businessperson who knows how to turn technologies into efficiencies at every level and achieve target results. A graduate of IE Business School, he earned his Global Executive MBA (GXMBA) in Entrepreneurial Studies.

Having straddled both the security and corporate sides of the C-Suite, his unique results-driven security perspective is a perfect fit for cybersecurity’s evolving role as a business enabler of the digital era. We acknowledge him for his innovative perspective and career-long security advocacy.

John is a passionate advocate for cybersecurity, particularly with people he has worked with. When we asked him about his most significant achievements, John told us:

“I am proud of seeing people I have led in previous organizations develop their skills, gain confidence, and progress in their careers. I am proud to have impacted other cybersecurity leaders and good practitioners in the last 20 years.” – John Carse, CISO at Dyson.

When we asked John about how Cisco technologies have helped him during his career, he told us that “I have benefited from some of the technology Cisco built like Cisco IOS NetFlow, Cisco Secure Network Analytics (Stealthwatch), and Secure IPS (NGIPS). Having a relationship with Cisco for over a decade has
helped me detect and prevent attacks by building on the technologies Cisco has developed.”

Cisco Cybersecurity Insider Advocates and our special committee voted for John because of his commitment to security innovation and sustainability. He began his career at Apple two decades ago and has since taken on executive roles at JP Morgan Chase, Alert Logic, Expedia, Rakuten, and Dyson. Dyson is a significant force in Appliances, Electrical, and Electronics Manufacturing, employing over 14,000 people and having a presence in over 80 countries.

In his current role as Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), John’s latest endeavour includes overseeing cybersecurity implementation at a new manufacturing plant in Singapore, helping to build advanced cybersecurity capabilities that ensure resilience. His vision is to incorporate capabilities into other plants and make Dyson a leader in innovation and sustainability. Once achieved, his vision is to go beyond his Singaporean base and incorporate these capabilities into other plants, making Dyson a leader in innovative security techniques and ongoing viability.

A lifelong security defender, John’s commitment to making the digital world safer has already earned him recognition from Cisco. Believing that anything is possible with hard work, dedication, and a passion for what you do, his career reflects his optimism and commitment to the field.

The Cisco Cybersecurity Defender of 2023 Award honors John Carse for his contributions to security, stable leadership in the face of considerable change, and his commitment to cybersecurity.

John had been honored during a special ceremony at Cisco Live in Melbourne, where he shared the stage with the other outstanding regional award nominees.

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

InstagramFacebookTwitterLinkedIn

  John Carse works as CISO of Dyson and he is the winner of Cybersecurity Defender of the year in APJC region. let him inspire you with his journey and story  Read More Cisco Blogs 

It’s that time of the year again! The holidays are upon us, and leaves are changing—depending on where you live—but most importantly, Cisco Live APJC in Melbourne is here!  

Join us in person or onli… Read more on Cisco Blogs

​

It’s that time of the year again! The holidays are upon us, and leaves are changing—depending on where you live—but most importantly, Cisco Live APJC in Melbourne is here!  

Join us in person or online on December 5-8, 2023, for the ultimate Cisco Live experience. Whether you want to learn from IT leaders worldwide in our keynote talks or collaborate with technical experts in one of our 350+ breakout sessions, choose from one of our comprehensive registration packages to fit all your needs.

The Learning and Certification Space in The HUB at Cisco Live is jam-packed with fun demos and learning activities! This year, we are bringing back our ever-so-exciting Cisco U. Theater, lined up with some of our best speakers at Cisco Live. Whether you are interested in learning about our newest MultiCloud Certification or about shift-left development models, we have it all for you! 

Cisco U. Theatre 

This year, we are bringing you a variety of topics that we will cover in our Cisco U. Theater in person as well as virtually on your favorite YouTube channel: @CiscoUTube 

Watch the live stream from the Cisco U. Theatre

Available on YouTube. View playlist

First up, we know you are excited about our newest Multicloud Certification (as we are), and so we are presenting you with some sessions to get your journey started with our cert:  

ENCC: Cloud VPN – Click-Ops to Automation [CISCOU-1814]

Part of the new ENCC exam is connecting on-prem resources to cloud providers using traditional IPSec VPNs using the constructs provided for native VPNs within those clouds. This session will walk through the steps required to prepare your cloud network for VPN connectivity and connect a router via VPN to this resource. Additionally, we’ll walk through the Terraform configuration equivalent to instantiate the same configuration automatically! 

ENCC – CCNP Enterprise Multicloud Training [CISCOU-1770] 

Discover how you can level up your CCNP Enterprise certification and become a Multicloud Specialist. The new ENCC 1.0 300-440 exam was released on September 20, 2023. We will explore the exam topics and then dive into the official ENCC learning path hosted on Cisco U. We will look at what the content covers and demo some of the hands-on labs that will allow you to practice building and troubleshooting enterprise cloud connectivity. 

ENCC: Create And Configure VPC Components in AWS [CISCOU-1832]

Cloud networking is a fundamental building block of cloud computing. In this session, we will go through cloud networking basics, and you will learn how to create a VPC, subnets, and route tables within AWS. This will be a fun, hands-on session! It will help you understand Cloud Networking and prepare you for our latest MultiCloud Connect Certification (ENCC). 

Cisco Certification Trivia [CISCOU-1767]

Additionally, join us for Cisco Certification Trivia, where all the questions come from the exam topics for exams like CCNA, ENCOR, and DevNet Associate. Whether you are preparing for one of the exams or want to test your knowledge—come by for some laughs and fun!

Network, network, network 

What’s a tech event without the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals? The Learning and Certification Space isn’t just about absorbing information; it’s a chance to forge connections. As you stroll through the hub, stop by and say hi to your fellow certified friends. Share experiences, exchange ideas, and who knows, you might find your next mentor or collaborator in the ever-expanding Cisco ecosystem. 

In a nutshell, the Learning and Certification presence at Cisco Live Melbourne is your gateway to a world of knowledge and opportunities. Whether you’re taking your first steps into the realm of Cisco or a seasoned professional seeking to stay at the forefront of technology, there’s something for everyone.

Don’t miss out: Schedule your Cisco U. sessions here and come hang out with us! 

<iframe title="Cisco U. Theater Sessions

Last week, we hosted all the remarkable Cisco Sales Champions who were selected to be a part of 2023 Club Cisco. This annual recognition acknowledges the top-performing salespeople and… Read more on Cisco Blogs

​

Last week, we hosted all the remarkable Cisco Sales Champions who were selected to be a part of 2023 Club Cisco. This annual recognition acknowledges the top-performing salespeople and revenue-generating contributors at Cisco who helped us reach our sales goals.

To be in the top 1% chosen to attend Club Cisco as a Sales Champion winner, you must be nominated by leadership and be in the top 10% of the Cisco sales organization or meet qualitative CX performance values. There are approximately 1,200 Sales Champions each year and about 208 individuals are selected for Club Cisco. This year, 16 CX Sales Champions were selected to attend!

Club Cisco provides a unique opportunity for winners to come together with executive hosts and our Cisco executive leadership team. Throughout the week, winners are recognized for their accomplishments and share their stories of success, overcoming obstacles, and growth opportunities.

It was a pleasure to attend Club Cisco last week to meet with each of our CX winners. I am incredibly proud of their achievements. They consistently demonstrate their dedication to the Cisco mission and deliver industry-leading customer experience. I look forward to continuing our conversations about how Cisco CX can keep empowering them to deliver exceptional results.

On behalf of Cisco and CX, I would like to personally acknowledge each of our 2023 CX winners for being shining examples of Cisco’s Guiding Principles and role models.

Please join me in congratulating these outstanding salespeople and contributors!

2023 Customer Experience (CX) Club Cisco Winners at the Four Seasons in Kona, Hawaii

Jordan Adair – CX Leader, Renewals

Jordan Hedges – CX Enterprise Renewals Manager

Yoshihiko Ishihara – CX Renewals Manager

Sydney Moss – CX Renewals Manager

Neela Pardal – CX Security Renewals Specialist

Martin Rowley – CX Renewals Manager

Jesseca Stinchcomb – CX Renewals Manager

Maxime Vanwynsberghe – CX Renewal Manager – Public & Enterprise Sector

Julianne Vella – CX Renewals Manager – Enterprise Accounts

Kenji Chishima – CX Customer Program Manager

Akshay Dubey – CX Senior Technical Leader – Customer Delivery Engineering

Anis Edavalath – CX Principal Architect

Roy Gowler – CX Customer Success Executive

Snowber Khan – CX Customer Delivery Architect – Enterprise Solutions

Stefan-Alexandru Manza – CX Principal Architect – Technology and Transformation Group

Vinod Morsa – CX Customer Delivery Architect

  On behalf of Cisco and CX, I would like to personally acknowledge each of our 2023 CX winners for being shining examples of Cisco’s Guiding Principles and role models.  Read More Cisco Blogs 

The 2023 National Cybersecurity Strategy requires acceleration of your agency’s mission to go boldly into the 128-bit address space universe with greater speed and urgency. IPv6-only (Native IPv6) is … Read more on Cisco Blogs

​

The 2023 National Cybersecurity Strategy requires acceleration of your agency’s mission to go boldly into the 128-bit address space universe with greater speed and urgency. IPv6-only (Native IPv6) is the addressing standard for the U.S. Federal Government, providing the additional foundation towards a Zero Trust enabled infrastructure. The time is now to accelerate your agency’s journey – not because “it’s required” by the OMB Mandate – but accelerating your journey is an opportunity to increase security, decrease complexity, and facilitate innovation in support of your agency’s mission and objectives.

A lot has been happening this year, and with additional enablement from Cisco’s Country Digital Acceleration Program, Cisco has been busy providing enhanced capabilities and services designed to assist Government customers to develop plans and policies and implement capabilities and architectures on their journey to the 128-bit universe.

Make sure you have a map for your journey

Before slamming your foot down the technology accelerator pedal, most agencies and organizations ask us for help to get their arms around educating their team, developing a transition strategy, planning their new architecture, and then how to accelerate transformation with automation and proven methodologies. For this essential first step, Cisco has enriched our support for customers by updating and significantly enhancing the technical IPv6 training materials and resources for customers, Cisco engineers, and our global partner network. Available through Cisco Learning Partners, the updated IPv6 Fundamentals, Design, and Deployment v4.0 course is an instructor-led course (including lab work) presented to customers and partners tailored for network engineers and technicians that are working in the Enterprise and Government sectors to enhance their knowledge and skills to take full advantage of IPv6 features.

Also customer-focused, at Cisco Live U.S. this year, we notably boosted the number of Customer IPv6 training sessions focused on the Federal Mandate, including participation by senior U.S. Government personnel. For customers implementing Cisco’s extensive unified communications and collaboration capabilities, an IPv6 Deployment Guide has been updated to provide recommendations and help you navigate the IPv6 transition for your Cisco Collaboration network.

Tailored for public sector customers, the Cisco US Public Sector team has stood up an IPv6 Learning Lab to help customers better understand how to take advantage of all the capabilities that operating in this new universe provides. Along with these IPv6-focused Demo-Labs, we’ve published new planning resources designed for Government IT leaders:

The Cisco quick-guide for Transitioning to IPv6 for Security, Efficiency, and Modernization
Cisco’s journey map detailing the IPv6 Customer Journey for Public Sector Organizations.

Cisco has also created an integrated services partnership with HexaBuild to provide a direct, tailored professional services engagement for focused IPv6 training, IPv6 address planning, and IPv6 network/IT environment audits to help your agency granularly define and accelerate your journey.

Accelerating architecture implementation

With your journey charted, Cisco technologies like Segment Routing over IPv6 (SRv6) and IPv6-validated designs will accelerate the transformation of your agency’s architecture and take advantage of IPv6 technology with greater simplicity, flexibility, and security at scale. The Cisco’s solutions team has recently updated our Cisco Validated Solution: IPv6 Integration with Cisco SD-Access, SD-WAN, and Firepower providing a software-defined, cross-architectural design for multiple domains for customers to enable IPv6-only clients keeping the underlay infrastructure dual stack during transition while migrating to a single-stack IPv6 architecture. Stay tuned for an updated and expanded Government-focused IPv6 Validated Solution coming early in 2024.

Beyond the U.S. Federal Mandate, with all the rapid changes and additions to the internet and enterprise networks – smart building systems, increase in IoT devices, hybrid work, and massive numbers of mobile devices – the status quo is no longer an option and Cisco is committed to helping all customers transition to IPv6 for simplicity, efficiency, and modernization. Cisco recently sponsored the 128th Episode of the IPv6 Buzz Podcast to discuss how Cisco is helping customers tackle some of the transition challenges and how Cisco driving innovation and investments in IPv6.

Accelerating Native-IPv6 capabilities for our Government customers has been augmented by Cisco’s Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) Program, a global program designed to collaborate with government, academic, and private sector leaders to build sustainable, secure, and inclusive communities powered by ethical and innovative technology solutions. Cisco CDA recognized the opportunity to accelerate and enhance many of these IPv6-focused efforts. It’s part of the Cisco CDA mission, powering an inclusive future by unlocking the value of digitization, helping to accelerate our Government customers on their journey as they go boldly into the new IPv6 universe and realize its tremendous benefits.

Start accelerating your journey today and learn more via the following resources

Cisco Validated Solution:  IPv6 Integration with Cisco SD-Access, SD-WAN, and Firepower
The Cisco quick-guide for Transitioning to IPv6 for Security, Efficiency, and Modernization
Cisco’s journey map detailing the IPv6 Customer Journey for Public Sector Organizations
Converged SDN Transport SRv6
USGv6-r1 Product Registry

  A lot has been happening this year, and with additional enablement from Cisco’s Country Digital Acceleration Program, Cisco has been busy providing enhanced capabilities and services designed to assist Government customers to develop plans and policies and implement capabilities and architectures on their journey to the 128-bit universe. Learn how.  Read More Cisco Blogs 

The Context

Sustainability isn’t just about protecting the planet for future generations. It’s also about preserving the delicate balance that allows life to thrive today and tomorrow.

In a world whe… Read more on Cisco Blogs

​

The Context

Sustainability isn’t just about protecting the planet for future generations. It’s also about preserving the delicate balance that allows life to thrive today and tomorrow.

In a world where environmental concerns are growing more urgent with each passing day, the key is to develop practical ways in which individuals, businesses, and communities can contribute to building a more sustainable future.

The Challenge

There are hundreds of scattered online videos, PDFs and lectures about corporate sustainability practices, but none of them address specific business contexts or provide roadmaps for IT integrators or providers to follow. Could there be a better way to learn, that makes it easier for our Cisco partners to figure out how to convert sustainability into an opportunity for the business?

The Game Plan

Cisco and Ingram decided to join hands to decipher the what, why and how of the Cisco Environmental Sustainability Specialization in an innovative way for our Partners.

The process was to have Cisco Partners—led by Ingram Australia (the first Cisco Distributor to achieve the Cisco Sustainability Specialization in APJC)—undergo Black Belt Sustainability training and attend a sustainability bootcamp followed by completion of specialization exams and submitting the Cisco Sustainability Specialization application. During the boot camp, with the support of a Black Belt trainer, our partners had the opportunity to go through a compressed version of the specialization training material and ask any questions they might have had before sitting both of the Cisco Sustainability Specialization Exams (700-240 CESO and 700-245 ESPB) on the Pearson Vue portal.

The boot camp component was fundamental to the success of the initiative as partners could get clarifications about the Cisco Environmental Sustainability Specialization Pledge they had to commit to as well as to understand how this new Cisco specialization creates business opportunities by unlocking the Takeback Incentive (up to 7% extra discount and free takeback services for displaced hardware when registering Take Back deals) or unlocking a new path towards a Cisco Partner Select level Upgrade.

And that’s not all!

Cisco and Ingram decided to add a fine finishing touch to the campaign by adding the element of philanthropy and launched Australia’s first Cisco Partnering for Purpose initiative. Both organizations agreed to match the number of Sustainability Certificates issued on the Black Belt portal for any Cisco partner staff located in Australia with a 200 AUD donation towards Planet Ark Environmental Foundation—an Australian non-profit environmental organization that is partnering with organizations in the public and private sectors to help find ways to reduce impact on the planet. This resulted in a combined 40,000 AUD commitment from both Cisco and Ingram Australia which also brought an additional element of motivation to the participants who exceeded all expectations by completing 202 new Cisco Sustainability certifications on the Black Belt portal.

This consistent 40,000 AUD Cisco & Ingram donation will be used to support some of Planet Ark’s environmental campaigns such as National Tree Day, National Recycling Week, Make it Wood, Cartridges 4 Planet Ark, BusinessRecycling.com.au, RecyclingNearYou.com.au, Make it Australian Recycled or Australasian Recycling Label.

“Black Belt Academy & Cisco Sustainability Specialization generates more business opportunities
and unlocks extra discounts making our partners more profitable and prouder to sell Cisco!”– Valentin Dogariu, Cisco Distribution Manager for Ingram Micro Australia

Ultimately, as a recognition for all its efforts in helping the local Cisco partner community adopt a sustainability practice, Ingram Micro Australia received the APJC Sustainability Partner of the Year Award at Cisco Partner Summit 2023, and decided to organize three more Sustainability boot camps for all partners attending Cisco Live APJC 2023 in Melbourne. In just one hour, partners can go through the training materials and sit the exam during the session, and Ingram Micro will cover the cost of the exam.

The Outcome

Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword; it’s an investment towards securing a better future as well as better business opportunities. By comprehending the importance of sustainability and aligning it with business outcomes, we can collectively contribute to a more sustainable, healthier, and equitable world. Greater Together!

Remember, even small actions can create a ripple effect of positive change when it comes to sustainability.

Learn more about Black Belt Sustainability Training

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

  Sustainability isn’t just about protecting the planet for future generations. It’s also about preserving the delicate balance that allows life to thrive today and tomorrow.  Read More Cisco Blogs