Cisco IoT Threat Defense: Realizing the Promise of IoT with an Architecture and Services Solution to Secure IoT Devices

15/06/2017

London, May 23, 2017 By 2020, Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) expects up to 50 billion connected devices to be in play, signaling a critical mass in achieving the promise of the Internet of Things (IoT). Today, Cisco takes a leading role in securing that promise and offsetting risk with the introduction of Cisco IoT Threat Defense. This broad architectural and services solution segments devices on the network to provide adaptable, extensible protection for organizations at IoT scale. The first use of IoT Threat Defense is to secure vital services in advanced medical care, power generation and delivery, and automated manufacturing.

Escalation of Cyberattacks Can Cripple Vital Services

The escalation of ransomware and other malware events in the past year reveals that organizations are even more critically exposed, reflecting a long-held concern that it's not if but when a business may fall victim to costly cyberattacks. The Cisco 2017 Annual Cybersecurity Report notes that CISOs find attacks can impact operations, reputation, and revenue. At stake is unauthorized access to networks, data and IP loss, and business shutdown.

These issues are compounded for those in manufacturing, with IT and OT challenges in how businesses securely connect devices, protect plant operations, and maintain functionality and uptime. While many device manufacturers are building in cybersecurity, implementation can take years. The logical move is to segment these devices to put them out of attackers' reach. If devices are compromised, organizations can prevent them from being used as pivot points to move through the network, and to activate incident response processes to protect the business.

Segmentation Clears Obstacles to Securing the IoT

Organizations face two major hurdles in securing the IoT. First, most IoT devices can't protect themselves. The resulting vulnerabilities create ample opportunities for attackers to exploit those devices and gain network access. The second complicating factor is scale, as businesses will be expected to connect billions of devices in the next few years.

Network segmentation is not new. Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs) have been in use for decades. But the sheer scale of the IoT makes creating enough VLANs impractical, if not impossible.

Cisco has led the market in designing, deploying, and securing networks for over 25 years. It continues to build the equipment, invent the technologies, and develop the standards that help make the Internet possible. Cisco invented TrustSec, an extensible, automated, policy-based technology to solve problems of secure segmentation at scale for the IoT. It is supported across a range of Cisco equipment ruggedized or non-ruggedized, from the data center to the factory floor.

IoT Solution Includes Best-of-Breed Threat Defense Architecture Over Point Products

In addition to the use of network segmentation to securely scale to meet the escalating needs of the IoT, Cisco IoT Threat Defense is built as a best-of-breed architecture, featuring a strong cast of integrated, trusted Cisco security capabilities:

Network segmentation (Cisco TrustSec )

Network behavior analytics (Cisco Stealthwatch)

Device visibility (Cisco ISE)

Remote access (Cisco AnyConnect )

Cloud security (Cisco Umbrella )

Malware protection (Cisco AMP)

Firewall (Cisco Firepower NGFW)

This architecture provides visibility and analysis of traffic to and from IoT devices, as well as traffic entering and exiting the enterprise to detect threats and compromised hosts. It can detect anomalies, block threats, identify compromised hosts, and help mitigate user error. Additionally, it can secure remote access between sites and between organizations.

Cisco Security Services adds deep expertise to enable organizations to have more effective security from medical facilities treating patients, to plant operations using assembly lines, to power companies connecting to the electrical grid. The team offers an array of services to meet a customer's needs, preferences and requirements of industrial networks, beginning with a risk assessment. Advisors will help design, deploy and operate a segmentation framework that considers identity and trust, visibility, policy enforcement, availability, and application interdependencies. Incident readiness and response services allow customers to respond to attacks and reduce damage, exposure, and network downtime.

For more information about Cisco IoT Threat Defense, click here.

Supporting Quotes

We are fully committed to the IoT, but we believe the IoT must be secured for its promise to be realized. For it to be successful for enterprises, industrial organizations and those in vital services, segmentation is at the root of ensuring protection across the network. We have built the networks for the world's businesses for nearly three decades. And, we created TrustSec, the technology behind securely segmenting those networks. IoT for Threat Defense extends that innovation and makes the IoT promise possible.

David Ulevitch, Vice President and General Manager, Security Business Group, Cisco

Many of our clients see IoT as the next generation of technology to drive cost savings, identify what their customers want, and improve efficiencies. We're seeing pent-up demand for IoT deployments, and they're looking to us to be their partner through this process. Dimension Data is pleased to see Cisco taking a leadership role in this space.

Matthew Gyde, Group Executive, Security Business Unit, Dimension Data

Supporting Resources

Blog: Cisco IoT Threat Defense: Securing the IoT at Scale

Follow Cisco on Twitter @CiscoSecurity

Like Cisco Security on Facebook

About Cisco

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide technology leader that has been making the Internet work since 1984. Our people, products, and partners help

LINK:	https://newsroom.cisco.com/press-release-content?type=webcontent&artic...
	See more stories from cisco

Most recent headlines

05/01/2027

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be demoed at CES 2026

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...

01/06/2026

Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026

January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026 Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...

02/05/2026

Dalet Flex LTS Delivers Smarter Search, Faster Editing, and an AI-Ready Foundation for Modern Media

Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...

01/05/2026

NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to Integrate Dolby's Full Suite of Premium Picture and Sound Innovations

January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...

01/04/2026

DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION

January 4 2026, 18:00 (PST) DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION Douyin Users Can Now Create And Share Videos With Stun...

18/03/2026

Net Insight Names Larissa GrnerMeeus CPO

Newly named chief product officer (CPO), Larissa G rner Meeus will return to Net Insight on May 4. Larissa G rner Meeus will become CPO of Net Insight on May 4...

18/03/2026

SVG Europe's The Football Summit 2026: Select Sessions Now Available to Watch on SVG PLAY

SVG Europe's The Football Summit 2026 explored how the sports broadcasting i...

18/03/2026

SVG's SportsTech@NABShow Blog Goes Live as Countdown to Vegas Heats Up

The 2026 NAB Show kicks off one month from today and SVG is once again set to cover the show from every angle. SVG's SportsTech@NAB Show Blog is now live - ...

18/03/2026

The Premiere of Dead Lover Showcases Grave Robbing and Sex With a Giant Finger

(L-R) The cast and crew of Dead Lover at The Ray Theater for its premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. (Photo by Robin Marshall/Shutterstock for Sundan...

18/03/2026

Music Row Piano from Wiltone Productions

Yamaha C7 captured in Nashville Wiltone Productions have announced the release of Music Row Piano, a deeply sampled Yamaha C7 piano library that's been ...

18/03/2026

Techivation introduce T-Warmer Mk2

Bass-enhancement plug-in upgraded Along with a steady stream of new releases, Techivation have recently been revisiting some of the older plug-ins in their ...

18/03/2026

Tonal Balance Control 3 from iZotope

Mix-reference plug-in overhauled iZotope's powerful mix-referencing plug-in has just reached its third major version, and now boasts a new capture proce...

18/03/2026

Toontrack Transistor Organ EKX

Latest EZKeys 2 expansion arrives Toontrack's staggering collection of EZKeys 2 expansions has grown once again, and the latest instalment delivers a on...

18/03/2026

Jess Ho explores the politics of food in new SBS Audio podcast For The Culture

Jess Ho explores the politics of food in new SBS Audio podcast For The Culture 18 March, 2026 Media releases New SBS Audio podcast For The Culture, hosted ...

18/03/2026

Future-ready broadcasts with ATSC 3.0 and enhanced services from Rohde & Schwarz at NAB 2026

Future-ready broadcasts with ATSC 3.0 and enhanced services from Rohde & Schwarz...

18/03/2026

LCTWS 2026

London Calling - When The Industry Convened to Help Streaming Find its MoJo In this blog, Laura Rognoni reflects on key discussions from the Connected TV World...

18/03/2026

SMPTE Unveils 2026 NAB Show Educational Presentations

SMPTE Unveils 2026 NAB Show Educational Presentations Brie Clayton March 18, 2026 0 Comments SMPTE , the home of media professionals, technologists, a...

18/03/2026

Auditel Ad Campaign Shot on Blackmagic PYXIS 12K

Auditel Ad Campaign Shot on Blackmagic PYXIS 12K Brie Clayton March 18, 2026 0 Comments LED wall virtual production blends 12K open gate acquisition w...

18/03/2026