- Business
- Cisco Systems, Inc. is a multinational technology conglomerate headquartered in San Jose, California, specializing in the design, manufacturing, and sale of networking hardware, software, telecommunications equipment, and digital security solutions. The company’s core product portfolio encompasses routers, switches, network security products, collaboration platforms including Webex, IoT solutions, software-defined networking, cloud infrastructure, AI-powered networking, and cybersecurity services. Cisco serves a broad customer base across the Americas, Europe, Asia, and globally, focusing on enterprises, service providers, and public sector markets. Founded in 1984, Cisco has established itself as a leader in internet and network infrastructure technologies.
In the most recent fiscal years, Cisco has expanded its portfolio with key strategic acquisitions, including the April 2024 acquisition of Isovalent, a leader in cloud-native networking and security, reinforcing Cisco’s multicloud security and networking capabilities. The company has also launched innovative AI-powered solutions such as AI-enriched networking, security observability platforms, and AI infrastructure clusters in partnership with NVIDIA, aimed at enterprise-grade AI deployments and enhanced network resiliency. Cisco has made several strategic investments in AI startups like Cohere, Mistral AI, and Scale AI, enhancing its AI and machine learning capabilities integrated across its networking and security offerings. In 2025, Cisco renewed its global partner ecosystem with significant alliances in the Middle East including HUMAIN and G42 to bolster AI infrastructure deployments.
Cisco’s business segments include Infrastructure Platforms, Applications, Security, and Services. Its offerings cover advanced networking equipment, cloud and data center solutions, security and threat management, collaboration tools, and software-as-a-service (SaaS). The company supports digital transformation through automation, secure connectivity, AI-enabled network management, internet of things (IoT) platforms, and full-stack observability solutions, targeting enterprise IT environments and service providers worldwide. The firm continues to focus heavily on innovation with annual R&D investments exceeding $6 billion, driving growth in emerging areas such as AI networking, quantum networking, and secure multicloud architectures. Cisco also maintains a comprehensive portfolio of subsidiaries and business units, consolidating its market leadership in IT infrastructure and cybersecurity sectors.