Cisco provides email and web security, secure mobility, security management, secure access control, and network security to companies around the globe. In this entry, we look at Cisco’s ASA (Adaptive Security Appliances) 5500 Series and its usefulness to network security.

The importance of security and data protection

The most well known aspect of network security is protecting against outside attacks. But how do you protect against inside attacks? Ultimately the best protection lies in implementing security hardware and procedures before someone targets your data. Don’t believe your data could be compromised from the inside? Consider the following statistics:

• 66% percent of U.S. employees write down important passwords in unsafe places (IT Facts)
• 61% of data breaches originate from internal sources (Data Monitor)
• 75% of employees steal from their employer at least one time, and 37% of those employees steal from their employer multiple times (U.S. Chamber of Commerce)

Preventing data theft accomplishes more than keeping information in the right hands. It also protects your company’s finances. According to the Ponemon Institute, the average cost for a business to recover from a single data breach is $6.3 million, up 31% since 2006.

The benefits of the Cisco ASA5500 Series for security and data protection

Depending on the size of your company, the ASA5500 Series provides various different models to meet the individual needs of your business. Here is a basic breakdown of available models:

Small Business – Cisco ASA5505
Small Enterprise – Cisco ASA5510 or ASA5520
Medium Enterprise – Cisco ASA5540 or ASA5550
Large Enterprise – Cisco ASA5580 or ASA5585-X

Regardless of the model your business decides to employ, you can be sure to benefit from:
• Protection against worms, application-layer attacks, operating system level attacks, rootkits, spyware, peer-to-peer file sharing and instant messaging
• A comprehensive content threat protection package providing anti-virus, anti-spyware, file blocking, anti-spam, anti-phishing, URL blocking and filtering
• Enhanced mobility interfacing of off-site employees in support of today’s growing remote workforce
• Continued protection beyond data to include voice, video and multi-media traffic

Network security equipment and IT budgets

For many companies, the price of new network security equipment is too high, leading them to implement inadequate solutions that put their network at risk. Buying refurbished Cisco security equipment gives you the lower-priced hardware you need without sacrificing performance. When purchasing equipment from a company that specializes in refurbishing IT hardware, always make sure you obtain an extended warranty as well. All refurbished equipment is tested and certified back to OEM specifications to ensure proper reliability and functionality. It can also easily be configured to the specific design of your infrastructure, providing easier implementation.