In the ever-changing technology world, Cisco Live continues to serve as a platform for knowledge, collaboration, and innovation. This year’s event, which was held June 3-8 in Las Vegas, was full of excitement for the past year and enthusiasm for what lies ahead. The Cisco Live 2023 opening keynote started the conference with the words of some of Cisco’s top leaders: Chuck Robbins, Cisco Chair and CEO; Jeff Sharritts, EVP & GM, Security & Collaboration; Liz Centoni, EVP, Chief Strategy Officer & GM, Applications; Jonathan Davidson, EVP & GM, Cisco Networking; and Jeetu Patel, EVP & GM, Security & Collaboration. In Part one of this series, EDGE360 took a look at some of the highlights from Robbins and Sharritts. As part two of this series, the remaining leaders discuss security, simplification, and future solutions.
Liz Centoni Looks to the Future
Centoni took the stage at Cisco Live! 2023, speaking passionately about the vital role Cisco and its partners play in the world. “We truly feel that our scale, reputation, and technology help us shape the future along with you,” she asserted. With that in mind, she focused on how Cisco is driving innovation for a future that is increasingly hyperconnected, secure, AI-driven, and quantum-powered. While it may seem far off, quantum computing is showing huge promise and has the potential to revolutionize encryption practices. Cisco envisions a future where quantum technology coexists with traditional computing, enabling a new level of connectivity and innovation.
The concept of hyperconnectivity resonated strongly as Centoni emphasized how we are constantly connected and online. Meraki connects a staggering 350 million end-user devices every day, enabling secure connections between people, things, and applications. Security, an essential consideration in this interconnected world, was addressed head-on. Cisco’s focus on integrated platforms that are API-driven, like Cisco’s full stack observability platform, and designed with security at their core ensures that innovation is not hindered by concerns about data protection.
Jonathan Davidson Talks Simplification
Davidson started his speech with a powerful message: “Almost everything we’re doing could be just a little bit better.” Recognizing the collective power to improve tools, capabilities, and processes, Davidson emphasized the opportunity to simplify IT and create unified experiences. The combination of computers, applications, cloud, and storage often results in complexity that can be challenging to manage. Simplifying IT alleviates this burden and empowers users to benefit from a unified experience. Cisco is leading a campaign against complexity through radical simplification. This simplification effort extends across all aspects of IT, at every scale. Platform consolidation is a key part of this journey, leading to more unified experiences for customers and users.
The Cisco networking cloud plays a pivotal role in this pursuit, catering to both on-premises and cloud-based operating models. Fragmented platforms are converging to provide accessible insights for all. With a focus on connectivity and protection, Cisco is simplifying how businesses operate. They aim to build the best on-premises solutions while also adopting a cloud-first automation strategy. The goal is to provide simple, predictable experiences, prioritize solutions over individual products, streamline user interfaces, and simplify licensing. With a resolute focus on simplification and unified experiences, Cisco is committed to helping partners empower businesses to overcome complexity and unlock their full potential.
Jeetu Patel Discusses Security Solutions
As a security expert, Patel concentrated most of his remarks on the pressing challenges of cybersecurity. While the security industry has been based on what he called patchwork of defenses with more than 35,000 vendors, this leaves organizations vulnerable to coordinated attacks. Patel stressed the need for synchronized security defenses that can handle cybersecurity problems at scale, which can only be achieved through the power of machines.
To address the complexities of public and private clouds, Patel unveiled Cisco multi-cloud defense. This solution provides a translation layer, enabling seamless communication between different cloud environments while ensuring granular access control and traffic inspection. Recognizing that breaches are inevitable, Patel emphasized the need for proactive solutions. Cisco XDR (Extended Detection and Response) was launched to tackle the majority of breaches that start from email attacks. With generative AI and an automated SOC assistant, Cisco XDR empowers SOC analysts to detect breaches, summarize incidents, and recommend automatic responses and remediation. This cutting-edge AI platform positions Cisco as a leader in end-to-end security.
To access Cisco Live! keynote on-demand videos, click here.
