Cisco, in partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS), has launched a cybersecurity Point of Presence (PoP) in South Africa.
The initiative aims to provide sub-Saharan Africa with high-availability, low-latency access to Cisco’s cloud-delivered cybersecurity services.
The PoP features multiple redundant, carrier-neutral data centers to ensure reliability for businesses of all sizes.
Why it matters
The PoP is part of Cisco’s ongoing efforts to enhance security capabilities across South Africa and the sub-Saharan region.
According to Fady Younes, Cisco’s Middle East, Africa, Türkiye, Romania, and Commonwealth of Independent States cybersecurity Managing Director, “The new PoP for Cisco’s converged cloud security Secure Service Edge (SSE) solution is founded on zero-trust principles. This solution offers our customers seamless, transparent and secure access from any device to any location.”
Cisco aims to provide businesses with cutting-edge protection as cyber threats become more frequent and sophisticated.
Smangele Nkosi, Cisco South Africa’s General Manager, emphasized that cybersecurity is a top concern for private enterprises and the public sector. “At a time when cybersecurity is one of the top concerns of every business and public sector leader, our goal is to provide organizations with advanced protection and help them operate more securely in an increasingly digital landscape.”The PoP integrates Cisco Secure Access, which automates connectivity decisions for Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), private applications, and the Internet. This enhances security while reducing complexity for organizations.
AI used for security
Cisco AI Defense, also available through the PoP, helps enterprises develop, deploy, and secure AI applications.
According to Colin McMillan, Cisco’s Europe, Middle East, and Africa cybersecurity technical director, “The adoption of AI exposes companies to new risks that traditional cybersecurity solutions do not address. Cisco AI Defense provides full visibility of an enterprise’s AI assets and protection against evolving threats.”
The solution provides visibility into AI-enabled applications, safeguards against threats, and enforces security policies to prevent unauthorized access to AI-driven tools.
It also validates AI models, ensuring they do not produce toxic or unsafe outcomes. McMillan further explained, “AI Defense detects shadow and sanctioned AI applications across public and private clouds. The solution also performs automated testing of AI models for potential safety and security issues.”
By integrating AI-driven security measures and a robust cloud security infrastructure, Cisco’s investment in cybersecurity infrastructure will help organizations in sub-Saharan Africa navigate the digital business landscape securely.
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