Cisco unveils three DNA network security technologies

Cisco has announced three new technologies for its Digital Network Architecture (DNA) solution to enable network engineers, application developers, channel partners, and IT customers to embed improved and simplified security within their network infrastructure layer: Umbrella Branch, Stealthwatch Learning Network License, and Meraki MX Security Appliances with Advanced Malware Protection (AMP) and Threat Grid.

All three are designed to improve mobility and cloud security threats, according to the networking giant.

The first technology, Cisco’s Umbrella Branch cloud-delivered security software, provides businesses with increased control over guest Wi-Fi usage via content filtering. It can be activated on the Cisco Integrated Services Routers (ISR) 4,000 series, and works to filter and block malware, command and control (C2) callbacks, and phishing threats before they reach the network.

The company’s second new DNA security technology, the distributed machine-learning Cisco Stealthwatch Learning Network, was acquired as part of Cisco’s $452 million Lancope purchase. Continue reading “Cisco unveils three DNA network security technologies”

Cisco boasts 100 percent security coverage

Cisco has said it will do whatever it takes, including working alongside competitors, in order to ensure that it has the best security offering that covers customers 100 percent of the time.

Admitting that the 100 percent statement is a “bold claim”, Scott Harrell, VP of Product Management in Cisco’s Security Business Group, explained that it means Cisco will provide protection for customers whether they are on business premises or working remotely.

“What we’re talking about is the fact that you as customers, you as network administrators, as partners, who are trying to find and deploy these complex networks, your problem’s not just a firewall at the edge … your problem’s more than that,” Harrell, speaking at the second day of Cisco Live Las Vegas, said.

“You have diverse infrastructures, you have campuses, you have datacentres, you have branches, you have users that are sales personnel that never come back on-prem, they spend their whole life off-prem and seldom connect back into the VPN, you have applications that you’re being pushed to move to the cloud by your line of business. Continue reading “Cisco boasts 100 percent security coverage”

Homeland Security warns of hackers exploiting SAP security flaw

Homeland Security has warned that hackers are exploiting a security vulnerability in SAP business software — a flaw that dates back to 2010.

The department’s Computer Emergency Readiness Team (CERT) sent an alert on Wednesday warning that at least 36 unnamed organizations are running misconfigured or outdated software, which could leave them prone to remote attacks by hackers.

One of the affected enterprises is said to be one of the top-ten highest annually grossing global companies, and more than a dozen generate over $10 billion in annual revenue per year.

According to the alert, a hacker that successfully exploits the vulnerability can gain full access and complete control to an affected SAP platform — that includes business information and processes on those systems.
Continue reading “Homeland Security warns of hackers exploiting SAP security flaw”

Public and private cloud now account for a quarter of infrastructure spending

A quarter of IT infrastructure spending in Europe is now going to building public and private cloud systems.

According to IDC, infrastructure spending — which it defines as servers, disk storage, and Ethernet switch — for public and private cloud in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) grew by 17.6 percent year-on-year to $1.3bn in the first quarter of this year.

The analysts said that cloud-related infrastructure spending is likely to reach $10.7bn by 2020 — nearly half of the total market.

In contrast, spending on traditional infrastructure will be stagnant “if not declining”, said Kamil Gregor, research analyst in IDCs European Infrastructure Group. However, despite the cloud hype, three-quarters of spending on infrastructure still goes to internal projects. Continue reading “Public and private cloud now account for a quarter of infrastructure spending”

Microsoft readies combined CRM, ERP Dynamics 365 cloud bundle

Microsoft is combining its current CRM and ERP cloud products into a single cloud bundle it’s calling Microsoft Dynamics 365.

The new offering, which will be available starting this fall, will include financials, field service, sales, operations, marketing, project service automation, and customer service, according to a July 6 blog post announcing the new offering.

The Dynamics 365 service will be integrated with Office 365, using a common data model with Microsoft’s Office-in-the-cloud service.

Both apps and business processes will be integrated between the two, with Microsoft services like Power BI business intelligence, the Microsoft Flow event-automation and PowerApps development tools for non-professional devs being shared across the services. Continue reading “Microsoft readies combined CRM, ERP Dynamics 365 cloud bundle”