Cisco is widely recognized as a leading developer of networking hardware and telecommunications equipment, forming the backbone of the internet’s infrastructure and enterprise connectivity. Over decades, Cisco has played an instrumental role in enabling internet functionality, from small networks to global systems, providing the essential technology that powers secure and reliable communication across industries. The company’s platforms, including WebEx for video conferencing and Cisco Jabber for messaging and collaboration, have become key tools in the modern workspace, facilitating real-time communication for millions of users worldwide.
Beyond traditional networking, Cisco is also a major force in the fast-evolving Internet of Things (IoT) sector. Its IoT solutions span connected devices, data processing, and analytics, which help organizations gather and leverage vast amounts of real-time data from connected systems. Cisco’s founders, Sandy Lerner and Leonard Bosack, laid the groundwork for this connectivity by pioneering the Local Area Network (LAN) concept — an innovation that transformed internal business communications.
Today, Cisco’s contributions to network technology continue to support seamless communication, secure data transfer, and efficient operations across the world, from large enterprises to small businesses.
Cisco's company history
The company was created almost by accident in December 1984 by two Stanford University computer scientists, Sandy Lerner and Leonard Bosack. The founders, who were married at the time, wanted a way to communicate electronically as they were based in different areas of the campus.
Founded: 1984
Current CEO: Chuck Robbins (pictured)
HQ: San Jose, California
Annual revenue: $58 billion (2023)
Both were involved with the university's computing facilities. Bosack realized that the existing router technology developed in the 1970s by other Stanford students could be used to connect their offices together. Lerner and Bosack were instrumental in developing what we know today as Local Area Networks (LANs). The couple saw the commercial possibilities for other businesses, and ultimately founded Cisco Systems Inc, taking its name from their base in San Francisco.
Cisco enters the market
1985 saw the sale of Cisco's first product, consisting of a router that could support multiple networks, to Digital Equipment Corporation. After an injection of venture capital, the company went public in 1990 under the tenure of John Morgridge, who became CEO in 1988.
Across the 1990s, Cisco embraced IP (Internet Protocol). The acquisition of companies like Crescendo Communications and Kalpana further strengthened Cisco's portfolio, allowing the company to offer a comprehensive range of networking solutions.
During this period, Cisco introduced the Cisco 7000 series router, a powerful and modular platform that became a cornerstone for large-scale networking deployments. The Cisco 2500 series router also became very popular as it allowed all businesses, no matter their size, to access the burgeoning internet.
In the 1990s, Cisco also developed the Catalyst series of switches and acquired StrataCom, which strengthened Cisco's expertise in wide-area networking. In 1995, John T. Chambers took over as CEO.
Cisco Systems rebrand to Cisco
In the 2000s, Cisco Systems rebranded to become just Cisco and ushered in a new strategy to begin selling their lower-end products to consumers in the Linksys range. The ageing Crescendo architecture was also replaced with the ASR 9000 range of products designed to take advantage of Ethernet, encompassing IOS-XR and hardware based on the EZChip.
2012 saw the sale of Linksys to Belkin International, seeing a shift back to business-focused product development and sales. This period also saw the company restructure with significant job losses.
Two years later, Cisco began to focus on the expanding IoT space and acquired NDS to allow the company to develop new products in the expanding TV set-top box market. However, the company again moved away from consumer-facing products to focus on business networking, including new cloud-based services, including Cisco Umbrella, for secure VPN connectivity for remote data centers. In 2015, Chuck Robbins took over as CEO.
Since 2018, Cisco has also been developing in the AI space, acquiring Accompany and CloudCherry to give Cisco a presence in this rapidly expanding technology. A year later, the company introduced the Silicon One ASIC chip, offering speeds of 25.6 Tbit/s, directly competing with Intel and Nvidia.
Cisco has incorporated machine learning and AI-based analytics into its SecureX and ThousandEyes platforms, enhancing visibility and proactive management across network infrastructures. The acquisition of Splunk in 2023 further expands Cisco’s AI capabilities, particularly in cyber security and data observability, as Splunk’s security information and event management (SIEM) platform leverages machine learning for real-time threat detection and incident response. This acquisition supports Cisco’s broader strategy to create a robust cyber security ecosystem integrated with AI-driven insights, making the company a formidable competitor in both networking and cyber security applications.
What does Cisco sell?
Cisco's initial product lineup started with dedicated network nodes like the Cisco 2500 series, evolving into more advanced models such as the Cisco 7000 and 8500 series. Nowadays, Cisco's offerings encompass a wide range of networking and IT solutions suitable for businesses of various sizes.
The company is known for its networking hardware, including routers, switches, and wireless systems, with notable products like the Cisco Catalyst series switches and ISR routers forming the core of enterprise networks. Alongside these, Cisco provides cyber security solutions, such as Cisco SecureX and Cisco Umbrella, which help organisations protect against cyber threats.
Cisco also focuses on data centre technologies with products like the Unified Computing System (UCS) and Nexus switches, designed to support modern data centre and cloud environments. In addition, their collaboration tools, including WebEx and Cisco Jabber, facilitate communication and productivity. The company's innovation extends to AI and IoT, integrating these technologies into their solutions to meet the demands of the tech landscape.
Cisco has further enhanced its offerings with Cisco Intersight, a cloud-based management platform for data center and edge environments. Intersight leverages AI and machine learning to provide proactive insights, predictive analytics, and recommendations, helping IT teams address issues before they affect operations. The move was seen as a way for Cisco to double-down on its goal of providing resilient, intelligent infrastructure that adapts to the needs of modern businesses, enabling them to scale and innovate with confidence.
Cisco's mergers and acquisitions
Cisco has maintained a strategic approach to acquisition since the company's founding.
To expand and extend its core network protocol technologies, Cisco acquired several companies in the 1990s, most notably Crescendo Communications and Kalpana, which enabled the company to move into the network switching sector.
As new technologies emerged, such as TV set-top boxes, IoT, internet protocol-based communications, digital security, and more recently, AI, Cisco made several acquisitions in these sectors. Notable acquisitions include WebEx, Intucell, Cognitive Security, SolveDirect, Sourcefire, and ThousandEyes, which was key to strengthening its position in cyber security.
Cisco continued to acquire businesses to expand or bolster its core network connectivity products and services. Some key acquisitions include Embrane, ParStream, and CloudLock.
In recent years, Cisco's acquisition strategy has been especially aggressive. In 2017 the company acquired AppDynamics, a leading application performance management provider, and Broadsoft, a cloud communication software and services provider.
In 2024, Cisco continued its strategic expansion through significant mergers and acquisitions, largely in a bid to further cyber security and cloud-native networking capabilities.
In March 2024, Cisco completed its largest acquisition to date by purchasing Splunk for $28 billion. This acquisition aims to bolster Cisco's cyber security and data observability offerings, providing customers with comprehensive visibility and insights across their digital infrastructures.
In April 2024, Cisco acquired Isovalent, a leader in open-source cloud-native networking and security. Isovalent's expertise in technologies like eBPF and Cilium is set to enhance Cisco's multicloud networking and security solutions, aligning with its vision for a secure, AI-driven, cloud-delivered security platform.
Key people at Cisco
Cisco was founded in 1984 by husband and wife Sandy Lerner and Leonard Bosack, who were computer scientists at Stanford University. The founding management team also included Kirk Lougheed, Greg Satz, and Richard Troiano, who were instrumental in the company's early development.
In 1990, Cisco went public and John Morgridge was appointed CEO. Under his leadership, the company experienced significant growth. In 1995, John Chambers succeeded Morgridge as CEO, steering the company through the internet boom and establishing Cisco as a dominant player in the networking industry.
Today, Chuck Robbins serves as CEO and chairman, a role he assumed in 2015. Robbins has steered Cisco through the digital transformation era, emphasizing growth areas such as cyber security, IoT, cloud computing, and software-as-a-service (SaaS) offerings. His leadership has focused on modernizing Cisco’s business model through increased investments in software and recurring revenue streams, positioning the company to meet the demands of a connected, cloud-driven world.
What can customers expect from doing business with Cisco?
Cisco is a leading provider of networking equipment and a broad array of technology products and services that support business infrastructure, communication, and security. Its portfolio includes a large selection of hardware, software, and solutions in areas such as networking, cyber security, and the Internet of Things (IoT). These offerings address diverse needs across industries, from small enterprises to global corporations, and enable customers to build secure, efficient, and scalable IT environments.
Cisco collaborates with numerous companies and organizations to deliver integrated solutions. Through its extensive partner programs, Cisco empowers partners with the resources and support needed to effectively implement and maintain Cisco products, ensuring customers receive tailored solutions backed by specialized expertise. These programs are designed to enhance customer experience and maximize the value Cisco's products bring to businesses.
For customers who purchase Cisco products, the company offers a range of support options, including technical assistance, training resources, and professional services to aid in installation, configuration, and ongoing maintenance. Cisco also provides frequent product updates and releases new versions to align with evolving technology standards and customer needs.
Beyond its core operations, Cisco also has an environmental and social responsibility mission, with initiatives focused on sustainability and corporate citizenship. The company has set goals for reducing its environmental impact and actively engages in programs that promote digital inclusion and community development.
Cisco’s strategy leverages its extensive product portfolio, partner ecosystem, and support infrastructure to drive digital transformation for its customers. Through these efforts, Cisco aims to be a long-term technology partner that offers secure, reliable, and scalable solutions.
