Do we like them?

Do we like Cisco?

Makes networking, security and collaboration hardware and software; based in San Jose, California.

Our score: 6 out of 10. A big, mostly steady business with a decent record. It has had layoffs and a pay-bias settlement, and we found no big scandal. We'd back it, with some caution.

Cisco is the networking giant in San Jose. Chuck Robbins took over as CEO in July 2015 from John Chambers. In May 2026 he was telling investors that AI is driving a 'networking super cycle'.

In 2020 Cisco agreed with the US Department of Labor to pay $2 million in back wages and interest over pay-bias claims in San Jose. It also agreed to at least $2.7 million in pay-equity adjustments.

Cisco has cut jobs several times. It announced about 4,000 cuts, roughly 5% of staff, in February 2024. Later it cut 221 people in California days after Robbins said AI wouldn't cost jobs. A law firm said it was looking into whether proper notice was given. No violation has been confirmed.

Overall we'd give it a middling-to-good score. The harm is mostly about how it treats staff, and we found nothing dramatic. Our searches also turned up little in the way of big good deeds.