John Chambers on Mobility, Collaboration and Security

I caught this article on ComputerWold this afternoon. Since my post Cisco Needs the Cool-factor to Thrive from yesterday has been read more times today than I can really count, this seems a good opportunity to talk about Cisco again.

Cisco CEO: Security risks tied to mobility
IP mobility and collaboration technologies are among largest IT security challenges facing enterprises

September 07, 2006 (Network World) -- Cisco CEO John Chambers described IP mobility and collaboration technologies as one of the largest IT security challenges facing enterprises, and possibly one of the greatest tools for converging physical and digital security.

Speaking at The Security Standard conference in Boston this week, Chambers outlined the benefits of "quad-play" -- or the combination of data, voice and video with mobility -- and the security challenges associated with having a mobile workforce that accesses, shares and spreads data and information via a growing number of IP-enabled devices, and across multiple networks.

"The opportunity for harm, either by deliberate action, or by neglect, becomes much higher," as an enterprise workforce has easier access to data, and the ability to easily share information via IP communications, Chambers said.

While Chambers warned of the security challenges surrounding quad-play and collaboration technologies, just the day before, he described how these technologies would be the premier growth drivers for Cisco over the next four years, with a 10% to 15% compound annual revenue growth rate over time. The reason Chambers is so bullish on collaboration and quad-play technologies is because of the benefits he's already seen inside his own company, he told the Security Standard audience, which consisted mostly of CSO and executive-level IT security professionals.

When Chamber's talks, people listen. They forget the role he played at Wang years ago and listen to the 800 pound gorilla that is Cisco. Yesterday, I said Cisco needed to find the cool-factor. In today's rapidly evolving unified communications environment, innovation is cool. Entrepreneurial spirit is cool. Partnering with developers is very cool. Doing new things is cool.

Acquisition hasn't been cool for quite a while really. Acquisition and sloppy integration has never been cool, even when you're the dominant gorilla in the jungle. Cisco occasionally talks about R&D, but everything new they've brought us in recent years has come through acquisition and integration into existing product lines (sometimes nicely integrated, and sometimes not).

Chambers cites quad-play integration (cool) and collaboration technologies (cool) as premier growth drivers for Cisco over the next four years, while warning about the security challenges they're wrapped in. Well, duh!?!?! If you've been following recent Gartner statements about the industry, you'd swear Chambers got the filler for his speach from Gartner. Amazing grasp of the obvious to people who work in the space.

What really made me pay attention what the 10-15% CAGR mentioned and the next four years. Because Chambers talk didn't center on mobility (an area where Cisco isn't really a player), but on collaboration (an area where Cisco isn't remotely a player). What he talked about was controlling information (need to know) and not collaboration (need to share). He hyped Cisco NAC and really hammered security and data theft.

Cisco hasn't been #1 in security. Not ever, except in niches they've defined and sponsored the report proclaiming them #1. Ask your network security team who the premier security companies are. Cisco's high, but never tops.

The way to 10-15% CAGR and a four yaer growth plan for Cisco is through acquisition. Like the Borg, they need to find innovators to assimilate, but they need to assimilate quickly and wisely.

For me, Chamber's signaled an acquisition spree ahead for Cisco.

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