With flexible SASE Solutions and Innovations to SecureX, Cisco Radically Simplifies Cloud Security for Enterprises

Cisco expands SASE architecture and announces a host of radical innovations that simplify Enterprise networking and security operations.

As an important step in its journey to simplify networking and security, Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO), the leader in enterprise networking and security, has announced landmark enhancements to its Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) architecture solutions. From May 2021, Cisco allows enterprise users to purchase and start using the core SASE components (cloud security, zero-trust network access, SD-WAN, and observability) in a single offer. Not only that! It also offers the flexibility to the customers to easily transition to a unified subscription service in the future.

This announcement comes particularly useful in the current scenario where the Covid pandemic has redefined the way we work. Employees are accessing enterprise resources from remote locations, which has resulted in the increase in attack surfaces. In this context, the most important question that the enterprises face is “What is the best possible Enterprise solution that will help network and security teams provide consistent, secure access to applications for an increasingly distributed workforce?”

The solution is SASE, a network architecture which converges network and security solutions seamlessly in the cloud. Simply migrating to cloud won’t solve all the problems related to connectivity and security. Instead, these networking and security functions need to be completely integrated in a single service, which is exactly Cisco’s offering. Cisco combines its best-in-class networking, client connectivity, security, and observability capabilities into a single subscription service. It will be straightforward to procure, easy to set up, and simple to use through a single cloud dashboard.

Gee Rittenhouse, SVP and GM of Cisco’s Security Business Group said “As the workforce is increasingly hybrid, traditional network and security frameworks can no longer keep pace with this new way of doing business. There has never been a more critical time to deliver something radically different, as every customer is unique and needs flexibility when determining how a SASE architecture fits into their environment. When it comes to transformation, there is no one-size-fits-all approach and moving to a SASE framework is no different.” He added that this announcement of Cisco enables organizations to start using all of the core building blocks of a SASE architecture immediately, making it simpler than ever to continue their journey to SASE.

Cisco offers the following functionalities across their SASE architecture:

• Data security: The Secure Cisco Umbrella Data Loss Prevention helps organizations arrest unauthorized transmission of sensitive data and thereby helps them fulfil compliance mandates.
• Remote browser isolation: Remote browser isolation strengthens protection by adding a layer of defence against browser-based attacks. It isolates web content in a remote surrogate browser in the cloud and allows only safe content is rendered to the user.
• Cloud malware detection: This feature of Umbrella detects and removes malware from cloud-based file storage applications.
• New SD-WAN and cisco cloud security integration: The integration of Cisco SD-WAN powered by Meraki and Cisco Umbrella speeds the deployment of cloud-native security across distributed locations with simplified Internet Protocol Security (IPSec) tunnel connectivity.
• Expanding Cisco SD-WAN Cloud OnRamp: The release of SD-WAN 17.5 powered by Viptela expands Cisco SD-WAN Cloud OnRamp for predictable and secure application experiences.  Cisco adds new cloud integrations including Google Cloud and Megaport. Also, Cisco SD-WAN powered by Meraki extends connectivity from branch sites to resources in public cloud environments such as AWS, Azure, Alibaba Cloud.
• Passwordless authentication: Duo will soon enable enterprises to authenticate without passwords. Slated for public preview this summer, passwordless authentication is a key element to enable zero trust security with a smooth login experience, removing the need for multiple authentication products.
• New Cisco DevNet SASE Developer Center: Cisco’s SASE architecture presents APIs for developers to automate DevOps and IT Ops workflows and build customized integrations and applications for their business. 

More Innovations in SecureX to radically simplify cloud security

Along with the mission to simplify the SASE journey for customers, Cisco is also focusing on further simplification and protection against emerging cyber threats. Cisco’s announcement of intent to acquire Kenna Security, a market leader in risk-based vulnerability management, is a strong display of its commitment to this mission.

The integration of Cisco SecureX platform’s threat intelligence capabilities with Kenna Security’s vulnerability management capabilities will help customers find threats faster, improve collaboration between security and IT teams and ultimately reduce the attack surface.

As part of Cisco’s complete protection from endpoint to the cloud, SecureX platform enhancements help reduce dwell time for SecOps and automate tasks involved with detecting and remediating threats. Enhancements including automated workflows such as SolarWinds supply chain attack investigation, phishing investigations and threat investigations using the latest intel from Cisco Talos reduce threat detection time by 95 percent, and remediation time by 85 percent.