Cisco Goes All In on Cloud Security
In the first part of our look at Cisco Security, we examined one of the newest developments in the security sector: the push towards the cloud. Cloud security is one of the most important developments in the cybersecurity industry, and the tech sector as a whole.
David Ulevitch, Vice President and General Manager of Cisco’s Security business group, said that “[t]he cloud is our secret weapon,” in an interview with Computer Dealer News.
But, what does that really mean?
Where Cisco Security and Cloud Security Meet
When Cisco talks about how important their cloud approach to protecting data is, they are not just beating their chests.
The world is moving towards the cloud. Cited in a recent Deloitte report, one study shows that the cloud market is expected to grow from $40.7 billion in 2011 to $241 billion in 2020. That rapid growth represents the adoption of the cloud by businesses, average users, even the federal government is looking to get into the cloud (more on that in a little bit).
So the future is in the cloud – it’s pretty much a foregone conclusion. The Cisco integrated and interconnected approach to security, therefore, is a direct response to the increased connectivity not only brought on by the Internet of Things like we examined last week, but also by the interoperability of modern tech as provided by the cloud.
Our world is moving towards this hyper-connected future. Even the U.S. federal government is jumping on the cloud, and bureaucracies are hardly known as fast adopters of cutting-edge technology.
The Chief Information Officers Council released a report revealing that $2 billion was allocated towards cloud computing within the federal government. Which means that the cloud has gone mainstream, and may soon be the only stream.
Cisco’s Integrated Take on Security
For more on Cisco Security’s future, there’s a great interview by the CSO with Anthony Grieco, Senior Director and Trust Strategy Officer at Cisco’s Security and Trust Organization.
There’s a tonne of great stuff included in that piece, but here’s an important snippet from Grieco:
“As we think about this new world, and the interwoven systems that are being created, a new level of trust is required. We must trust the systems that manage and process the data, the people and partners who access the data, the systems and controls and the fundamental technologies and processes that protect the data. Cybersecurity is essential to digital success. Companies and countries will be enabled by technology, and they’ll need to embed security in everything.”
That shows Cisco’s comprehensive solution to security. It’s a holistic package. It’s no longer good enough to only have a number of tiered authentication systems or firewalls or fail-safes. What you need is all those things working in concert with one another, as well as having the proper platform to ensure that these security measures function to the best of their abilities.
The point being that Cisco Security understands how data protection has to be managed in today’s world. It’s not good enough just to have protective software on your servers. You need to ensure that all your employees and their devices are also protected, and that whichever system you’re using is properly optimized to ensure that the security measures in place are cooperating and not getting in each other’s way.
And Cisco Security has been pretty successful at keeping computers safe, at least according to the latest earnings report.
Network security revenues rose 9% year-over-year to $527 million for the quarter. Another bright spot for the company was its wireless revenues, which also increased by 13% during the quarter to $703 million. Cisco knows security and it knows wireless.
This goes to show that Cisco Security is trusted, well-regarded, and growing. With the company’s novel approach to data security, focus on connectivity in IoT and the Cloud, and holistic strategy, Cisco is looking to be a leader in how we protect our data.
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