Cisco Systems Inc. said Monday it’s finalizing the acquisition of an artificial intelligence-focused security startup called Robust Intelligence Inc. for an undisclosed price. Robust Intelligence has created a platform designed to protect AI models and the data they feed on throughout the entire development-to-production lifecycle. The company first got the attention of Cisco a couple of years ago when the networking giant invested in it through its Cisco Investments arm. 🚀 We’re thrilled to share that @Cisco has announced its intent to acquire Robust Intelligence! Today marks a significant milestone for us and the AI security industry overall. Learn more about the announcement in this blog from Cisco SVP @_TomGillis: https://t.co/QM2w1H2WP3 pic.twitter.com/lIKYKKxL8X — Robust Intelligence (@robusthq) August 26, 2024 In addition, Cisco believes Robust Intelligence’s tools can aid in threat protection for AI applications and models. The company said it will help mitigate risks such as prompt injection attacks, which refer to incidents when malicious users try to prompt AI models to behave badly. Gillis said it can also help safeguard against data poisoning, jailbreaking, and unintentional model outcomes. Other benefits for users include simplified configuration and user experiences, attack prediction, and adaptive policy enforcement. Cisco cannot keep buying their way into innovation with acquisitions. pic.twitter.com/v5zjbHVN8L — Mohit Agrawal (@mohitify) August 28, 2024 Gillis said customers increasingly prioritize information technology modernization and cybersecurity to safeguard their AI investments. He cites Cisco’s 2024 AI Readiness Index as proof of that claim. That study found that 95% of enterprises think AI will “significantly impact IT infrastructure and security.” The acquisition of Robust Intelligence accelerates Cisco’s pivot into the security business as part of an ongoing effort to diversify its revenue stream and bring in more recurring sales. The company, once the world’s most valuable, has struggled in recent years with declining revenue from its core networking hardware business, which is focused on selling things like Ethernet switches and routers for data centers. Its customers are steadily migrating workloads to the public cloud, so they’re investing less in their own hardware. I am so inspired by your journey, Kojin. Congratulations to you and the entire @robusthq team. — Kaz Tamai (@kazsatamai) August 26, 2024 Meanwhile, the AI boom has given it a greater urgency, as enterprises are still struggling to come to grips with protecting their AI investments. To capitalize on this opportunity, Cisco announced earlier this year a $1 billion fund to invest in AI startups and has already made significant bets on AI model makers such as Cohere Inc., Mistral, and Scale AI Inc. Nice fraud selling to Cisco. Dumb money rocks. Congrats on making a fool of Cisco — Dr. Sam Torrence (@mahderpoll) August 27, 2024 Moreover, Cisco aims to provide its clients with an end-to-end AI security solution, leveraging Robust Intelligence’s automated model assessment and proactive risk mitigation technologies. This unified approach is expected to simplify securing networks, AI applications, models, and users under one comprehensive framework. The folks at Robust Intelligence probably realize that they’re next on the chopping block. — William Bailey 🏳️🌈🇺🇦🌻 (@dalanshark) August 26, 2024 The broader context of Cisco’s strategic direction is evident as it focuses on innovations that enhance security in the AI space. Liquidity surely exists for those who are resourceful. — Rufus (@Rufus87078959) August 28, 2024 With Robust Intelligence’s tools, Cisco is set to provide enhanced visibility and security across all customer AI traffic, enabling enterprises to build, deploy, and operate AI models more securely. The company sees a future where AI for security and security for AI are seamlessly integrated, and this acquisition is a major step toward that vision.
The startup’s expertise in AI model security and governance is complementary to Cisco’s own security offerings, Tom Gillis, senior vice president and general manager of Cisco’s security business, wrote in a blog post.
The company said it plans to bring Robust Intelligence’s automated model assessment and risk mitigation capabilities within the umbrella of Cisco Security Cloud so customers will be able to secure their network, AI applications, models, and users in the same place.
Cisco has responded by focusing more on networking security, notably paying $28 billion to acquire the cybersecurity and observability firm Splunk Inc.
Robust Intelligence’s platform will be a critical addition to Cisco’s portfolio, enhancing AI model governance and ensuring secure AI deployment. This acquisition aligns with Cisco’s strategic goal of becoming a leader in AI security by integrating Robust Intelligence’s capabilities into its broader product suite.
In June of this year, Cisco announced its intention to invest $1 billion in AI companies through a dedicated fund it established. This acquisition resulted from the fund’s activities.
Cisco Expands AI Capabilities with Robust Intelligence Acquisition!
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Digital marketing enthusiast by day, nature wanderer by dusk. Dave Andre blends two decades of AI and SaaS expertise into impactful strategies for SMEs. His weekends? Lost in books on tech trends and rejuvenating on scenic trails.Dave Andre
Digital marketing enthusiast by day, nature wanderer by dusk. Dave Andre blends two decades of AI and SaaS expertise into impactful strategies for SMEs. His weekends? Lost in books on tech trends and rejuvenating on scenic trails.
Key Takeaways:
“The combination of Cisco and Robust Intelligence means that we can deliver advanced AI security processing seamlessly into the existing data flows, by inserting it into Cisco security and networking products,” he promised. Cisco believes that this integration will result in superior visibility in terms of AI traffic, so its customers will be able to build and deploy AI applications in a more secure way, Gillis added.
As a result, enterprises will require more robust security measures, Gillis said. “As organizations increasingly rely on AI applications for innovation and efficiency, safeguarding these applications and their underlying models becomes critical,” Gillis wrote. “Traditional security tools often fall short in addressing the unique challenges posed by AI, creating a pressing need for specialized solutions.”
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Digital marketing enthusiast by day, nature wanderer by dusk. Dave Andre blends two decades of AI and SaaS expertise into impactful strategies for SMEs. His weekends? Lost in books on tech trends and rejuvenating on scenic trails.
