1. Cisco Systems Case Study
Harry Xu

2. Company History
Founded in 1984 by two Stanford computer science technicians
IPO in 1990
Core products are internet routers and networking communication devices
Fast growth period from during the dotcom bubble time
Once was most innovative and profitable internet companies during the time
Icon of the silicon valley
Currently ranked top 10 for hardware and internet equipment companies

4. Strengths
Most complete product portfolio for networking equipment: routers, switches, wireless equipment
#1 global customer base for networking and worldwide influence
Global infrastructure and vast resources
Variety of Cisco networking products allows for effective integration of efficient networks (e.g. NERV)
Market dominance for certain products (e.g. UCS)
Power in the brand name, customers reluctant to switch

5. UCS

6. UCS #1 provider of x86 server blades as of Q1 of 2014
“Cisco Unified Computing System™ (UCS) [unifies] computing, networking and solid-state application acceleration technology into a single integrated architecture” -Paul Perez, vice president and general manager, Cisco UCS
Customers include 75% of fortune 500 companies
UCS sets new performance benchmark standards
Ideal platform to utilize cloud computing

7. NERV tangible example of cisco’s networking success

8. NERV Networking Emergency Response Vehicle Mobile command center
Utilizes various Cisco products and services:
TelePresence, Integrated Service Routers, IOS software for radio, IP based network
Proven record: Hurricane Gustav, Hurricane Ike, other incidents

9. Weaknesses
As networking technology matures and internet innovation modernizes in social networking and cloud computing, Cisco is no longer an innovation leader in the internet space industry.
Competition with industry giants like Juniper, HP, Huawei
High prices encourages heavy competition
Reliance on market dominance
Fears of NSA backdoor

10. SDN Software Defined Network Major potential change to networking
Strength if Cisco can embrace SDN
Weakness if Cisco fails to achieve market dominance
Currently, Cisco owns 65% of core routing market-could change in the future
Breaks down market barriers and increases competition

12. References http://newsroom.cisco.com/release/1426059