Cisco Systems

What Cisco Systems does

Cisco Systems, Inc. is a publicly traded (NASDAQ: CSCO) global technology infrastructure provider founded in 1984 and headquartered in San Jose, California, with 10,000+ employees and Q2 FY2026 revenue of $15.3 billion (10% YoY growth). The company operates across five primary revenue streams: networking hardware (switches, routers, Wi-Fi 7 access points where Cisco holds #1 revenue share per Dell'Oro), software and subscriptions (security, Splunk observability, network management), professional services and training, AI-powered security services, and AI infrastructure solutions sold to hyperscalers ($2.1 billion in AI orders in Q2 FY2026, projected $3 billion for FY2026). Cisco's technology stack spans proprietary Silicon One chips (G200, G300 manufactured on TSMC's 3nm process), AI-native security platforms (DefenseClaw, AI Defense, Zero Trust Access for AI Agents), Splunk-powered observability and security operations, AgenticOps for autonomous IT operations, and emerging quantum networking infrastructure.

The company makes money through hardware sales, recurring software subscriptions, and professional services, distributed via direct enterprise field sales for hyperscaler and large enterprise accounts, an extensive global channel partner ecosystem (Cisco 360 Program with resellers, VARs, and service providers), managed service provider relationships, and technology integration partnerships (Nvidia, Pure Storage, Equinix, IBM). Customer segments span hyperscalers (AWS, Microsoft, Google), enterprise security buyers, service providers/telecoms (TPG Telecom, Ooredoo, Asiacell, Indosat), and government/education (Senac Brasil). The 2023 $20 billion acquisition of Splunk Inc. anchors the security and observability business, and the company is actively executing a strategic transformation from traditional networking vendor to full-stack AI infrastructure provider, including a joint venture with AMD and Saudi Arabia's Humain for Middle East AI data centers and a quantum internet collaboration with IBM targeting 2030 proof-of-concept.

Name

Cisco Systems

Legal name

Cisco Systems, Inc.

Website

https://cisco.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

10,001+ employees

Short description

Cisco Systems is a publicly traded global technology infrastructure provider offering networking hardware (Silicon One chips, switches, Wi-Fi 7), AI security platforms (Splunk, DefenseClaw), and AI infrastructure solutions to hyperscalers, enterprises, telecoms, and governments across 100+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

San Jose

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Networking Products: Core networking infrastructure including switches, routers, and wireless LAN equipment. Cisco captured first place in Indoor AP Wi-Fi 7 revenue share in 2025 per Dell'Oro Group. Represented the dominant revenue driver, with record Q2 FY2026 revenue of $15.3 billion.
2. Software and Subscriptions: Software including security (Cisco Defense, Zero Trust, Splunk), network management (Cisco DNA Center, Nexus One), and collaboration tools. Growing recurring software revenue through subscription and term licensing.
3. Services and Support: Professional services, technical support, and managed services including Cisco's global training and certification programs (Cisco Networking Academy).
4. AI-Powered Security Services: AI-driven cybersecurity monitoring and response services delivered through security operations platforms like Splunk, including the Security Command Center powered by real-time AI detection.
5. AI Infrastructure Solutions: AI server, networking, and edge infrastructure solutions sold to hyperscalers and enterprises. Cisco reported $2.1 billion in AI-related orders in Q2 FY2026, with expected $3 billion AI infrastructure revenue in FY2026.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Cisco Systems designs, manufactures, and sells enterprise networking hardware (routers, switches, wireless LAN equipment including Silicon One chips and Wi-Fi 7 access points), cybersecurity and observability software (Splunk, AI Defense, Zero Trust, DefenseClaw), and AI infrastructure solutions (Cisco Unified Edge, AgenticOps). The company also delivers professional services, managed security services, and training programs through Cisco Networking Academy to enterprises, hyperscalers, telecom operators, and government agencies globally.

Product overview

Cisco Systems operates as a comprehensive technology platform provider offering networking hardware, AI infrastructure, security solutions, and collaboration tools. The portfolio includes Silicon One chips (G300, N9100 Series) and routers for AI data centers, the Unified Edge platform for localized AI workloads, DefenseClaw and AI Defense for AI agent security, Splunk-powered security operations, AgenticOps for IT automation, and Wi-Fi 7 enterprise solutions. Strategic initiatives include quantum networking with Qunnect, distributed AI data centers with Tohoku Electric Power, optical networks with SoftBank, and workforce development through Cisco Networking Academy and Future Right Skills Network. The company positions itself as a full-stack AI infrastructure provider spanning silicon chips, software, and management systems, competing with Nvidia and Broadcom in the estimated $600 billion AI infrastructure market.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Splunk: Security operations and observability platform acquired by Cisco
• Silicon One
• DefenseClaw
• AI Defense
• AgenticOps
• Cisco Networking Academy

Products and services

• Silicon One G300 Switch chip and router designed to accelerate data flow inside AI data centers. Includes features to prevent network slowdowns during traffic surges and improves AI computing task performance by up to 28%.
• DefenseClaw Secure open-source agent framework for AI agentic workflows, integrating Skills Scanner, MCP Scanner, AI BoM, and CodeGuard tools for end-to-end AI agent security.
• AI Defense AI security product line with Explorer Edition for self-service AI model vulnerability testing and red teaming, integrated with broader security operations.
• AgenticOps Autonomous AI-driven IT operations platform spanning networking, security, and observability environments, enabling autonomous actions, intelligent troubleshooting, and continuous optimization.
• Cisco Unified Edge AI computing device enabling localized AI workloads at retail outlets, factories, and healthcare facilities. Powered by Intel chips, supports real-time AI inferencing at the network edge.
• Security Command Center AI-driven cybersecurity monitoring and response platform powered by Splunk's threat detection technology, delivering real-time AI-driven cybersecurity operations for telecom and enterprise customers.
• Provider Connectivity Assurance (PCA) AI-powered network assurance platform using real-time analysis to predict, identify, and resolve network issues for telecom operators and service providers.
• Cisco Webex Collaboration platform including meeting room devices, video conferencing, and team collaboration tools for enterprise customers.
• Cisco Nexus One Unified network management platform consolidating data center and campus networking under a single operational model with AI-native management.
• N9100 Series Switch Switch designed for AI networks developed in partnership with NVIDIA, targeting AI data center and telecom network deployments.
• FlashStack Cisco Validated Design AI factory reference architecture integrating Pure Storage and Cisco technologies with NVIDIA, designed for enterprise AI workloads including large language models and retrieval-augmented generation.
• Splunk Platform Security operations and observability platform providing AIOps-driven approach for network reliability, security, and operational efficiency using real-time data and machine learning. Acquired by Cisco in 2023.
• Wi-Fi 7 Enterprise Solutions Wireless enterprise networking products including Indoor AP Wi-Fi 7 solutions. Cisco captured first place in Indoor AP Wi-Fi 7 revenue share in Q4 2025 per Dell'Oro Group.
• Quantum Network Infrastructure Quantum networking infrastructure developed with Qunnect using real-world fiber optic cables and with IBM for fault-tolerant quantum internet, currently operating a 17.6-kilometer quantum network between Brooklyn and Manhattan.
• Distributed AI Data Center Infrastructure Decentralized AI data center solutions developed with Tohoku Electric Power using Cisco Silicon One chips, addressing land and power supply constraints while creating disaster-resistant AI infrastructure.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2.1 billion in AI infrastructure orders from hyperscalers in Q2 FY2026, up from $1.3 billion in prior quarter
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability16 records

Feature11 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• Anthropic (Project Glasswing)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 April 2026Cisco is listed as a launch partner in Anthropic's Project Glasswing, a cybersecurity initiative to strengthen cyber defenses as AI tools become more sophisticated. The initiative centers on Anthropic's Claude Mythos Preview AI model, with Anthropic committing up to $100 million in usage credits for defensive security work. Cisco joins Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, Alphabet, CrowdStrike, Apple, Broadcom, NVIDIA, JPMorgan Chase, and the Linux Foundation as partners.
• EquinixcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 March 2026Equinix and Cisco launched a Global Data Center Technician Training Coalition in partnership with nonprofit Generation to enhance data center and technical support careers. First program debuts in Brazil in June 2026 before global expansion. Also includes global apprenticeships, internships, and Learning Labs in Dallas, Paris, and Singapore.
• Tohoku Electric PowerstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 March 2026Tohoku Electric Power Co., Inc. and Cisco Systems G.K. signed a memorandum to jointly develop decentralized AI data centers across Japan, combining Tohoku Electric's power facility expertise and idle land with Cisco's network technologies. Joint discussions will define optimal network configurations and develop standard design guidelines for distributed AI infrastructure using Cisco Silicon One chips.
• Senac Brasil and Senac ParáminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 11 March 2026Cisco partnered with Senac Brasil and Senac Pará through Cisco Networking Academy to provide digital skills and AI training in remote areas, including Brazil's Amazon region. Features success stories of learners from underserved fishing communities gaining digital access.
• TPG TelecomstrategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 10 March 2026Cisco announced that its Splunk platform will support TPG Telecom in Australia to build a next-generation Service Operations Centre, enhancing network reliability, security, and operational efficiency through an AIOps-driven approach using real-time data, machine learning, and automation.
• Indosat Ooredoo HutchisonstrategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 4 March 2026Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison launched a Security Command Center (SCC) in Jakarta, Indonesia, in collaboration with Cisco and powered by Splunk's threat detection technology. The SCC provides real-time AI-driven cybersecurity monitoring and response services to protect organizations across Indonesia's digital economy.
• IndeedminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 March 2026Cisco expanded its Cisco Networking Academy Career Hub to India through a partnership with employment marketplace Indeed, following a successful pilot in the U.S. The platform connects Networking Academy graduates with job opportunities.
• Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 23 February 2026TCS and Cisco established a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Hyderabad, India aimed at developing autonomous enterprise solutions using AI and automation frameworks. This builds on over twenty years of partnership and includes development of connected IT ecosystems to enhance innovation and adaptive operating models. The CoE focuses on intelligent, self-governing IT systems to reduce operational complexities.
• QunnectstrategicTechnology or Integration · 18 February 2026Cisco and startup Qunnect built and are operating a quantum network between Brooklyn and Manhattan in New York using real-world fiber optic cables over a 17.6-kilometer fiber stretch. The experiment used Qunnect's hardware and Cisco's software, with Qunnect's automatic polarization controllers maintaining quantum coherence despite real-world environmental interference. Described as foundational to connecting quantum computers within data centers.
• OoredoostrategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 4 February 2026Ooredoo, Qatar's leading telecommunications provider, signed strategic MoUs during Web Summit Qatar 2026 including collaborations with Splunk (Cisco Systems), Dell Technologies, Nutanix, Msheireb Properties, Qatar Insurance Company, and Qatar Development Bank to promote digital transformation in Qatar.
• Broadcom (Project Glasswing)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 December 2025Broadcom is listed alongside Cisco as a launch partner in Anthropic's Project Glasswing initiative to strengthen AI-era cyber defenses, representing one of multiple technology giants collaborating on AI security standards and implementations.
• Asiacell Communications PJSCstrategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 26 November 2025Asiacell Communications PJSC and Cisco launched Iraq's first AI-powered network assurance platform, called Provider Connectivity Assurance (PCA). The platform uses real-time analysis to predict, identify, and resolve network issues to improve reliability and performance, representing Cisco's expansion of network solutions in the Middle East.
• IBMcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 November 2025IBM and Cisco announced a collaboration to develop a quantum internet aiming for a proof-of-concept demonstration by 2030 and full system by the late 2030s. The project involves building a fault-tolerant quantum network connecting multiple quantum computers to enable ultra-secure communication and advanced sensor networks.
• AMD and Humain (Joint Venture)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 November 2025AMD, Cisco, and Saudi's Humain formed a joint venture to build data centers in the Middle East, starting with a 100-megawatt project in Saudi Arabia. The project aims to serve a global market of up to one gigawatt of capacity by 2030, with Luma AI as the first major customer. Humain will supply capacity to Luma AI for generative video AI workloads.
• Humain (Saudi AI Company)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 November 2025AMD, Cisco, and Saudi's Humain (formed 2025 with backing from Public Investment Fund) launched an AI joint venture to build data centers in the Middle East, starting with 100-megawatt project in Saudi Arabia. Humain will supply capacity to Luma AI with plans to expand to serve 4.5 billion people by 2030.
• G42 (UAE Technology Group)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 November 2025G42, a UAE-based technology group, and Cisco signed an MoU to deepen collaboration in AI and infrastructure development, supporting UAE's goal of becoming a global hub for responsible AI innovation. The partnership involves co-developing AI security solutions and building AI-ready data centers with secure, scalable infrastructure, aligned with UAE's National AI Strategy 2031.
• NvidiacoreTechnology or Integration · 29 October 2025Cisco and Nvidia developed reference architectures for AI data centers, unveiled at Nvidia GTC Washington D.C. event. Cisco announced FlashStack Cisco Validated Design integrating Pure Storage and Cisco technologies with NVIDIA for scalable AI deployments. Also includes Cisco N9100 Series switch for AI networks and first AI-native wireless stack for 6G.
• Quest AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Cisco and Quest Alliance have partnered since 2016 to modernize vocational training at India's Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) through the Future Right Skills Network (FRSN), a multi-stakeholder collaboration also including Accenture, J.P. Morgan, LinkedIn, and SAP Labs India. The initiative has supported 2,471 ITIs and reached over 851,000 students, integrating AI literacy into national ITI curricula and informing India's National Skills Policy frameworks.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Juniper Networks: Direct competitor in enterprise networking — switches, routers, wireless, and AI-ready data center fabric. Juniper's Mist AI-driven networking overlaps directly with Cisco's Catalyst and Silicon One portfolio and was itself an HPE acquisition target, underscoring the competitive overlap.
• Arista Networks: Closest direct peer in high-performance data center switching and AI fabric. Arista's EOS platform competes head-to-head with Cisco Nexus and Silicon One for hyperscaler and enterprise AI workloads, and the two companies are regularly compared on Ethernet AI fabric performance.
• Hewlett Packard Enterprise: Competes across enterprise networking (Aruba), edge compute, and AI server infrastructure. HPE's Aruba networking and recently acquired Juniper portfolio overlap with Cisco's campus, data center, and AI infrastructure offerings.
• Broadcom: Competes in networking silicon (Tomahawk, Jericho) and AI custom ASICs. Broadcom is a named rival for Cisco's Silicon One in the AI data center switch market and a Project Glasswing co-partner in AI security.
• Nvidia: Both partner and competitor in AI infrastructure. Nvidia's networking (Spectrum-X, NVLink) and AI-native wireless stack with Cisco compete in the data center fabric while Nvidia GPUs drive demand for Cisco's AI switches via the FlashStack reference architecture.
• Fortinet: Direct peer in SD-WAN, firewalls, SASE, and network security. Fortinet's FortiGate and Secure SD-WAN compete with Cisco's Meraki, Viptela, and Secure Access offerings for mid-market and enterprise network security budgets.
• Huawei: Competes directly in enterprise networking and Wi-Fi 7, where it narrowly trails Cisco in Dell'Oro's 4Q 2025 Indoor AP Wi-Fi 7 revenue share. Particularly strong in Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and emerging markets where Cisco also has material exposure.
• Check Point Software Technologies: Competes in enterprise firewalls, SASE, and network security — areas where Cisco's Secure Firewall, Secure Access, and Splunk security products address overlapping buyer personas and use cases.

Broad incumbents

• Palo Alto Networks: Overlaps with Cisco in SASE, network security, and increasingly AI security. Palo Alto's Prisma and Cortex platforms compete with Cisco's DefenseClaw, AI Defense, and Secure Access portfolio as enterprise security buyers consolidate spend.
• Dell Technologies: Overlaps in enterprise networking (Dell EMC switches), servers, and AI factory infrastructure. Dell's PowerEdge and PowerStore portfolios compete with Cisco's UCS and HyperFlex systems for converged infrastructure deals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cisco
• Facebookfacebook.com/cisco
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cisco

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A256 records

Investments240 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cisco Systems