On Thursday, Cisco Systems unveiled HyperShield, a new security architecture product designed to safeguard data centers, clouds, and various IT environments utilizing AI technology.
According to a press release from the company, HyperShield employs AI to protect applications, devices, and data across both public and private data centers, clouds, and physical locations.
Following Cisco’s $28 billion acquisition of Splunk last year, a cybersecurity firm competing with DataDog, Elastic, SolarWinds, and Dynatrace, HyperShield’s launch further solidifies Cisco’s commitment to cybersecurity. Additionally, it leverages Cisco’s collaboration with Nvidia in managing and securing AI infrastructure.
Explaining its functionality, Jeetu Patel, Cisco’s executive vice president and general manager of security and collaboration, described HyperShield as a “shield for security.” He emphasized its proactive approach, directly addressing security needs without relying solely on traditional boundaries.
HyperShield operates as a dynamic “fabric,” offering enhanced visibility of software vulnerabilities across applications, rather than as a rigid “fence,” according to Patel. It features an autonomous segmentation capability aimed at assisting businesses in mitigating vulnerabilities and preventing breaches.
While Cisco has long been known for its networking equipment, including switches, modems, and routers, the company has been expanding its cybersecurity portfolio to meet evolving customer needs and drive growth. This expansion includes the strategic acquisition of Splunk, whose technology aids businesses in monitoring and analyzing data to bolster security and expedite issue resolution.
With the rise of the public cloud impacting Cisco’s traditional backend business, the company has pivoted towards cybersecurity as a significant revenue driver and growth opportunity.
