British Telecom (BT) has deployed security from Cisco in its data centers to combat security threats that, according to the carrier, have increased 1,000 percent in the last 13 months.

“We are seeing more transport-layer activity where we’re seeing networks and network elements being targeted,” says Mark Hughes, CEO of BT Security, in a video posted at Cisco's website.

Why would security threats increase 1,000 percent? Sam Rastogi, a Cisco senior product marketing manager, says it’s because of the massive growth in Internet-connected devices and the Internet of Things (IoT). There are simply more entry points for threats.

Perhaps the 1,000-percent-increase is also a result of deploying security and then realizing just how many security threats are happening.

"Advanced malware pinpoints what no one has seen before or that was already inside," says Rastogi.

Over the past couple of years, Cisco’s ASA firewalls, Advanced Malware Protection, and Firepower Next-Generation IPS have been deployed into production BT’s data centers. In addition, BT is also offering those security products to its enterprise customers as a managed security offering called BT Assure Cyber.

“Cisco is able to tie together all our security technologies,” says Rastogi. “Tying all the different technologies together, where each layer builds on top, better pinpoints the advanced threats.”

Cisco’s security is “primarily physical,” says Rastogi. “But there is virtual as well. We can deploy across a variety of form factors.”

BT’s Hughes says, “Most of our large customers are running significant network estates that have Cisco embedded in the core. That’s fertile ground to promote and bring to market those Cisco security products that I use myself.” He adds that the ability to deploy security products into the software defined networking (SDN) and network functions virtualization (NFV) environments “will unlock huge potential we have in our data centers.”

In December, BT said it had developed a “Cloud of Clouds” ecosystem, using Equinix data centers at 11 global locations in which BT has connected its MPLS network. BT is working with Cisco to see how it might link into Cisco’s Intercloud, says Keith Langridge, BT's VP of network services.

“Cisco’s is a hardware- and software-based approach,” said Langridge. “Our approach is a network-based approach. We’re already connected around the world.”

Neither BT nor Cisco would comment on whether Cisco's security fits into the Cloud of Clouds strategy.