https://www.channelfutures.com/wp-content/themes/channelfutures_child/assets/images/logo/footer-new-logo.png
  • Home
  • Technologies
    • Back
    • Analytics
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Cloud
    • Data Centers
    • Desktop
    • IoT
    • Mobility
    • Networking
    • Open Source
    • RMM/PSA
    • Security
    • Virtualization
    • Voice/Connectivity
  • Strategy
    • Back
    • Best Practices
    • Business Models
    • Channel 101
    • Channel Programs
    • Channel Research
    • Digital Transformation
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Leadership
    • Mergers and Acquisitions
    • Sales & Marketing
    • Specialty Practices
  • MSSP Insider
    • Back
    • Business of Security
    • Cloud and Edge
    • Endpoint
    • Network
    • People and Careers
    • Training and Policies
  • MSP 501
    • Back
    • 2021 MSP 501 Application
    • 2020 MSP 501 Rankings
    • 2020 Hot 101 Rankings
    • 2020 MSP 501 Report
  • Intelligence
    • Back
    • Our Sponsors
    • From the Industry
    • Content Resources
    • COVID-19 Partner Help
    • Galleries
    • Podcasts
    • Reports
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • EMEA
  • Awards
    • Back
    • Excellence in Digital Services
    • 2021 MSP 501
    • Top Gun 51
  • Events
    • Back
    • CP Conference & Expo
    • Channel Partners Evolution
    • Channel Evolution Europe
    • Channel Partners Event Coverage
    • Webinars
  • Channel Mentor
    • Back
    • Channel Market Intelligence
    • Channel Educational Series
Channel Futures
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Technologies
    • Back
    • Analytics
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Cloud
    • Data Centers
    • Desktop
    • IoT
    • Mobility
    • Networking
    • Open Source
    • RMM/PSA
    • Security
    • Virtualization
    • Voice/Connectivity
  • Strategy
    • Back
    • Best Practices
    • Business Models
    • Channel 101
    • Channel Programs
    • Channel Research
    • Digital Transformation
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Leadership
    • Mergers and Acquisitions
    • Sales & Marketing
    • Specialty Practices
  • MSSP Insider
    • Back
    • Business of Security
    • Cloud and Edge
    • Endpoint
    • Network
    • People and Careers
    • Training and Policies
  • MSP 501
    • Back
    • 2021 MSP 501 Application
    • 2020 MSP 501 Rankings
    • 2020 Hot 101 Rankings
    • 2020 MSP 501 Report
  • Intelligence
    • Back
    • Our Sponsors
    • From the Industry
    • Content Resources
    • COVID-19 Partner Help
    • Galleries
    • Podcasts
    • Reports
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • EMEA
  • Awards
    • Back
    • Excellence in Digital Services
    • 2021 MSP 501
    • Top Gun 51
  • Events
    • Back
    • CP Conference & Expo
    • Channel Partners Evolution
    • Channel Evolution Europe
    • Channel Partners Event Coverage
    • Webinars
  • Channel Mentor
    • Back
    • Channel Market Intelligence
    • Channel Educational Series
    • Newsletter
  • REGISTER
  • MSPs
  • VARs / SIs
  • Digital Service Providers
  • Cloud Service Providers
  • CHANNEL PARTNERS ONLINE
 Channel Futures

Security


The Doyle Report: Cisco Reinvigorates Debate Over Best-of-Breed Security Approaches vs. Single-Vendor Strategies

  • Written by doylet
  • February 14, 2017
By almost any measure, security is in awful shape. From Yahoo hacks to Russian attacks to denial of service incidents using IoT devices such as video cameras, threats seem never ending. (And that’s before I mention ransomware.)

It’s RSA week and time again to take a closer look at the state of security.

By almost any measure, security is in awful shape. From Yahoo hacks to Russian attacks to denial of service incidents using IoT devices such as video cameras, threats seem never ending. (And that’s before I mention ransomware.)

The sorry state of affairs has once again raised the age-old question, “what is the best strategy for staying one-step ahead of the bad guys?” Cisco kicked this discussion into high gear recently when its services division sent out a Tweet that read, “Would you fly in a plane made out of 50 planes? So why are companies using up to 50 different security vendors?”

Cisco says that companies use as many as “50 different security vendors” to protect their data, applications, people and organizations. A better approach? “…An integrated architectural approach that gives digital menaces less time to make their mark,” Cisco says.

That made me smile. As a former Cisco employee, I know that very few Cisco platforms don’t include parts from other vendor’s products. Acquisitions, after all, have been an important part of the company’s strategy for years. Cisco buys companies to gain access to new technology, talent and territory.

If you look at the security buys that Cisco has made in recent years, you realize that its “integrated architectural approach” contains a lot of components from “other planes.” Last June, for example, Cisco bought CloudLock, which developed cloud access security broker (CASB) technology that “provides enterprises with visibility and analytics around user behavior and sensitive data in cloud services, including SaaS, IaaS and PaaS.” That followed the October 2015 acquisition of Lancope, Inc., which “provides network behavior analytics, threat visibility and security intelligence to help protect companies against top cyber security threats.”

These are but a few of the security companies that Cisco has bought. Others include Portcullis Computer Security, OpenDNS, Neohapsis, ThreatGRID, Cognitive Security and more.

To be fair, Cisco has a respectable record when it comes to integrating different technologies, but not always. (Remember Jabber and all its various forms? Oh boy.)

Which brings us back to the central question at hand: are your customers safer with a best-of-breed approach, or an integrated, single-vendor strategy?

The benefits of a single vendor approach are several. Think better integration, easier deployment, and a single pane of glass management. Alternatively, a multi-vendor approach avoids the single point of failure issue that some vendors face because they use shared code throughout their product lines. It also promises greater flexibility and broader protection, albeit at the cost of simplicity.

What do I mean by that? Well, it’s like the old line about a man with two watches. Because they are rarely in sync, he never really knows what time it is. Alternatively, a man with one watch thinks he does. Is he blissfully ignorant or foolishly close-minded?

Let me know your perspective.

p.s.: If you’re wondering how many different manufacturers contribute to the plane you last flew in, take a look at this graphic from Reuters showing where the 787 Dreamliner’s parts come from. It’s not a 1:1 rebuttal to what Cisco tweeted, but you get the idea.

Tags: Cloud Service Providers Digital Service Providers MSPs VARs/SIs Security

Related


  • Magnifying glass focused on the word exposed
    Over 6,000 VMware vCenter Devices Exposed by Critical Vulnerabilities
    VMware said updates are available to remediate these vulnerabilities in its affected products.
  • supply chain security
    Three Ways MSPs Can Improve Supply Chain Security
    Prioritizing supply chain security defenses can also be a significant competitive advantage for service providers.
  • Unveil
    Devo Technology Unveils First Partner Program for Resellers, MSSPs, SIs
    Devo says its platform is ideal for Fortune 1000 and Global 2000 enterprises across all industry verticals.
  • A digital cloud
    Infoblox Cloud Specialization to Help Partners with SaaS Sales
    The program marks a big step in the execution of Infoblox's SaaS go-to-market (GTM) strategy.

One comment

  1. Avatar surbrar February 15, 2017 @ 3:35 pm
    Reply

    TC – you are absolutely right
    TC – you are absolutely right that just having purchased several security products, until they are truly integrated, Cisco’s plane is also made up of multiple vendors that is no different than the other options in the market.

Leave a comment Cancel reply

-or-

Log in with your Channel Futures account

Alternatively, post a comment by completing the form below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • Microsoft Conclusion on SolarWinds Hack 'Conflicts' with Other Messages
  • IBM, Oracle, Dell, VMware Put Hybrid Cloud Center Stage
  • The Top IT Challenges Executives Will Face in 2021
  • The Smart Money’s on a Staged Approach to Security Services Provision

Galleries

View all

Channel Partners Virtual 2021 Is the Hottest Ticket in Town

February 26, 2021

Industry Perspectives

View all

Backup Vulnerability: 4 Targets Hackers Might Utilize to Infiltrate Your Backup Solution

March 2, 2021

The “Roaring 20s” Are Coming

February 25, 2021

Three Ways MSPs Can Improve Supply Chain Security

February 24, 2021

Webinars

View all

A Partner’s Perspective on Channel Success in 2021

March 23, 2021

XDR and Why it Matters to MSPs

March 24, 2021

Top Security Trends Impacting Technology Security Providers In 2021

March 25, 2021

White Papers

View all

Why Fortinet for my MSSP?

March 2, 2021

Small and Mid-Size Business Security: 4 Steps to Success

March 2, 2021

How SMBs Can Secure Endpoints and Remote Workers for the Long Haul

March 2, 2021

Upcoming Events

View all

Channel Partners Virtual

March 2, 2021 - March 4, 2021

Channel Partners Conference & Expo

November 1, 2021 - November 4, 2021

Videos and Fastchats

View all

FASTCHAT: How SOAR Eliminates Security Challenges and Elevates Service Provider Revenues

January 6, 2021

Happy Holidays from Channel Partners & Channel Futures!

December 21, 2020

FASTCHAT: How Old, Unpatched Technologies Are Creating New Security Threats for MSPs and Their Customers

December 3, 2020

Twitter

ChannelFutures

RT @Channel_Expo: Day 2 of #CPVirtual is live! 👏 In this preview, @Craig_Galbraith highlights some of the biggest sessions and activities y…

March 3, 2021
ChannelFutures

RT @ChannelEurope: Daniel Warelow of @GiacomCM & Kelvin Murray of @Webroot say companies must take comprehensive approach to address #malwa…

March 3, 2021
ChannelFutures

.@spectralogic updates #partnerprogram to reflect changes within the company. dlvr.it/Rtsmwl https://t.co/Gtt1mXLfve

March 3, 2021
ChannelFutures

.@Netrality launches expanded partner program. #datacenters dlvr.it/RtrKXt https://t.co/2qHhnqrF7g

March 3, 2021
ChannelFutures

With day one of #CPVirtual in the books, we offer a recap of highlights and look ahead to day two. @Channel_Expo… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

March 3, 2021
ChannelFutures

Why Fortinet for my MSSP? @EXN_Networks dlvr.it/Rtr1JS https://t.co/VV1dfuEK3r

March 2, 2021
ChannelFutures

Small and Mid-Size Business Security: 4 Steps to Success @EXN_Networks dlvr.it/Rtr1J9 https://t.co/ENfDHBfajN

March 2, 2021
ChannelFutures

How SMBs Can Secure Endpoints and Remote Workers for the Long Haul @EXN_Networks dlvr.it/Rtr1Hq https://t.co/3aAZL31Y2e

March 2, 2021

MSSP Insider

Newsletters and Updates

Sign up for The Channel Report, Channel Futures Update, MSP 501 Newsletter and more.

Live Channel Events

Get the latest information on the next industry-leading Channel Partners event.

Channel Partners Online

Want more? Find more channel news and analysis on our sister site, Channel Partners.

Media Kit And Advertising

Want to reach our audience? Access our media kit

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • Channel Partners Online
  • Channel Partners Events
  • MSP 501
  • MSSP Insider
  • IoT World Today
  • Webhostingtalk

WORKING WITH US

  • Contact
  • About us
  • Advertise
  • Newsletter

FOLLOW Channel Futures ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2021 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.
This website uses cookies, including third party ones, to allow for analysis of how people use our website in order to improve your experience and our services. By continuing to use our website, you agree to the use of such cookies. Click here for more information on our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.
X