Addressing the Risks of Aging Digital Infrastructure

Aging digital infrastructure, including routers, network switches, and network-attached storage, poses significant risks to organizations worldwide. Many companies opt to keep outdated equipment running due to lower short-term costs and convenience. However, this legacy technology often features old, insecure configurations and lacks vendor support for necessary software patches, making systems vulnerable to cyberattacks. As generative AI tools enhance attackers' capabilities to exploit these vulnerabilities, the need for modernization becomes increasingly urgent.

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In response to these challenges, Cisco has launched an initiative called “Resilient Infrastructure,” aimed at raising awareness and promoting improvements in aging technology. This initiative encompasses research, industry outreach, and technical changes in how Cisco manages its legacy products. Cisco plans to introduce new warnings for products nearing their end of life, alerting customers to known insecure configurations. Furthermore, the company intends to phase out outdated settings and interoperability options deemed unsafe. Anthony Grieco, Cisco’s chief security and trust officer, emphasized the urgency of addressing aging infrastructure, stating, “Infrastructure globally is aging, and that creates a ton of risk.”

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A study conducted by the British advisory firm WPI Strategy for Cisco assessed the prevalence and impact of end-of-life technology in the critical national infrastructure of five countries: the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Japan. The findings revealed that the UK, closely followed by the US, faces the highest relative risk from outdated technology in key sectors. In contrast, Japan exhibited the lowest relative risk, attributed to its consistent upgrade practices, decentralized critical infrastructure, and a strong national focus on digital resilience. The research highlights that many cybersecurity incidents stem from attackers exploiting known vulnerabilities that could be mitigated through timely upgrades.

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Cisco's senior director for technology policy, Eric Wenger, noted that the current status quo regarding aging infrastructure incurs hidden costs that are often overlooked. He stated, “The status quo is not free—there is actually a cost, it’s just not being accounted for.” The initiative aims to elevate the discussion around these risks to a board-level concern, encouraging organizations to invest in modernizing their infrastructure. Wenger added, “As an industry, we’re not making it hard enough for the attackers,” underscoring the need for proactive measures against potential threats.

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The Resilient Infrastructure initiative by Cisco represents a critical step towards addressing the vulnerabilities posed by aging digital infrastructure. By raising awareness and promoting necessary upgrades, Cisco aims to foster a more secure digital environment, ultimately reducing the risk of cyberattacks that exploit outdated technology.

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