Comparative Analysis of Microsoft Defender for Cloud and AI and Cisco AI Defense

Introduction

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into enterprise environments has introduced new security concerns. As adoption of AI continues at “cautious” pace, organisations must ensure the safety of the hundreds of AI apps that employees use (or try to use) sanctioned or unsanctioned as well as any AI applications built or customised by the organisation. This affects both data governance, exposure, and leakage as well as compliance.

Last week, Cisco announced the upcoming availability of their new AI Defense Service. Whilst other provides claim similar protections, Cisco AI Defense is different. This blog aims to provide a comparison between this new service from Cisco and Microsoft’s Defender for Cloud and AI product.

I have aimed to not only compare their key features, similarities, and differences, but also to look at how both offerings can indeed help organisations based on specific business scenarios and needs.

Cisco AI Defense

Overview

Due to be released in March 2025, Cisco’s new AI Defense works slightly differently to Microsoft’s offering and is focused on securing AI applications throughout their entire lifecycle. AI Defense integrates with Cisco’s extensive network infrastructure portfolio providing specialised AI security measures.

Business and technology leaders can't afford to sacrifice safety for speed when embracing AI. In a dynamic landscape where competition is fierce, speed decides the winners. Fused into the fabric of the network, Cisco AI Defense combines the unique ability to detect and protect against threats when developing and accessing AI applications without tradeoffs". Jeetu Patel | Exec VP | Cisco.

Whilst not released yet, it will I have based this product release information I have read.

Cisco AI Defense focused on two primary areas of protection.

  1. Accessing AI Applications: Recognising that whilst third-party AI applications can significantly boost productivity but may pose risks such as data leakage or malicious downloads. Cisco AI Defense is designed to give IT and SecOps full visibility into app usage and can enforce policies to ensure safe, secure access.
  2. Building and Running AI Applications: Cisco acknowledge that developers require the freedom to innovate without worrying about vulnerabilities or safety issues in their AI models. AI Defense discovers your AI footprint, validates models to identify vulnerabilities, and applies guardrails to enforce security measures in real-time across both public and private clouds

Key Features

  • End-to-End Protection: Protects both the development and use of AI applications, ensuring safety and security throughout the AI lifecycle.
  • Network-Level Visibility: Leverages Cisco’s unmatched network visibility and control to detect and protect against threats.
  • AI Model and Application Validation: Identifies potential safety and security risks with automated vulnerability assessments.
  • Real-Time Protection: Offers robust real-time protection against adversarial attacks, including prompt injections, denial of service, and data leakage.
  • AI Cloud Visibility: Automatically inventories AI models and connected data sources across distributed environments.

Microsoft Defender for Cloud and AI

Overview

Microsoft Defender for Cloud and AI is designed to offer comprehensive security for AI applications and cloud services. Being a Microsoft product, it integrates seamlessly with Microsoft 365 and their wider cloud ecosystem, providing robust threat protection and security posture management. It also supports multi-cloud environments making it suitable for enterprise organisations.

Microsoft Defender for Cloud and AI’s primary protection areas are based upon:

  1. Threat Protection and Security Posture Management: Microsoft Defender for Cloud and AI provides real-time threat protection for AI workloads and visibility into AI components, identifying vulnerabilities and offering built-in recommendations to strengthen security.
  2. Integration and Continuous Monitoring: It integrates with Defender XDR for centralised alerts and continuous monitoring, ensuring security measures are enforced across hybrid and multicloud environments.

Key Features

  • AI Threat Protection: Provides real-time threat detection for generative AI applications, including data leakage, data poisoning, jailbreak, and credential theft.Real-time identification and mitigation of threats to generative AI applications.
  • AI Security Posture Management: Continuous monitoring and management of the security posture of AI applications, with automated vulnerability discovery and remediation recommendations.
  • Cloud App Security: Protection for SaaS applications, offering visibility into cloud app usage and protection against threats.
  • Prompt Evidence: Includes suspicious segments from user prompts and model responses in security alerts.
  • Extended Detection and Response (XDR): Integration with Defender XDR to centralise AI /workload alerts and correlate incidents for efficient incident management.
  • Integration with Microsoft Ecosystem: Seamlessly integrates with Azure, Microsoft 365, and other Microsoft security solutions and workloads.

Comparative Analysis

In short, both Microsoft and Cisco are providing products which complement their wider security portfolios to help customers better protect their organisations in the rapidly evolving world and adoption of AI technologies.

Similarities

  • AI Security: Both solutions focus on helping organisations secure AI applications and provide end-to-end visibility into their AI workloads.
  • Real-Time Threat Detection: Each offers real-time threat detection and protection, ensuring prompt identification and mitigation of security threats.
  • Integration with respective Ecosystems: Both solutions integrate with their respective broader security ecosystems (Cisco for Cisco products, Microsoft for Microsoft products).

Differences

Whilst both focus on security across the customers domain with a focus on understanding and protecting against (and keeping control of) AI based applications, there are clear, there are some subtle and unique differences.

Scopes of Use

Cisco AI Defense Specialises more in securing AI applications throughout their lifecycle including home grown developed services, where as Microsoft Defender for Cloud and AI is more focused on providing comprehensive security for both AI applications and SaaS applications.

Platform Integration

Cisco AI Defense provides deep integration with Cisco’s network infrastructure and other Cisco security products. Microsoft Defender for Cloud and AI has seamless integration with the wider Microsoft’s ecosystem, including Azure, Microsoft 365, Dynamics, Power Apps as well as being part of the wider Microsoft security solutions.

Capabilities

Cisco AI Defense places a key emphasis on AI-specific security measures that include automated vulnerability assessments and real-time protection against adversarial attacks.

Whilst similar in approach, Microsoft Defender for Cloud and AI offers broader security features, including threat protection for both AI and cloud services, and integrates with Microsoft’s XDR for centralised incident management.

When to choose which?

When to choose Cisco AI Defense

  • Best For: Organisations with a significant focus on AI development and deployment, particularly those heavily invested in Cisco’s network infrastructure.
  • Primary Benefits: AI model validation, runtime protection, and extensive integration with Cisco’s network and security products.

When to Choose Microsoft Defender for Cloud and AI

  • Best For: Organisations utilising a mix of AI and SaaS applications, especially those heavily invested in the Microsoft ecosystem (Azure, Microsoft 365, etc.).
  • Primary Benefits: Comprehensive threat protection, tight integration with Microsoft 365, Azure, Dynamics 365 and existing Microsoft security solutions.

Case Scenario: Ficticous Enterprise Organisation

Customer Profile: “A large enterprise organisation with a complex infrastructure, several hundred applications (mainly SaaS) as well as in-house and hosted custom applications running in Public Cloud (Azure), mix of productivity tools (Microsoft 365), AI-powered assistants (Microsoft Copilot and Chat GPT), multi-campus network environment (Cisco Meraki), Cloud Voice (Microsoft Teams), Space Management Tools (Cisco Spaces) and network performance monitoring (Cisco ThousandEyes).

Organisation  has and uses Microsoft 365 E5. They have a contact centre based on Cisco Webex and use Microsoft Teams Meeting Rooms with Cisco endpoints. User devices as mix of Lenovo and Surface. They also use Cisco Duo. They have a Cisco EA.

They are in the middle of a Microsoft 365 Copilot pilot with around 20% of their organisation but aware that some other departments may have other shadow AI tools. They are also looking at building their own apps that will use a magnitude of AI agents and connectors.”

Cisco AI Defense vs Microsoft Defender for Cloud and AI

Given the complex infrastructure and diverse applications of this large enterprise organisation, the differences, strengths and similarities of each really stand out. Appreciating this a “made up” organisation, you can see where and why each product has its strength and merits.

Microsoft Defender for Cloud and AI

Given the extensive use of Microsoft services and the presence of Microsoft 365 E5, Microsoft Defender for Cloud and AI is highly recommended. It offers comprehensive security coverage for both AI applications and SaaS applications, integrating seamlessly with the existing Microsoft ecosystem. The core services are also included within the Microsoft 365 E5 subscription.

Key Benefits:

  • Broad Threat Protection: Covers both AI applications and cloud services, ensuring robust security across the organization.
  • Integration with Microsoft Ecosystem: Seamless integration with Azure, Microsoft 365, and the organisations other Microsoft applications and security solutions.
  • Centralised Management: Facilitates centralised management and monitoring, improving operational efficiency.

Cisco AI Defense

Considering the organisation’s significant investment in Cisco networking solutions and the presence of Cisco Meraki, Cisco Spaces, and Cisco ThousandEyes, Cisco AI Defense is also recommended. It provides specialised AI security measures and integrates well with Cisco’s network infrastructure.

Key Benefits:

  • AI-Specific Security: Focuses on securing AI applications throughout their lifecycle, providing tailored protection.
  • Deep Integration with Cisco Infrastructure: Enhances overall network security by integrating with Cisco’s network and security products.
  • Real-Time Protection: Offers robust real-time protection against adversarial attacks, ensuring continuous integrity of AI operations.

Combined Approach

Given the organisation’s diverse IT infrastructure and the need for comprehensive security, a combined approach using both Microsoft Defender for Cloud and AI and Cisco AI Defense is advisable. This dual solution ensures that all aspects of the IT infrastructure are covered, from AI applications to cloud services and networking.

By leveraging both solutions, the organization can achieve a robust, integrated security framework that covers all their IT needs, ensuring comprehensive protection and efficient management.

Budget and Management Considerations

  • Budget: While using both solutions might seem costly, the investment is likely justified by the enhanced security and centralised management capabilities.
  • Management: Both solutions offer centralised management, making it easier to oversee and control security measures. The tools are managed across the respective product suites which are already in use within the organisation minimising additonal admin / sec ops over head.

Conclusion

Cisco AI Defense and Microsoft Defender for Cloud and AI are both robust solutions tailored to different security needs and infrastructures. Understanding their strengths and integration capabilities allows organisations to make informed decisions, achieving comprehensive and integrated security frameworks.


Cisco AI Defense is new and will be available in March 2025, so please do let me know if I’ve missed anything obvious…

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