As organisations modernise their networks, Cisco emphasises the importance of treating networking and security as an integrated system rather than separate functions.
Cisco IT’s recent Wi-Fi 7 deployment across its global environment demonstrated that network modernisation can deliver security benefits alongside faster connectivity and improved performance. This deployment contributed to as much as a 40% drop in reported security incidents across many sites.
Leading by example, Cisco IT’s Wi-Fi 7 deployment shows how enterprises can use Wi-Fi 7 alongside Cisco technologies to strengthen security while enhancing connectivity and performance. This practical example highlights how network modernisation supports a stronger enterprise security posture.
“Our Wi-Fi 7 deployment showed that network modernisation can deliver security benefits alongside better connectivity and performance”, said Mohannad Abuissa, CTO & Senior Director, Solutions Engineering, METAC. “Modernising the network is an opportunity to rethink how security is built into the enterprise. By bringing networking and security together, organisations can strengthen zero trust, improve segmentation, and build protection directly into the network. Combining Wi-Fi 7 with zero trust, segmentation, and integrated security controls enables organisations to strengthen protection while keeping the experience simple for users and IT teams”.
The deployment reinforced Cisco’s Secure Networking approach and highlighted three key areas that can help organisations strengthen protection as they modernise their networks:
- Reinforce zero trust from the network layer: Zero trust depends on verifying users and devices before granting access. Cisco IT uses Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) with Wi-Fi Protected Access 3 (WPA3) to strengthen authentication at the wireless layer. Once connected, ISE integrates with Duo multi-factor authentication and Cisco Secure Access to support passwordless authentication and risk-aware access policies. This extends zero trust beyond applications and into the network itself.
- Build security directly into network infrastructure: Cisco highlights the role network infrastructure can play as an active part of an organisation’s security posture. Security capabilities are embedded across routers, switches, and access points to help protect traffic, strengthen encryption, and address wireless attack vectors. This approach builds protection into the network rather than managing security as a separate layer.
- Use segmentation to limit lateral movement: Organisations must prepare for the possibility that a user or device could become compromised. Cisco IT uses ISE to isolate devices into specific network segments, helping prevent a compromised endpoint from moving laterally across the wider environment. Security policies are applied dynamically based on the device connecting to the network, limiting the potential impact of an incident.
Cisco IT also found that improving security did not require compromising user experience. Alongside the security benefits, employees experienced faster and more reliable connectivity, passwordless authentication, and seamless segmentation without additional friction.
This deployment demonstrates how integrating networking and security can help organisations reduce complexity, strengthen protection, and improve the experience for users and IT teams. As organisations continue to modernise their infrastructure, Cisco emphasises that security should be designed into the network from the outset.
Image Credit: Cisco
Source: Tahawul Tech