Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Cybersecurity
    • Cybersecurity
    • Mobile
    • Networking

    Cisco Takes Holistic Approach to BYOD

    By
    Jeff Burt
    -
    March 20, 2012
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      Cisco Systems is giving network administrators new tools to handle the flood of personal mobile devices that employees are using to access corporate networks and data.

      Cisco officials said that the new offerings, announced March 20, are designed to create a comprehensive approach to the growing trend of bring your own device (BYOD), which the rapid adoption of such mobile devices as smartphones and tablets€”and employees desire to use them at work€”is fueling.

      The BYOD trend puts greater management and security pressures on network administrators, and it€™s not going to slow. However, how much corporations are embracing the trend varies. In a recent survey, Cisco found that 75 percent of IT managers in the United States say there need to be new rules and policies around security and device use. However, many also seem to be ignoring the issue: 48 percent of respondents said their companies would never authorize employees to bring their own devices, while 57 percent admitted that some employees use personal devices without consent.

      That said, a survey by Avanade found that about 60 percent of companies are adopting their IT infrastructures to handle the BYOD trend.

      Most major networking vendors€”from Juniper Networks and Extreme Networks to Alcatel-Lucent and AirTight Networks€”are pushing features and technologies designed to address the trend.

      Cisco officials said their new tools offer a more wide-ranging approach to the problem.

      “The BYOD trend is here to stay, but companies must move beyond the basic act of connecting user-owned devices to a comprehensive BYOD strategy to meet employee demands,€ Sujai Hajela, vice president and general manager of Cisco€™s Wireless Networking Business Unit, said in a statement. €œUnlike competitors, Cisco is approaching BYOD holistically.€

      The networking vendor€™s new tools are based on its Borderless Network initiative, with Cisco€™s Identify Services Engine (ISE) offering some key enhancements. Among those is ISE 1.1MR, which makes it easier for employees to self-provision their own devices and lift some of that burden from the IT department. In addition, Cisco officials are looking to integrate mobile device management (MDM) solutions from the likes of AirWatch, Good, MobileIron and Zenprise into ISE, which would give IT administrators greater control over device access and policies, such as requiring the devices to have a pin lock, not allowing jailbroken devices onto the network, and being able to remotely wipe data on lost or stolen devices.

      The importance of such policies was highlighted in Cisco€™s “Connected World Technology Report,” which said that 70 percent of employees worldwide admit to breaking IT policies.

      In addition, Cisco is upgrading its wireless LAN offerings with its new United Wireless Network Software 7.2, which offers users a better video experience though its VideoStream technology, and with the ability to enable a single controller to support up to 3,000 access points and 30,000 clients. That addresses the growing trend of people having more than one or two mobile devices. The new software also offers optimized Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) support, a key feature, given that 71 percent of smartphones and tablets€”1.6 billion€”will be IPv6-capable by 2016, according to Cisco.

      Cisco also is rolling out enhancements to its Cisco Prime management portfolio, including Prime Assurance Manager 1.1, a new management platform designed to give IT administrators greater visibility into application performance on both wired and wireless networks, as well as end-user devices. In addition, Prime Infrastructure 1.1 offers more complete lifecycle management across wired and wireless networks, as well as specific offerings for branch environments.

      “BYOD is not just about connecting user-owned devices and allowing guest access,€ Cisco Senior Vice President and CIO Rebecca Jacoby said in a statement. €œ It’s about what you do after that€”that’s when things get interesting. Cisco goes beyond that first step to provide companies with a complete solution to tackle the BYOD phenomenon today and tomorrow.”

      Unified Network Software Release 7.2, Prime Assurance Manager 1.1 and Prime Infrastructure 1.1 are available now. ISE 1.1MR will be available this summer, while its integration with MDM features will come by the end of 2012, according to Cisco.

      Jeff Burt
      Jeffrey Burt has been with eWEEK since 2000, covering an array of areas that includes servers, networking, PCs, processors, converged infrastructure, unified communications and the Internet of things.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Cybersecurity

      Visa’s Michael Jabbara on Cybersecurity and Digital...

      James Maguire - May 17, 2022 0
      I spoke with Michael Jabbara, VP and Global Head of Fraud Services at Visa, about the cybersecurity technology used to ensure the safe transfer...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Yotascale CEO Asim Razzaq on Controlling Multicloud...

      James Maguire - May 5, 2022 0
      Asim Razzaq, CEO of Yotascale, provides guidance on understanding—and containing—the complex cost structure of multicloud computing. Among the topics we covered:  As you survey the...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      GoodData CEO Roman Stanek on Business Intelligence...

      James Maguire - May 4, 2022 0
      I spoke with Roman Stanek, CEO of GoodData, about business intelligence, data as a service, and the frustration that many executives have with data...
      Read more
      Android

      Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro: Durability for Tough...

      Chris Preimesberger - December 5, 2020 0
      Have you ever dropped your phone, winced and felt the pain as it hit the sidewalk? Either the screen splintered like a windshield being...
      Read more
      IT Management

      Intuit’s Nhung Ho on AI for the...

      James Maguire - May 13, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nhung Ho, Vice President of AI at Intuit, about adoption of AI in the small and medium-sized business market, and how...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2021 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×