The Cisco Systems campus in San Jose

Cisco Systems, Inc., commonly known as Cisco, is an American computer networking company. Cisco made its first acquisition in 1993, which was followed by a series of further acquisitions.

History

Founded in 1984, Cisco did not acquire a company during the first seven years of its existence; but, on September 24, 1993, Cisco acquired Crescendo Communications, a LAN switching company. Following the first Cisco takeover purchase, acquisitions have constituted 50 percent of the company's business activity.

The company's largest acquisition as of October 2023[update] is the purchase of Splunk—a software company that develops software for the analysis and monitoring of machine-generated data—US$28 billion. Cisco's previous largest acquisition was tied between Cerent Corporation and Scientific Atlanta for $6.9 billion in 1999 and 2005 respectively.

The majority of companies acquired by Cisco are based in the United States (U.S.) and a total of 149 companies had been acquired as of March 2011[update]. Most of the companies acquired by Cisco are related to computer networking, with several LAN switching and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) companies included in the list of acquisitions.

Acquisitions

Each acquisition is for the respective company in its entirety, unless otherwise specified, and the date of the agreement between Cisco Systems and the subject of the acquisition is listed. The value of each acquisition is listed in the US$ currency because Cisco Systems is headquartered in California, U.S.

The majority of its products and business units have come from acquisitions, with Cisco Systems spending more than $70 billion to acquire approximately 218 organizations as of October 2021.

DateCompanyBusinessCountryValue (USD)References
September 24, 1993Crescendo CommunicationsLAN switchingUnited States$94,500,000
July 12, 1994Newport Systems SolutionsRouter$95,000,000
October 24, 1994KalpanaLAN switching$204,000,000
December 8, 1994LightStreamATM switching$120,000,000
August 10, 1995CombinetRemote office routers$114,200,000
September 6, 1995Internet JunctionGateway$5,500,000
October 27, 1995Network TranslationFirewalls$30,000,000
November 6, 1995Grand Junction NetworksLAN switching$345,000,000
January 23, 1996TGV SoftwareInternet software company$115,000,000Updated on ClearOS' web page: ClearOS Pedigree
April 22, 1996StrataComATM switching$4,000,000,000
July 22, 1996TelebitModems$200,000,000
August 6, 1996Nashoba NetworksLAN switching$100,000,000
September 3, 1996Granite SystemsComputer networking$220,000,000
October 14, 1996Netsys TechnologiesNetwork simulation$79,000,000
December 1996MetaplexComputer networkingAustralia
March 26, 1997TelesendBroadband Internet accessUnited States
June 9, 1997Skystone SystemsSynchronous optical networkingCanada$89,100,000
June 24, 1997Global Internet Software GroupFirewallUnited States$40,250,000
June 24, 1997Ardent CommunicationsBroadband Internet access$156,000,000
September 2, 1997Integrated NetworkDigital subscriber line
December 22, 1997LightSpeed InternationalVoice over Internet Protocol$160,000,000
February 18, 1998WheelGroupComputer security$124,000,000
March 10, 1998NetSpeedBroadband Internet access$236,000,000
March 11, 1998Precept SoftwareInternet television$84,000,000
May 4, 1998CLASS Data SystemsComputer networking$50,000,000
July 28, 1998Summa FourLAN switching$116,000,000
August 21, 1998American InternetComputer networking$56,000,000
September 15, 1998Clarity WirelessWireless networking$157,000,000
October 14, 1998Selsius SystemsVoice over Internet Protocol$145,000,000
December 2, 1998PipelinksSynchronous optical networking$126,000,000
April 8, 1999Fibex SystemsDigital loop carrier$250,000,000
April 8, 1999Sentient NetworksVoice over Internet Protocol$195,000,000
April 13, 1999GeoTel Communications$2,000,000,000
April 28, 1999Amteva Technologies$170,000,000
June 17, 1999TransMedia CommunicationsGateways$407,000,000
June 29, 1999StratumOne CommunicationsSynchronous optical networking$435,000,000
August 16, 1999CalistaPrivate branch exchange$55,000,000
August 18, 1999MaxComm TechnologiesVoice over Internet Protocol$143,000,000
August 26, 1999Monterey NetworksSynchronous optical networking$500,000,000
August 26, 1999Cerent$6,900,000,000
August 31, 1999IBM Networking Hardware DivisionComputer networking$2,000,000,000
September 15, 1999COCOM A/SCable modemsDenmark$65,600,000
September 22, 1999Webline CommunicationsContact managementUnited States$325,000,000
October 26, 1999Tasmania Network SystemsWeb cache$25,000,000
November 9, 1999Aironet Wireless CommunicationsWireless LAN$799,000,000
November 11, 1999V-BitsDigital video$128,000,000
December 16, 1999Worldwide Data SystemsInformation technology consulting$25,500,000
December 17, 1999Internet Engineering Group (IEng)High performance routing software$25,000,000
December 20, 1999Pirelli Optical SystemsFiber-optic communicationItaly$2,150,000,000
January 19, 2000Compatible SystemsVirtual private networkingUnited States$317,000,000
January 19, 2000Altiga Networks$250,000,000
February 16, 2000Growth NetworksChipsets$355,000,000
March 1, 2000Atlantech TechnologiesNetwork managementUnited Kingdom$180,000,000
March 16, 2000JetCellMobile telephonesUnited States$200,000,000
March 16, 2000infoGear TechnologyInformation management$301,000,000
March 29, 2000SightPathContent delivery$800,000,000
April 11, 2000PentaComLAN switchingIsrael$118,000,000
April 12, 2000Seagull SemiconductorComputer networking$19,000,000
May 5, 2000Arrowpoint CommunicationsLAN switchingUnited States$5,700,000,000
May 12, 2000Qeyton SystemsWavelength-division multiplexingSweden$800,000,000
June 5, 2000HyNEXInternet accessIsrael$127,000,000
July 7, 2000NetiverseLAN switchingUnited States$210,000,000
2001AuroraNeticsComputer networking$150,000,000
July 25, 2000Komodo TechnologyVoice over Internet Protocol$175,000,000
July 27, 2000NuSpeed Internet SystemsiSCSI$450,000,000
August 1, 2000IPmobileMobile software$425,000,000
August 31, 2000PixStreamMedia player (application software)$369,000,000
September 28, 2000IPCell TechnologiesVoice over Internet Protocol$200,000,000
September 28, 2000Vovida Networks$169,000,000
October 20, 2000CAIS SoftwareIntegrated development environment$170,000,000
November 10, 2000Active VoiceCommunication software$266,000,000
November 13, 2000RadiataWireless networkingAustralia$295,000,000
December 14, 2000ExiO CommunicationsUnited States$155,000,000
July 27, 2001Allegro SystemsVirtual private networks$181,000,000
May 1, 2002Hammerhead NetworksComputer networking$173,000,000
May 1, 2002Navarro Networks$85,000,000
July 25, 2002AYR Networks$113,000,000
August 20, 2002Andiamo SystemsData storage$2,500,000,000
October 22, 2002Psionic SoftwareIntrusion detection$12,000,000
January 24, 2003Okena$154,000,000
March 19, 2003SignalWorksEcho cancellation$13,500,000
March 20, 2003LinksysComputer networking$500,000,000
November 12, 2003Latitude CommunicationsWeb conferencing$80,000,000
March 12, 2004Twingo SystemsComputer security$5,000,000
March 22, 2004Riverhead Networks$39,000,000
June 17, 2004Procket NetworksRouters$89,000,000
June 29, 2004Actona TechnologiesData storage$82,000,000
July 8, 2004Parc TechnologiesRoutersUnited Kingdom$9,000,000
August 23, 2004P-CubeService Delivery PlatformIsrael$200,000,000
September 9, 2004NetSolveInformation technologyUnited States$128,500,000
September 13, 2004dynamicsoftCommunication software$55,000,000
October 21, 2004PerfigoComputer networking$74,000,000
November 17, 2004Jahi NetworksNetwork management$16,000,000
December 9, 2004BCN SystemsRouters$34,000,000
December 20, 2004Protego NetworksNetwork security$65,000,000
January 12, 2005AirespaceWireless LAN$450,000,000
April 14, 2005Topspin CommunicationsLAN switching$250,000,000
April 26, 2005Sipura TechnologyVoice over Internet Protocol$68,000,000
May 23, 2005VihanaSemiconductors$30,000,000
May 26, 2005FineGround NetworksNetwork security$70,000,000
June 14, 2005M.I. Secure CorporationVirtual private networks$13,000,000
June 27, 2005NetsiftComputer networking$30,000,000
July 22, 2005KISS TechnologyEntertainment technologyDenmark$61,000,000
July 26, 2005Sheer NetworksService managementUnited States$97,000,000
September 30, 2005Nemo SystemsComputer networking$12,500,000
November 18, 2005Scientific AtlantaDigital cable$6,900,000,000
November 29, 2005CybertrustInformation gathering$14,000,000
March 7, 2006SyPixx NetworksSurveillance$51,000,000
June 8, 2006MetreosVoice over Internet Protocol$28,000,000
June 8, 2006Audium$19,800,000
July 6, 2006MeetinghouseComputer security$43,700,000
August 21, 2006Arroyo Video SolutionsVideo on demand$92,000,000
October 10, 2006Ashley LaurentGateways
October 25, 2006OrativeMobile software$31,000,000
November 13, 2006Greenfield NetworksSemiconductors
December 15, 2006TivellaDigital signage / IPTV
January 4, 2007IronPortComputer security$830,000,000
February 9, 2007Five AcrossSocial networking service
February 21, 2007ReactivityWeb services$135,000,000
March 5, 2007Utah Street NetworksSocial networking service
March 13, 2007NeoPathData storage
March 15, 2007WebExWeb conferencing$3,200,000,000
March 28, 2007SpansLogicComputer networking
May 21, 2007BroadWare TechnologiesSurveillance
September 18, 2007CognioMobile software
September 27, 2007LatigentBusiness performance management
October 23, 2007Navini NetworksWiMAX$330,000,000
November 1, 2007SecurentDigital rights management$100,000,000
April 8, 2008Nuova Systems, Inc.Computer networking$678,000,000
June 10, 2008DiviTech A/SDigital service managementDenmark
July 23, 2008Pure Networks, Inc.Computer softwareUnited States$120,000,000
August 27, 2008PostPathEmail$215,000,000
September 19, 2008Jabber, Inc.Presence
January 27, 2009Richards-Zeta Building IntelligenceBuilding management systems
March 19, 2009Pure Digital TechnologiesDigital video$590,000,000
May 1, 2009Tidal SoftwareJob scheduling$105,000,000
October 27, 2009ScanSafeSaaS Web Security ProviderUnited Kingdom$183,000,000
November 2, 2009Set-top box business of DVNCableChina
December 18, 2009Starent NetworksSystem Architecture EvolutionUnited States$2,900,000,000
April 18, 2010TandbergVideoconferencingNorway$3,300,000,000
May 18, 2010MOTO Development GroupProduct designUnited States
May 20, 2010CoreOpticsDigital signal processing
August 26, 2010ExtendMediaVideo
September 2, 2010Arch Rock CorporationSmart Grid
December 1, 2010LineSider TechnologiesNetwork Management Software
January 26, 2011Pari NetworksNetwork Configuration and Change Management (NCCM)
February 4, 2011Inlet TechnologiesAdaptive Bit Rate (ABR) digital media processing platforms$95,000,000
March 29, 2011newScale Inc.
August 21, 2011AXIOSS Software and TalentIT Service Management SoftwareFinland$31,000,000
August 29, 2011VerslyIntegrated SoftwareUnited States
October 20, 2011BNI VideoVideo$99,000,000
March 15, 2012NDS GroupConditional AccessUnited Kingdom$5,000,000,000
March 19, 2012LightwireSilicon PhotonicsUnited States$271,000,000
July 16, 2012VirtuataSoftware Security
November 15, 2012CloupiaCloud Services$125,000,000
November 19, 2012MerakiWired and Wireless Cloud Networking$1,200,000,000
November 29, 2012CaridenNetwork planning, design and traffic management solutions for telecommunications service providers$141,000,000
January 23, 2013IntucellMobile SoftwareIsrael$475,000,000
January 29, 2013Cognitive SecurityCyber Threat ProtectionCzech Republic
March 25, 2013SolveDirectCloud servicesAustria$21,194,000
April 3, 2013UbiquisysMobile softwareUnited Kingdom$310,000,000
May 29, 2013JouleXEnergy ManagementUnited States$107,000,000
July 30, 2013Composite SoftwareData Virtualization$180,000,000
July 23, 2013SourcefireComputer Security$2,700,000,000
August 30, 2013BroadHopLeading provider of next generation policy control and service management for carrier networks worldwide.
September 10, 2013WhiptailScalable solid state memory system provider$415,000,000
December 10, 2013InsiemeApplication-centric data center infrastructure
December 17, 2013Collaborate.comMobile collaboration and cloud computing
February 2014Tetration AnalyticsData Center Analytics and Security Solution
June 16, 2014ThreatGRIDUnified malware analysis and threat intelligence
June 27, 2014AssemblageCloud collaboration softwareDenmark
July 9, 2014Tail-f SystemsNetwork service orchestration solutionsSweden
July 27, 2014MetacloudDeploys and operates private clouds for global organizations with a unique OpenStack-as-a-Service modelUnited States
May 29, 2015TropoProvides development platform for real time communications
December 10, 2014NeohapsisSecurity Consulting
April 13, 2015EmbraneApplication-centric network services including firewalls (FW), virtual private networks (VPNs), load balancers (LB) and SSL offload engines
June 12, 2015Piston Cloud ComputingProvides software that enables streamlined operational deployment of large scale distributed systems
June 30, 2015OpenDNSCloud-delivered enterprise security service$635,000,000
July 7, 2015MaintenanceNetProvides a cloud-based software platform that uses data analytics and automation to manage and scale attach and renewals of recurring customer contracts.$139,000,000
October 12, 2015PawaaProvides secure on-premise and cloud-based file sharing software.India
October 25, 20151 MainstreamOffers a cloud-based video platform designed to quickly launch live and on-demand OTT video services to a variety of connected devicesUnited States
November 3, 2015ParStreamRealtime Edge Analytics Database for IoTGermany
November 20, 2015AcanoAcano provides collaboration infrastructure and conferencing softwareUnited Kingdom$700,000,000
December 22, 2015LancopeEnhances Cisco's Security Everywhere strategy.United States$452,500,000
February 3, 2016Jasper TechnologiesDevelopers of an Internet of Things cloud platform$1,400,000,000
March 1, 2016CliQr TechnologiesApplication defined cloud orchestration platform$260,000,000
March 2, 2016Leaba SemiconductorFabless SemiconductorIsrael$320,000,000
June 28, 2016CloudLockCloud-Security ProviderUnited States$293,000,000
October 17, 2016Heroik Labs, Inc / WorklifeMeeting productivity
January 24, 2017AppDynamicsApplication Performance Management$3,700,000,000
May 1, 2017Viptela Inc.Software-defined WAN$610,000,000
May 11, 2017MindMeld Inc.Conversational Artificial Intelligence$125,000,000
July 31, 2017Observable Networks, Inc.Cloud-Security Provider
September 22, 2017Springpath IncHyper-converged Data Platform$320,000,000
October 19, 2017Perspica, Inc.Machine Learning
October 25, 2017BroadSoftCloud Collaboration and Contact Center Platform$1,900,000,000
December 21, 2017Cmpute.io (47Line Technologies)software solution to analyze cloud-deployed workloads and consumption patterns for cost-optimization strategiesIndia
February 9, 2018Skyport SystemsCloud managed secure edge compute server platformUnited States
May 1, 2018AccompanyDevelops a relationship intelligence platform and has built one of the richest databases of decision makers in the worldUnited States
June 19, 2018July SystemsCloud-based mobile experience and location services
November 21, 2018Ensoft LtdSoftware solutions for service provider networksUnited Kingdom
August 2, 2018Duo SecurityCloud-based access security, identity management, and multi-factor authentication (MFA) servicesUnited States$2,350,000,000
December 18, 2018LuxteraPrivately held semiconductor company
December 18, 2018Singularity NetworksNetwork Analytics Company
June 6, 2019SentryoCybersecurity for the Industrial InternetFrance
July 9, 2019Acacia CommunicationsOptical InterconnectsUnited States$2,600,000,000
August 6, 2019VoiceaMeeting transcription, voice search, and meeting highlights/action items
April 6, 2020Fluidmesh NetworksWireless mesh networksItaly
May 28, 2020ThousandEyesCloud & Internet Intelligence for Enterprises and Service ProvidersUnited States$1,000,000,000
July 31, 2020ModcamVideo analyticsSweden
September 30, 2020BabbleLabsComputer audio background noise reduction softwareUnited States
October 1, 2020PortshiftComputer application security solutionsIsrael
November 16, 2020Banzai CloudSecure cloud-native application deploymentHungary
February 19, 2021IMImobileCloud communications softwareUnited Kingdom$730,000,000
June 22, 2021Sedona SystemsCross-Domain Network ControllerIsrael
June 30, 2021Kenna SecurityRisk-based Vulnerability ManagementUnited States
July 8, 2021Socio LabsEvent technology platform
September 28, 2022Syrmia NetworksEmbedded System SoftwareSerbia
February 24, 2023ValtixCloud network securityUnited States
March 29, 2023LightspinCloud securityIsrael
April 30, 2023SmartlookUser analyticsCzech Republic
May 31, 2023ArmorbloxAI-powered threat detectionUnited States
June 21, 2023AccedianHigh Performance Service AssuranceCanada
August 31, 2023OortIdentity security and managementUnited States
September 21, 2023SplunkData analysis platform for real-time cybersecurity, full-stack observability, and machine learning telemetry$28,000,000,000
December 21, 2023IsovalentCloud Networking and Security
August 8, 2024DeepFactorCloud-native application security company
August 26, 2024Robust IntelligenceAI Security
October 3, 2024Deeper Insights AI LtdDeeper Insights helps organizations design, build, and implement AI solutions and services for enterprise use casesUnited Kingdom
December 16, 2024SnapAttackThreat detection and engineering platformUnited States
August 25, 2025Aura Asset IntelligenceCyber Asset Attack Surface ManagementCanada
November 13, 2024NeuralFabricAI training platformUnited States
November 14, 2024EzDubs, Inc.Real time AI speech translation

External links