Technology giant, Cisco seems to be defying the trend by not only adapting AI but leading the charge in several strategic areas.
Tom Gillis, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Security Business Group at Cisco, recently presented on main stage at Cisco Live in Melbourne about the transformative journey and the new vision driving the company during his talk.
A New Cisco: Integration and Organic Innovation
Gillis, who originally joined Cisco after it acquired IronPort in 2007, has witnessed first-hand the company's growth. After a five-year stint post-acquisition, he returned two years ago to find a fundamentally different Cisco. The first striking change Gillis notes is the integration.
Cisco now operates with a unified product development organisation, prioritising seamless integration across its extensive product portfolio.
"Back then, the approach was more fragmented," Gillis reminisces.
The integration is not just a buzzword but a core strategy encompassing AI, security, and network functionality.
"Today, integration comes first, reflecting a powerful dynamic within the company."
The second pivotal shift Gillis spoke about is Cisco's newfound focus on organic innovation. Unlike the past emphasis on acquisitions, Cisco's current strategy revolves around homegrown, forward-looking products.
"It’s about building products that leverage our strength—network infrastructure" he states.
Cisco's Three-Pronged AI Strategy
At the heart of Cisco's innovation drive are three fundamental pillars: platform breadth, AI integration, and advanced silicon technology.
Breadth of Product Line
Cisco's product line is vast, covering end-to-end connectivity needs. This range has even led some customers to quip about having a "multi-vendor strategy from a single vendor," showcasing the diversity and capability of Cisco's offerings. The company’s vision is to integrate networking and security so seamlessly that functionalities traditionally seen as separate (like firewalls and routers) are unified, enhancing observability and operational efficiency.
AI: The Game-Changer
AI stands as a cornerstone of Cisco's modern strategy. Advancements in GPU technology, evolving AI models, and the essential need for high-quality data.
“The network has to be faster; otherwise, what’s the point?” Gillis asserts, the network's critical role in supporting AI applications.
"AI-native security capabilities." These are designed from the ground up to understand and secure AI workloads, a significant leap from traditional application security.
Silicon Excellence
By controlling the entire stack—from silicon to system software— unparalleled reliability.
"Some Cisco equipment has been running continuously for over 12 years. That’s longer than my dog has been alive." chuckled Gillis.
Building AI-Ready Data Centres
Gillis also discusses the impending AI wave that will impact every aspect of computing. Organisations need to prepare their data centres for this AI-driven future, balancing speed, power consumption, cost, and security. Cisco aims to help enterprises modernise their existing virtual machine fleets, accelerate AI workloads, and enhance security—all through an integrated stack.
Adoption of AI compared to prior technological shifts, predicting that AI will permeate all applications within just a few years. The revitalised Cisco – a holistic approach, focusing on integration, AI, and silicon, coupled with security.
