Company: Cisco Systems, San Jose, CA
Company Description: Cisco is the worldwide leader in IT, helping companies seize the opportunities of tomorrow by proving that amazing things can happen when you connect the previously unconnected. At Cisco, an integral part of our DNA is creating long-lasting partnerships with customers, employees, investors and ecosystem partners, helping them succeed in transforming how people connect, communicate and collaborate.
Nomination Category: Product & Service Categories - Business Technology Solutions
Nomination Sub Category: Infrastructure as a Service
 Nomination Title: The Road to Passwordless VPN
- Which will you submit for your nomination in this category, a video of up to five (5) minutes in length about the the nominated new or new-version product or service, OR written answers to the questions for this category? (Choose one):
Written answers to the questions
- If you are submitting a video of up to five (5) minutes in length, provide the URL of the nominated video here, OR attach it to your entry via the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above, through which you may also upload a copy of your video.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this first question: If this is a brand-new product, state the date on which it was released. If this is a new version of an existing product, state the date on which the update was released:
Fall 2022
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this second question: Describe the features, functions, and benefits of the nominated product or service (up to 350 words):
Total 231 words used.
The events of recent years made most of the industry evolve their thinking in respect to remote-access capabilities for the enterprise network. First, it was not longer a nice-to-have option that just gives flexibility – working remote can and will be mandatory and required due to external forces. Second, while our existing mechanisms may all work – the user experience wasn’t always the best. Third, with more remote work, VPN services are going to be a larger attack vector for malware and cyber threats.
A combined effort spanning Cisco IT & operations formed to solve this problem. Drawing from our Device Experience, Network Services, Identity & Access and Security & Trust organizations, this team delivered on a more secure VPN solution with an improved, passwordless experience.
Cisco VPN access was GOOD, but we knew we could do BETTER:
- Our combined team set out to achieve a joint resolution that would
- Improve the VPN logon experience, simplifying the time and experience to connect
- Increase our security posture by differentiating the checks and validation used between network and application access
- Add additional hardware-based checks (that do not impede the first goal of experience and simplicity) to provide more defense characteristics
- Reduce employee churn over userid / password issues, especially at key times such as after the end of year holiday break
- And … we wanted to do it all in under 6 months
Done!
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this third question: Outline the market performance, critical reception, and customer satisfaction with the product or service to date. State monetary or unit sales figures to date, if possible, and how they compare to expectations or past performance. Provide links to laudatory product or service reviews. Include some customer testimonials, if applicable (up to 350 words):
Total 67 words used.
One of the most immediate results after deployment was an an 80% reduction in VPN & Password cases from the previous year in the weeks immediately following our holiday break due to forgotten passwords and other access issues. This not only reduced helpdesk volumes, it enhanced end-user experience, removing the frequent burden of reliance on user IDs and passwords that often creates a cyclical toil and churn.
- You have the option to answer this final question: Reference any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination (up to 250 words):
Total 29 words used.
Attached is a document featuring the path, process, and results of this project, including judging comments from the American Business Awards, the sibling of this International Business Awards cycle.
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