It’s one thing to claim leadership in cloud security; it’s another to have that leadership acknowledged by industry experts. That’s why we’re thrilled to announce our recent recognition by Frost & Sul… Read more on Cisco Blogs

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It’s one thing to claim leadership in cloud security; it’s another to have that leadership acknowledged by industry experts. That’s why we’re thrilled to announce our recent recognition by Frost & Sullivan as the 2024 Customer Value Leader in the Global Security Service Edge Industry. This expert analyst award is a testament to both our commitment to innovation and our unique ability to partner with security leaders to navigate the complexity of securing cloud environments.

Frost & Sullivan’s Customer Value Leadership Award recognizes the company that offers products or services customers find superior for the overall price, performance, and quality. Vendors are evaluated on business impact criteria (including financial performance, customer acquisition, operational efficiency, growth potential, and human capital) and customer impact criteria (price/performance value, customer purchase experience, customer ownership experience, customer service experience, and brand equity).

Here’s how Cisco Secure Access delivers on these criteria:

Secures access to the web, cloud services, SaaS apps, private apps
Includes access control, threat protection, data security, security monitoring, and acceptable-use control
Provides cost-effective, cloud-delivered security as a service to protect hybrid work environments
Reduces IT and security team burdens by reducing backhauled traffic to the on-premises security stack and converging a broad set of cloud security capabilities into one dashbord
Enables full visibility into cloud applications used by remote users, their risk levels, and any shadow IT operations
Delivers multiple security features and functions, converged into one tool, including Secure Web Gateway (SWG), Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASB), Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), Firewall as a Service (FWaaS), DNS-layer security, remote browser isolation (RBI), sandboxing, experience Insights (DEM), and more for a layered approach to security that improves overall efficacy.

“For its 2023 Voice of the Enterprise Security Customer report, Frost & Sullivan cybersecurity researchers surveyed 2,448 enterprise CISOs in six regions around the world. Those security leaders were asked which were the primary cybersecurity vendors they chose for cloud security. More than half of those surveyed cited Cisco as a primary cloud security provider.”– Frost & Sullivan

We’re thrilled that our innovation in the security service edge space has earned us accolades, but we’re even more excited to be able to offer best-in-class outcomes for security leaders. Cisco Secure Access is:

Better for users: Enable frictionless work everywhere for a seamless experience across hybrid environments. Deliver a universal experience with a zero trust approach that seamlessly connects users and things to any app over any port or protocol.
Easier for IT: Streamline and automate IT operations for simplified management. Leverage a single, cloud-managed console to enable efficient hybrid work through a simplified policy creation process, increased visibility, and aggregated reporting.
Safer for everyone: Mitigate risk across your environment with advanced security. Converge SSE security capabilities into a single cloud service, enforce ZTNA principles, and apply granular controls — leveraging the broad set of insights from Cisco Talos.

“Cisco has reaffirmed its commitment to a cloud-based cybersecurity future with the release of its Cisco Secure Access SSE platform. The pieces have been there, but now they are better integrated, and that should be a welcome message to loyal Cisco networking customers wanting to move to the cloud with a trusted partner.” – Toph Whitmore, Industry Director, Cybersecurity

Secure Access for a secure future

Earning the 2024 Customer Value Leader is more than just an award—it’s an invitation to security leaders to consider a partnership that could redefine their cloud security strategy. Choosing Cisco Secure Access means partnering with a vendor that understands the nuances of cloud security. It means benefiting from continuous innovation and a solution that grows alongside your enterprise. And most importantly, it means investing in a platform recognized for delivering exceptional value to its customers.

Take a deeper dive and read the full Frost & Sullivan report to discover why Cisco stands out as the vendor of choice for a secure, cloud-enabled future.

Link to award report:

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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"}]]  We’re thrilled that our innovation in the security service edge space has earned us accolades. Learn how we beat out the competition.  Read More Cisco Blogs 

This is the third blog in our three-part series about Cisco Foundation partner organizations working in the Amazon and South America region. You can read the other two, and more Climate Impact & … Read more on Cisco Blogs

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This is the third blog in our three-part series about Cisco Foundation partner organizations working in the Amazon and South America region. You can read the other two, and more Climate Impact & Regeneration blogs here! This series introduces you to eight Cisco Foundation partner organizations working to support the preservation and protection of the Amazon basin through three main avenues, all of which are deeply entangled and in tandem, serving to promote enduring environmental protection and preservation: Prioritizing Indigenous Sovereignty, Promoting Sustainable Livelihood Opportunities, and Scaling Innovative Financing Opportunities.

This blog was constructed in partnership with my colleagues at WWF: Cat Normile and Hillary Wilson; Capital for Climate: Deborah Stern; NESsT: Kirsten Dueck and Tiana Lins; and Cisco: Julie Rose.

The Amazon Rainforest, an immense and biodiverse ecosystem that spans seven million square kilometers in South America, plays a crucial role in regulating the planet’s climate by absorbing carbon dioxide, releasing oxygen, and regulating global rainfall patterns. Despite the need for lasting conservation and widespread restoration, this unique biome is still under severe threat from deforestation, mining, agriculture, and climate-change induced droughts. The Amazon is intrinsically important for its unique cultural and biological diversity, and its protection can  contribute to global goals, such as The Paris Agreement, to limit warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Recognizing the urgency of the situation, climate finance has been identified as a key driver of restoration and conservation at a large scale, and yet the annual financial investment will need to increase 3x to meet 2030 targets. Specifically, funders like the Cisco Foundation are driving innovations by catalyzing and supporting public and private sector investments, emerging markets, and instruments like the voluntary carbon market and biodiversity credits.

In service to Cisco and the Cisco Foundation’s vision of a connected, regenerative, and inclusive future, we have prioritized supporting innovative financing flows to unlock resources that are so vitally needed to build economic, biocultural, and ecosystem resilience across the Amazon. We are pleased to introduce three more Cisco Foundation partner organizations that are supporting broad-level systemic change for channeling global finance mechanisms toward this region.

NESsT: Investing in social enterprises 

NESsT invests in the people behind emerging market social enterprises that are using the tools of business to address the social, economic, and environmental challenges of our time. Through business acceleration and direct investment (grants, recoverable grants, and loans), NESsT serves as a catalyst to address areas often overlooked by other investors and donors. NESsT’s aim is twofold: firstly, to assist companies in addressing critical needs, and secondly, to facilitate their ability to attract additional funding.  Since 1997, NESsT has accelerated 243 enterprises, creating over 112,000 jobs and impacting 1.7M+ people in Central Europe and South America.

Over the last decade, amidst growing global attention on environmental conservation, the Amazon bioeconomy has emerged as a vibrant economic sector. However, mainstream economic definitions often overlook the vital role Indigenous peoples and local communities play in environmental stewardship and economic development. NESsT takes a different approach, viewing environmental impact and sustainability through the lens of local communities. In partnership with Cisco Foundation and international supporters with a focus on the Amazon, NESsT has invested in over 50 high-impact enterprises and cooperatives, providing tailored capital solutions. These initiatives range from Indigenous-led cooperatives supporting Amazon River fishers to early-stage tech companies advancing climate solutions in the rainforest. NESsT prioritizes the voices of Indigenous and local communities, recognizing the effectiveness of their solutions and involving them in key decision-making processes.

Building on emerging learning, NESsT is developing forward-facing recommendations outlining what is necessary to create an enabling funding environment that fosters the full potential of low environmental impact economic activities. The NESsT Amazonia Initiative thus acts as a vital link between enterprises and the international finance community, facilitating the flow of appropriate financing into the Amazon region.

NESsT Amazonia portfolio enterprise ASSOAB, (C) Bruno Kelly.

Capital for Climate: Mobilizing capital for Brazil’s nature-based solutions 

Capital for Climate provides investors with the information they need to discover climate-related and nature-based opportunities, invest with confidence, and build effective capital allocation strategies aligned to global agreements. Capital for Climate’s initial focus is on facilitating investment into nature-based solutions (NbS), which are solutions that utilize natural ecosystems to mitigate and/or adapt to the effects of climate change. Capital for Climate describes NbS as “mission critical,” setting them as a top priority because they represent more than a third of global emissions reductions potential, and have the potential to create massive economic value. Companies and investable funds within the NbS space have already begun to flourish in Brazil, but critical barriers that thwart much-needed scale-up and rapid deployment still exist.

One of Capital for Climate’s keystone programs mitigating these challenges is the community of practice: Brazil’s Nature Based Investment Collaborative, which has a goal of attracting USD$5 billion to the sector in time for COP30 in Brazil in order to scale NbS to millions of hectares by 2030 – essential for providing economic alternatives to business-as-usual rampant deforestation. The Collaborative brings together leading investors to address critical barriers, exchange opportunities, and drive investment into key areas including regenerative agriculture, ecosystem restoration, restoration of degraded farm and pastureland, and non-timber forest bioeconomy products.

Powering this effort, and supported by the Cisco Foundation, is Capital for Climate’s NbS Investment Intelligence Platform, which outlines investable climate-related opportunities as well as contextual intelligence that is required for investor learning, strategy formation, opportunity sourcing, and diligence. The platform currently profiles 130+ investable opportunities in Brazil alone, 25+ of which are being showcased to international and regional investors through virtual roadshows and in-person summits. Cisco Foundation support is enabling the extension of this platform to broader Latin America, Africa, and Asia.

Through Capital for Climate’s strategic focus on unlocking investment flows for the Amazon and across the globe, the private sector is equipped with the knowledge and community required to invest equitably and efficiently into resilient ecosystems.

April 2023 Nature-based Solutions Investment Summit, São Paulo Brazil (Capital for Climate).

WWF: Setting a global benchmark in measuring impact 

WWF has embarked on a groundbreaking journey with the establishment of the Nature-Based Solutions Origination Platform (NbS-OP) as a new model for scaling up, aligning, and mobilizing public and private finance for high-quality nature-based solutions under an integrated landscape finance approach. The NbS-OP sets a new standard for credibility and introduces standardized metrics for implementing nature-based solutions. With any such intervention, it’s critical to monitor impact and opportunities for continuous learning and improvement.

The NbS Origination Platform is piloting such a monitoring framework in Madre de Dios, a rainforested region of Peru known for its rich biodiversity, unique ecosystems, and social, economic, and cultural benefits. This implementation will lay the groundwork for monitoring across other landscapes where the NbS-OP will be operational in its early stages. By applying methodologies and principles in the diverse and ecologically rich landscape of Madre de Dios, the program aims to refine the NbS-OP’s strategies and techniques, ensuring they are robust, scalable, and adaptable to different environmental contexts. This approach seeks to truly bridge the gap between theoretical conservation models and practical, on-the-ground applications.

A key element of the program is to create robust protocols for metrics that accurately reflect impacts on nature, climate, and communities. This process involves the careful design, trial, and refinement of measurement techniques capable of capturing the diverse effects of nature-based solutions. The challenge is to establish protocols that are scientifically rigorous yet practical and flexible enough for application across various landscapes and ecosystems.

The development of these metrics goes beyond just numerical data; they will capture the holistic effect of successful nature-based solutions and will incorporate additional cutting-edge data from environmental DNA analysis, forest scanning systems, biomass monitoring, and will assess social impacts. The objective is to facilitate the creation of a comprehensive results framework for both the overarching landscape strategy and specific interventions.

Edith Condori (Forest Specialist) and Jesus Alferez (Restoration & Connectivity Associate Officer) from WWF Peru reviewing the location of plots to be restored in the province of Tahuamanu, Madre de Dios.

The Cisco Foundation’s support for the Amazon bioregion

Whether by funding innovative financing mechanisms for greater capital flow into the region, supporting sustainable livelihood opportunities for community empowerment and ecological regeneration, or explicitly empowering Indigenous communities to practice self-governance and land defense, the Cisco Foundation is proud to support a robust suite of nonprofit partners. Through investing in resilient ecosystems, we can help  protect human rights, empower vulnerable communities, and protect the planet.

Read more Climate Impact and Regeneration blogs, or visit our

Climate Grants & Investments site to find out more about our work.

"}]]  Cisco Foundation partner organizations are working to provide diverse and innovative financing opportunities in the Amazon Region.  Read More Cisco Blogs 

Several years back, I had an insightful conversation with Josh Stinehour, Principal Analyst at Devoncroft Partners, about the state of innovation within the media sector. We discussed the notion that… Read more on Cisco Blogs

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Several years back, I had an insightful conversation with Josh Stinehour, Principal Analyst at Devoncroft Partners, about the state of innovation within the media sector. We discussed the notion that the era of traditional virtualization might be nearing its end, and that the industry stood on the cusp of a transformative leap forward.

It was during this conversation that I introduced the concept of “containerization” as this forthcoming innovation, specifically tailored for real-time media applications. While the principles of containers and microservices have been established for some time, the unique challenges and requirements of media protocols meant that they had yet to fully harness these technologies. This was primarily due to existing technological limitations.

Well, I am pleased to say, in a groundbreaking joint demonstration, Cisco, Intel, and Ross Video are coming together to showcase the future of media production: a cloud-native, virtualized environment running micro-services in containers. This innovative collaboration promises to revolutionize the way media content is created, managed, and delivered, leveraging cutting-edge technology and industry expertise.

Cloud-Native Virtualized Media Production

At the heart of this demonstration is the adoption of cloud-native principles, which enable greater flexibility, scalability, and efficiency in media production workflows. By virtualizing key components of the production environment and leveraging micro-services and containers, content creators can seamlessly scale resources up or down based on demand, while ensuring optimal performance and reliability. Cisco has been at the forefront of defining the architecture for real time applications in containers with Media Streaming Mesh.

Powered by Cisco UCS Hardware and Intel Technology

The infrastructure powering this demonstration is built on Cisco UCS hardware, a robust and reliable platform known for its performance and scalability. Leveraging the power of I Intel® Xeon Scalable processors, Intel® Datacenter Flex GPUs, and networking solutions, this hardware ecosystem provides the foundation for high-performance media processing, encoding, and streaming tasks. The Intel Flex GPU is a data center accelerator that is tailored for media streaming density and quality, providing scale and reliability to any broadcast workflows.

Intel Media Transport Library and Media Communications Mesh

Integral to this demonstration is the utilization of Intel’s cutting-edge media technologies, including the Intel® Media Transport Library (MTL) and Media Communications Mesh (MCM). These powerful libraries and frameworks enable efficient and seamless transmission of media content across distributed environments, ensuring low latency, high quality, and secure delivery. This solution is highly optimized for Intel Xeon processors and Flex GPU taking advantage of the improved performance, reduced latency as well as built-in hardware acceleration of streaming media.

Orchestration with Ross Video Catena

Driving the orchestration and management of the cloud-native media production environment is Ross Video’s Catena platform. Catena provides comprehensive orchestration capabilities, allowing content creators to automate workflows, manage resources, and monitor performance in real-time. With Catena at the helm, media production teams can streamline operations and maximize productivity.

Unlocking the Potential of Cloud-Native Media Production

Through this joint demonstration, Cisco, Intel, and Ross Video are showcasing the transformative potential of cloud-native, virtualized media production. By embracing cloud-native principles, leveraging cutting-edge technology from Intel, and harnessing the orchestration capabilities of Ross Video’s Catena platform, content creators can unlock new levels of agility, scalability, and efficiency in media production workflows. As the industry continues to evolve, this collaborative effort represents a bold step forward in shaping the future of media content creation and delivery.

If you find this information useful, and will be at NAB Show in Las Vegas April 14-17, then I’d love to invite you to see these technologies on display in person at the Cisco Booth in the West Hall, #W2743. Come say, “Hi!” or check out our solutions on the Portfolio Explorer.

To learn more, check out the session “Intel AI Platforms and Processors Revolutionize Sports Broadcasting at the Olympic Games and Beyond” at the NAB Show Mainstage on Tuesday, April 16, at 1:00 p.m. at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

"}]]  Cisco is elevating live TV to dazzling new heights with Cloud Native technology. Be the star of the show at NAB Show 2024, Booth #W2743, and broadcast with unparalleled clarity and innovation. Discover more!  Read More Cisco Blogs 

Between industrial solutions for today and a sustainable foundation for tomorrow, there’s a bridge.

As the industrial world converges at Hannover Messe 2024, Cisco is not just a participant but a… Read more on Cisco Blogs

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Between industrial solutions for today and a sustainable foundation for tomorrow, there’s a bridge.

As the industrial world converges at Hannover Messe 2024, Cisco is not just a participant but a catalyst for change, championing digital transformation and IT / OT collaboration to deliver business outcomes in the manufacturing, energy, and related industrial industries.

I am so excited to return to Hannover, witness the latest trends, and meet with customers and partners. Cisco demos and presentations will showcase our solutions that deliver essential business outcomes to improve uptime, revenue optimization, asset visibility, observability, cyber security, resiliency, and sustainability.

Cisco’s vision is brought to life in part through strategic relationships with leading partners we will feature in our booth, including Accenture, Deloitte, NTT Data, Orange, Rockwell Automation, Schneider Electric, WWT, and others. Together with our partners, we are pioneering solutions that redefine the boundaries of what’s possible.

Manufacturing: The Foundation of Industrial Automation and Industry 4.0

Cisco’s manufacturing practice draws from our four-decade market leadership in IT and nearly two decades of expertise and innovation in the manufacturing industry and Industrial IoT. We address key industry use cases with our range of purpose-built networking, wireless, and security Industrial IoT products that integrate with Cisco’s end-to-end enterprise networking, wireless, security, compute, observability, and collaboration platforms and services, tied together in validated designs and architectures that interoperate with the leading industrial automation systems and protocols.

At Hannover Messe 2024, we’re showcasing our latest innovations that streamline operations and secure industrial networks. Together with our partners, we will demonstrate robust integrated architectures and solutions that are driving the future of smart manufacturing in areas such as digital twin, predictive maintenance, supply chain operations, and industrial mobility. We’re demonstrating how our partnerships are leading to the development of digital solutions that solve complex industry challenges.

And we will showcase the unique capabilities of our recently completed Splunk acquisition to deliver observability, security, data analytics, and AI in manufacturing operations.

Energy: Building a Sustainable Industrial Foundation

Energy generation and industrial production are significant contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions. Cisco has created sustainable facilities solutions for manufacturing and industrial operations, building on our experience in smart and sustainable buildings, energy efficient data center and networking infrastructure, and uPOE+ switching that can deliver 90W of POE per port. We are working with Schneider Electric to deliver smart and sustainable buildings to achieve net-zero carbon and building sustainability goals, manage and reduce energy consumption, among other outcomes.

At Hannover Messe 2024, we’re presenting case studies that highlight our success in revolutionizing sustainable industrial facilities and buildings, energy management, and lower carbon emissions from industrial processes.

Sustainability: Building a Greener Tomorrow

Sustainability is a core value woven into the fabric of Cisco culture. We work with partners to enhance the capabilities of our networking solutions, allowing us to deliver powerful, energy-efficient products that drive sustainability in industrial data centers, enterprise IT environments, and OT production facilities around the world. By connecting industrial devices, machines, and systems through our intelligent networks, we provide greater asset visibility and ability monitor and manage energy consumption and other environmental metrics.

For example, we are working with Rockwell Automation on digital water solutions. Using edge sensing, wireless connectivity, and sensor technology as well as data analytics and machine learning, our solution proactively addresses water loss, significantly decreases the time required for repairs, and helps mitigate energy wasted in pumping lost water.

At Hannover Messe 2024, we will feature discussions and demos around sustainable manufacturing, supply chain, intelligent building solutions, water and wastewater management, and electric vehicle charging systems. And of course, robust industrial and IT / OT cybersecurity is foundational to all our solutions across all industries!

In our conversations with customers at Hannover Messe, Cisco will not merely present technologies; we will narrate a story of collaboration, innovation, and commitment. The partnerships we will feature are more than alliances; they are proof of the power of working together to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges.

As visitors explore our booth, they will witness how our combined efforts with these industry leaders are forging a path to a smarter, more productive, more sustainable future. Our advancements in manufacturing, energy, and sustainability are tangible, impactful, and ready to be deployed on a global scale.

We invite you join us on this journey as we build a bridge between industrial solutions for today and a sustainable foundation for tomorrow. Visit Cisco at Hannover Messe 2024 at April 22—26, 2024 | Hannover, Germany | Hall 15, Stand F18.

"}]]  As the industrial world converges at Hannover Messe 2024, Cisco is not just a participant but a catalyst for change, championing digital transformation and IT / OT collaboration to deliver business outcomes in the manufacturing, energy, and related industrial industries.  Read More Cisco Blogs 

Cisco enters strategic partnerships like the one with Nutanix in order to leverage our strengths in data center infrastructure with the complementary strengths of industry leaders. It’s a “1 + 1 = 3” … Read more on Cisco Blogs

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Cisco enters strategic partnerships like the one with Nutanix in order to leverage our strengths in data center infrastructure with the complementary strengths of industry leaders. It’s a “1 + 1 = 3” approach that provides our customers with more comprehensive and optimized solutions in the face of evolving challenges.

According to IDC, the number of new applications that are expected to be available by 2026 is 750 million. Apps today are the foundation for transforming traditional business models into digital-first models, and they act as the key interface between businesses and their customers, their technology partners, their supply chain, and their employees. A recent Gartner report states that 50% of enterprise data will be created and processed outside of centralized data centers and clouds by 2025. Gartner also predicts a 75% edge computing growth rate by 2025.

In other words, IT (and specifically computing) is becoming more hyper-distributed in nature, which requires new and innovative approaches to infrastructure deployment, management, and operations to meet the demands of our hybrid multicloud world.

This was both the challenge and opportunity that Cisco and Nutanix took on in our global strategic partnership that we announced last year. In this blog, I’ll go a level deeper to provide a progress report and to highlight the truly unique aspects of this partnership.

What 360-degree partnership means

What sets the Cisco and Nutanix partnership apart from traditional resell agreements is the depth and scope of the engagements between our two companies. The partnership involves virtually every facet of our joint business model spanning strategy, engineering, support/services, and go-to-market. I think Jeremy Foster’s blog covered the strategy aspect pretty well, so I’ll focus on the differentiated aspects of engineering, support, and go-to-market.

Engineering: The partnership enables Cisco and Nutanix engineers to leverage the innovation strengths of both companies so that we can deliver a seamless end-to-end customer experience. The two companies are building deep product-level integrations that span across our production portfolios. We are also jointly developing roadmaps that address key customer requirements including unifying management, modernizing infrastructure, and simplifying operations to support virtually any application across the hybrid multicloud. The outcome is a complete end-to-end hyperconverged solution that is fully integrated and validated using best-of-breed Cisco servers, networking, and SaaS operations with Nutanix’s cloud-based capabilities in infrastructure, management, storage, and end-user computing.

Here are two recent engineering successes:

Through the deep integration and co-engineering efforts between the Cisco Intersight and Nutanix Prism teams, we have made the Cisco Intersight Standalone Mode for Cisco Compute Hyperconverged with Nutanix orderable for customers. This solution is designed to provide customers maximum flexibility in customizing their HCI solution to their environment. Specifically, customers can choose between the existing fully integrated network experience with UCS Fabric Interconnects or the new capability to deploy their own network fabric. This solution also enables customers to deploy hyperconverged clusters at scale by leveraging the automation capabilities available in the Cisco Intersight and Nutanix Prism Central integration. And we enable new edge use cases by being able to deploy 1- or 2-node clusters with lower TCO and with the flexibility of using Cisco or third-party host adapters.
Through standardized, open APIs, the Cisco and Nutanix HCI solution is extensible to a wide range of use cases important to customers such as security and data protection. An example is our support of the Cohesity Data Cloud for Cisco Compute Hyperconverged with Nutanix that provides capabilities such as backup and recovery, disaster recovery, cyber vaulting, and automated ransomware recovery at the edge, data centers, and multicloud environments.

Support and Services: A major differentiator of the Cisco and Nutanix partnership is our joint augmented support model built for information-sharing and to deliver the best possible unified experience for customers. We go far beyond the limitations of traditional joint support agreements. Customers in need of support can ask either Cisco or Nutanix support teams, who are fully empowered and function as a joint case management team to route any issue to the expert(s) who can best solve that problem as quickly as possible. We monitor key metrics such as mean time to resolution (MTTR) and make continual improvements to ensure that we’re delivering on this as promised. Our goal is to help maintain Nutanix’s enviable net promoter score, which is a clear indication of how well we’re doing in delighting our customers.

Go-to-Market: Perhaps no aspect of the partnership better exemplifies the “1 + 1 = 3” model than our approach to go-to-market (GTM), which includes direct and indirect sales. The GTM teams for this solution work together as one, as in we treat the Nutanix products like they were our own. Our collaborative customer engagement model leverages Cisco’s strengths with a diverse set of buying programs—including financing options that simplify the experience, from procurement to fulfillment, whether it’s directly from us or our channel partners. Cisco prides itself on making it easy to do business with us. We’re delivering that benefit and more through this partnership.

See you at Nutanix .NEXT

The Cisco Compute team will be in full force at Nutanix .NEXT 2024, May 21–23, in Barcelona. We and our partners at Nutanix will be showcasing the innovations and go-to-market programs that accelerate customers’ hybrid multicloud adoption, foster innovation, and provide seamless customer experience through complete simplicity, flexibility, and resiliency. We will also publish a more technical blog that will highlight new innovations from this partnership and how we are delivering on the full potential of our 360-degree partnership before the event.

You can find more information for the Cohesity Data Cloud for Cisco Compute Hyperconverged with Nutanix in this solution brief.

When registering for Nutanix .NEXT, please use the code NEXT-CISCO40 to receive a 40% discount.

"}]]  An update of the Cisco and Nutanix partnership first announced in August 2023. This blog focuses on the unique and highly differentiated aspects of the partnership focusing on Engineering, Support, and GTM.  Read More Cisco Blogs 

This post was authored by Pranav Athrangadan, a Business Analyst Intern on the Material Planning Team under Manufacturing Operations within the Silicon One Operation Team.

When I first joined Cisco,… Read more on Cisco Blogs

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This post was authored by Pranav Athrangadan, a Business Analyst Intern on the Material Planning Team under Manufacturing Operations within the Silicon One Operation Team.

When I first joined Cisco, switching from electrical engineering to business analysis felt overwhelming. I’ll be honest; it was a bit scary to change gears from engineering to a non-technical direction. But Cisco had my back from day one. They hooked me up with learning resources and even covered my course fees. It’s like they saw potential in me that I hadn’t seen in myself yet. And, thanks to Cisco’s welcoming culture, my supportive team, manager, and directors, and awesome mentorship, I didn’t just cross this bridge — I started building my own.

As I settled into my new role, I discovered that the Cisco campuses themselves were a source of inspiration and motivation. They’re not just buildings but a source of energy for me. Whenever I feel low or can’t solve a task, I know I can find a cozy spot to recharge and get inspired. One day, when I was too drained to solve part of a problem assigned to me, I stumbled upon a little garden tucked away between offices. At first, it was just a quiet place to catch my breath. But soon, I realized it was much more — a bridge to new ideas. Surrounded by nature, my mind opened, and creativity flowed. This garden became my go-to spot for thinking outside the box. The Cisco campus is like a second home, open 24/7, offering me the freedom to explore and find my own creative spaces, though I can’t spill all the secrets of these mind-blowing zones just yet!

My days have been a whirlwind of discovery, not just professionally but personally, too. On my first week, I ventured into the gym, thinking I would try boxing, but Cisco had a much broader journey in store for me. Before I knew it, I attended group classes I’d never imagined myself in — dance, Zumba, high-intensity interval training (HIIT), strength and conditioning, primal movement, and abs workouts. Each class opened a new chapter of self-discovery, pushing my boundaries and showing me the strength I never knew I had. Among these, boxing caught my heart. It began as just another class to try, but soon, it became my passion, and now, once my workday wraps up, I’m off to the boxing practices. It’s an amazing feeling knowing that my workplace supports my well-being and hobbies.

But Cisco’s support for my well-being doesn’t stop at physical fitness. Through Webex meetings, I’ve dived into sessions about life and financial planning. These aren’t just talks. They’re lifelines, teaching me how to invest, plan, and navigate life’s financial aspects. It’s during work hours, yet it feels like the company is investing in my life outside work as much as within.

Then there’s the heart of Cisco — commitment to diversity and inclusion and Inclusive Communities like Connected Disability Action Network (CDAN) and Emerging Talent at Cisco. These groups mean a lot to me and make me feel part of a larger purpose. They remind me of my goals and what I have been doing since college. I have always wanted to help others, so I got involved in social service. At Cisco, the desire and potential to make a difference feels right at home. These groups show how we can do it, no matter our backgrounds or abilities.

Being part of Emerging Talent has been incredibly beneficial for me. It’s helped me see that I can do more, even though I am usually shy. I always wanted to speak in front of people and share my ideas, but it was hard to overcome my nervousness. The support and friendship I have found in this community helped me to overcome my fear. It opened my eyes to how we can support each other. That approachable, supportive atmosphere makes Cisco more than just a workplace.

Even reaching out to leaders and directors is easy here. I remember being so nervous to talk to my director during the very first week, but once I did, it was like chatting with an old friend. That openness is a bridge to learning from the best and breaking down barriers. That encouragement and constructive feedback I received was a turning point, illuminating the path from being an observer to an active participant in Cisco’s culture of innovation.

Outside of my assigned project, apart from my team, I also participated in an intern case study competition that was not just a task but a blast! It was a unique opportunity to talk with others and learn what they do, helping me understand cross-functional activities and be highlighted as part of the larger team and company, showcasing us interns to the world.

I’m just getting started, and I already feel different. More open, more ready to jump in and be seen. Cisco is more than just where I’m doing my internship. It’s where I’m growing and discovering I can be the person I always wanted to be. I’m building a bridge towards something new and exciting — learning, achieving, and belonging. Cisco’s not just where I work; it’s where I grow, connect, and am empowered to be my best.

Powering an inclusive future for all is what we do at Cisco. Discover the power of our purpose.

Subscribe to the WeAreCisco Blog.

"}]]  Pranav A. changed from engineering to business analysis with his Cisco internship. Now, he's building a bridge toward something new and exciting, empowered to be his best.  Read More Cisco Blogs 

Let’s say that, during the middle of a busy day, you receive what looks like a work-related email with a QR code. The email claims to come from a coworker, requesting your help in reviewing a d… Read more on Cisco Blogs

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Let’s say that, during the middle of a busy day, you receive what looks like a work-related email with a QR code. The email claims to come from a coworker, requesting your help in reviewing a document.  You scan the QR code with your phone and it takes you to what looks like a Microsoft 365 sign-in page. You enter your credentials; however, nothing seems to load.  

Not thinking much of it, and being a busy day, you continue to go about your work. A couple minutes later a notification buzzes your phone. Not picking it up immediately, another notification comes. Then another, and another after that.  

Wondering what’s going on, you grab the phone to find a series of multi-factor authentication (MFA) notifications. You had just attempted to log into Microsoft 365, maybe there was a delay in receiving the MFA notification? You approve one and return to the Microsoft 365 page. The page still hasn’t loaded, so you get back to work and resolve to check it later. 

This is very similar to an attack that Cisco Talos Intelligence discusses in their latest Talos Incident Response (IR) Quarterly Report. In this case the Microsoft 365 sign-in page was fake, set up by threat actors. These attackers used compromised credentials to repeatedly attempt to sign in to the company’s real Microsoft 365 page, triggering the series of MFA notifications—an attack technique known as MFA exhaustion. In the end, some employees who were targeted approved the MFA requests and the attackers gained access to these accounts. 

More than the annoyance of changing your password 

While the use of QR codes is a relatively recent development in phishing, attacks like the one described by Talos have been around for years. Most phishing attacks employ similar social engineering techniques to trick users into turning over their credentials. Phishing is frequently one of the top means of gaining initial access in the Talos Incident Response Quarterly Report.  

Attackers hammering MFA-protected accounts is also a concerning development in the identity threat landscape. But sadly, most successful credential compromise attacks occur with accounts that don’t have MFA enabled.   

According to this quarter’s Talos IR report, using compromised credentials on valid accounts was one of two top initial access vectors. This aligns with findings from Verizon’s 2023 Data Breach Investigations Report, where the use of compromised credentials was the top first-stage attack (initial access) in 44.7% of breaches.  

The silver lining is that this appears to be improving. Early last year, in research published by Oort1, now a part of Cisco, found that 40% of accounts in the average company had weak or no MFA in the second half of 2022. Looking at updated telemetry from February 2024, this number has dropped significantly to 15%. The change has a lot to do with wider understanding of identity protection, but also an increase in awareness thanks to an uptick in attacks that have targeted accounts relying on base credentials alone for protection. 

How credentials are compromised 

Phishing, while one of the most popular methods, isn’t the only way that attackers gather compromised credentials. Attackers often attempt to brute force or password spraying attacks, deploying keyloggers, or dumping credentials. 

These are just a few of the techniques that threat actors use to gather credentials. For a more elaborate explanation, Talos recently published an excellent breakdown of how credentials are stolen and used by threat actors that is worth taking a look at. 

Not all credentials are created equal 

Why might an attacker, who has already gained access to a computer, attempt to gain new credentials?  Simply put, not all credentials are created equal. 

While an attacker can gain a foothold in a network using an ordinary user account, it’s unlikely they’ll be able to further their attacks due to limited permissions. It’s like having a key that unlocks one door, where what you’re really after is the skeleton key that unlocks all the doors.   

That skeleton key would be a high-level access account such as an administrator or system user. Targeting administrators makes sense because their elevated privileges allow an attacker more control of a system. And target them they do. According to Cisco’s telemetry, administrator accounts see three times as many failed logins as a regular user account.  

Another resource threat actors target is credentials for accounts that are no longer in use. These dormant accounts tend to be legacy accounts for older systems, accounts for former users that have not been cleared from the directory, or temporary accounts that are no longer needed. Sometimes the accounts can include more than one of the above options, and even include administrative privileges.  

Dormant accounts are an often-overlooked security issue. According to Cisco’s telemetry, 39% of the total identities within the average organization have had no activity within the last 30 days. This is a 60% increase from 2022.  

Guest accounts are an account type that repeatedly gets overlooked. While a convenient option for temporary, restricted access, these often password-free accounts are frequently left enabled long after they are needed.   

And their use is increasing. In February 2024, almost 11% of identities examined are guest accounts— representing a 233% jump from the 3% reported in 2022. While we can only speculate, it is possible that cloud-adoption and remote work contributed to this rise, as enterprises used temporary accounts to stage new services and applications or enable remote workloads in the short-term. The use of temporary accounts is understandable, but if they’re forgotten or ignored, these shortcuts represent a serious risk.  

Reducing the impact of compromised credentials 

It goes without saying that protecting credentials from being compromised and abused is important. However, eradicating this threat is challenging.   

One of the best ways to defend against these attacks is by using MFA. Simply confirming that a user is who they say they are—by checking on another device or communication form—can go a long way towards preventing compromised credentials from being used.  

Duo MFA, now available as part of Cisco User Protection Suite, provides robust security that is flexible for users, but rigid against the use of compromised credentials. The interface provides a simple and fast, non-disruptive authentication experience, helping users focus their time on what matters most. 

MFA is not a silver bullet 

No doubt, deploying MFA can help in prevent compromised credential abuse. However, it isn’t a silver bullet. There are a few ways that threat actors can sidestep MFA.  

Some MFA forms, such as those that use SMS, can be manipulated by threat actors. In these cases—frequently referred to as Adversary in the Middle (AitM) attacks—the attacker intercepts the MFA SMS, either through social engineering or by compromising the mobile device. The attacker can then input the MFA SMS when prompted and gain access to the targeted account. 

The good news here is that there has been a drop in the use of SMS as a second factor. In 2022, 20% of logins leveraged SMS-based authentication. As of February 2024, this number has declined 66%, to just 6.6% of authentications. That is a tremendous change, and a positive one at that. In addition to AitM attacks, SIM swapping attacks have all but rendered SMS-based authentication checks useless.  

This is backed up by research coming from the 2024 Duo Trusted Access Report, where using SMS texts and phone calls as a second factor has dropped to 4.9% of authentications, compared to 22% in 2022. 

Going passwordless 

If you really want to reduce your reliance on passwords when confirming credentials, another option is Duo’s passwordless authentication. Passwordless authentication is a group of identity verification methods that don’t rely on passwords at all. Biometrics, security keys, and passcodes from authenticator apps can all be used for passwordless authentication. 

Based on the numbers, passwordless is the new trend. In 2022, phishing resistant authentication methods such as passwordless accounted for less than 2% of logins. However, in 2024, Cisco’s telemetry shows this number is climbing, currently representing 20%, or nearly a 10x increase. This is great news, but still highlights a critical point—80% are still not using strong MFA.  

Protecting MFA from threat actors 

Recall the MFA exhaustion attack Talos described in their latest IR report.  

Talos’ example does highlight how there are select circumstances where attackers can still get past MFA. A distracted or frustrated user may simply accept a notification just to silence the application. In this case, user education can go a long way towards preventing these attacks from succeeding, but there is more that can be done.  

Cisco has recently introduced the first-of-its-kind Cisco Identity Intelligence to help protect against identity-based attacks like these. This groundbreaking technology can detect unusual identity patterns, based on behavior, when combined with Duo.  

To illustrate, let’s look at when the threat actor begins hammering the login with the compromised credentials. Identity Intelligence can recognize anomalies such as MFA floods, as well as the moment the user gets annoyed and accepts the request.  

It can also pinpoint anomalies such as a user signing in from an unmanaged device in a location that would be impossible for them to reach—say Peculiar, Missouri—given they had just logged in an hour ago from Normal, Illinois.  

Cisco Identity Intelligence will directly address the visibility gap between authenticated identities and trusted access by a data-driven and AI-first approach. Cisco Identity Intelligence is a multi-sourced, vendor agnostic, investment-preserving solution that works across the existing identity stack and brings together authentication and access insights to deliver a very strong security defense.  

Cisco customers interested in signing up for the public preview can fill out a request to join today.  

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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"}]]  Identity related attacks are a common tactic used by bad actors. Learn how to help protect against these attacks.  Read More Cisco Blogs 

In recent years, the broadcast sector has witnessed a radical shift driven by digital technological advancements. As patterns of media consumption evolve, broadcasters are progressively adopting… Read more on Cisco Blogs

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In recent years, the broadcast sector has witnessed a radical shift driven by digital technological advancements. As patterns of media consumption evolve, broadcasters are progressively adopting Cloud Native technologies to enhance their media supply chain efficiency. Nonetheless, the integration of Cloud Native solutions, such as Kubernetes, into broadcasting infrastructures encounters obstacles due to a lack of development catering to the specialized needs of real-time media workflows. This discussion aims to elucidate the challenges broadcasters face in adopting Cloud Native technologies and to explore viable solutions.

The Promise and Challenges of Cloud Native Technologies

Cloud Native technologies present a significant opportunity for broadcasters to refine their media workflows, augment scalability, and increase agility. Kubernetes, notably, stands out as a premier container orchestration platform, offering a scalable and robust framework for the deployment, management, and scaling of applications.

Despite its benefits, the integration of Kubernetes within the broadcast industry faces impediments. Conventional solutions, such as service meshes and load balancers, which were predominantly designed for web traffic (TCP & HTTP), do not fulfill the specific requirements of media workflows. Media workflows demand specialized solutions adept at managing high-throughput, low-latency media streams (UDP & RTP), something beyond the capabilities of typical solutions, while simultaneously ensuring reliability and service quality.

Addressing the Gap

To bridge the existing gap between Cloud Native technologies and the requirements of real-time media, urgent collaboration and the development of open-source solutions tailored to media workflows are essential. Collaborative efforts among broadcasters, technology providers, and open-source communities can spearhead innovation and expedite the development of Kubernetes-based solutions tailored for the broadcast industry.

A strategic approach to narrowing this divide is the creation of specialized service meshes specifically engineered for real-time media workflows. These innovative solutions could integrate features such as low-latency UDP, Quality of Service (QoS) prioritization, and zero memory copy, ensuring the high-performance handling of media streams. Utilizing the flexibility and scalability of Kubernetes, broadcasters can establish resilient and efficient media supply chains that respond effectively to fluctuating workload demands.

Moreover, open-source initiatives are pivotal in fostering innovation and standardization within the broadcasting sector. By actively contributing to and collaborating on open-source projects, broadcasters can shape the development of Cloud Native technologies to more closely match their operational requirements. Prominent open-source projects like Open Broadcast Stack (OBS) and FFMPEG are aimed at providing an extensive array of tools and frameworks designed specifically for broadcast needs. Enhancing this toolset through contributions of libraries and toolsets could facilitate the broader adoption of Cloud Native technologies in existing industry applications.

Another challenge to navigate is the orchestration of workflows and business processes. Ross Video Catena emerges as a robust platform engineered to optimize the communication and orchestration of media applications within Kubernetes ecosystems. Employing Catena’s capabilities can significantly advance the standardization of communication and business logic orchestration for media applications leveraging Kubernetes.

Your trusted technology partner

Cloud Native technologies offer immense promise for revolutionizing the broadcast industry, delivering scalability, agility, and efficiency in media workflows. Nevertheless, the seamless integration of Kubernetes and other Cloud Native solutions into broadcasting infrastructures necessitates specialized development to meet the distinct challenges of media workflows. Through concerted collaboration and the embracement of open-source initiatives, broadcasters can lead innovation and hasten the development of Kubernetes-based solutions designed to meet their specific needs. Collective endeavors can unlock the full potential of Cloud Native technologies, heralding a new epoch in digital media distribution.

You can see how Cisco is helping with this transition by checking out Media Streaming Mesh or visiting our NAB Booth #W2743 in the West Hall.

"}]]  Cloud Native technologies present a significant opportunity for broadcasters to refine their media workflows, augment scalability, and increase agility. Visit Cisco at NAB Booth #W2743 in the West Hall to check out our solutions.  Read More Cisco Blogs