Cisco to Integrate Security Tools

Cisco tomorrow will tie together several of its data security products in an effort to improve security management and administration in enterprises. The networking giant says it has improved collaboration among its security applications, including the Cisco IPS, Cisco Security Agent, Cisco Security Mitigation Analysis and Response System (CS-MARS), Cisco Security Manager (CSM), and the Cisco SSL VPN product.

The idea is to pull together individual point products -- many of which were acquired from other companies -- and enhance Cisco’s Self-Defending Network concept, executives said at a briefing here this morning.

“There’s going to be tremendous consolidation in the industry, moving from point products to a systems approach,” said Jeff Platon, vice president of marketing at Cisco. “Manageability of the technology is going to be key.”

Cisco is improving collaboration among its applications to help enterprises take better advantage of its products. For example, improved information between IPS 6.0 and CSA 5.2 will help minimize false positives and enable IPS appliances to block threats before they proliferate, the company said.