Part 1: Expand your safety perimeter to everywhere

When work can take place anywhere, solutions that secure a company’s data have to be everywhere. Basically, it is crucial that businesses can shift their security perimeter from the physical office to the cloud. Forward-thinking security solutions can address this need and offer remarkable flexibility and security, whether employees are at the head office, on the road, or working while enjoying a cup of coffee at Starbucks.

Cisco+ Secure Connect is such a solution and one of the leading products within this area.

Traditionally, each company location will have its own security setup, which is both costly and complex to maintain. Cisco+ Secure Connect centralizes security functions in the cloud, ensuring that all endpoints are protected with the same high standard. At the same time, all users are connected to the same internal network, wherever they are. This cloud-based approach lets employees access all company resources safely, from data to printers, no matter where they are in the world.

An example:

If you need documents to be available in hard copy for a meeting at a branch office. Whether it’s impractical to bring them on the journey there, or if you’ve forgotten them, it’s easy to have them ready at your destination with Cisco+ Secure Connect. Simply use a secure client to verify your identity and connect to the company’s network. Then locate and use an on-premises printer, and your documents will be ready when you land.

Besides easy connectivity, Cisco+ Secure Connect includes advanced security features such as Secure Internet Gateway (SIG), Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB), Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) Proxy, and more. Together, these features protect against potential threats and attacks, significantly enhancing network security. Furthermore, Cisco employs sandboxing technology to effectively identify and analyze unknown files and programs in an isolated environment, where they are automatically analyzed to determine if they pose a threat. This technique is integrated with Cisco's broader security infrastructure, creating a robust, layered defense against advanced cyber threats. Even if a malicious file reaches a user’s computer, Cisco's secure client functionality can easily contain the file, preventing it from being executed.

In addition to the secure client functionality in Cisco+ Secure Connect, you can add on extra security on your endpoints using Cisco Secure Endpoint, which protects against the latest cyber threats.

However, it's important to note that while Cisco+ Secure Connect provides comprehensive digital security, it does not address physical security issues like shoulder surfing or photographing your screen. Codeex takes the human factor into account by going beyond offering, implementing, and operating IT security. We offer awareness programs and training to ensure employees are as security conscious as needed.

To better understand the building blocks of Cisco Secure Connect, are here the key components that the solution is built on.

Cisco Umbrella

This component provides cloud-delivered security functions, including secure web gateway, DNS-layer security, firewall as a service (FWaaS), and cloud access security broker (CASB) capabilities.

Cisco Talos

Cisco Talos is the threat intelligence division of Cisco, focused on security research, threat analysis, and developing defenses against cyber threats. They provide vital data that enhances the security of Cisco products and helps protect Cisco's network and its customers worldwide.

Cisco Duo

This is Cisco’s zero-trust security platform, which focuses on multi-factor authentication (MFA) and secure access, ensuring that only the right users and secure devices can access applications.

Cisco Meraki or Viptela SD-WAN

Both solutions are a cloud-managed SD-WAN solution that helps businesses ensure more secure, consistent, and cost-effective enterprise connections. In addition, Viptela offers advanced routing, segmentation, and security capabilities for a complex enterprise network.

Cisco ThousandEyes

Provides visibility into the Internet, the cloud, and the networks your business relies on.

Cisco Secure Endpoint

In addition to the products above, a sister product, Cisco Secure Endpoint, can be integrated into Cisco Secure Connect to secure the endpoint from a wide range of threats. It combines prevention, detection, and response capabilities using advanced analytics to stop threats before they cause harm.

Cisco Secure Endpoint continuously monitors and records all endpoint activity, providing the context necessary to identify and block sophisticated attacks quickly. Its integration with other Cisco security products enhances visibility and enables a coordinated defense across the network. This solution effectively protects against malware, ransomware, and other malicious activities, ensuring that endpoints remain secure in an increasingly complex threat landscape.

Cisco Secure Endpoint is not part of the Cisco Secure Connect model but can be ordered separately if necessary. At Codeex, we offer consultancy and advice on what solution will safeguard your data, operations, and company the best.

I will look into many of the products above, to provide a comprehensive overview. Stay tuned.