- Headquarters
- San Jose, United States · North America
- Value chain
- Hardware & devices(Products); also Software & platforms
- What that means
- Makes physical products under its own name: computers, robots, vehicles, aircraft, drones, satellites, batteries, solar modules, reactors and medical devices.
- Founded
- 1984
- Staff
- 86,200 (2025)
- Ownership
- Listed
- Listing
- Nasdaq:CSCO on Google Finance
- Website
- cisco.com
- Relevance
- High at its strongest, in Protective Cybersecurity Technologies
San Jose, United StatesIn 5 capabilities
Each capability the company is listed in, most relevant first: how experts in the field see its global relevance there, why it is listed and the source.
Connectivity, Cyber & Trust Technologies · Design · listed #5 of 50
Major security vendor for firewalls, Duo identity, Talos threat intelligence and Splunk SIEM/SOAR (acquired 2024 for $28bn).
Relevance: Major network security, identity and SIEM vendor
Connectivity, Cyber & Trust Technologies · Design · listed #12 of 50
Owns Acacia Communications, a leader in silicon-photonics coherent pluggables (400ZR/800ZR) and DSPs for routed optical networks.
Relevance: Acacia makes it a leader in coherent pluggables
- AI Safety, Security & EvaluationModerate
Artificial Intelligence · Software & services · listed #10 of 50
Bought Robust Intelligence, a pioneer of AI model validation and algorithmic red-teaming, in 2024, and now sells it as Cisco AI Defense.
Relevance: Robust Intelligence AI validation integrated into security portfolio.
- Quantum CommunicationModerate
Quantum Technologies · Design · listed #12 of 50
Cisco Quantum Labs developed an entanglement-source chip and quantum network software stack in 2025, and Cisco routers support QKD key delivery through its SKIP protocol.
Relevance: Emerging entanglement-chip and quantum networking work
- Post-Quantum CryptographyModerate
Quantum Technologies · Integration · listed #24 of 50
Cisco is building PQC (ML-KEM hybrid IKEv2/TLS, quantum-safe secure boot) into its routers, firewalls and IOS XE/XR, and has published a quantum-safe roadmap.
Relevance: PQC built into network equipment