Cisco is encouraging customers of its widespread Catalyst 2960X/2960XR switches to improve their IOS working methods in an effort to fight counterfeiting.
Due to the pervasiveness of those switches on the grey market, it’s crucial that prospects allow the most recent software program launch – IOS launch 15.2(7)E4 or later – to validate the authenticity, safety, and efficiency of their Catalyst 2960X/2960XR 24/48 port Gigabit Ethernet switches, Cisco acknowledged in a discover to prospects.
Cisco makes use of a mix of safety merchandise – reminiscent of its {Hardware} Belief Anchor, Safe Distinctive System Identifier (SUDI), digitally signed software program pictures, and safe boot – to confirm the authenticity of its tools. These applied sciences run automated checks of {hardware} and software program integrity and may shut down the boot course of if a compromise is detected. The newer IOS contains this SUDI verification course of and is predicated on public key infrastructure (PKI) and related cryptography, Cisco acknowledged.
The counterfeit warning comes as Cisco says it has seen a rise in grey market and counterfeit exercise, seemingly as a result of industry-wide provide chain points, in accordance with Al Palladin, Cisco’s model safety chief.
“Materials shortages throughout the semiconductor {industry}, in addition to logistics challenges, proceed to affect provide chains globally, slowing output throughout a number of industries,” Palladin wrote in a latest weblog. “This has resulted in prolonged lead-times throughout nearly all merchandise, and prolonged supply dates.”
“Merchandise sourced from exterior Cisco’s approved channels might not include a sound Cisco guarantee and license,” Palladin acknowledged. “As well as, they might cross by way of many fingers earlier than they’re delivered to you, making it potential that tools and software program have been altered to make them susceptible to assault or untimely failure.”
Provide chain points are inflicting a backlog of orders throughout the networking {industry}. Arista acknowledged earlier this yr that among the lead occasions on its gross sales are 50-70 weeks out. Cisco, in its most up-to-date disclosure, stated its present product backlog is sort of $14 billion. Juniper has reported greater than $1.eight billion in backlog orders, and Excessive Networks stated its complete backlog is $425 million.
Along with the counterfeit-related discover, Cisco has introduced end-of-life dates for the Catalyst 2960X product household. The final day to order 2690X merchandise is October 31, 2022. Clients ought to look emigrate to newer fashions such because the Catalyst 9200 household, Cisco acknowledged. Clients could possibly use the Cisco Expertise Migration Program (TMP) the place relevant, the seller acknowledged.
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