Cisco Sys Inc Stock Price, News & Analysis

Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) has implemented a Cisco industrial IoT solution to modernize its water and wastewater services across 750 client facilities in Ontario, Canada. The solution, built on Cisco industrial routers, addresses three key goals:

1. Standardizing data from various equipment types
2. Eliminating compliance reporting issues due to network disruptions
3. Expanding service portfolio for added customer value

The new system transforms plant data into a standard format, ensures data retention during network outages, and enables new services like energy management and asset performance monitoring. Currently deployed in over 165 facilities, OCWA aims to implement the solution in the majority of its remotely monitored facilities by 2030, with potential future applications including machine learning for predictive maintenance.

Nataliia Nahach, a Ukrainian refugee, shares her transformative journey with Cisco's TOP program. The two-year apprenticeship offers displaced individuals education, industry certification, and tailored training. Despite initial fears about lacking a technical background, Nataliia was selected as one of 10 participants. She highlights Cisco's supportive environment, comprehensive onboarding, and job rotation opportunities. The program helped Nataliia adapt to a new country and secure a permanent position as a High Touch Operations Analyst. Cisco's partnership with Tent, a global coalition supporting refugee employment, further emphasizes their commitment to helping refugees rebuild their lives.

Cisco Systems Inc. commemorates Women's Equality Day, marking the 104th anniversary of the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote in the U.S. The press release highlights the significant impact of women's voting power on societal changes and innovations. It showcases successful women leaders across various industries and emphasizes Cisco's commitment to increasing diversity in innovation through its WIN++ program.

Since launching WIN++ in 2020, Cisco has seen a 30% increase in unique women inventors listed on original U.S. patent filings and a 67% jump in approved submissions with at least one female inventor. The company encourages involvement in the program to continue breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for all.

Karissa A. Breen, Head of Cybersecurity Journalism at KBI.Media, discusses the important role of AI in cybersecurity. AI's ability to analyze vast amounts of data quickly enables it to uncover new patterns and identify potential security threats. While AI enhances threat detection and improves data security, it's also being used by threat actors for more sophisticated attacks. The cybersecurity industry faces a widening skills gap as AI adoption accelerates, creating opportunities for professionals with both technical and soft skills.

Breen emphasizes the need for diversity in cybersecurity, particularly encouraging women to enter the field. She highlights how women's unique perspectives and skills in empathy, collaboration, and problem-solving can be valuable in addressing cybersecurity challenges and shaping the future of AI in security.

Cisco has partnered with Claflin University, an HBCU in rural Orangeburg, South Carolina, to address critical broadband access challenges affecting students and the local community. The partnership includes:

1. Deployment of a private 5G network for the campus and surrounding area
2. $1.7 million donation in equipment and services for IT modernization
3. Implementation of a student help desk for community support
4. Training for the school's IT staff and upskilling through Cisco Networking Academy
5. Hosting a Cisco Cyber Security Resilience workshop

This initiative aims to bridge the digital divide, improve educational opportunities, and enhance connectivity for both the university and the Orangeburg community. The partnership serves as a model for other HBCUs and demonstrates Cisco's commitment to social justice and digital inclusion.

Cisco Networking Academy has launched a unified teaching and learning experience on NetAcad.com, integrating offerings from NetAcad.com and SkillsForAll.com. The new platform features a mobile-first design and flexibility for instructor-led, self-paced, and hybrid learning options. It includes over 50 courses in up to 18 languages, covering topics like cybersecurity, networking, AI & data science, programming, IT, digital literacy, and professional skills.

The platform supports five languages at launch: English, Arabic, French, Portuguese, and Spanish. This integration aims to scale access to quality IT education and prepare learners for technology work in the future. Cisco continues to innovate in areas such as AI, game and project-based learning, career resources, and comprehensive teaching features.

Cisco partners with various non-profits to transform underserved communities through entrepreneurial support. Highlighted collaborations include Agora Partnerships, The Bridge International, CARE Peru, Centro Community Partners, Defy Ventures, and Hand in Hand International.

Agora Partnerships focuses on SMEs in Latin America, especially women-led businesses, integrating eco-innovations and reporting 81% of participants seeing growth.

The Bridge International aids social innovators in Asia, with a 26% increase in funds raised through a revamped crowdfunding platform.

CARE Peru emphasizes female entrepreneurship through educational initiatives, impacting over 7 million people in 50 years.

Centro Community Partners assists low-income women and entrepreneurs of color, facilitating access to $4.7M in capital.

Defy Ventures supports formerly incarcerated individuals with business training and career readiness, achieving a recidivism rate of less than 10% for program graduates.

Hand in Hand International empowers women in poverty-stricken regions, reporting women entrepreneurs double their incomes.

Cisco has announced its participation in several financial community events for August and September 2024. These include conferences hosted by Jefferies, Evercore ISI, Deutsche Bank, Citi, RBC, Goldman Sachs, and JP Morgan across various locations including Chicago, Dana Point, New York, San Francisco, and London.

Key participants from Cisco include Rakesh Chopra (SVP & Fellow, Common Hardware Group), Sami Badri (VP, Head of Investor Relations), Gary Steele (President, Go-to-Market), Scott Herren (EVP and CFO), and Gordon Thomson (VP, Service Provider, EMEA).

Webcasts will be available for select events, including the Citi Global TMT Conference, RBC Virtual Investor Meeting, and Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference. No new financial information will be discussed at these events.

Cisco Networking Academy honors the International Day of the World's Indigenous People on August 9, recognizing the challenges faced by nearly half a billion Indigenous Peoples worldwide. The academy aims to empower learners in 190 countries through education and digital skills training, bridging digital divides for underrepresented communities.

The PR highlights three inspiring stories:

• Tallara, an Indigenous Australian participating in a cybersecurity program and helping remote communities get online
• Julio Lezcano, a Panamanian instructor launching community networks in Emberá indigenous communities
• Dr. Gabriella Arellano, teaching at Sitting Bull Community College and part of a consortium offering cybersecurity courses in rural tribal colleges

These examples demonstrate Cisco Networking Academy's commitment to powering inclusive futures for all, including Indigenous Peoples, through education and digital skills development.