Security for the New Messaging Architecture: Borderless Networks

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You have to give props to Cisco for their marketing. As one of many vendors that are working towards addressing the current challenge of messaging security, they have done a good job of boiling it down when it named the AnyConnect product, as part of the previously launched concept of Borderless Networks.

Some critics claim that the Borderless Networks name is too vague and is simply marketing speak, but I get where Cisco is going with it and the product lines that attempt to address the situation IT organizations find themselves. The lines continue to blur between consumer, workplace, employee and partners and with that blurring come all the technology that supports each. Look how the iPad and iPhone have impacted the business world. See how Facebook, Twitter have likewise impacted the business world. Smartphones are making it easier for employees to stay in touch with their families and personal connections, but they are also being used to send work related texts and emails.

In the press conference held just prior to this week’s barrage of Cisco announcements, Cisco Security and Technology General Manager and VP Tom Gillis commented: “It used to be that security was needed in two places, the endpoint and the DMZ (perimeter). Today, there is a potential of 1000 points, so where does security go? In the middle.” Indeed that seems to be the most logical place. As a result, the announcements were centered on the company’s switching, routing, security and wireless portfolios.

Less than ten years ago it was possible to have a border. Today that is simply not the case, not unless the IT department is able to squash employees from bringing in all manner of tools and apps. The old days of controlling an endpoint are simply not there anymore. Vendors like Cisco are wrestling with ways to address this new challenge, made all the more challenging in the midst of the ever-increasing brilliance shown by cyber criminals to circumvent security.

Being “in the middle”, the network plays a critical role in making it possible to span from one device to another, moving from laptop to mobile phone. Cisco Secure Borderless Network architecture, focuses on four anchors: enterprise endpoints (mobile or fixed), the Internet edge, the data center, and policy that is context- and location-aware.

Rather than re-list all the news coming from Cisco this week, I’ll point you to a good re-cap done by Cisco’s Dan Gill in his blog.

Not all the announcements were for new products, as Cisco also offered enhancements to products – like for its AnyConnect 3.0 which adds IPSec VPN, 802.1x and MACSec support, as well as ScanSafe for web security using the Anywhere+ client. And it also features new clients for Apple (iPad included), Nokia, Samsung, and Windows 7.

For a complete review, tune into the Cisco’s Power of Participation virtual event, which is available as a re-broadcast.

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Eye on Messaging is written by Stephanie Jordan, editor in chief of Messaging News. If you have story ideas or news to share, email her: sjordan [at] messagingnews [dot] com