
IT and networking company Cisco has introduced a pioneering solution designed to safeguard AI transformation within enterprises: Cisco AI Defense.
With AI technology advancing at an exponential pace, the security risks associated with its deployment are evolving just as fast. Existing cybersecurity measures, while effective for traditional threats, are unprepared for the complexities of AI, leaving companies vulnerable to potential attacks. Cisco AI Defense aims to address this gap, offering organizations a secure way to embrace AI while mitigating emerging risks.
According to Cisco’s 2024 AI Readiness Index, only 35% of respondents in the Philippines feel fully equipped to detect and prevent unauthorized tampering with AI. AI applications are often multi-cloud and multi-model, making them vulnerable to various risks—from data leaks to malicious attacks. These challenges grow as businesses train AI systems using their own sensitive data

To unlock AI innovation and adoption, enterprises need a common layer of safety and security that protects every user and every application. AI Defense enables enterprises’ AI transformations by addressing two urgent risks.
Firstly, it enhances the development and deployment of secure AI applications. As AI becomes widespread, organizations will rely on numerous AI applications. AI Defense provides a consistent set of security measures for all applications, allowing developers to innovate quickly while ensuring the safety and reliability of their AI systems. This includes features like identifying unauthorized AI development, validating models for potential risks, and continuously monitoring for threats during runtime.

Secondly, AI Defense secures access to AI applications for end-users. As employees increasingly utilize AI tools like summarization tools, the risk of data breaches and security vulnerabilities rises. AI Defense addresses this by providing visibility into all AI applications used within the organization, enabling controlled access to approved tools, and continuously safeguarding against data loss and other threats.
Cisco AI Defense integrates seamlessly into Cisco Security Cloud, Cisco’s unified, AI-driven, cross-domain security platform. This provides consistent protection across multiple AI platforms. It adapts to new threats using Cisco’s machine learning models and threat intelligence from Cisco Talos.
AI Defense is the latest in a series of AI-driven security innovations from Cisco, including Cisco Hypershield. Cisco AI Defense will be available in March for enterprises to safeguard their AI transformations.