I am Mr. Secure and run a business company. I used to feel secure due to having the basic security for data, network, and devices of my infrastructure. I believed that --

"No one will be interested in attacking on our data, network, and devices. So I need not to not worry about the security much and -- Why to waste a lot of money on securing all these? I am making money. My team is performing fantastically. My business growing."

"…. Why to make fuss about security? After all I have so many other more important things to do."

One fine day recently…. I, my team, and all the clients were not able to access our company website. We soon found that our network was breached, and our website had been hacked. All the important & confidential data of the company, website, and its users was in the hands of attackers (read, Hackers). This turned out to be a classic case of ransom, as they now wanted me to pay them _____ a certain amount of money, I was communicated that they, otherwise, would reveal or sell the data to my competitors. This left me with no choice, but to pay the money to attackers. So I had to pay the money to them and then I was granted back access to my own website & data.



But I was left wandering and worried about my business, users, information and other IT assets. I could no longer feel secure, in fact, I was apprehensive to realize that--

Yes, this can happen again! ... Any time!!

That night when I was sleeping, the Hacker GOD, appears in my dream. He started laughing loudly at me.

"Do you still think -- your business is really safe?," and he said, "Thank you, for paying the money. I now will be able to recruit more hackers in my team".

"The HACKING industry is growing very very rapidly. We now have highly professional attackers, and with the generous contributions of people like you…", he tells me, "We are hiring more hackers for The Attackers Army."

Hacking become an industry

"No business is really safe," he said, "See! Here is success of one attack, named Angler. How much did money it generated for us, of course from ransom? Angler is still earning money for us."

Angler attack

"We use highly advanced technologies, malware, professional attackers and other resources for attacking at our targets and we, indeed, can damage them severely."

Types of Maleware and Attack Techniques

"It is just like a trailer of the complete film," Hacker GOD says, "We will meet you again soon. Good Luck till then!"

I was gasping for my breath and it was the sound of alarm which came to rescue me. Thank God! It was a dream only. But I knew for sure that I need to do something, before this dream turns out to be a real-life business-nightmare again.

I knew any day, anytime this can happen again. I was terrified by the dream. Then I decided to build a proper security for my business and made it my first priority. Immediately, I started out searching for IT Security experts, and one of my friend recommended me about Cisco.

It prompted me to research about Cisco and its IT security offerings. Soon, I could gather the following data or facts about Cisco security.

Cisco Leader in Breach Detection

Cisco Market Recognition

My research made me progressively convinced of Cisco, as the leader among integrated IT Security systems.

I was compelled enough to contact and invite the Cisco Security Team to discuss about our security requirements.

Soon, one Mr. John, a Cisco Security Expert visited my office with his team.

"Hello, Mr. John! I need your help to secure our company data, network, and devices," I told them.

I also explained them about what had actually transpired with us lately.

Mr. John assured me that I need not worry much any longer. He also reinforced a point that hackers and cyber criminals, etc. have become much more organized than ever and are generating more sophisticated attacks. Our legacy technologies, devices and methods are not sufficient for defending against these attacks.

[center]Security is not optional, it's a requirement.[/center]

He enlightened me about why Cisco's integrated security solutions and services are so robust.

The following key market trends are heavily contributing to the IT security paradigm of today:

The whole world has gone mobile. It is expected that during 2013-2019, there will be 10x growth in mobile traffic.
There is ubiquitous access to Apps for mobile devices -- be it smartphones, tabs, laptops, etc. It is predicted that we will see 200 billion downloads of these apps in 2016.
There is huge rise of cloud computing and that is forcing companies to change their business models, architectures and service delivery.
Because of major developments in the field of IoT, there is massive increase in number of connected devices. It effectively means that a huge number of people are connected together, huge number of processes are connected together, unbelievably large quantum of data is being generated and shared, and of course, things (e.g. car, TV, watch, camera, and all short of devices).
All these market trends coupled with following dynamics of IT landscape are causing the actual security problems we are facing:

Changing Business Models
Dynamic Threat Landscape
Complexity and Fragmentation of IT solutions
Security challenges

All these factors are strong indicators of unprecedented growth in IT Security market:

Total Security market is projected to grow at the CAGR of 8.4% during the period 2015-2018, making it reaching at $95 Billion.
Total Security Product market is projected to grow at the CAGR of 6.4% during the period 2015-2018, making it reaching at $32 Billion.
Total Security Service market is projected to grow at the CAGR of 9.6% during the period 2015-2018, making it reaching at $63 Billion.
Mr. John further explained me --

Cisco believes that all above mentioned security challenges coupled with the fact that companies essentially need to maintain their operational focus, while dealing with severe shortage of talent among their IT personnel, would require much improved outcomes from their IT security infrastructure. Cisco points out that the security solutions have to embed the following key features in their offerings:

It must be visibility-driven.
It must be threat-centric.
It must be platform-based.
It must provide advisory services, along with integration services.
It must also provide the option of managed IT Security services.

READ MORE:
http://luminisindia.com/it-networking-blog/151-how-cisco-saved-me-from-security-nightmares