June 11, 2025 - Cisco Systems
Inc. has announced a major overhaul of its networking and cybersecurity
portfolio, unveiling a new generation of high-performance switches and upgraded
firewalls designed to support the accelerating demands of artificial
intelligence (AI) workloads. The announcement, made during the company’s annual
Cisco Live event in San Diego, marks a significant step in Cisco’s strategy to
become a central player in the global AI infrastructure boom.
The highlight of
the update is a new line of switches that the company says will deliver up to a
10-fold increase in performance compared to previous models. These switches are
designed to address growing concerns around data bottlenecks that can occur during
the training and inference stages of AI model deployment — two computationally
intensive phases that require rapid and reliable data transfer.
Cisco President
and Chief Product Officer Jeetu Patel emphasized the critical need for faster
networking speeds as data centers worldwide struggle to handle the explosion of
AI-related information. Whether in the cloud or on-premises, slow data movement
has increasingly become a limiting factor for AI efficiency. The newly launched
switches aim to eliminate these bottlenecks, ensuring a smoother and more
scalable AI experience for enterprises.
Alongside the
networking upgrades, Cisco also announced the completion of a two-year overhaul
of its security firewall offerings. The updated firewalls are tailored for
modern, AI-integrated environments and aim to offer stronger protection against
increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. With AI models becoming more embedded
in critical operations across industries, security has become a top priority —
and Cisco’s new solutions seek to provide a comprehensive layer of defense.
The product
launches come as Cisco continues to heavily invest in AI-related infrastructure
and solutions. Under the leadership of CEO Chuck Robbins, the company has
prioritized innovation in AI and cybersecurity, following its acquisition of a
leading observability and monitoring platform in 2024 for USD 28 billion. This
acquisition has already begun to influence Cisco’s product development and
strategic partnerships.
According to
company statements, Cisco has already surpassed USD 1 billion in AI
infrastructure orders, reaching this milestone ahead of initial forecasts. The
company has also expanded its global presence by entering strategic alliances
in key regions to support ambitious AI initiatives and infrastructure projects.
Cisco is not
just improving its products in isolation; it’s also working to integrate its
networking, security, and observability tools into a unified ecosystem,
reducing complexity for enterprise clients. The goal is to eliminate the need
for siloed tools and deliver seamless operational visibility and control across
hybrid and AI-driven environments. With AI adoption surging across sectors,
Cisco’s latest product innovations and strategic focus position the company as
a critical enabler of next-generation digital infrastructure. As organizations
race to harness the power of AI, Cisco aims to provide the backbone—both in
speed and security—that will keep their systems moving and protected.