With the Internet of things, cloud services and an explosion of user devices exposing more entry points than ever to your network, it’s not enough to be reactive to security threats - you have to go searching for them.
Why it pays to be proactiveSophisticated threats can hide in network blind spots; extracting sensitive information and causing substantial damage to unpatched systems, unsupported hardware and user-administered network devices. Yet, our recent survey revealed that over 50% of networks haven’t been audited in the last 12 months. This is despite the average cost of a corporate data breach being £3m – and one hour of downtime costing businesses up to £80,000.
Security starts from the inside-out
Traditional threat neutralisation relies on external reactive work. Security providers discover new threats and devise ways to overcome them; then update the network security software to eradicate each specific threat. For some businesses this could be an inoculation; for others in need of an antidote this remedy can arrive too late to prevent financial and reputation damage.
How Cisco can help
Cisco Network as a Sensor (NaaS) works more like your immune system when it’s fighting infections. It detects activities such as unusual data movements, suspect traffic - or even unusual user behaviour - and intelligently categorises it as a threat.
A Cisco Network is one of the strongest, most powerful defence tools available. The very fabric of your business operations holds embedded security capabilities that, when activated, can turn your network into an intelligent security system that opens up unrivaled visibility into your network and all devices that connect to it.
Cisco NaaS deploys two technologies that work in synergy to transform your network into its own security system - these are Stealthwatch and the Identity Services Engine (ISE). While Cisco Stealthwatch uses automated machine learning to baseline your network's behaviour and call out any suspicious activity; Cisco ISE acts as an advanced profiling and policy administration tool, intelligently assessing who’s accessing the network, while administering programmed and highly-customisable policy. These technologies combined provide an end-to-end sensor and enforcer that can rapidly detect, and stop, sophisticated security threats.
Making the most of your Cisco network’s security capabilities
We understand that many organisations are too busy to patch every device in their network - or carry out continuous audits - and when 56% of companies don’t have a redundancy strategy in place should their network fail, it can be a full time job just to put out the fires.
But before you pay out for the latest security tool that promises to solve all your problems, check that you’re getting the full security capabilities from your Cisco network...
As a long-standing Cisco partner with decades of experience, Ultima are perfectly placed to help transform your Cisco network into a sensor and take your security to the next level.
To discuss the security of your network, please get in touch with your Account Manager - or drop us an email - enquiries@ultima.com.
