Latest news with #Cisco
Tahawul Tech
2 hours ago
- Business
- Tahawul Tech
Aligned Edges Archives
Renton D'Souza from Comstor MEA and Bassel Zaraaneh from Aligned Edges explore how Cisco's unified security architecture is enabling enterprises to modernise and protect their digital infrastructure.
Tahawul Tech
6 hours ago
- Business
- Tahawul Tech
Cisco, Comstor and Teksalah drive future-ready cybersecurity
With AI-powered security and deep collaboration, the trio is helping enterprises build resilient digital defences. Amid a rapidly evolving threat landscape, organisations are under increasing pressure to secure their digital ecosystems with speed, intelligence, and agility. Cisco, in collaboration with strategic partners like Comstor and Teksalah, is helping enterprises navigate this complexity with AI-native solutions, zero trust frameworks, and proactive threat intelligence. Renton D'Souza, Vice President, Comstor MEA, and Binu T, Business Unit Head – Enterprise Infrastructure, Teksalah, shed light on how their long-standing partnership is delivering integrated, scalable cybersecurity outcomes that meet today's enterprise demands while preparing for tomorrow's risks. Interview Excerpts: How is Cisco ensuring that partners and customers stay ahead of the evolving IT landscape? Renton D'Souza: As the IT landscape rapidly evolves, Cisco is ensuring that partners and customers stay ahead by driving innovations within its Security Cloud. This includes leveraging AI and machine learning to enhance security capabilities across a unified, cross-domain platform. These advancements enable businesses to better protect applications, devices, users, and data while improving incident detection, response, and recovery. By integrating AI-native security solutions, such as those developed with Splunk, Cisco helps customers adapt to sophisticated threats in multi-cloud environments Cyberthreat is increasing at an unprecedented pace, with over 2200 cyberattacks taking place every day. How has your partnership with Cisco enhanced your ability to meet the cybersecurity needs of your customers? Binu T: Cyberthreats are evolving faster than ever. More so with the use of AI by threat actors and it really underscores the urgency for proactive, scalable defenses. Our long-standing partnership with Cisco has been instrumental in helping us stay ahead of this curve and deliver robust cybersecurity outcomes for our enterprise customers. With a partnership spanning over 18+ years, we have consistently delivered integrated security solutions by combining Cisco's industry-leading security architecture with our deep domain expertise across data center, cloud, and application security. Our collaboration with cisco has enables us to design and implement unified, policy-driven cybersecurity frameworks that scale seamlessly with our customers evolving business needs. Cisco is a global leader in enterprise cybersecurity, and its strengths lie in offering an integrated, end-to-end security architecture that covers the full breadth of an enterprise's digital footprint, from the network core to the cloud and the user edge. Ultimately, our partnership with Cisco empowers us to integrate controls, deliver measurable risk reduction, operational resilience, and business continuity. Outcomes that enterprise customers value in today's threat landscape. The past few years were marked by significant cybersecurity challenges, including major ransomware incidents and the growing availability of AI tools. As cyber threats are anticipated to become both more frequent and sophisticated, what are some of the key security trends and solutions likely to gain prominence? Binu T: Cybersecurity landscape is undergoing rapid transformation, driven by the rise in security incidents including ransomware, the weaponization of AI, and the expanding digital attack surface. In response, several key trends and solutions are emerging as critical priorities in our view: Zero Trust Becomes Foundational, Not Optional With perimeter-based security becoming obsolete, Zero Trust approach has become essential. It enforces strict identity verification for every user and device, regardless of location, minimizing lateral movement within networks. AI-Augmented Defense Deeply Integration and active use of AI and ML security platforms finding its way into security operations to handle alert fatigue, detect anomalies, and accelerate incident response. Solutions like Cisco XDR and SecureX are leverage AI for correlation, prioritisation, and automation across the security stack. Cloud & Cloud Native Application Security As enterprises grow into more cloud adoption, there is this sharper focus on securing cloud native workloads, containers, and APIs. Solutions like SASE, CNAPP, CSPM, and CASB are already gaining a lot of traction, alongside DevSecOps practices to embed security earlier in the application lifecycle. Threat Intelligence and Proactive Defense Real-time, actionable threat intelligence is also becoming essential to outpace emerging threats. Cisco Talos, one of the largest commercial threat intelligence teams globally, plays a key role here feeding insights into detection, blocking, and response. Managed Security Given the talent shortage and operational complexity, we see more organizations are leaning on managed and co-managed security services for 24/7 threat monitoring, compliance, and response particularly for mid-market and global enterprises. Continuous Compliance, governance With evolving complex regulations, industry-specific mandates, enterprises are shifting from one-time audits to continuous compliance monitoring. There is a growing need for Integrated audit trails and built-in policy enforcement solutions that embed security controls across cloud, network, endpoints and the enterprise data. Enterprises will need to adopt an integrated, intelligence-driven approach combining Zero Trust, AI, cloud security, and managed services to stay resilient in this threat environment that is always evolving. How has your strategic partnership with Comstor has helped you in taking the latest Cisco security solutions to the customers? Binu T: Our collaboration with Westcon-Comstor is built over a decade now. As our preferred distribution partner and value-add player they have helped us become fast to market, and in facilitating necessary enablement's and logistics. Through this partnership, we have benefited from their exceptional partner support provided by their expert team. Also, we have leveraged marketing growth funds to drive demand generation and end-customer enablement sessions time to time. Image Credit: Comstor & Teksalah
Tahawul Tech
6 hours ago
- Business
- Tahawul Tech
Cisco partners help strengthen cyber resilience across region
Comstor MEA and NXDT leaders share expert insights on cybersecurity trends, Cisco's powerful security tools, and the value of strong partnerships in safeguarding businesses. Cybersecurity threats continue to evolve at a rapid pace, demanding businesses to reassess their defences with smarter, scalable solutions. Cisco remains a trusted name in the security landscape, offering a suite of integrated technologies that address modern threats from multiple vectors. Renton D'Souza, Vice President at Comstor MEA, and Nishad Sukumaran, CEO of NXDT, discuss with how Cisco's security portfolio—backed by experienced distribution and reseller partners—is empowering organisations to build stronger, more adaptive security postures. What advice would you give to organizations looking to enhance their security posture with Cisco technologies? Renton D'Souza: Start with a clear understanding of your current security gaps and business requirements. Embrace a zero-trust architecture to ensure secure access from any device or location. Leverage Cisco's unified security platform to simplify management and gain better visibility across all vectors. Partner with a knowledgeable reseller who can provide tailored solutions, ongoing support, and training. Continuous monitoring and proactive threat intelligence are key to staying ahead of evolving threats What are best practices for distributors when supporting customers with Cisco security deployments? Renton D'Souza: Distributors should focus on thorough network assessments to identify vulnerabilities, recommend appropriate Cisco security products tailored to customer needs, and assist with configuration and integration. Providing ongoing training and updates on Cisco's evolving security portfolio is crucial. Additionally, distributors should emphasise monitoring and incident response services to help customers maintain a strong security posture over time What trends in cybersecurity should customers be aware of, and how is Cisco addressing them? Renton D'Souza: Emerging trends include ransomware-as-a-service, supply chain attacks, and vulnerabilities introduced by 5G and IoT devices. Cisco addresses these by enhancing endpoint security, expanding threat intelligence capabilities, and integrating security across cloud and network environments. Cisco's focus on automation, AI-driven detection, and zero-trust architectures helps customers stay ahead of evolving threats. Can you highlight key Cisco Security products and their core benefits? Nishad Sukumaran: Cisco security solutions are widely known for delivering smarter, stronger security and unlocking better user experiences while maintaining cost-effective defences and strengthening security resilience. Here are the key products under Cisco security offering: Next-Generation Firewalls: Provide advanced threat protection and application awareness. Cisco Advanced Malware Protection (AMP): Offers continuous monitoring and rapid threat detection. Cisco Umbrella: Delivers DNS-layer security and web filtering for users everywhere. Cisco Email Security: Protects against phishing and malware in email communications. Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE): Enables secure network access and segmentation. These products are integrated for automation and centralized management, maximizing ROI and reducing complexity As a Cisco reseller, what are the main benefits your customers gain by choosing Cisco Security products through your company? Nishad Sukumaran: Customers benefit from Cisco's industry-leading security portfolio combined with our expertise as a reseller. We provide tailored solutions that fit their unique environments, whether it's securing retail stores, corporate offices, or cloud workloads. Cisco's solutions are scalable, resilient, and easy to deploy, offering rapid threat detection and blocking capabilities. Additionally, as a Cisco partner, we offer competitive pricing, access to exclusive promotions, training, and dedicated technical support, which translates into cost savings and enhanced service quality for our customers. How does being a Cisco partner enhance your ability to support customers with security solutions? Nishad Sukumaran: Being a Cisco partner gives us access to Cisco's Not for Resale (NFR) program, allowing us to use Cisco products internally for training and demos, ensuring our team is highly skilled. We also benefit from exclusive discounts, promotional incentives, and fast quotes, which help us offer competitive pricing to customers. Cisco provides extensive technical and non-technical support, including 24/7 partner helplines and training resources, enabling us to deliver superior pre- and post-sales support. This partnership strengthens our reputation and helps us build long-term customer relationships. Image Credit: Comstor MEA & NXDT
Tahawul Tech
6 hours ago
- Business
- Tahawul Tech
Cisco and Aligned Edges deliver end-to-end security in the age of AI threats
Renton D'Souza from Comstor MEA and Bassel Zaraaneh from Aligned Edges explore how Cisco's unified security architecture is enabling enterprises to modernise and protect their digital infrastructure. Security leaders today are navigating an increasingly complex threat landscape shaped by multicloud adoption, hybrid workforces, and the growing impact of AI-driven attacks. Cisco has responded with an integrated security strategy that empowers partners and customers alike to move away from siloed tools and embrace a unified, AI-native platform. In this interview, Renton D'Souza, Vice President at Comstor MEA, and Bassel Zaraaneh, Founder and CEO of Aligned Edges, share insights into Cisco's competitive advantages and how their partnership delivers proactive, scalable cybersecurity outcomes for customers across critical sectors. Interview Excerpts: Q: Can you give us an overview of Cisco Security solutions and what makes them stand out in the market? Renton: Cisco Security solutions provide comprehensive protection across networks, cloud environments, endpoints, and email, enabling organizations to secure everything that matters from anywhere. What sets Cisco apart is its unified, end-to-end security architecture grounded in zero trust, powered by Cisco Talos threat intelligence and AI-native technologies. This approach simplifies security operations, improves scalability, and delivers faster detection and response to sophisticated threats, helping customers reduce risk and improve ROI by consolidating vendors and closing security gaps everywhere. Q: How does Cisco's integrated approach benefit organisations compared to deploying point solutions from different vendors? Renton: Cisco's integrated portfolio shares threat intelligence across all products, enabling faster detection and response. Automation helps reduce manual intervention, and unified management simplifies policy enforcement and reporting. This approach also improves ROI by consolidating vendors and minimizing security gaps. Q: Can you describe your company's relationship with Cisco and your experience as a reseller of Cisco Security solutions? Bassel Zaraaneh: As a long-standing certified Cisco partner, our organization has cultivated a deep and strategic relationship with Cisco, particularly in the cybersecurity domain. We have extensive experience delivering Cisco Security solutions across a wide spectrum of industries—including finance, healthcare, manufacturing, government, and notably, the data centre industry. In the data centre space, where uptime, scalability, and data integrity are paramount, Cisco's security architecture provides the robust, scalable protection needed to safeguard critical infrastructure. We've successfully implemented Cisco's advanced threat protection, segmentation, and zero trust frameworks in both enterprise and colocation data centres, ensuring compliance, operational continuity, and resilience against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. In today's age of AI-driven cyberattacks and digital transformation, our partnership with Cisco is more vital than ever. Cisco's unified security platform, powered by Cisco Talos threat intelligence and enhanced by AI and machine learning, enables us to deliver proactive, intelligent protection across the entire digital estate—from the core data centre to the cloud and edge. This partnership allows us to offer end-to-end security solutions that are not only comprehensive but also adaptive, helping our clients stay ahead of evolving threats while simplifying security operations and reducing risk. Q: What makes Cisco Security solutions stand out compared to other vendors you offer or have evaluated? Bassel Zaraaneh: Cisco distinguishes itself through its holistic and integrated approach to cybersecurity. Unlike many point-solution vendors, Cisco offers a unified security architecture that spans the entire digital footprint—network, cloud, endpoints, applications, and email. This integration is not only seamless but also intelligent, powered by Cisco Talos, one of the world's largest commercial threat intelligence teams. What truly sets Cisco apart in the AI era is its use of machine learning and behavioural analytics to detect anomalies and respond to threats in real time. Cisco's solutions are designed to reduce alert fatigue and manual intervention through automation and orchestration, which is a game-changer for IT and security teams facing resource constraints. Moreover, Cisco's commitment to open standards and third-party integrations ensures that organizations can protect their existing investments while building a future-ready security posture. This flexibility, combined with Cisco's global support and innovation roadmap, makes it a standout choice in a crowded market. Q: What are the most common security challenges your customers face today, and how do Cisco solutions address them? Bassel Zaraaneh: In today's digital-first world, our customers face a trifecta of challenges: Security complexity due to managing multiple, siloed tools from different vendors. Lack of visibility across hybrid and multicloud environments. The need for secure, seamless access for a distributed workforce. Cisco addresses these challenges head-on with its Cisco Security Cloud, a unified, AI-powered platform that simplifies operations and enhances visibility across all environments. By consolidating security functions—such as firewall, zero trust access, secure web gateway, and XDR—into a single pane of glass, Cisco helps organizations reduce complexity and improve response times. Advanced features like Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), AI-driven threat detection, and automated incident response ensure that users can securely access resources from any device, anywhere, without compromising performance or compliance. Cisco's solutions are built to adapt to the dynamic threat landscape, making them ideal for organizations navigating the intersection of cybersecurity, AI, and digital transformation. Image Credit: Westcon-Comstor & Aligned Edges
Tahawul Tech
6 hours ago
- Business
- Tahawul Tech
Keerti Gautam Archives
Keerti Gautam, Partner Account Executive, Cybersecurity, Cisco Middle East, North Africa & Levant, Sanjaya Satharasinghe, Senior Business Development Manager, Comstor Gulf and Ahmed Roshdy, Senior Business Development Manager, Comstor Gulf, highlight the real-world applications of Cisco security and the evolving cloud marketplace in this exclusive interview.
