Cisco Systems, Inc.

What does Cisco Systems own?
Cisco Systems owns a portfolio of networking, security, collaboration, and observability brands. Key products include Cisco routers and switches, Cisco Silicon One chips, Webex collaboration platform, Meraki cloud-managed networking, Cisco Security solutions (firewalls, XDR, Hypershield, Duo), Splunk data analytics and observability, ThousandEyes network monitoring, and AppDynamics application monitoring.

Is Cisco Systems publicly traded?
Yes, Cisco Systems, Inc. is publicly traded on NASDAQ under ticker symbol CSCO. The company has been publicly traded since its IPO in 1990 and is a component of major stock market indices including the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

Who founded Cisco Systems?
Cisco Systems was founded in 1984 by Leonard Bosack and Sandy Lerner, two Stanford University computer scientists who developed the first commercially successful router. The company's name was derived from "San Francisco." The founders are no longer involved in operations.

Where is Cisco Systems headquartered?
Cisco Systems is headquartered in San Jose, California, USA. The company maintains major operations across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, with research and development centers, sales offices, and customer support operations worldwide.

How many employees does Cisco have?
Cisco employs approximately 86,200 people worldwide as of fiscal 2025. Approximately 25,600 employees work in sales and marketing functions. The company reduced its workforce by approximately 7% in 2024 as part of a restructuring to focus on higher-growth areas.

Who owns Cisco Systems?
Cisco Systems is publicly owned with a dispersed shareholder base. Institutional investors hold the majority of shares, with no single controlling shareholder. Major institutional shareholders include Vanguard Group, BlackRock, and State Street Global Advisors, typical of large-cap technology companies.

What is Cisco's revenue?
For FY2025 (fiscal year ended July 26, 2025), Cisco reported total revenue of $56.7 billion, up 5% from $53.8 billion in FY2024. GAAP net income was $10.5 billion, or $2.61 per diluted share. Non-GAAP net income was $15.2 billion, or $3.81 per share. Q1 FY2026 revenue was $14.9 billion, up 8% year over year.

What was the Splunk acquisition?
Cisco acquired Splunk for $28 billion in March 2024. Splunk is a data analytics and observability platform that added approximately $4 billion in annual revenue to Cisco. The acquisition significantly enhanced Cisco's security and observability capabilities, integrating SIEM functionality with Cisco's networking and security portfolio. Cisco has completed over a dozen data integrations between Splunk and its existing products.

Cisco Systems was founded in 1984 by Leonard Bosack and Sandy Lerner, two Stanford University computer scientists. The company's name was derived from "San Francisco." The founders developed the first commercially successful router, which allowed multiple computer networks to communicate with each other. The company's first major product was the AGS (Advanced Gateway Server) router, which became the foundation for modern internet routing.

Cisco went public in 1990, trading on NASDAQ under ticker CSCO. Throughout the 1990s, Cisco grew rapidly as the internet expanded, becoming the dominant provider of networking equipment for the growing internet infrastructure. The company briefly held the distinction of being the most valuable company in the world by market capitalization during the dot-com boom.

Through the 1990s and 2000s, Cisco expanded through strategic acquisitions, entering new markets including security, voice over IP, and collaboration tools. Major acquisitions included Crescendo Communications (1993), StrataCom (1996), WebEx (2007), and Meraki (2012). Each acquisition extended Cisco's portfolio beyond core routing and switching into adjacent technology markets.

In the 2010s and 2020s, Cisco transformed from primarily a hardware company to a provider of integrated hardware, software, and services. The company shifted toward subscription-based revenue models, cloud-managed networking, and software-defined networking. Chuck Robbins became CEO in 2015, succeeding John Chambers, and accelerated the company's transition to software and recurring revenue.

In March 2024, Cisco completed the $28 billion acquisition of Splunk, a data analytics and observability platform. The acquisition added approximately $4 billion in annual revenue and significantly enhanced Cisco's security and observability capabilities. Splunk's SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) capabilities were integrated with Cisco's networking and security portfolio, creating a unified platform for threat detection, prediction, and prevention.

In FY2025, Cisco refreshed almost its entire product portfolio, introducing new Smart Switches powered by Silicon One, AI-native security solutions including Hypershield and AI Defense, and the Cisco AI Canvas interface for network and security operations teams. AI infrastructure orders from webscale customers exceeded $2 billion for the fiscal year, more than double the original $1 billion target.

Cisco has implemented comprehensive sustainability initiatives focused on environmental responsibility, circular economy principles, and ethical business practices. The company has committed to achieving carbon neutrality and powering its operations with 100% renewable electricity.

Circular economy leadership is a core component of Cisco's environmental strategy. The company has established goals to achieve 100% circular design principles in new products and packaging. By fiscal 2025, 70% of component and manufacturing suppliers by spend achieved zero-waste diversion rates at one or more sites. The Cisco Foundation has committed to invest $100 million over ten years in climate solutions.

In sustainable IT, Cisco develops energy-efficient networking equipment and cloud solutions that help customers reduce their environmental impact. The company has implemented product design principles focused on durability, repairability, and recyclability, along with take-back programs for end-of-life equipment.

Cisco is not a Certified B Corporation. Its sustainability reporting is published annually through its Purpose Report and ESG reporting hub, covering environmental impact, social initiatives, and governance practices.

For ethical business practices, Cisco maintains comprehensive compliance programs covering data privacy, security standards, and corporate governance. The company has established ethical AI principles for its technology products and maintains supplier codes of conduct addressing environmental standards, labor practices, and business ethics. Cisco is recognized as a top three Great Place To Work in 14 countries.

Cisco Systems has received consistent recognition for technology innovation, workplace culture, and sustainability leadership:

• Great Place to Work Certification: Recognized as a top three Great Place To Work in 14 countries in FY2025
• Fortune World's Most Admired Companies: Recognition in the networking and technology categories
• Environmental Leadership Awards: Recognition for carbon neutrality commitments and circular economy initiatives
• Technology Innovation Awards: Recognition for networking innovation, Silicon One, and AI infrastructure solutions
• Diversity and Inclusion Awards: Recognition for workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion programs

These recognitions are based on independent rankings and industry assessments, not self-awarded claims.

Cisco has faced regulatory scrutiny and public controversies on several fronts.

In August 2024, Cisco announced a second round of layoffs, cutting approximately 7% of its global workforce, following 4,000 layoffs earlier in the year. The restructuring was part of a shift toward higher-growth areas including cybersecurity and AI. The layoffs drew criticism from employees and labor organizations regarding severance packages and communication during the process.

The $28 billion Splunk acquisition in March 2024 drew antitrust scrutiny from regulators concerned about market concentration in the cybersecurity and observability sectors. The acquisition was ultimately approved, but the integration process faced questions about organizational structure and product alignment.

Cisco has faced cybersecurity vulnerabilities in its products, with several high-profile vulnerabilities in networking equipment prompting patches and scrutiny from enterprise customers and government agencies. The company maintains security development practices and rapid response capabilities for vulnerability remediation.

Supply chain security has been a concern, particularly regarding component sourcing and manufacturing in international markets. Government agencies have scrutinized Cisco's supply chain practices for national security implications given the company's role in providing critical networking infrastructure.

As a provider of telecommunications and networking equipment, Cisco is subject to regulation including export controls, FCC requirements, and international technology standards compliance. The company must navigate evolving regulations across multiple jurisdictions.