---
title: "Cisco"
description: "Cisco is a maker of networking gear: routers, switches and firewalls. Learn the role of Cisco devices in corporate networks and data center infrastructure."
url: "https://nodea.io/en/glossary/cisco"
lang: "en"
updated: "2026-07-13"
---

# Cisco

> Cisco is one of the world's largest makers of networking hardware and software, whose routers, switches and firewalls form the backbone of corporate networks and data centers.

**Cisco** is an American company and one of the world's largest manufacturers of networking hardware and software. Cisco solutions — routers, switches, firewalls and access points — form the physical backbone over which data travels in corporate networks, at internet service providers and inside data centers. In the industry, the brand name has become almost synonymous with professional networking infrastructure.

## The role Cisco plays

Cisco's portfolio covers devices operating at successive layers of the network. **Routers** direct packets between different networks and decide the path data takes. **Switches** connect devices within a local network and manage traffic at the frame level. **Firewalls** and intrusion detection systems filter traffic for threats, acting as an advanced [firewall](https://nodea.io/en/glossary/firewall).

These devices are managed through Cisco's own operating system, IOS, and the command-line interface known as [CLI](https://nodea.io/en/glossary/cli). Cisco also develops software solutions: software-defined networking (SDN) controllers, security platforms and cloud services, so the brand today reaches well beyond hardware alone.

## Practical applications

You will find Cisco equipment mainly in environments with high reliability and throughput requirements.

- **Data centers** — Cisco switches and routers handle traffic between hundreds of servers while maintaining [high availability](https://nodea.io/en/glossary/high-availability).
- **Enterprise networks** — connecting company branches, running [VPN](https://nodea.io/en/glossary/vpn) tunnels and segmenting traffic for security.
- **Internet providers** — Cisco edge routers direct enormous volumes of data between networks.

For IT professionals, knowing how to configure Cisco devices is a valuable skill, validated by the popular CCNA and CCNP certifications. In modern infrastructure, Cisco solutions often work alongside load balancing and network virtualization.

### What are Cisco devices used for?

Cisco devices route traffic across networks (routers), connect computers on a local network (switches) and protect infrastructure (firewalls and intrusion prevention systems). They form the foundation of enterprise networks and data centers.

## Related

- [Firewall](https://nodea.io/en/glossary/firewall)
- [Load balancer](https://nodea.io/en/glossary/load-balancer)
- [VPN](https://nodea.io/en/glossary/vpn)
- [Server](https://nodea.io/en/glossary/server)
- [DNS](https://nodea.io/en/glossary/dns)

---

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