Optiv And Cisco: Strengthening Partnerships To Tackle Cybersecurity Challenges

In a significant move to tackle today's toughest cybersecurity challenges, Optiv and Cisco have expanded their partnership. This collaboration will bring innovative solutions to the forefront. We sat down with Optiv CEO Kevin Lynch, their CRO John Hurley and Cisco's SVP US Commercial Sales, Tim Coogan, to discuss the impact of this partnership.

Optiv and Cisco Splunk are expanding their partnership. Why is this unique?

Tim Coogan: I think it's important because it brings together two companies that independently are incredibly powerful in the industry. But when you bring that combination together, the ability to innovate around products, policy, people, it really is a powerful combination.

Kevin Lynch: We've made a brand promise individually. Cisco's always been an incredible part of infrastructure and security, and we've been a critical player in the security side of that equation. We put our brand propositions and promises to clients together. I think it's an unbeatable combination

John Hurley: Cisco's always been an incredible part of infrastructure and security, and we've been a critical player in the security side of that equation. Together, it's an unbeatable combination.

How will the partnership simplify cybersecurity procurement, especially for managed solutions?

Tim Coogan: From a procurement standpoint our customers have traditionally thought about things one at a time. Now security doesn't lay on top of the network. Security is the network. When we give our customers the chance to buy a value proposition across the entire portfolio, including what Optiv brings to the table, that's a very different buying experience. But it's really a very different user experience.

Kevin Lynch: Clients are interested in trying to find ways of efficiencies while not reducing their security posture. With the broad portfolio that Cisco brings in, and our capabilities of integrating that together, it's extremely important.

As the industry moves into integrated suites, how do you guide your clients to the best of suite approach?

Tim Coogan: Listening to the customer is key. If we continue to put the customer first and think about what we collectively can bring to the table, we can guide our customers to those pieces of the security posture that make the most sense for them.

John Hurley: First, it's about trust. Our brands both represent trust. Second, it's about modality, combining Cisco's engineering capability with our ability to play that last critical mile. Third, we have an imperative to lead the customer to what's right.

To learn more about Optiv and Cisco/Splunk's expanded partnership, head to optiv.com.