Cisco XDR prioritizes security incidents using evidence-backed automation

Cisco unveiled at the RSA Conference 2023 the latest progress towards its vision of the Cisco Security Cloud, a unified, AI-driven, cross-domain security platform.

Cisco’s new XDR solution and the release of advanced features for Duo MFA will help organizations better protect the integrity of their entire IT ecosystem.

Threat detection and response

Cisco’s XDR strategy converges its deep expertise and visibility across the network and endpoints into one ​turnkey, risk-based solution.

Now in Beta with General Availability coming in July 2023, Cisco XDR simplifies investigating incidents and enables security operations centers (SOCs) to immediately remediate threats. The cloud-first solution applies analytics to prioritize detections and moves the focus from endless investigations to remediating the highest priority incidents with evidence-backed automation.

“The threat landscape is complex and evolving. Detection without response is insufficient, while response without detection is impossible. With Cisco XDR, security operations teams can respond and remediate threats before they have a chance to cause significant damage,” said Jeetu Patel, EVP and GM of Security and Collaboration at Cisco. “Cisco continues to ensure that ‘if it’s connected, then rest assured you’re also protected.’ We are uniquely positioned to deliver integrated solutions that simplify securing today’s increasingly complex, hybrid multi-cloud environments without compromising user experience.”

While traditional Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) technology provides management for log-centric data and measures outcomes in days, Cisco XDR focuses on telemetry-centric data and delivers outcomes in minutes. It natively analyzes and correlates the six telemetry sources that SOC operators say are critical for an XDR solution: endpoint, network, firewall, email, identity, and DNS.

On the endpoint specifically, Cisco XDR leverages insight from 200 million endpoints with Cisco Secure Client, formerly AnyConnect, to provide process-level visibility of where the endpoint meets the network.

“The true measure of XDR is its ability to deliver actual security outcomes, real and measurable benefit to organizations — early detection, impact prioritization, and effective and efficient response,” said Frank Dickson, Group Vice President, Security & Trust, IDC. “True results need to be quantifiable numerically and not just qualitatively described with words. Cisco XDR delivers a clear framework for enabling organizations to achieve such tangible outcomes.”

In addition to Cisco’s native telemetry, Cisco XDR integrates with leading third-party vendors to share telemetry, increase interoperability, and deliver consistent outcomes regardless of vendor or technology. The initial set of out-of-the-box integrations at general availability include:

• Endpoint detection and response (EDR): CrowdStrike Falcon Insight XDR, Cybereason Endpoint Detection and Response, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR, SentinelOne Singularity, Trend Vision One
• Email threat defense: Microsoft Defender for Office, Proofpoint Email Protection
• Next-generation firewall (NGFW): Check Point Quantum, Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewall
• Network detection and response (NDR): Darktrace DETECTand Darktrace RESPOND, ExtraHop Reveal(x)
• Security information and event management (SIEM): Microsoft Sentinel

“Throughout Logicalis’ decades-long pursuit to becoming a world class integrator; we have recognized the impact extensibility can have on the viability and efficacy of any solution,” said Brad Davenport, VP of Technical Architecture, Logicalis. “With the launch of Cisco XDR, we can finally provide our customers with XDR outcomes as a solution or managed offering. We see this as a natural progression for us along the security maturity journey. Logicalis is very excited to put our combined expertise to work for our clients and offer Cisco XDR to help them achieve their business outcomes.”

Zero trust and access management

As attackers increasingly target gaps in weaker multi-factor authentication (MFA) implementations, Cisco is redefining what is essential for access management. Every business needs three key pillars for its access management strategy: enforcing strong authentication, verifying devices, and reducing the number of passwords in use. This is why, beginning on May 1st, Cisco is adding Trusted Endpoints to all its paid Duo Editions.

Previously just available in Duo’s highest tier, Trusted Endpoints allows only registered or managed devices to access resources. By delivering Trusted Endpoints alongside Single Sign On, MFA, Passwordless, and Verified Push within the entry-level Duo Essentials edition, Cisco is delivering secure, cost-effective, and user-friendly access management solution on the market.