Cisco has announced its plan to launch a new local cloud data centre in the UAE for its Duo multifactor authentication (MFA) and secure access solution. The cloud data centre is set to launch in mid-2024, the new data centre will support businesses and help them strengthen their cybersecurity positioning and also improve connection performance.
This launch is part of Cisco and Duo’s strategy to build security infrastructure globally. The cloud data centre will support the full functionality of Duo’s robust zero-trust platform, MFA, Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), and single sign-on (SSO). This will help in secure remote access, device trust, adaptive risk-based policies, and automated malicious user behaviour detection using AI and ML. The centre will also enable businesses to enhance their performance and user experience.
Commenting on the announcement, H.E. Dr. Mohammed Hamad Al-Kuwaiti, Head of Cybersecurity of the UAE Government, said in a press note shared by the company, that the UAE is a leader in adopting new and exciting technologies that will be shaping the country’s future. Cybersecurity is a crucial component of a successful digital transformation journey.
The cloud data center in the UAE is part of Cisco Duo’s global network of cloud data centers across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and the Americas. These provide local customers, particularly those in highly regulated industries, such as public sector and financial services, with more choice over service delivery locations.
“Our goal is to build a safe and resilient cyber infrastructure in the UAE that enables citizens to fulfill their aspirations and empower businesses to thrive. Today’s announcement of the Cisco Duo cloud data center in the UAE is important for supporting organizations in responding to the ever-changing cyber risks of the digital age and will contribute to a strong cyber defense ecosystem that protects critical infrastructure and prevents cyberthreats.”
“As companies across the globe continue to strengthen their security efforts, it is more crucial than ever to establish a secure infrastructure that safeguards organizations from the growing threat landscape,” said Raj Chopra, Senior Vice President and Chief Product Officer for Cisco Security. “Cisco puts identity at the center of our security strategy, leveraging Duo’s capabilities to keep customer data highly secure, and enabling them to focus on providing the best user experience for their customers.”
Identity has emerged as the new perimeter of cybersecurity, it has been in fact identified as the number one cybersecurity risk as per Cisco’s Cybersecurity Readiness Index. The Cisco 2024 Duo Trusted Access Report that is based on over 16 billion authentications on over 58 million different devices wordwide show that companies use and recognise MFA and password-less technologies as key elements for IT security and risk reduction.
Reem Asaad, Vice President, Cisco Middle East and Africa said in the note, “We understand the complexity of today’s threat landscape and we are proud to offer solutions that help our customers address these challenges. The Cisco Duo cloud data center is a critical investment to support our customers in building a cloud-based, secure and agile IT infrastructure that can adapt and respond to the ever-changing cyber risks of the digital age.”
