Cisco Opens Up Borderless Security

The cornerstone of the architecture is a new Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility implementation of Cisco’s remote access software that is tightly integrated with the Cisco IronPort S-Series Web Security Appliance and the Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance firewall. All three platforms are then tied to Cisco TrustSec, which is a policy-based management platform that allows IT organizations to manage client access and identify potential sources of threats on the Web that should not be accessed. The TrustSec management software has been extended to integrate with Cisco Network Access Control (NAC) software and Cisco Identity-Based Network Services.

According to Kevin Kennedy, product marketing manager for Cisco Security, the Secure Borderless Network architecture brings existing Cisco network access and management software together with recent acquisitions of security technologies such as the IronPort platforms in one holistic architecture that serves to reduce the cost of managing mobile computing on an ongoing basis. Devices loaded with AnyConnect Secure Mobility software can transparently and securely access enterprise resources in the world without even having to launch the AnyConnect software because it automatically establishes connections with other devices and systems that are part of the Secure Borderless Network architecture. The software will also determine the best route to make those connections in order to ensure the highest levels of available bandwidth, said Kennedy.

Core technologies that are included under the Secure Borderless Network architecture include firewall and security management appliances that Cisco acquired when it bought IronPort in 2007 and policy management software that Cisco acquired when it bought Securent in 2007.

The Secure Borderless Network architecture can be managed on premise by internal IT organizations or set up as a software-as-a-service solution managed by the internal IT organization.