Cisco has announced its intention to acquire Isovalent, an open-source cloud-native networking and security firm, as part of its strategy to bolster secure networking capabilities and services. The move is seen as an effort to enhance multi-cloud security and networking capabilities to support customers in their digital transformation endeavors. Jeetu Patel, Cisco’s Executive Vice President and General Manager of Security and Collaboration, highlighted the potential benefits of the acquisition, envisioning a scenario where security controls provide total visibility in today’s distributed environment without compromising networking and application performance.
The combination of Cisco and Isovalent is expected to make this vision a reality. Isovalent is recognized for its development of eBPF, a critical open-source technology offering comprehensive operating system insights. The company also oversees Cilium, an open-source initiative aimed at providing developers with enhanced visibility into cloud-native applications. Cisco plans to leverage the open-source power of Cilium to create new multi-cloud security capabilities. While the financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed, this move underscores Cisco’s commitment to strengthening its security offerings through strategic acquisitions.
Cisco’s recent acquisition activities reflect its dedication to expanding its security portfolio. In September, the company announced a $28 billion agreement to acquire the security platform Splunk, aiming to combine Cisco’s extended detection and response (XDR) platform with Splunk’s security information and event management (SIEM) platform. This integration is intended to enhance the ability to predict and prevent critical cyber threats. Other acquisitions include Lightspin in March to address cloud security risks, Valtix in February to streamline processes across public cloud environments, and Armorblox in May to incorporate generative artificial intelligence into its portfolio.
Overall, Cisco’s acquisition of Isovalent aligns with its broader strategy to stay at the forefront of cybersecurity by integrating cutting-edge technologies and strengthening its position in the evolving landscape of secure networking and cloud-native security solutions.
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