In a time of looming cyber threats, the commitment and fervor of cybersecurity experts are more vital than ever. Each year, Cisco takes care to select and honor an outstanding advocate for cybersecurity who has excelled in the role of cybersecurity defender. This year, singling out just one individual proved impossible.
That is why the 2025 EMEA Cybersecurity Defender of the Year award from Cisco is bestowed upon a group of practitioners at SAP Enterprise Cloud Services (ECS) whose efforts showcased an extraordinary ability to elevate the standards for overall security readiness. The awardees are:
- Boris Mäck, Chief of Technology and Architecture at SAP Enterprise Cloud Services
- Roland Costea, Chief Information Security Officer at SAP Enterprise Cloud Services
- Christopher Hett, Architect of Cloud Networks at SAP Enterprise Cloud Services
This article will delve into the beginnings of their zeal, the obstacles they encountered during their major project at SAP ECS, the tactics they employed to surmount these challenges, and their insightful guidance for those aiming to leave their mark in the realm of cybersecurity.
The Growth of Enthusiasm for Cybersecurity
Once a champion in chess from Romania, Roland Costea used his strategic acumen to navigate his way into the field. After studying technology and coding at university, he desired to make a distinctive impact, leading him to cybersecurity, a path he never turned away from.
Christopher Hett’s passion blossomed early as a gaming enthusiast. Following his studies in information technology at a German university, his first foray into cybersecurity involved fortifying his workplace’s Wi-Fi network with cutting-edge encryption to counteract evolving attack vectors emanating from wireless sources beyond company premises.
Boris Mäck’s profound proficiency in networking kickstarted his cybersecurity expedition. His adeptness in network technologies and infrastructure services naturally steered him towards cybersecurity, particularly as the fortification of networks emerged as an increasingly pivotal facet of IT.
Collaborating with Cisco to Conquer SAP ECS Challenges
As a premier provider of managed cloud services globally, SAP Enterprise Cloud Services cannot afford operational downtime. For Roland, the CISO of the company, speed is paramount. He highlights, “I believe speed is of utmost importance. By speed, I mean the velocity at which we identify, detect, shield, respond, recover, and govern… [In essence], a 30-minute downtime at an airport is simply unacceptable.” Therefore, in his perspective, the future landscape of multi-cloud necessitates the inclusion of an integral security aspect, an area where Cisco plays a crucial role.
Delving deeper into the scenario, Christopher, the Cloud Network Architect, expounds, “Given our 7,000 customer environments, our solution must scale seamlessly without disrupting the operations of these countless clients. This presents a unique challenge when striving to introduce an enhanced security service that requires additional resources while safeguarding uninterrupted operations at all costs.”
A significant challenge lies in SAP being both a multi-cloud provider and among the top twelve hyperscale entities globally (alongside Amazon, Microsoft, Google, etc.), mandating continuous uptime. This entails SAP providing identical native functions to all clients worldwide “irrespective of their geographical location” and in a standardized manner that “confers identical value universally for all our clients within a diverse cloud environment,” as articulated by Roland.
Hence, SAP Enterprise Cloud Services opted to collaborate with Cisco.
To expedite operations, boost scalability, and ensure business continuity during expansions, SAP is focused on establishing a unified private cloud fortified by Cisco Multicloud Defense, an integral part of Cisco’s Hybrid Mesh Firewall solutions that overlay their three hyperscale entities to deliver consistent, automated security across them. Additionally, SAP leverages Cisco Secure Access to secure user connections to the internet, cloud services, SaaS, and internal applications via a single, cloud-managed platform.
These solutions enhance SAP’s security posture and provide the agility to accommodate fluctuating business demands while continuing to support clients with minimal or zero disruptions to their functions.
On the Correct Path
“This groundbreaking security initiative underscores the prowess of the ‘One Cisco’ Team in addressing SAP’s most critical security hurdles—ensuring scalability while safeguarding their clients,” affirms Robert Nicola, Client Executive. “We have delivered an innovative, scalable, and distinctive solution that establishes a new benchmark for client value.”
Cisco relishes collaborations with firms like SAP Enterprise Cloud Services as joint efforts can drive positive outcomes.
When reflecting on his proud moments, Boris, the Head of CAE Technology and Architecture, shared, “I recall the CIO of the company we collaborated with approaching us and stating, ‘We encountered a severe ransomware assault in our network, and the sole IT systems that withstood the attack were the SAP systems housed in RISE [one of our managed solutions]. This reaffirms that our strategies are on point.’”
Indeed, they are, and Cisco is delighted to contribute. The invaluable lessons and experiences shared by these Cisco 2025 Cybersecurity Defenders of the Year underscore the positive impact brought about by strategic partnerships and the zeal of committed cybersecurity front-runners.
As technology progresses, the call for robust cybersecurity measures evolves in tandem. With dedicated professionals such as our defenders guiding the way, the future of cybersecurity appears promising. A salute to our defenders for their inspiring narratives and for illuminating the path for forthcoming leaders in this pivotal domain.
Eager to Make an Impact in Cybersecurity?
Seek recognition! Report the innovative ways in which you or your team are shaping the cybersecurity landscape and stand a chance to be recognized as our next Cybersecurity Defender of the Year awardee.
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