Cisco to Open New Data Center in Saudi Arabia to Boost Digital Security
Cisco, a global technology firm, has announced plans to open a new data center in Saudi Arabia to enhance digital security in the Kingdom. The facility will support the company’s cloud security services in Saudi Arabia, including its new Secure Service Edge solution, Cisco Secure Access. The product automates decisions about how users connect to the internet, Software as a Service products, and private applications, which increases productivity. The data center will be carrier-neutral and available on any internet service provider in the Kingdom. Cisco intends for the data center to have service availability by mid-2024.
Saudi Arabia has taken the lead in boosting cybersecurity, and in November last year, a special forum was held in Riyadh dedicated to the issue. The country has been experiencing a rise in security events that impact businesses, with 54% of organizations surveyed experiencing a security event. The most common incidents were distributed denial of service attacks at 60%, network or system outages at 54%, and malicious insider abuse events at 40%.
The new data center is expected to strengthen digital security in Saudi Arabia and support the country’s digital transformation efforts. Salman Faqeeh, managing director of Cisco in Saudi Arabia, said that the announcement reconfirms Cisco’s alignment to provide advanced cloud security protection and services to the Saudi community. He added that it reflects the company’s continued support for digital transformation by using the power of technologies to create a secured thriving digital economy in Saudi Arabia.
Importance of Security Resilience
The findings of the latest Cisco Security Outcomes Report underscore the importance of security resilience. The report revealed that converging networking and security into a mature, cloud-delivered secure access services protocol boosted security resilience scores by 27%. The report also states that security resilience is critical for businesses to protect their users, infrastructure, and investments.
New Institute for Global Cybersecurity Forum
In January, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman issued a royal decree to establish a new institute for the Global Cybersecurity Forum in Riyadh. The institute aims to harness the potential of cyberspace and support efforts to boost cybersafety on a global scale. The move is part of the country’s efforts to enhance its digital security and protect businesses and individuals from cyber threats.
Conclusion
The new data center by Cisco in Saudi Arabia is expected to enhance digital security in the Kingdom and support the country’s digital transformation efforts. With the rise in security events that impact businesses, the data center is a welcome development that will help protect users, infrastructure, and investments. The convergence of networking and security into a mature, cloud-delivered secure access services protocol is critical for businesses to boost their security resilience. The establishment of a new institute for the Global Cybersecurity Forum in Riyadh is also a significant step towards enhancing cybersafety on a global scale.