Cisco ASA 5585-X Adaptive Security Appliance and AnyConnect 3.0 Bring Enhanced Security and Performance Features to the Enterprise
Cisco announced new products and services this week across several elements of its “Borderless Network Architecture,” Cisco’s vision of connecting anyone, anywhere, on any device — securely, reliably, and seamlessly.
Claiming eight times the performance density of its competitors, the new Cisco ASA 5585-X Adaptive Security Appliance packs serious performance in a two-rack-unit form factor. The ASA 5585-X supports 20 Gbps of multiprotocol throughput and 35Gbps of large packet throughput of maximum firewall performance. The device supports 10,000 VPN connections, 350,000 connections per second and 8 million total connections, along with an Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) and always-on remote access using Cisco AnyConnect.
To enhance end-user security, the newly released Cisco AnyConnect 3.0 expands network endpoint capabilities with several new features. These features include added support for IPsec IKEv2 in addition to Secure Sockets Layer and Datagram Transport Layer Security, an integrated 802.1X supplicant, and 802.1AE MACSec support. The latest release of AnyConnect also helps mobile workers stay secure through ScanSafe cloud security services as well as on-premises Web security appliances. The software now has added support for Apple OSX, Apple iOS, Windows 7, and other mobile platforms.
In addition to product updates, Cisco announced new and enhanced smart services to help customers realize the full value of their network investments. Dubbed “Cisco Smart NetTotal Care Service,” the company will provide IT professionals with the ability to see exactly what is going on in their networks, allowing them to increase operational efficiency, reduce risk, and lower support costs on a proactive basis. Delivered through a Cisco Certified Partner, the company is expanding the scope its Smart Care program which proactively verifies that networks are secure, reliable, and functioning optimally.
