Cisco Systems Accelerates Security Growth Amid Competition from Datadog and CrowdStrike

Cisco Systems (CSCO) is expanding its security offerings and gaining momentum in the market. The company's integrated approach to combining networking with security through Secure Access, XDR, Hypershield, and AI Defense has enhanced its ability to address customers seeking unified visibility and protection across networks, applications, users, and AI agents.

CSCO's entire security portfolio, including Splunk, recorded double-digit order growth in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026. More than 1,500 customers purchased newer offerings such as Secure Access, XDR, Hypershield, and AI Defense during the quarter, taking total net new customers since launch to more than 6,400.

The company is also broadening its AI-driven operations capabilities with Cisco Cloud Control having nearly 4,500 enterprises signed up for it in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026. Resilient Infrastructure Services, powered by Cisco IQ, had over 8,600 customers at the same time.