Cisco Systems recently won “The Best Network Vendor” and “Outstanding Innovation in Security” awards instituted by Network Middle East Magazine an ITP publication, one of the leading technology magazines of the region. The citations, which are part of the Network Middle East Innovation awards, were presented to Cisco Systems at a gala ceremony, held recently in Dubai.
Commenting on the awards, Ghazi Atallah, General Manager, Cisco Systems Middle East, said: “Cisco Systems is transforming society by helping public and private sector organisations and enterprises realise the power of the network. These awards are a culmination of Cisco Systems’ efforts in the Middle East for promoting the vision for intelligent information networks that are scalable, adaptable and cost effective. Winning these awards is a testimony by the end users of Cisco Systems’ relentless work in continuously empowering them to better perform and a recognition of the company’s contribution at advancing networking and networked data security in the Middle East region.”
“The Network Middle East Innovation awards is an opportunity to reward the creative spirit that drives the networking industry, and will identify innovation in products and technology” said Walid Akawi, Managing Director, ITP Business.
“Cisco Systems won the award for Outstanding Innovation in Security for blazing a trail with its Network Admissions Control (NAC) initiative, which involves close collaboration with anti- virus software vendors such as Symantec, Trend Micro and McAfee,” said Simon Duddy, Editor Network Middle East.
“The vendor also came out tops in the Network Middle East reader poll, scooping a splendid 51 per cent of the vote in the Best Network Vendor in the Middle East category. This was well ahead of their competitors,” he added.
Cisco’s Intelligent Information Network (IIN) vision resides on enabling the intelligent movement of data, voice, and video over a converged network infrastructure. IIN vision helps its users to achieve strategic organizational objectives and at the same time improves efficiency and flexibility. Network Admission Control (NAC) is a Cisco Systems sponsored industry initiative that uses network infrastructure to enforce security policy compliance on all devices seeking to access network computing resources, thereby limiting damage from viruses and worms. NAC is part of the Cisco Self-Defending Network, an initiative to increase network intelligence in order to enable the network to automatically identify, prevent, and adapt to security threats.
Cisco Systems has on earlier occasions been the recipient of prestigious awards such as, “Best SMB (Small and Medium Business) Solution” award at GITEX Saudi 2005, the kingdom’s largest IT event, and “Best Networking and Network Management Award’ at COMEX 2005 (Oman’s IT and Telecom Expo), in recognition of Cisco Systems’ contributions at providing the Sultanate with end-to-end networking solutions for seamless and secure network connectivity in the private as well the public sector.
