Editing Cisco (section)

== History ==

=== 1984–1995: Origins and initial growth ===
[[File:Cisco Advanced Gateway Server (AGS) router (1986) - Computer History Museum.jpg|thumb|right|Cisco's first router, the Advanced Gateway Server (AGS) router (1986)]]

Cisco Systems was founded in December 1984 by [[Sandy Lerner]] along with her husband [[Leonard Bosack]]. Lerner was the director of computer facilities for the [[Stanford Graduate School of Business|Stanford University Graduate School of Business]]. Bosack was in charge of the [[Stanford University]] [[computer science]] department's computers.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.cnbc.com/2013/04/17/tech-companies-are-doing-it-wrong-cisco-cofounder.html| title=Tech Companies Are Doing It Wrong: Cisco Co-Founder| last=Toscano| first=Paul| date=April 17, 2013| publisher=CNBC| access-date=September 23, 2015}}</ref>

Cisco's initial product has roots in Stanford University's campus technology. In the early 1980s students and staff at Stanford, including Bosack, used technology on the campus to link all of the school's computer systems to talk to one another, creating a box that functioned as a multiprotocol router called the "Blue Box".<ref name=":2">{{cite web|url=http://pdp10.nocrew.org/docs/cisco.html|title=A start-up's true tale|last=Carey|first=Pete|work=San Jose Mercury News|access-date=July 26, 2012}}</ref> The Blue Box used circuitry made by [[Andy Bechtolsheim]], and software that was originally written at Stanford by research engineer [[William Yeager]].<ref name=":2" /> Due to the underlying architecture, and its ability to scale well, Yeager's well-designed invention became a key to Cisco's early success.<ref>{{cite web |title=The creator of the multiprotocol router reflects on the development of the device that fueled the growth of networking.|url= https://www.networkworld.com/article/2309917/lan-wan-router-man.html|publisher=networkworld|date=March 27, 2006|author=John Dix}}</ref>

In 1985, Bosack and Stanford employee Kirk Lougheed began a project to formally network Stanford's campus.<ref name=":2" /> They adapted Yeager's software into what became the foundation for [[Cisco IOS]], despite Yeager's claims that he had been denied permission to sell the Blue Box commercially. On July 11, 1986, Bosack and Lougheed were forced to resign from Stanford and the university contemplated filing criminal complaints against Cisco and its founders for the theft of its software, hardware designs, and other intellectual properties.<ref name=":2" /> In 1987, Stanford licensed the router software and two computer boards to Cisco.<ref name=":2" /> In addition to Bosack, Lerner, Lougheed, Greg Satz (a programmer), and Richard Troiano (who handled sales), completed the early Cisco team.<ref name=":2" /> The company's first CEO was Bill Graves, who held the position from 1987 to 1988.<ref name=Acquisition>{{Cite journal | journal = Case Studies in Business Strategy | title = Cisco's Acquisition Strategy | volume = IV |date = January 2004| url = http://www.icmrindia.org/casestudies/catalogue/Business%20Strategy2/BSTR083.htm | access-date=December 21, 2009 | id = BSTR083 | publisher = ICMR | page = 2}}</ref> In 1988, [[John Morgridge]] was appointed CEO.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/newsroom/school-news/former-cisco-ceo-john-morgridge-give-2012-gsb-graduation-address|title=Former Cisco CEO John Morgridge to Give 2012 GSB Graduation Address|work=Stanford Graduate School of Business|access-date=November 27, 2018|language=en}}</ref>

The name "Cisco" was derived from the city name ''[[San Francisco]]'', which is why the company's engineers insisted on using the lower case "cisco" in its early years.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nepori |first=Andrea |date=2022-12-19 |title=Behind the Logo: The Origin of Cisco |url=https://emag.directindustry.com/2022/12/19/behind-the-logo-the-origin-of-cisco/ |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=DirectIndustry e-Magazine |language=en-GB}}</ref> The logo is a stylized depiction of the two towers of the [[Golden Gate Bridge]].<ref name="75th">{{cite web | url=http://blogs.cisco.com/education/happy-75th-birthday-to-our-golden-gate-bridge/ | title=Happy 75th Birthday to our Golden Gate Bridge! | date=May 27, 2012 | access-date=March 26, 2014 | author=Leung, Wendy | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327221404/http://blogs.cisco.com/education/happy-75th-birthday-to-our-golden-gate-bridge/ | archive-date=March 27, 2014 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

On February 16, 1990, Cisco Systems went public with a market capitalization of $224&nbsp;million, and was listed on the [[NASDAQ]] stock exchange. On August 28, 1990, Lerner was fired. Upon hearing the news, her husband Bosack resigned in protest.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.forbes.com/forbes/1997/0825/6004058a.html | work=Forbes | title=Does Pink Make You Puke? | date=August 25, 1997 |access-date=June 28, 2011}}</ref>

Although Cisco was not the first company to develop and sell dedicated network nodes,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/cringely/nerdtv/transcripts/013.html |title=I, Cringely. NerdTV. Transcript &#124; PBS |work=Pbs.org |access-date=November 13, 2008}}</ref> it was one of the first to sell commercially successful routers supporting multiple network protocols.<ref>{{cite interview |first=Ian |last=Pennell |url=http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/2004/hd_061404.html |title=The Evolution of Access Routing; Cisco claim of first multi-protocol router |publisher=Cisco |date=June 14, 2004 |access-date=January 4, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070707180833/http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/2004/hd_061404.html |archive-date=July 7, 2007 }}</ref> Classical, CPU-based architecture of early Cisco devices coupled with flexibility of operating system [[Cisco IOS|IOS]] allowed for keeping up with evolving technology needs by means of frequent software upgrades. Some popular models of that time (such as [[Cisco 2500]]) managed to stay in production for almost a decade virtually unchanged. The company was quick to capture the emerging service provider environment, entering the SP market with product lines such as Cisco 7000 and Cisco 8500.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MJvbXHC4hXsC|title=Making the Cisco Connection: The Story Behind the Real Internet Superpower|last1=Brandt|first1=Richard|last2=Bunnell|first2=David|last3=Brate|first3=Adam|date=2000-02-29|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=9780471357117|language=en}}</ref>

Between 1992 and 1994, Cisco acquired several companies in [[Ethernet switch]]ing, such as [[Kalpana (company)|Kalpana]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/10/25/business/company-news-cisco-to-buy-major-maker-of-switches.html|title=COMPANY NEWS; Cisco to Buy Major Maker Of Switches|last=Fisher|first=Lawrence M.|newspaper=The New York Times |date=October 25, 1994 |access-date=November 27, 2018|language=en}}</ref> Grand Junction<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/09/28/business/company-news-cisco-systems-agrees-to-buy-grand-junction-networks.html|title=COMPANY NEWS; CISCO SYSTEMS AGREES TO BUY GRAND JUNCTION NETWORKS |author=Bloomberg News|newspaper=The New York Times |date=September 28, 1995 |access-date=November 27, 2018|language=en}}</ref> and most notably, [[Mario Mazzola]]'s Crescendo Communications,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1993/09/24/Cisco-Systems-closes-97-million-acquisition-of-Crescendo-Communications/2233748843200/|title=Cisco Systems closes $97 million acquisition of Crescendo Communications|work=UPI|access-date=November 27, 2018|language=en}}</ref> which together formed the [[Cisco Catalyst|Catalyst]] business unit. At the time, the company envisioned [[Network layer|layer 3]] routing and [[Data link layer|layer 2]] ([[Ethernet]], [[Token Ring]]) switching as complementary functions of different intelligence and architecture—the former was slow and complex, the latter was fast but simple. This philosophy dominated the company's product lines throughout the 1990s.<ref name=":3" />

In 1995, [[John Morgridge]] was succeeded by [[John T. Chambers]].<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2019-05-22 |title=Tech Great John Chambers Says Keep Calm, Eat A Doughnut, And Carry On |url=https://www.investors.com/news/management/leaders-and-success/john-chambers-cisco-accomplishments-how-he-did-it/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20221206155448/https://www.investors.com/news/management/leaders-and-success/john-chambers-cisco-accomplishments-how-he-did-it/ |archive-date=2022-12-06 |access-date=2025-05-08 |work=Investor's Business Daily |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== 1996–2005: Internet and silicon intelligence ===
[[File:John T. Chambers - World Economic Forum Annual Meeting Davos 2010.jpg|thumb|[[John T. Chambers]] led Cisco as its CEO between 1995 and 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Law |first=Marcus |date=2024-10-04 |title=How John Chambers Wired Cisco into the Internet's DNA |url=https://technologymagazine.com/articles/how-john-chambers-wired-cisco-into-the-internets-dna |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=technologymagazine.com |language=en}}</ref> (Pictured at 2010 [[World Economic Forum]], in [[Davos]], [[Switzerland]]).]]
The [[Internet Protocol]] (IP) became widely adopted in the mid-to-late 1990s.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ve-0ELyyDJwC|title=John Chambers and the Cisco Way: Navigating Through Volatility|last=Waters|first=John K.|date=2002-10-31|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=9780471273554|language=en}}</ref> Cisco introduced products ranging from modem access shelves (AS5200) to core [[Cisco 12000|GSR]] routers, making them a major player in the market.<ref name=":4" /> In late March 2000, at the height of the [[dot-com bubble]], Cisco became the most valuable company in the world, with a [[market capitalization]] of more than $500&nbsp;billion.<ref name="auto" /><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.expressindia.com/ie/daily/20000326/ibu26043.html | title=Cisco replaces Microsoft as world's most valuable company | agency=[[Reuters]] | work=The Indian Express | location=India | date=March 25, 2000 | access-date=January 25, 2007 | archive-date=January 16, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116101944/http://www.expressindia.com/ie/daily/20000326/ibu26043.html | url-status=dead }}</ref> As of July 2014, with a market cap of about US$129&nbsp;billion,<ref>[https://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=csco&d=t Cisco Systems Summary]. Finance.yahoo.com. Retrieved November 26, 2011.</ref> it was still one of the most valuable companies.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/05/05/BUC200MARKETCAP.DTL | title=Chron 200 Market capitalization | first=Dan | last=Fost |work=San Francisco Chronicle | date=May 5, 2006 | access-date=January 25, 2007}}</ref>

The perceived complexity of programming routing functions in silicon led to the formation of several startups determined to find new ways to process IP and [[MPLS]] packets entirely in hardware and blur boundaries between routing and switching. One of them, [[Juniper Networks]], shipped their first product in 1999 and by 2000 chipped away about 30% from Cisco SP Market share. In response, Cisco later developed homegrown [[ASIC]]s and fast processing cards for GSR routers and [[Catalyst 6500]] switches. In 2004, Cisco also started the migration to new high-end hardware [[Cisco CRS-1|CRS-1]] and software architecture [[IOS-XR|IOS XR]].<ref>Stephen Lawson, InfoWorld. "[https://www.infoworld.com/article/2632331/network-router/cisco-s-crs-1-router-reaches-five-year-milestone.html Cisco's CRS-1 router reaches five-year milestone]." May 27, 2009. Retrieved July 10, 2018.</ref>

=== 2006–2012: The Human Network ===
[[File:Dmitry Medvedev in the United States 23 June 2010-2.jpeg|thumb|Russian President [[Dmitry Medvedev]] and California Gov. [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]] at Cisco, 2010<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/8148|title=Visit to Cisco|date=June 23, 2010 }}</ref>]]
As part of a rebranding campaign in 2006, Cisco Systems adopted the shortened name "Cisco" and created "The Human Network" advertising campaign.<ref name="human-network">{{cite web |url=http://www.cisco.com/web/about/ac49/ac20/downloads/annualreport/ar2006/pdf/ar_2006_complete.pdf |title=Welcome to the Human Network |publisher=Cisco Systems |year=2006 |access-date=February 12, 2014}}</ref> These efforts were meant to make Cisco a "household" brand—a strategy designed to support the low-end Linksys products and future consumer products.<ref name=":3" />

On the more traditional business side, Cisco continued to develop its routing, switching and security portfolio. The quickly growing importance of [[Ethernet]] also influenced the company's product lines. Limits of [[Cisco IOS|IOS]] and aging Crescendo architecture also forced Cisco to look at merchant silicon in the carrier Ethernet segment. This resulted in a new [[ASR9000|ASR 9000]] product family intended to consolidate the company's carrier Ethernet and subscriber management business around [[EZchip Semiconductor|EZChip]]-based hardware and [[IOS-XR]].<ref name=":3" />

In March 2007, Cisco acquired Reactivity Inc, a privately held XML gateway provider based in [[Redwood City, California]]. Cisco placed the Reactivity team and product portfolio under its Datacenter Switching and Security Technology Group, which reported to the company's then senior vice president [[Jayshree Ullal]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cisco Completes Acquisition of Reactivity |url=https://newsroom.cisco.com/c/r/newsroom/en/us/a/y2007/m03/cisco-completes-acquisition-of-reactivity.html |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=newsroom.cisco.com |language=en}}</ref>

Throughout the mid-2000s, Cisco also built a significant presence in India, establishing its Globalization Centre East in [[Bangalore]] for $1&nbsp;billion.<ref name="Segal2011">{{cite book|last=Segal|first=Adam|title=Advantage: How American Innovation Can Overcome the Asian Challenge|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZuLwhms9tHEC&pg=PA191|date=January 10, 2011|publisher=W. W. Norton|isbn=978-0-393-06878-8|page=191|chapter=Chapter 8 – Promoting Innovation at Home}}</ref> Cisco also expanded into new markets by acquisition—one example being a 2009 purchase of mobile specialist [[Starent Networks]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/14/technology/companies/14cisco.html|title=Cisco Buys Starent Networks for $2.9 Billion|last=Vance|first=Ashlee|author-link=Ashlee Vance|newspaper=The New York Times |date=October 13, 2009 |access-date=November 27, 2018|language=en}}</ref>

Cisco continued to be challenged by both domestic competitors [[Alcatel-Lucent]], [[Juniper Networks]], and an overseas competitor [[Huawei]]. Due to lower-than-expected profit in 2011, Cisco reduced annual expenses by $1 billion. The company cut around 3,000 employees with an early-retirement program who accepted a buyout and planned to eliminate as many as 10,000 jobs (around 14 percent of the 73,400 total employees before curtailment).<ref>Svensson, Peter. ''[http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Latest-News-Wires/2011/0512/Cisco-to-cut-costs-and-jobs-as-profits-stall Cisco to cut costs and jobs as profit stalls]''. May 12, 2011. Christian Science Monitor. Accessed August 2, 2012.</ref><ref>Vance, Ashlee. (July 12, 2011) [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-11/cisco-may-cut-about-5-000-jobs-in-august-gleacher-analyst-says.html Cisco said to Plan Cutting Up to 10,000 Jobs to Buoy Profit]. Bloomberg. Retrieved September 10, 2011.</ref> During the 2011 analyst call, Cisco's CEO John Chambers called out several competitors by name,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.enterprisenetworkingplanet.com/netsysm/cisco-ceo-we-were-fat.html|title=Cisco CEO: We Were Fat|date=September 14, 2011|access-date=January 5, 2016}}</ref> including Juniper and HP.

On July 24, 2012, Cisco received approval from the [[European Union|EU]] to acquire NDS (a TV software developer) for US$5 billion.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cisco Receives EU Approval to Acquires NDS|url=http://www.brightwire.com/news/232272-cisco-receives-eu-approval-to-acquires-nds|publisher=BrightWire|access-date=July 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116102153/https://www.brightwire.com/news/232272-cisco-receives-eu-approval-to-acquires-nds|archive-date=January 16, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2013, Cisco sold its Linksys home-router unit to Belkin International Inc., signaling a shift to sales to businesses rather than consumers.<ref>{{cite news|title=Cisco Sells Linksys Home Router Unit to Belkin |newspaper=Bloomberg.com |date=January 24, 2013 |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-24/cisco-sells-linksys-home-router-unit-to-belkin.html|publisher=Bloomberg}}</ref>

=== 2013–present ===
[[File:Cavaco na California.jpg|thumb|right|Former Portuguese President [[Aníbal Cavaco Silva|Cavaco Silva]], former Cisco CEO [[John T. Chambers|John Chambers]] and Cisco Senior Director of Innovation [[Helder Antunes]], during the 2011 presidential visit to the US]]
On July 23, 2013, Cisco Systems announced a definitive agreement to acquire [[Sourcefire]] for $2.7 billion.<ref>{{cite web|author=Worldwide |url=http://www.cisco.com/web/about/ac49/ac0/ac1/ac259/sourcefire.html |title=Cisco Announces Agreement to Acquire Sourcefire Inc. – Cisco Systems |work=Cisco.com |access-date=July 24, 2013}}</ref> On August 14, 2013, Cisco Systems announced it would cut 4,000 jobs from its workforce, which was roughly 6%, starting in 2014.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://money.cnn.com/2013/08/14/technology/enterprise/cisco-earnings/index.html?section=money_topstories | title=Cisco to cut 4,000 jobs | work=CNN Money | access-date=August 14, 2013}}</ref> At the end of 2013, Cisco announced poor revenue due to depressed sales in emerging markets, caused by economic uncertainty and by fears of the [[National Security Agency]] planting backdoors in its products.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/2063440/cisco-issues-grim-forecast-after-falling-short-on-revenue.html|title=Cisco issues grim forecast after falling short on revenue|first=Stephen |last=Lawson|date=November 13, 2013|work=PCWorld|access-date=January 5, 2016}}</ref>

In April 2014, Cisco announced funding for early-stage firms to focus on the Internet of Things. The investment fund was allocated to investments in IoT accelerators and startups such as The Alchemist Accelerator, Ayla Networks and [[EVRYTHNG]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newsroom.cisco.com/press-release-content?type=webcontent&articleId=1412019|title=Cisco Investments Allocates $150 Million to Fund Early-Stage Firms Around the Globe|language=en-US|access-date=November 27, 2018}}</ref> Later that year, the company announced it was laying off another 6,000 workers or 8% of its global workforce, as part of a second restructuring.<ref name="CiscoRestructure">{{cite news|url=http://www.sanjosenews.net/index.php/sid/224722011|title=Cisco to lay off 6,000 workers in second restructuring|date=August 13, 2014|access-date=August 14, 2014|publisher=San Jose News}}</ref> On November 4, 2014, Cisco announced an investment in [[Stratoscale]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.crn.com/news/storage/300074674/cisco-intel-invest-in-hyper-converged-infrastructure-player-stratoscale.htm?itc=refresh | title=Cisco, Intel Invest In Hyper-Converged Infrastructure Player Stratoscale | publisher=Crn.com | date=November 4, 2014 | access-date=January 3, 2016 | first=Joseph F. |last=Kovar}}</ref>

On May 4, 2015, Cisco announced [[Chief executive officer|CEO]] and Chairman [[John Chambers (CEO)|John Chambers]] would step down as CEO on July 26, 2015, but remain chairman. [[Chuck Robbins]], senior vice president of worldwide sales & operations and 17-year Cisco veteran, was announced as the next CEO.<ref name="newCEO">{{cite news|title=Cisco's Chambers to step down as CEO, to be executive chairman|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ciscos-chambers-step-down-ceo-125209673.html|date=May 4, 2015|access-date=May 4, 2015|agency=Reuters}}</ref> On July 23, 2015, Cisco announced the divestiture of its television set-top-box and [[cable modem]] business to [[Technicolor SA]] for $600 million,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cisco sells set-top box business to Technicolor for $600 million|url=https://fortune.com/2015/07/23/cisco-sells-set-top-box-business-technicolor-600-million/|access-date=2020-07-08|website=Fortune}}</ref> a division originally formed by Cisco's $6.9 billion purchase of [[Scientific Atlanta]]. The deal came as part of Cisco's gradual exit from the consumer market, and as part of an effort by Cisco's new leadership to focus on cloud-based products in enterprise segments. Cisco indicated that it would still collaborate with Technicolor on video products.<ref name="wsj-stbsale">{{cite news|title=Technicolor to Buy Cisco's Set-Top Box Unit for About $600 Million|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/technicolor-to-buy-cisco-set-top-box-unit-for-about-600-million-1437628660|access-date=July 25, 2015|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=July 22, 2015}}</ref> On November 19, 2015, Cisco, alongside [[ARM Holdings]], [[Dell]], [[Intel]], [[Microsoft]] and [[Princeton University]], founded the [[OpenFog Consortium]], to promote interests and development in [[fog computing]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/janakirammsv/2016/04/18/is-fog-computing-the-next-big-thing-in-internet-of-things/2/#1971ac3a34c9|title=Is Fog Computing the Next Big Thing in the Internet of Things|last=Janakiram|first=MSV|date=April 18, 2016|work=Forbes Magazine|access-date=April 18, 2016}}</ref>

In January 2016, Cisco invested in VeloCloud, a software-defined WAN (SD-WAN) start-up with a cloud offering for configuring and optimizing branch office networks. Cisco contributed to VeloCloud's $27 million Series C round, led by March Capital Partners.<ref>{{cite web |first=Jim |last=Duffy |work=Network World |url=https://www.networkworld.com/article/947032/cisco-puts-its-money-where-the-wan-is.html |title=Cisco puts its money where the WAN is |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240426184042/https://www.networkworld.com/article/947032/cisco-puts-its-money-where-the-wan-is.html |archive-date=April 26, 2024 |date=January 14, 2016 |url-status=live |access-date=January 18, 2016}}</ref>

In February 2017, Cisco launched a cloud-based secure internet gateway, called Cisco Umbrella, to provide safe internet access to users who do not use their corporate networks or VPNs to connect to remote data centers.<ref>{{cite web |last=Earls |first=Eamon McCarthy |date=February 16, 2017 |url=http://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/news/450413144/Cisco-opens-Umbrella-a-cloud-based-secure-internet-gateway |title=Cisco opens Umbrella, a cloud-based secure internet gateway |work=[[TechTarget]] |access-date=February 17, 2017}}</ref> Immediately after reporting their fourth-quarter earnings for 2017, Cisco's price-per-share value jumped by over 7%, while its [[earnings per share]] ratio increased from 60 to 61 cents per share, due in part to Cisco's outperformance of analyst expectations.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/11/16/cisco-csco-stock-up-after-earnings-for-q1-2018.html |first=Anita |last=Balakrishnan |date=November 16, 2017 |title=Cisco stock pops 5% as earnings beat, solidifying a transformation toward the cloud |work=CNBC |access-date=November 16, 2017}}</ref> In September 2017, Chambers announced that he would step down from the executive chairman role at the end of his term on the board in December 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/858877/000119312517286857/d458120dex991.htm |title=EX-99.1 |publisher=Sec.gov |access-date=August 13, 2018}}</ref> On December 11, 2017, Robbins was elected to succeed Chambers as executive chairman while retaining his role as CEO, and Chambers was given the title of "Chairman Emeritus".<ref>{{cite web |first=Julie |last=Bort |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/john-chambers-resigns-as-cisco-chairman-hints-at-a-next-chapter-2017-9 |title=John Chambers resigns as Cisco chairman, hints at a 'next chapter' |website=Business Insider |date=September 18, 2017 |access-date=August 13, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|url=https://newsroom.cisco.com/press-release-content?type=webcontent&articleId=1879710 |title=Cisco Executive Chairman John Chambers Notifies Board of Directors that he Will Not Stand for Re-Election |publisher=Cisco |date=September 18, 2017 |access-date=August 13, 2018}}</ref>

Reuters reported that "Cisco Systems Inc's (CSCO.O) product revenue in [[Russia]] grew 20 percent in 2017, ahead of Cisco's technology product revenue growth in the other so-called BRIC countries of [[Brazil]], [[China]] and [[India]]."<ref>{{cite news |title=Factbox: U.S. companies with exposure to Russia |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-russia-sanctions-companies-factbo/factbox-u-s-companies-with-exposure-to-russia-idUSKBN1KU2L8 |work=Reuters |date=August 9, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=U.S. companies with exposure to Russia |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-russia-sanctions-companies/factbox-u-s-companies-with-exposure-to-russia-idUSKBN1HK2N0 |work=Reuters |date=April 13, 2018}}</ref>

On May 1, 2018, Cisco Systems agreed to buy AI-driven business intelligence startup Accompany for $270 million.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/brief-cisco-says-will-acquire-accompany/brief-cisco-says-will-acquire-accompany-for-270-million-in-cash-idUSASC09YQR|title=Cisco Says Will Acquire Accompany For $270 Million In Cash|work=Reuters|access-date=May 21, 2018|date=May 1, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2018/05/01/cisco-to-buy-silicon-valley-ai-driven-business.html|title=Cisco to buy Silicon Valley AI-driven business intelligence startup for $270M|website=Silicon Valley Business Journal|date=May 1, 2018 |access-date=May 21, 2018}}</ref> As of June 2018, Cisco Systems ranked 444th on Forbes Global 2000 list, with $221.3 billion market cap.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/companies/cisco-systems/|title=Cisco Systems on the Forbes Global 2000 List|work=Forbes|access-date=June 27, 2018|language=en}}</ref>

In 2019, Cisco acquired CloudCherry, a customer experience management company, and Voicea, an artificial intelligence company.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2019/08/06/cisco-to-acquire-mountain-view-startup-that-addsai.html|title=Cisco to acquire Mountain View startup that adds AI-powered transcription to Webex |last=Levitsky|first=Allison|date=6 August 2019|website=Silicon Valley Business Journal|access-date=2020-04-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/cisco-closes-cloudcherry-buyout-boosts-110611068.html|title=Cisco Closes CloudCherry Buyout, Boosts Customer Experience|website=finance.yahoo.com|date=October 15, 2019 |language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/13/cisco-csco-earnings-q1-2020.html|title=Cisco stock falls as it forecasts revenue decline|last=Novet|first=Jordan|date=2019-11-13|website=CNBC|language=en|access-date=2020-04-10}}</ref>

In 2019, Cisco also introduced the "Silicon One" [[Application-specific integrated circuit|ASIC chip]] with the G100 model reaching a speed of 25.6&nbsp;Tbit/s.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cooney |first1=Michael |title=Cisco powers up Nexus switch, offers 800GB optic modules |url=https://www.networkworld.com/article/3676575/cisco-powers-up-nexus-switch-offers-800gb-optic-modules.html |website=Network World |date=October 18, 2022}}</ref> The Silicon One competes against the Tomahawk series by [[Broadcom Corporation|Broadcom]] the [[Nvidia|Nvidia Spectrum]], the [[Marvell Technology|Marvell Teralynx]] and the [[Intel]] Tofino.<ref>{{Cite arXiv|last1=Saquetti |first1=Mateus |last2=Brum |first2=Raphael M. |last3=Zatt |first3=Bruno |last4=Pagliarini |first4=Samuel |last5=Cordeiro |first5=Weverton |last6=Azambuja |first6=Jose R. |title=A Terabit Hybrid FPGA-ASIC Platform for Switch Virtualization |date=May 20, 2021 |class=cs.AR |eprint=2105.09696}}</ref> In 2023, the Silicon One G200 will offer a speed of 51.2&nbsp;Tbit/sec.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theregister.com/AMP/2023/06/22/cisco_51t_switch_asic/ | title=Cisco challenges Broadcom, Nvidia with 51.2Tbit switch ASIC of its own }}</ref>

In March 2020, SVP and GM of Enterprise Networking David Goeckeler left to become CEO of [[Western Digital]]. and was replaced by Todd Nightingale, head of [[Cisco Meraki]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2020/03/05/david-goeckeler-cisco-western-digital.html|title=Cisco exec named CEO of Western Digital as Cisco tells employees about its 'next phase of strategy'|last=Levitsky|first=Allison|date=5 March 2020|website=Silicon Valley Business Journal|access-date=2020-04-10}}</ref> In October 2022, Cisco announced a partnership adding the Microsoft Teams app to its meeting devices.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lee |first=Jane Lanhee |date=2022-10-12 |title=Cisco partners with Microsoft to add Teams to its meeting devices |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/cisco-partners-with-microsoft-add-teams-its-meeting-devices-2022-10-12/ |access-date=2022-11-23}}</ref>

In 2022, Cisco completely curtailed sales of its equipment in Russia due to [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]], and completely discontinued service for already-sold devices. In April 2023, it became known that the company had destroyed equipment, spare parts, and even vehicles and office furniture worth 1.86 billion rubles (about $23 million) due to the impossibility of re-exporting.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://meduza.io/news/2023/04/05/cisco-pered-uhodom-iz-rossii-unichtozhila-zapchasti-pochti-na-dva-milliarda-rubley|title=Cisco перед уходом из России уничтожила запчасти почти на два миллиарда рублей|language=ru|date=2023-04-05|website=[[Meduza]]}}</ref> In February 2023, Cisco also wrote off the debt of the Russian mobile operator [[MTS (network provider)|MTS]] in the amount of 1.234 billion rubles. As expected, these are unpaid amounts for previous equipment deliveries.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rbc.ru/technology_and_media/18/04/2023/643ecfef9a79475701588d4c|title=Cisco списала долг МТС более чем на ₽1 млрд|language=ru|date=2023-04-18|website=RBC}}</ref> In 2023, Cisco announced plans to begin manufacturing equipment in India.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/cisco-manufacture-india-diversification-move-2023-05-10/ |title=Cisco to begin manufacturing from India in diversification move |work=Reuters |date=10 May 2023 |access-date=3 April 2024}}</ref>

On 15 February 2024, Cisco announced it would lay off more than 4,000 employees, or 5% of its global workforce, and lowered its annual revenue forecast due to economic challenges and reduced demand from telecom and cable service providers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sriram |first=Akash |date=14 February 2024 |title=Cisco to cut more than 4,000 jobs, lowers annual revenue forecast |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/cisco-lay-off-5-workforce-2024-02-14/ |access-date=15 February 2024 |website=Reuters}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Novet |first=Jordan |date=2024-02-14 |title=Cisco says it's cutting 5% of global workforce, amounting to over 4,000 jobs |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/14/cisco-cutting-5percent-of-global-workforce-in-restructuring-move.html |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=CNBC |language=en}}</ref>

On 24 April 2024, Chuck Robbins, CEO of Cisco, met with [[Pope Francis]] and signed the Rome Call for AI ethics at the Vatican, endorsing the document's principles for responsible and ethical AI use.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-24 |title=Tech giant Cisco sign's Vatican pledge for ethical AI development |url=https://international.la-croix.com/ethics/tech-giant-cisco-signs-vatican-pledge-for-ethical-ai-development |access-date=2024-04-26 |website=La croix international |language=en}}</ref>