About Cisco

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

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.

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 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.