Cisco in brief
- Rank: #31 of 100 in America's Most Powerful 100 Brands 2026; #8 of 17 in Technology & Digital.
- WCRC Power Score: 74.46 out of 100.
- Founded: 1984, by Leonard Bosack and Sandy Lerner.
- Owner: Cisco Systems, Inc., San Jose, California.
- Leadership: Chuck Robbins, Chair and CEO.
- Latest revenue: $63.3bn revenue (FY2026, year to Jul, +11.8%), as per company filings.
What makes Cisco powerful
Cisco builds the routers, switches and security tools that corporate networks and data centers run on, and the AI boom has put that business back in demand. In fiscal 2026 Cisco took $9.3 billion of AI infrastructure orders from hyperscalers, the giant cloud companies. In its fourth quarter, total product orders rose 35% and networking orders rose 40%, the eighth straight quarter of double-digit growth in networking.
Cisco also owns Splunk, the data and security software company it bought for $28 billion in March 2024. Together they give IT teams one vendor for the network, its security and the data that shows whether it is healthy. Remaining performance obligations, contracted revenue not yet booked, reached $46.7 billion at the end of fiscal 2026. Cisco is also looking further out. In November 2025 it and IBM announced plans to build a network of large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computers.
Cisco took $9.3 billion of AI infrastructure orders from hyperscale cloud companies in fiscal 2026.
Why Cisco ranks #31
Cisco ranks #31 with a WCRC Power Score of 74.46, close behind Walmart and Progressive and just ahead of Domino's Pizza and Universal. Its strengths are product and innovation and long-standing trust with IT buyers. It trails the brands above it on consumer recall, since most people never see its equipment. It edges Domino's and Universal on financial strength and on its central role in AI infrastructure.
The Achilles' heel
Cisco has to prove its security strategy is working. Despite the Splunk deal, security and observability revenue grew only at a low single-digit rate in fiscal 2026, though security picked up to 14% growth in the fourth quarter. Cisco is also restructuring. In May 2026 it said it was cutting nearly 4,000 jobs in a restructuring expected to cost up to $1 billion. Much of its AI growth also depends on a handful of hyperscale customers.
The 2026 story
AI demand defined Cisco's 2026. In May, as AI orders surged, Cisco announced a restructuring that cuts nearly 4,000 jobs and shifts resources toward AI and security. In August Cisco reported record fourth-quarter and fiscal 2026 results, with $9.3 billion of hyperscaler AI orders in fiscal 2026 and fourth-quarter product orders up 35%. It also acquired Galileo, an AI observability company, and Astrix, which secures non-human identities.
Pillar profile
Cisco's full 50-parameter profile is published on its World's Most Powerful 100 Brands 2026 page.
Versus its nearest rivals
Questions people ask
What rank is Cisco in WCRC's America's Most Powerful Brands 2026?
Cisco ranks #31 of 100 in WCRC's America's Most Powerful 100 Brands 2026, with a WCRC Power Score of 74.46 out of 100.
What makes Cisco powerful?
Cisco's routers, switches and security software are trusted to run corporate networks worldwide.
What is Cisco's revenue?
$63.3bn revenue (FY2026, year to Jul, +11.8%), as per company filings.
Who founded and owns Cisco?
Cisco was founded in 1984 by Leonard Bosack and Sandy Lerner. It is owned by Cisco Systems, Inc. and based in San Jose, California.
Who leads Cisco?
Chuck Robbins, Chair and CEO.
What is Cisco's biggest challenge?
It must keep up with cloud-native rivals and turn its Splunk deal into growth.
Also featured in
- Most powerful Technology & Digital brands
- America's 50 Most Valuable Brands
- American Global Powerhouses
- Most powerful brands in California
Key facts
| Brand | Cisco |
|---|---|
| Company / owner | Cisco Systems, Inc. |
| Headquarters | San Jose, California, United States |
| Founded | 1984 |
| Founder(s) | Leonard Bosack and Sandy Lerner |
| Leadership | Chuck Robbins, Chair and CEO |
| Latest revenue | $63.3bn revenue (FY2026, year to Jul, +11.8%), as per company filings |
| Sector | Technology & Digital |
| Website | cisco.com |
| Country of origin | United States |
Sources
- Annual report (Form 10-K) and financial results of Cisco Systems, Inc. filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission
- Company website, official announcements and press releases
- Published interviews and statements by the leadership
- WCRC Business Intelligence Unit research: consumer sentiment, ratings and reviews, search demand, media and social data
