The News: Cisco Live EMEA underscored Cisco’s strategic commitment to cloud integration and AI convergence, highlighting efforts to streamline networking operations and strengthen security measures. With innovations such as Cisco Identity Intelligence and comprehensive observability solutions, Cisco aims to pioneer efficient and secure digital experiences for its users. Read more about Cisco Live EMEA on the Cisco website.
Comprehensive Analyst Coverage of Cisco Live EMEA
Analyst Take: The presentations at Cisco Live EMEA showcased a strategic roadmap for navigating the complexities of cloud integration and advancing AI convergence. Rebecca Stone highlighted Cisco’s commitment to simplifying networking operations and enhancing security through cloud-centric strategies and advanced AI integration. Ambika Kapur and Matt Caulfield emphasized a paradigm shift in security cloud management, introducing Cisco Identity Intelligence and zero-trust network access frameworks to bolster authentication and threat detection. Gene Hall underscored Cisco’s focus on full-stack observability and AIOps innovations, promising enhanced insights and responsiveness in digital experiences. Additionally, Outshift by Cisco unveiled Motific and Cloud App Security, signaling significant progress in generative AI deployment and cloud-native application security. Together, these presentations outlined Cisco’s vision for a transformative future, characterized by converged cloud solutions, AI-driven insights, and robust security measures.
What Was Announced
Oliver Tuszik, President of Cisco EMEA, set the stage for presentations at Cisco Live EMEA, highlighting global opportunities focusing on EMEA and unveiling new partnerships and acquisitions. At Cisco Live EMEA, the announcements centered on strategic initiatives to simplify networking operations and enhance security through cloud integration and AI convergence. New solutions like Cisco Identity Intelligence and comprehensive observability tools were unveiled, promising to pioneer efficient and secure digital experiences for users.
Navigating Cloud Complexity and AI Integration Toward Future Convergence
Rebecca Stone discussed the current state of Cisco Networking based on announcements made in June 2023, emphasizing the cloud’s pivotal role in reducing complexity, extending connections to the security cloud, and ensuring predictability and quality, with plans to further this vision into February 2024 through ongoing simplification of operations and the convergence and integration of security and networking. She underscored the advanced AI embedded in the networking portfolio over the past decade, enabling partners and customers to incorporate AI into their products. In June 2024, Cisco aims to deepen its efforts by enhancing operations through app and cloud monitoring within the Catalyst portfolio 9300-M, expanding integrations for improved platform navigation, and completing management and monitoring capabilities. Stone highlighted SSE’s full integration with SD-WAN, leveraging insights from ThousandEyes to empower customers in managing convergence points effectively. Moreover, she announced a strengthened partnership with NVIDIA, promising tighter integrations and a forthcoming announcement regarding AI advancements, including a new dashboard with Intersight.
Transforming Security Cloud Management with Cisco’s Innovations and Strategies Unveiled
During their presentation, Ambika Kapur and Matt Caulfield emphasized a paradigm shift in security cloud management, moving from “can they have access” to the more critical inquiry of “should they have access.” They unveiled the introduction of Cisco Identity Intelligence, which offers a broader ecosystem connecting existing tools such as Cisco ISE. This innovative solution enables precise identification of users and their interactions with programs, leading to enhanced authentication, access, and threat detection capabilities. By implementing a zero-trust network access framework, the system proactively checks for anomalies in user behaviors and promptly quarantines suspicious actors. A lightweight, thin layer ensures visibility and facilitates rapid response. The Identity Security Assessment serves as a starting point to assess vulnerabilities and potential areas of compromise.
Notably, according to Cisco, 50-75% of cyberattacks stem from stolen credentials or user compromises, highlighting the urgency of these measures. The AI Assistant for Secure Access introduces natural language processing to streamline policy creation, fostering consistency across organizations. Furthermore, it safeguards the use of AI itself, discerning permissible generative AI applications and preventing unauthorized access to intellectual property. Email Threat Defense integrates tagging and training functionalities, bolstering existing security measures. The Cisco Security Cloud, now integrated with ThousandEyes, enables proactive issue resolution, while Multicloud Defense enhances asset discovery and controls for ingress and egress across hybrid cloud environments. With MITRE ATT&CK mapping integrated into XDR, tactics, techniques, and procedures are systematically mapped to identify and thwart potential attacks, underscoring Cisco’s commitment to proactive and comprehensive security solutions.
Empowering Digital Experiences with Cisco’s Vision for Full-Stack Observability and AIOps Innovations
Gene Hall highlighted at Cisco LIVE EMEA to underscore the company’s commitment to advancing innovation in full-stack observability, AppDynamics, and Outshift announcements. With a focus on enhancing full-stack observability, Hall emphasized the critical role of applications and digital experiences amidst challenges such as silos and tool sprawl. The imperative to reduce time to detection and response, mitigate risks, and minimize costs and revenue impacts was paramount in their approach, which integrated research-based methodologies and platform-based solutions.
Among the significant announcements were the introduction of the Cisco Digital Experience Monitoring Application, featuring accurate user monitoring for browsers and mobile devices, alongside the Session Replay module to expedite threat detection and resolution at the user level. Integrations with ThousandEyes and Accedian expanded observability capabilities while leveraging generative AI for deeper insights into data. The Cisco Observability Platform, launched in June 2023, promises continued expansion to deliver business insights, networking capabilities, and AI-driven insights in a SaaS-based model, with plans to onboard additional partners.
The introduction of Cisco AIOps, accompanied by a Natural Language Interface, aims to streamline operations, reduce noise, and enhance responsiveness across infrastructure monitoring. With features like Observability for Kubernetes Workloads and Unified Observability Experience, Cisco is poised to deliver a unified, user-centric approach to troubleshooting and management, simplifying complexities and driving efficiency in the digital landscape.
Outshift by Cisco Unveils Motific and Cloud App Security: Advancing Generative AI Deployment and Cloud-Native Application Security
During the Outshift announcements, two key products were highlighted: Motific and Cloud App Security. Motific stands out as a bespoke SaaS solution tailored for the rapid and secure deployment of generative AI applications within enterprise environments, with a release date in June 2024. Motific offers quick provisioning of generative AI assistants and abstracted APIs, promising safety, security, and compliance, drawing from reliable, high-quality data sources. Its flexibility allows for out-of-the-box and custom-built generative AI solutions, equipped with robust policy controls for sensitive data, intellectual property, and corporate secrets, complete with audit trails and key metrics for comprehensive monitoring and compliance.
Meanwhile, Cloud App Security, initially launched in 2023 on Panoptica from Outshift, emerges as a true platform for securing cloud-native applications. Its extended capabilities encompass data objects like source code and build data. At the same time, introducing a lens-like AI assistant enhances contextual awareness to assist developers and security operations teams prioritize critical vulnerabilities without succumbing to notification overload. Furthermore, integrating AI protections enables the detection of malicious prompts, threat blocking, user tracking, and mitigation of critical risks, showcasing Outshift’s commitment to advancing security and efficiency in the digital landscape.
Looking Ahead
In navigating the intricate landscape of cloud complexity and the integration of AI toward future convergence, the presentations at Cisco Live EMEA unveiled a comprehensive roadmap for advancing networking, security, observability, and generative AI deployment. Rebecca Stone’s insights underscored Cisco’s commitment to reducing complexity and extending connections through cloud-centric strategies, emphasizing integrating security and networking to ensure predictability and quality. In a 2023 study run by The Futurum Group, more than 17% of respondents indicated they would be adding Cisco’s SaaS products to support their AI initiatives in late 2023 and into 2024. With the announcements made at Cisco Live EMEA focusing on integrating advanced AI into Cisco’s networking portfolio with promises of enhanced operational efficiency and customer empowerment, these numbers may climb even higher in the coming months. Moreover, partnerships with industry leaders like NVIDIA further amplify Cisco’s capabilities in AI advancements.
Ambika Kapur and Matt Caulfield’s presentation highlighted a paradigm shift in security cloud management, introducing Cisco Identity Intelligence and zero-trust network access frameworks to strengthen authentication, access control, and threat detection. The emphasis on AI-driven solutions and proactive threat mitigation reflects Cisco’s dedication to comprehensive security measures. Gene Hall’s vision for full-stack observability and AIOps innovations underscores Cisco’s commitment to simplifying complexities and driving efficiency in digital experiences. The forthcoming Cisco Observability Platform and AIOps solutions promise enhanced insights and responsiveness across infrastructure monitoring. Finally, Outshift’s unveiling of Motific and Cloud App Security signifies significant strides in advancing generative AI deployment and cloud-native application security, emphasizing safety, compliance, and contextual awareness in securing enterprise environments. Collectively, these presentations herald a transformative journey toward converged cloud solutions, fortified by AI-driven insights and robust security measures, poised to shape the future of digital experiences.
Disclosure: The Futurum Group is a research and advisory firm that engages or has engaged in research, analysis, and advisory services with many technology companies, including those mentioned in this article. The author does not hold any equity positions with any company mentioned in this article.
Analysis and opinions expressed herein are specific to the analyst individually and data and other information that might have been provided for validation, not those of The Futurum Group as a whole.
Other Insights from The Futurum Group:
Application Development and Modernization
The Evolving Role of Developers in the AI Revolution
Cisco Unveils Cutting-Edge Capabilities in AppDynamics
Author Information
At The Futurum Group, Paul Nashawaty, Practice Leader and Lead Principal Analyst, specializes in application modernization across build, release and operations. With a wealth of expertise in digital transformation initiatives spanning front-end and back-end systems, he also possesses comprehensive knowledge of the underlying infrastructure ecosystem crucial for supporting modernization endeavors. With over 25 years of experience, Paul has a proven track record in implementing effective go-to-market strategies, including the identification of new market channels, the growth and cultivation of partner ecosystems, and the successful execution of strategic plans resulting in positive business outcomes for his clients.
Bringing more than a decade of varying experience crossing multiple sectors such as legal, financial, and tech, Sam Holschuh is an accomplished professional that excels in ensuring success across various industries. Currently, Sam serves as an Industry Analyst at The Futurum Group, where collaborates closely with practice leads in the areas of application modernization, DevOps, storage, and infrastructure. With a keen eye for research, Sam produces valuable insights and custom content to support strategic initiatives and enhance market understanding.
Rooted in the fields of tech, law, finance operations and marketing, Sam provides a unique viewpoint to her position, fostering innovation and delivering impactful solutions within the industry.
Sam holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Management Information Systems and Business Analytics from Colorado State University and is passionate about leveraging her diverse skill set to drive growth and empower clients to succeed in today's rapidly evolving landscape.
