Enhancing Cybersecurity: Kyndryl Teams Up with Cisco to Launch New Secure Access Services

Cybersecurity has become an increasingly vital concern for both individuals and businesses, leading to a heightened demand for top-tier cybersecurity services. In response to this demand, infrastructure services firm Kyndryl has partnered with Cisco to roll out two new services aimed at helping companies securely connect their cloud, private, and SaaS-based edge resources.

The first of these services, known as Kyndryl Consult Security Services Edge (SSE) with Cisco Secure Access, aims to assist customers in designing and implementing SSE environments, as well as setting up necessary security policies. The second service, Kyndryl Managed SSE with Cisco Secure Access, provides a fully managed, cloud-based SSE implementation using Cisco technology.

These new services incorporate Cisco’s Secure Access platform, which includes a range of advanced security capabilities such as zero-trust network access, secure web gateway, cloud access security broker, firewall as a service, DNS security, and remote browser isolation. The platform is designed to secure any application via any port or protocol and can optimize performance while continuously verifying and granting trust from a single, cloud-managed dashboard.

Furthermore, Gartner describes SSE services as encompassing access control, threat protection, data security, security monitoring, and acceptable-use control enforced by network-based and API-based integration. SSE is primarily delivered as a cloud-based service and may include on-premises or agent-based components.

Michelle Weston, vice president of global offerings for security and resiliency at Kyndryl, underscored the importance of the collaboration with Cisco, stating that it will enable Kyndryl to better anticipate security incidents using the right tools and capabilities aligned with Kyndryl’s cyber resilience framework.

This collaboration follows Kyndryl’s previous strengthening of its cyber resiliency offering with Cisco’s Security Cloud platform last August, incorporating security components such as Cisco’s Duo access control, extended detection and response features, and Multicloud Defense.

Additionally, Cisco and Kyndryl announced their alliance in 2022, focusing on assisting enterprise customers in implementing various connectivity technologies, including software-defined networking, WAN, and private 5G.

Kyndryl has also partnered with Palo Alto Networks, offering a range of managed security services integrating Palo Alto’s security technologies, including SD-WAN and SASE. These partnerships aim to provide businesses and organizations with comprehensive cybersecurity solutions to help navigate and mitigate the evolving landscape of cyber threats.

With the increasing need for reliable cybersecurity, Kyndryl’s collaborations with industry leaders like Cisco and Palo Alto Networks are essential steps towards addressing these critical security needs effectively and efficiently.