TLDR: Cisco and NVIDIA are partnering to help SMBs securely adopt AI. They’re offering the “Cisco Secure AI Factory with NVIDIA” to build and secure data centers for AI workloads. This includes embedded security at every level, tools for threat defense, and flexible deployment options. The goal is to simplify AI security, enhance visibility, and accelerate secure AI adoption for SMBs. Solutions built on this architecture are expected by the end of 2025.
The emergence of AI brings forth a plethora of opportunities for SMBs, like enhanced productivity and groundbreaking innovations. However, this advancement also ushers in intricate security hurdles that SMBs security teams must proactively tackle. Cisco and NVIDIA have partnered to confront these challenges directly with the Cisco Secure AI Factory with NVIDIA, presenting a blueprint for secure AI infrastructure aimed at simplifying and accelerating enterprise AI adoption.
Understanding the Evolving AI Security Landscape
The Cisco State of AI Security report highlights the unique security threats that SMBs face as they adopt AI, including the rapidly evolving nature of AI security and numerous AI-specific threat vectors. This necessitates an architecture with embedded security at all layers of the AI stack, capable of automatic adaptation to infrastructure changes. Organizations that strategically consider both their AI infrastructure and security needs simultaneously will increase agility and realize business value more quickly.
Cisco and NVIDIA have partnered to create the Cisco Secure AI Factory with NVIDIA. This offering helps customers build and secure their data centers to develop and run AI workloads. By embedding security into every layer, it allows SMBs to confidently scale AI while safeguarding their most valuable assets.
Key Security Pillars of the AI Factory
- Cisco Hybrid Mesh Firewall offers unified security management across multiple enforcement points. Cisco Hypershield will extend zero-trust security to every AI node by integrating with NVIDIA BlueField-3 DPUs.
- Cisco Hypershield secures AI workloads by monitoring and controlling processes, files, and network activity. It prevents lateral movement and mitigates vulnerabilities without patching. Future integration with NVIDIA BlueField-3’s DOCA AppShield will enhance threat detection in AI virtual machines and containers.
- Cisco AI Defense provides security and AI teams with tools to protect AI applications from safety and security risks throughout the development lifecycle. It integrates into CI/CD workflows to provide automated vulnerability testing and runtime security. Additionally, it helps companies align to AI security standards and will integrate with NVIDIA AI Enterprise to streamline AI security workflows.
Benefits for SMB Security Teams
The Cisco Secure AI Factory with NVIDIA provides the following benefits for SMB security teams:
- Simplifies Security Integration: Embedding security at every layer reduces the complexity of securing AI environments.
- Proactive Threat Defense: Solutions like Cisco Hypershield and AI Defense proactively protect against evolving AI-specific threats.
- Enhanced Visibility and Control: The integrated security approach provides improved visibility into AI infrastructure, workloads, and applications, enabling better control and response.
- Faster and More Secure AI Adoption: Addressing security concerns early allows SMBs to confidently adopt and scale AI technologies.
- Alignment with Security Standards: Cisco AI Defense helps align with industry best practices and regulatory requirements.
Flexible Deployment Options
The Cisco Secure AI Factory with NVIDIA provides flexible deployment options to meet the specific requirements of SMBs:
- Ready-to-deploy: SMBs can deploy a vertically integrated AI solution that simplifies the entire lifecycle by utilizing Cisco Nexus Hyperfabric AI along with Cisco’s security portfolio and NVIDIA technology.
- Build-your-own: SMBs can integrate with their existing infrastructure to create customized solutions by featuring customizable components from Cisco, NVIDIA, and storage partners.
The release of solutions built on the Cisco Secure AI Factory with NVIDIA architecture is anticipated by the end of 2025. Many of the individual technology components that make up these solutions are already available.
