Cisco taps security

By Staff Writer for Cisco

Johannesburg, 25 Apr 2008

Cisco and RSA, the security division of EMC, will expand an already lengthy partnership to develop IT infrastructure security solutions.

"The data security market is very fragmented with add-on point tools at every layer of the IT stack, which leads to management complexity for customers. Cisco, along with EMC and RSA, are positioned to provide a holistic approach to addressing businesses` data security needs," says Cisco CTO of security, Robert Gleichauf.

The solutions are intended to span an array of IT infrastructure, from storage and servers to networks and data centre security.

International analysts say EMC`s core technology will allow Cisco to gain a footprint in the data-leak prevention (DLP) arena. EMC acquired the DLP technology from its purchase of Talbus. It monitors computers to catch when they are being used to leak sensitive information.

Cisco intends to integrate data-classification technology from RSA`s DLP Suite with Cisco`s DLP capabilities in the network and on desktop and server endpoints. RSA plans to take advantage of Cisco`s policy enforcement capabilities.

Network self-defence

Cisco is also upgrading security across the products that make up its self-defending network solution.

According to the company, security features include endpoint protection, intrusion prevention, network- and application-based firewalls, security monitoring and analysis, and centralised policy management.

Products within network, end-point, application security and security management will be expanded as part of the company`s new product portfolio for security, says VP of security technology at Cisco, Scott Weiss.

These will include Cisco Security Agent 6.0, Cisco Intrusion Prevention System 6.1, 0, Cisco Security Manager 3.2, incorporation of Web filtering into Cisco Integrated Services Routers, and several of its local and cloud-based firewall services.