Cisco's Wi-Fi 7 Deployment Shows Significant Security Benefits

Cisco has demonstrated how its Wi-Fi 7 and other technologies can strengthen enterprise security by integrating networking and security. The company's recent deployment of Wi-Fi 7 across its global environment showed a significant reduction in reported security incidents, from as much as 40% at some sites.

The deployment was led by Cisco IT and used the company's Identity Services Engine (ISE) with Wi-Fi Protected Access 3 (WPA3) to strengthen authentication at the wireless layer. This integrated approach also included passwordless authentication and risk-aware access policies, which extended zero trust beyond applications and into the network itself.

Cisco emphasized that security should be designed into the network from the outset when modernizing infrastructure. The company highlighted three key areas for strengthening protection: reinforcing zero trust from the network layer, building security directly into network infrastructure, and using segmentation to limit lateral movement.