Cisco Enhances Network Solutions for SMBs

Small and medium businesses desire simplicity, accuracy, and efficiency in their networking products. While it would seem like all vendors would focused on delivering such capabilities, meeting that objective in todays complex, interconnected communications-centric world can be a challenge. In response, one of the industrys most influential suppliers has tried to take on this challenge.In November, Cisco pledged to invest $100 million to improve its products geared to small and medium businesses. The first fruits of that initiative were delivered this week as the company announced a security system, Network Attached Storage solution, and a unified communications product. The Cisco Spam and Virus Blocker, which costs from $2,599 to $5,399, is designed for accuracy and makes only one false positive in every one million messages. The companys NSS2000 and NSS3000 Network Storage System encrypts files and stores up to 2 terabytes of data using the NSS2000 2-bay Gigabit Storage System Chassis or 4 terabytes of data using the NSS3000 4-bay Gigabit Storage System Chassis. The Cisco Smart Business Communications System Release 1.4, a unified communications system, now supports the Cisco SPA525G wireless IP phone, a wireless desktop IP phone with Bluetooth capabilities that costs $430. Cisco has been the networking industrys largest, most influential network equipment suppliers. The company has delivered functional products and established a solid distribution channel, so its products have been popular among small and medium businesses.

Recently, HP has done a good job in addressing customer needs in this market sector and as a result been able to grow its market share. In addition, vendors, such as Avaya and Alcatel, have shown more interest in small and medium enterprises. In response, Cisco has decided to marshal more of its resources on this segment. Small and medium businesses will benefit from the increased competition because they will find a wider selection of products at lower prices geared specifically to their needs.