Central Data Systems
Central Data Systems (CDS) is a leading IT solutions provider based in India, offering secure, innovative technology services to empower businesses worldwide with tailored solutions.
CDS partners with Cisco to simplify firewall management
CDS, a Cisco partner, leverages technology for better security and operations
Streamlined security operations with AI-Insights
CDS, a leading Cisco partner, recognized the increasing complexity in managing security infrastructures. To address these challenges, CDS unlocked the Cisco AIOps & AI Assistant for Cisco Secure Firewall to simplify operations . The need for enhanced security operations and growing complexity led CDS to automate the configuration and management of Cisco firewalls, reducing manual tasks and minimizing errors.
These solutions automated repetitive tasks, reduced human error, and accelerated response times. With AI-generated insights and real-time recommendations—such as Policy Analyzer and Policy Optimizer—CDS proactively identified anomalies in the policy, security gaps or potential misconfigurations and optimized configurations before issues could escalate.
This implementation not only boosted internal efficiency but also served as a Center of Excellence, showcasing how AI-driven firewall operations can address common challenges in modern enterprises. CDS now uses this environment to demonstrate tangible outcomes to customers, driving broader adoption of Cisco’s AI-powered security tools.
Impact on IT operations and security
The integration of Cisco AIOps and the Cisco AI Assistant for Security has delivered significant improvements across CDS’s IT and security operations.
One of the most notable gains has been in Mean time to detect the problem. CDS reduced its average time-to-detect and Mean time-to-resolve the problem significantly, thanks to real-time insights and guided remediation workflows delivered by the AIOps & Assistant. This shift has enabled the team to proactively identify and address misconfigurations, vulnerabilities, and policy gaps before they can be exploited.
Firewall configuration accuracy also improved dramatically. Prior to deployment, configuration errors occurred frequently and required manual review. With AIOps-driven Policy Analyzer and Policy Optimizer, CDS saw a significant reduction in manual configuration errors, enhancing both compliance and the organization’s overall security posture.
As CDS’s infrastructure has grown, the combined capabilities of AIOps and the AI Assistant have made it easier to scale security operations without increasing the burden on the IT team. Complex tasks—such as policy audits, software upgrade planning, or rule optimization—that once required multiple steps and specialized expertise are now simplified and in many cases automated, freeing up engineers to focus on higher-value initiatives.
This enhanced efficiency has had a noticeable impact on internal operations. The team spends less time on repetitive manual tasks and more on strategic efforts like improving detection workflows, refining security policies, and collaborating with other teams on cross-functional initiatives.
Most importantly, the shift to AI-assisted operations has empowered CDS to maintain a more agile and resilient security posture. AIOps provides continuous visibility into device health and policy effectiveness, while the AI Assistant delivers contextual guidance and actionable insights—helping the team stay ahead of emerging threats and operational issues.
By embedding Cisco’s AI-powered solutions into its day-to-day operations, CDS has not only modernized its firewall management but also established a strong foundation for demonstrating these benefits to its customers. This positions CDS as a leader in secure, intelligent operations, capable of delivering both innovation and impact in today’s dynamic threat landscape.
