Cisco History Timeline and Biographies | History Timeline Generator

1984

Foundation of Cisco Systems

Cisco Systems was founded by Leonard Bosack and Sandy Lerner, who were computer scientists from Stanford University. They pioneered the concept of a local area network (LAN) being used to connect geographically disparate computers over a multiprotocol router system, which was an innovative approach at the time.

1986

First Cisco Product

Cisco shipped its first product, the Advanced Gateway Server (AGS), which was a multi-protocol router. This product set the stage for Cisco's future dominance in the networking market.

1990

Cisco Goes Public

Cisco went public on February 16, 1990, with an initial public offering (IPO) that valued the company at $224 million. This marked a significant milestone in the company's growth and expansion.

1993

Acquisition of Crescendo Communications

Cisco acquired Crescendo Communications, marking its first major acquisition. This helped Cisco enter the switch market and expand its product offerings.

1995

Introduction of Cisco IOS

Cisco introduced the Cisco Internetwork Operating System (IOS), a proprietary operating system that became the standard for Cisco routers and switches, further solidifying its market position.

1999

Acquisition of Cerent Corporation

Cisco acquired Cerent Corporation for $6.9 billion, which was its largest acquisition at the time. This acquisition helped Cisco expand its optical networking capabilities.

2000

Cisco Becomes the Most Valuable Company

In March 2000, Cisco became the most valuable company in the world, with a market capitalization of over $500 billion, highlighting its rapid growth and market dominance.

2003

Acquisition of Linksys

Cisco acquired Linksys, a leading provider of home networking products, for $500 million. This acquisition allowed Cisco to enter the consumer networking market.

2006

Launch of TelePresence

Cisco launched its TelePresence technology, which revolutionized video conferencing by providing high-definition video and audio, creating a more immersive virtual meeting experience.

2009

Acquisition of Tandberg

Cisco acquired Tandberg, a global leader in video communications, for $3.3 billion, further enhancing its video conferencing and collaboration capabilities.

2013

Acquisition of Sourcefire

Cisco acquired Sourcefire, a cybersecurity company, for $2.7 billion. This acquisition strengthened Cisco's security portfolio and its position in the cybersecurity market.

2015

Launch of Cisco DNA

Cisco launched the Digital Network Architecture (DNA), which provided a comprehensive approach to network management and automation, leveraging software-defined networking (SDN) principles.

2017

Acquisition of AppDynamics

Cisco acquired AppDynamics, an application performance management and IT operations analytics company, for $3.7 billion. This acquisition helped Cisco enhance its software and analytics capabilities.

2018

Acquisition of Duo Security

Cisco acquired Duo Security, a leader in multi-factor authentication and secure access, for $2.35 billion. This acquisition bolstered Cisco's security offerings and its zero-trust security model.

2020

Introduction of Cisco SecureX

Cisco introduced SecureX, a cloud-native security platform that integrates Cisco's security portfolio and provides unified visibility, automation, and simplified security operations.

2021

Acquisition of Acacia Communications

Cisco completed the acquisition of Acacia Communications, a company specializing in high-speed coherent optical interconnect products, for $4.5 billion. This acquisition enhanced Cisco's optical networking technology.

2023

Launch of Cisco Plus

Cisco launched Cisco Plus, a new as-a-service offering that allows customers to consume Cisco's hardware, software, and services on a subscription basis, providing greater flexibility and scalability.

2024

Introduction of Cisco AI Networking Solutions

In 2024, Cisco introduced AI-driven networking solutions that leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning to optimize network performance, enhance security, and automate network management tasks.