Cisco Systems, Inc announced today that it has added a security business unit called Services Security Practice to its existing services division. The new unit would be managing and marketing the company's security products. The new division would also be offering a plethora of managed security services.

Services Security Practice new general manager Bryan Palma disclosed that Cisco has planned to offer new managed security services types complementing the multinational network equipment maker's security products. However, he did not provide any other detail.

Cisco's existing products in security would range from intrusion-prevention systems (IPS), firewall/virtual private networks (VPN), to security gateways for Web and messaging. IPS and threat detection vendor Sourefire recently came into the fold as Cisco's latest acquisition.

Although there is competition in the managed security services providers (MSSP) market, IDC research manager for security products John Grady said, "I think the best opportunity for them to focus on services is on the network security side. the implementation and consulting around IPS and advanced threat detection will be important. Also, managed offerings leveraging the existing ASA (Adaptive Security Appliance) portfolio and Sourcefire products across the broad would see traction."