Cisco has unveiled new context-aware security enforcement across its security portfolio that enables companies to conduct business without borders.

The new offering has distributed security architecture that manages enforcement elements like firewalls, Web proxies and intrusion-prevention sensors with a policy language that is context-aware to accommodate business needs.

The next-gen scanning elements are independent of the physical infrastructure and can be deployed as appliances, modules and cloud services, the company said.

Cisco said that the new SecureX Architecture includes: context-aware security enforcement elements that are independent of the physical infrastructure and can be deployed in a highly distributed way; a new context-aware policy language that helps manage the context-aware enforcement elements.

In addition, the offering features Cisco AnyConnect, which tethers any device, anytime, from anywhere, into the security enforcement fabric; and virtual and cloud platforms that attach to Cisco’s virtual data centre switching capabilities.

The company said that the new Context-Aware Capabilities for its Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) will provide full context-aware firewalling and policy enforcement.

Moreover, the AnyConnect Client Telemetry for Cisco Security Intelligence Operations adds real-time client-based threat telemetry to Cisco Security Intelligence Operations to support an existing footprint of approximately 700,000 network and content security appliances.

Further, Telemetry from existing Cisco security services for e-mail, Web, intrusion prevention, firewall and cloud security services enables global context and threat intelligence, ensuring protection against an array of malicious activity.

Cisco said that AnyConnect 3.0 now supports Web security services delivered via Cisco IronPortTM Web Security Appliances and Cisco ScanSafe, a cloud security service.

Cisco security technology business unit vice president and general manager Tom Gillis said SecureX Architecture and the Cisco ASA with context-aware firewalling represent a significant leap forward in allowing businesses to better embrace increasing mobility, virtualisation and collaboration across business boundaries.