TTLDR: Cisco brings Secure Access technology to new Kyndryl services

Cisco and Kyndryl have expanded their partnership to offer new services that help enterprises securely connect cloud, private, and SaaS-based edge resources. The services, called Kyndryl Consult Security Services Edge (SSE) with Cisco Secure Access and Kyndryl Managed SSE with Cisco Secure Access, incorporate Cisco’s Secure Access platform. This platform includes zero-trust network access, secure web gateway, and firewall-as-a-service capabilities. The services aim to secure any application and optimize performance, all managed from a single, cloud-based dashboard. SSE services are primarily delivered as a cloud-based service and may also include on-premises or agent-based components.

Key points:

• Cisco and Kyndryl have extended their partnership to offer two new services that help enterprises securely connect cloud, private, and SaaS-based edge resources.
• The services incorporate Cisco’s Secure Access platform, which includes zero-trust network access, secure web gateway, and firewall-as-a-service capabilities.
• The services aim to secure any application via any port or protocol and can be managed from a single, cloud-based dashboard.
• SSE services are primarily cloud-based but may include on-premises or agent-based components.

These new services build upon the existing alliance between Cisco and Kyndryl. Last year, Kyndryl integrated Cisco’s Security Cloud platform into its cyber resiliency offering, which includes security components such as access control, detection and response features, and multicloud defense. The Security Cloud platform helps protect core applications across various cloud services. By correlating data and leveraging AI and machine learning, it can quickly detect and remediate threats.

The SSE services expand on the existing alliance between Cisco and Kyndryl. Last August, Kyndryl boosted its own cyber resiliency offering with Cisco’s Security Cloud platform, which includes security components such as Cisco’s Duo access control, extended detection and response features, and Multicloud Defense, which orchestrates security and policy across private and public clouds. Security Cloud operates as a layer on top of the infrastructure across a customer’s cloud services – including Azure, AWS, GCP and private data-center clouds – to protect core applications, Cisco said. It features a unified dashboard, support for flexible trust policies, and open APIs to encourage third-party integrators. By correlating data and employing artificial intelligence and machine learning, Cisco Security Cloud can detect and remediate threats quickly throughout an organization, Cisco says.

The new SSE services from Cisco and Kyndryl are aimed at helping enterprises securely connect cloud, private, and SaaS-based edge resources. The services make use of Cisco’s Secure Access platform, which includes features such as zero-trust network access and secure web gateway. The services can secure any application via any port or protocol and can optimize performance from a single, cloud-managed dashboard. SSE services are primarily delivered as a cloud-based service, but may also include on-premises or agent-based components.

Cisco and Kyndryl have been strengthening their partnership in recent years, with Kyndryl integrating Cisco’s Security Cloud platform into its cyber resiliency offering. The Security Cloud platform provides additional security features such as access control and detection/response capabilities. By leveraging AI and machine learning, the platform can quickly detect and remediate threats. Cisco and Kyndryl’s SSE services expand upon this existing alliance and provide enterprises with enhanced security and connectivity options.