Cisco

Cisco Advanced Gateway Server (AGS) router (1986) - Computer History Museum

John T. Chambers - World Economic Forum Annual Meeting Davos 2010

Dmitry Medvedev in the United States 23 June 2010-2

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Cisco Systems, Inc. is an American multinational technology conglomerate headquartered in San Jose, California, in the center of Silicon Valley. Cisco develops, manufactures, and sells networking hardware, software, telecommunications equipment, and other high-technology services and products. Through its numerous acquired subsidiaries, such as OpenDNS, Webex, Jabber, and Meraki, Cisco specializes in specific tech markets, such as Internet of Things (IoT), domain security, and energy management.

History

Cisco was founded in December 1984 by Leonard Bosack and Sandy Lerner, two Stanford University computer scientists who were instrumental in connecting computers at Stanford. They pioneered the concept of a local area network (LAN) being used to connect geographically disparate computers over a multiprotocol router system. The name "Cisco" was derived from the city name, San Francisco.

Products and Services

Cisco's products can be broadly categorized into the following: Routers, Switches, Security devices, and software-defined networking. The company has been a significant player in the Internet Protocol-based networking market, with its products enabling data, voice, and video traffic to be transported over the same network infrastructure.

Routers

Cisco routers are critical for creating the backbone of the internet. They provide high-speed data routing and are essential for the functioning of the global internet.

Switches

Switches are an integral part of any network, connecting multiple devices on the same network within a building or campus. Cisco switches are known for their reliability and are widely used in enterprise environments.

Security

Cisco offers a wide range of security products, including firewalls, intrusion prevention systems, and VPN appliances. These products are designed to protect networks from external threats and ensure secure data transmission.

Software-Defined Networking

Cisco has been at the forefront of the software-defined networking (SDN) movement, which aims to make networks more flexible and easier to manage by decoupling the system that makes decisions about where traffic is sent (the control plane) from the underlying systems that forward traffic to the selected destination (the data plane).

Acquisitions

Over the years, Cisco has made numerous acquisitions to expand its product portfolio and enter new markets. Some of its notable acquisitions include Linksys in 2003, a provider of home networking products; Scientific Atlanta in 2005, a producer of cable TV equipment; and BroadSoft in 2018, a technology company that specialized in software used by major telecommunications providers.

Corporate Affairs

Cisco is known for its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, including environmental sustainability, philanthropy, and ethical business practices. The company has been recognized for its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and use renewable energy sources.

Controversies

Like many large technology companies, Cisco has faced its share of controversies, including allegations of aiding government surveillance and censorship in countries with poor human rights records. Despite these challenges, Cisco continues to be a leading player in the technology industry, with a strong focus on innovation and market expansion.

Cisco Resources
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