Cisco stumbles with its Cisco Connect Cloud

Owners of E2700, E3500 and E4500 models recently discovered that their router login credentials stopped working following an automatic firmware update, and instead they were asked to sign up to the new Cisco Connect Cloud platform to regain access. If they sought to avoid this by rebooting the router, they reportedly lost control over their advanced settings.

To make matters worse, the Connect Cloud service came with a supplemental privacy policy that explicitly allowed Cisco to peek at a user's "internet history," "traffic" and "other related information." If Cisco discovered you had used your router for "pornographic or offensive purposes" or to violate "intellectual property rights," it reserved the right to shut down your cloud account and effectively cut you off from your router. Cisco has deleted this offending paragraph but the initial intent of it is disturbing.

The new Cisco Connect Cloud app helps either manage the router itself (think parental controls) or tap into other devices around the home, including AirPlay sharing and remote camera monitoring. There's even a new SimpleTap hardware integration platform that will pair third-party WiFi gear.

While all of this on the surface sounds great, I can’t help but wonder if this is just another one of those services that doesn’t take off. There is a lot of promise but if they don’t get other vendors onboard it isn’t going to go anywhere.

For more information on this service go to Cisco Cloud Connect.