Published on April 5th, 2022 📆 | 4115 Views ⚑
0Telenor turns to Cisco to expand customer cybersecurity services, Security
Cisco and Telenor Group have agreed to partner on a number of opportunities by developing solutions for increased cybersecurity and digital transformation of global businesses.
In a joint statement, the two companies unveiled a goal to âenhance Telenorâs services beyond connectivity for business customersâ by tailoring more âcybersecure, scalable and flexible âas-a-serviceâ solutionsâ to address customersâ needs. For the purpose, the pair is conducting an initial pilot in Telenorâs domestic market, Norway, where a new offering will be developed to support its âadvanced customer baseâ. The findings will then be applied to Telenorâs global operations in addition to new markets. Cisco and Telenor said that they seek to provide âa more cybersecure and cyber-aware global blueprint.â
As part of this partnership, Telenor will also join Ciscoâs accelerator programme so that its customer-facing security team adopts Ciscoâs products and there is closer collaboration between the two companies.
They will also work on projects such as creating collaboration and security solutions targeting users who work from anywhere in the world. Tests in this field will be conducted to find new ways for such offerings to âenable the future of seamless, remote work.â
The tie-up will also focus on automating Telenorâs internal security operations so that the operator can respond faster to threats.
In addition, Cisco will provide technology and tools to help Telenorâs âhybrid multicloud strategy across multiple vendors and environmentsâ, with main goals highlighted being enhancements in workload orchestration, automation and performance, in addition to âin-depth visibility, threat intelligence and protectionâ.
Furthermore, Cisco and Telenor will attempt to bridge the digital divide through pilot projects that will use Ciscoâs Networking Academy (NetAcad) and Telenorâs sustainability programmes and local presence. These plans will see the two companies collaborating on youth empowerment, digital skills and safe connectivity. Pilots are expected in Bangladesh and Thailand.
The partnership appears to be a natural move for the pair
âBoth Telenor and Ciscoâs core business is about connecting people,â commented Telenor Group CEO Sigve Brekke (second from left in the picture above). He further argued that the two companies have âa unique opportunityâ to join forces and âchampion cyber security, digital capabilities and advanced skills.â
Brekke also claimed the tie-up will help its efforts to bring more value to customers âthrough new services beyond connectivity, for example with new models that addresses business customerâs security needs.â
Cisco Chair and CEO, Chuck Robbins (pictured, third from left), said that the projectâs planned aim is to create âa more inclusive future that connects everyoneâ. He added that projects like this can âinspire people to make a positive impact in their communities and close the digital divide.â
Cisco and Telenorâs new partnership, which is the fourth iteration of a joint purpose agreement (JPA) between the two, will be overseen by a committee led by Ruza Sabanovic who is Telenorâs EVP and CTO (pictured, first from left), and Jonathan Davidson, Cisco EVP and General Manager of Mass-Scale Infrastructure (pictured, last from left).
The combined efforts between Telenor and Cisco, especially on cybersecurity services for enterprises, are far from surprising in times when an increasing number of telco players and digital service providers (DSPs) look to address business needs for digitisation and, therefore, secure their online operations. Research company Gartner estimated the cybersecurity market is growing by at least 10 per cent annually, with its value in 2021 estimated at whopping US$150 billion. (See Telcos and DSPs worldwide sharpen their focus on enterprise cybersecurity.)
There is, potentially, a lot to gain in this field but as lucrative as it seems, it also presents a big challenge to beat the competition â one that is filled with giant ITÂ companies and an increasing number of smaller but very specialised firms. Hopefully, enterprises donât take a rain check on telcosâ offerings.
- Yanitsa Boyadzhieva, Deputy Editor, TelecomTV
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