The History of the PIX

     

     The Cisco ASA series is a very popular security device for businesses.  It is a multifunctional device that provides many of the services today's businesses need all in one device.  Today's generation of ASA devices offer a wide range of services including VPN, IDS, IPS, NAT, and application scanning among other things.  The ASA offers an all in one solution for businesses looking to secure their network while also allowing access to trusted individuals over a secure channel.  The ASA has evolved over time as the security needs of businesses has evolved.  The history and progression of the ASA is discussed by David White Jr. and Jay Johnston in Episode 28 of the TAC Security Show Podcasts.  The original podcast from June of 2012 can be found here http://cisco-podcast.streamguys.net/cdc/security/tac/TACSecurityShow_episode_28.mp3.

   
    The ASA has its roots in the Cisco PIX.  The PIX was first introduced in 1994 when engineers created device in order to provide NAT.  The original PIX was a mere shell of the current iterations of security devices but served as the beginning of Cisco's long line of security appliances.  The podcast by David and Jay does a great job of explaining the history of the PIX and how it evolved from simply a device to provide NAT for a network.  They discuss how over time the various features of today's security devices were added to the PIX.  The podcast does a great job of discussing the timeline and changes to the PIX over time.  As the original PIX was a very simple device it required an add on card to do routing initially.  The PIX evolved over time to include many of the features of today's ASA devices and laid the groundwork for the appliances of today.  This evolution and the dependability of the PIX line are two reasons why the ASA is so widely used today.

     The TAC Security Show is one of several podcasts by Cisco.  It is one of my favorite as it is put on by actual support staff members who over time have encountered most every scenario imaginable.  I find the real life situations discussed to be entertaining as well as informational.  Cisco offers a wide variety of podcasts that cover all of their product lines.  The podcasts are a great way for Cisco to engage their customers as they not only provide valuable information but the encourage feedback from their customers so that they are covering information that is of interest to their customer base.