Cisco Unveils Guide for Business’ Digital Transformation Efforts

Cisco has published its New Trust Standard providing guidance for businesses’ digital transformation initiatives.

The new Cisco standard provides a benchmark for assessing an organization’s trustworthiness as they embrace digital transformation. It “raises the bar” for building trust with customers as work becomes hybrid, more data is collected online and cyber threats increase.

With supporting data insights from the Cisco 2021 Consumer Privacy Survey, the standard establishes the following elements needed for organizations to earn, maintain and grow customer confidence:

• Zero-trust architecture. Companies keeping out attackers by challenging assumptions and verifying every connection, from every device, every time.
• Trusted supply chain. Companies being aware of every component, how it is manufactured and where it has been, while working closely with suppliers to mitigate risk.
• Data rights. Companies staying ahead of evolving customer expectations and government regulations.
• Transparency. Companies disclosing what data they’re collecting and how they use it. In addition, being open about incidents and issues as they transpire, and publicizing what is being done to rectify.
• Certifications and regulatory compliance. Companies demonstrating commitment to customers by earning certifications from independent third-party auditors.

Trust Important Focus for Businesses

Anthony Grieco is Cisco‘s CISO.

Cisco’s Anthony Grieco

“Trust is more than a sentiment,” he said. “Digital businesses need the ability to verify the trust and resilience of its solutions, operations and actions. This framework helps us understand the core pillars in a process that makes trust quantifiable.”

The standard’s elements are critical to bolster consumer confidence, according to Cisco. According to its consumer privacy survey, consumers have a clear desire for transparency and control with respect to a business’ data practices.

Cisco polled 2,600 respondents across 12 countries. Other key survey highlights include:

• Nearly one-third of consumers have taken a more active role in protecting their privacy. That includes leaving organizations over their data practices or policies.
• Privacy laws are regarded very positively around the world. However, awareness remains relatively low in many countries.
• Most people want little or no reduction in privacy protections while supporting broad public health measures.
• Consumers are very concerned about the use of their personal data in artificial intelligence (AI) decision-making. Moreover, their trust is at stake.

Harvey Jang is Cisco‘s chief privacy officer.

“Privacy is a cornerstone of trust,” he said. “Transparency, clarity and control are integral to building and maintaining consumer confidence.”