Big two are up for integration
IBM and Cisco join forces to address network security
IBM and Cisco have joined forces to address security issues, as they rise on corporate agendas.
The two vendors have claimed inefficient network security is the result of companies strapping different technologies together.
To address this, they have agreed to integrate products for enterprises, starting with Cisco's Secure Access Control Server and IBM Tivoli Identity Manager.
John Donovan, UK channel director at Cisco, claimed that although the initial products will be aimed at the high end, the move will raise the profile of Cisco security and have a positive knock-on effect for its channel.
IBM representative Peter Jopling said: "Cisco is number one in virtual private networks and firewalls and IBM is number one in identity management and security services."
Graham Titterington, senior analyst at Ovum Holway, said: "The trend is for big vendors to get involved in security at the expense of specialists."