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Securing the next digital leap
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With 30 years in Singapore, Cisco is expanding its role from Internet pioneer to trusted partner in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and digital resilience
'Our purpose of powering an inclusive future for all drives everything we do, from shaping strategy and governance to fostering trust, security, ethics, and a workplace where everyone can thrive,' says Bee Kheng Tay, President of Cisco ASEAN.
IN 1984, a simple desire to connect two networks sparked what would become one of the most transformative companies in modern technology. Cisco began with a vision to make communication easier, but four decades on, it is helping the world adapt to the complexities of digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI), and cybersecurity.
This year marks Cisco's 30th anniversary in Singapore. Over the past three decades, the company has evolved from its networking roots to become a key technology partner helping organisations modernise infrastructure, secure their operations, and make AI adoption more accessible.
'As the role of the network evolved, so has Cisco. Modern, resilient infrastructure is critical – not just to connect but also to protect against today's threats and harness the power of AI. With every increasing digital touchpoint comes the need for security. There is no one else in the industry that can deliver a secure networking proposition like us,' says Bee Kheng Tay, President of Cisco ASEAN.
Cisco's core belief that a more inclusive and secure future can be enabled through technology now drives every aspect of its operations in Singapore. From enterprise clients to national infrastructure, the company is investing in platforms, partnerships, and people to prepare the country for what comes next.
Connecting and protecting everything
While Cisco remains synonymous with networking, its offerings today span far beyond. The company has been leveraging its platform advantage across networking, security, observability, and collaboration to enable businesses to operate more efficiently, gain visibility into potential threats, and adopt AI at scale.
In Singapore, demand for such solutions is growing fast. According to Cisco's 2025 Global Networking Research, 97 per cent of organisations here believe a modernised network is essential for rolling out AI, Internet of Things (IoT), and cloud solutions. However, many are still playing catch-up.
Cisco's AI Readiness Index revealed that just 13 per cent of organisations in Singapore are fully prepared to deploy and leverage AI. The biggest hurdle is infrastructure. Only 22 per cent had the graphics processing units (GPUs) needed to meet current and future AI demands. And just 25 per cent had full capabilities to protect AI models using end-to-end encryption and continuous threat monitoring.
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'AI demands architectural shifts. For Cisco, we are powering AI at scale by building the AI 'superhighway', robust infrastructure built for the most demanding environments. We're here to support customers with our AI infrastructure solutions,' says Tay.
To support this shift, Cisco has launched a series of initiatives and products. For instance, its Secure AI Factory, developed with NVIDIA, provides end-to-end protection for AI workloads, while Cisco AI PODs offer plug-and-play infrastructure for AI inferencing.
Cisco and NVIDIA are working together to deliver a unified architecture for building AI-ready data centre networks.
Partnerships with purpose
Cisco's work in Singapore extends to the public sector. Through its Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) programme, Cisco collaborates with government agencies in Singapore and around the world to realise their digital agendas. The company runs this programme globally in 50 countries, with over 1,600 active, completed, or upcoming projects.
In the area of emerging technologies, Cisco has signed a Memorandum of Intent with the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) to build a testbed under CDA. Cisco will also conduct workshops and dialogues to explore AI's role in 5G cybersecurity, while providing regular updates to the industry.
Cisco has also collaborated with the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA), where both parties signed a Memorandum of Collaboration to enhance the nation's security and digital resilience. The partnership focuses on areas such as threat intelligence sharing, talent development and capacity building.
Cisco signed a Memorandum of Collaboration with the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore to enhance the nation's cyber and digital resilience.
Beyond CDA, Cisco also supports innovation through academia. In 2021, Cisco partnered with the National University of Singapore (NUS), with support from the National Research Foundation (NRF), and launched a S$54 million corporate lab focused on advancing critical areas like AI, cybersecurity, urban infrastructure, and healthcare.
Furthermore, Cisco actively engages the startup ecosystem to drive Singapore's innovation journey. To this end, the company has launched a global US$1 billion investment fund aimed at accelerating the development of secure, trustworthy AI solutions. Singapore-based startups are eligible for funding, creating new pathways for local innovators to co-develop cutting-edge technologies alongside Cisco.
These investments reflect Cisco's goal to co-develop innovative products with world-class start-ups, building upon its strategy to connect and protect enterprises in the AI era.
Driving inclusion through digital skills
At the heart of Cisco's strategy is a long-term commitment to inclusion. Through various initiatives, the company has reached over 24 million learners across 191 countries since 1997, and has a goal to train 25 million more people in digital and cybersecurity by 2032. In Singapore alone, Cisco has trained more than 110,000 students through 24 local academies under the Cisco Networking Academy, a global skills-to-jobs programme.
The programme not only targets students and jobseekers, but also serves vulnerable communities. In 2021, Cisco began working with Jesuit Refugee Service in Singapore to provide professional IT training to displaced individuals. Despite limited access to technology, four refugees went on to become certified Cisco instructors and secured internships with IT consulting firms.
Beyond Singapore, the CDA programme has supported crisis response and smart city development in ASEAN. When Typhoon Odette struck the Philippines in 2021, Cisco deployed emergency response vehicles equipped with satellite and Wi-Fi technology to restore communication for residents and relief workers. In Baguio City, Cisco helped set up a Smart City Command Centre, enabling real-time monitoring of urban infrastructure, traffic, and safety systems.
'Our purpose of powering an inclusive future for all drives everything we do, from shaping strategy and governance to fostering trust, security, ethics, and a workplace where everyone can thrive,' Tay says.
This commitment to inclusion is also reflected in the way it supports and empowers its own people. The company has cultivated a workplace culture that prioritises inclusion, flexibility and trust.
Monthly check-ins between leadership and staff, flexible work options and mentoring networks such as Women of Cisco are just some of the initiatives that foster a connected and resilient workforce.
For its efforts, Cisco Singapore has ranked among the top places to work on the 'Best Workplaces in Singapore' list from 2020 to 2024. In 2024, it took the top spot for the third consecutive year in both the technology sector and the overall medium-sized business category.
Preparing for the next wave
Looking ahead, Cisco sees new challenges emerging from the rapid rise of agentic AI. Unlike traditional AI models, agentic AI involves multi-agent systems working across multiple clouds and data centres. These systems require high-speed communication and secure collaboration.
Cisco is responding with purpose-built, secure infrastructure and native AI tools. For instance, its Smart Switches solution is designed to handle AI workloads at speed, while Cisco Cloud Control, provides centralised management of cross-product workflows. Complementing these solutions are tools focused on security and risk management. Cisco Hypershield automates security policy updates across distributed systems, while AI Defense addresses threats from shadow AI deployments.
Tay believes the future belongs to those who can secure and scale innovation responsibly. 'We are committed to innovating responsibly, ethically, and sustainably to shape this future and support enterprises as they embark on and scale their AI journeys,' she says.
That future is already being built in Singapore, where Cisco continues to invest in partnerships, technology and people. From powering national security to expanding access to education, Cisco's story in Singapore is one of growth through connection.
30 years of digital partnership in Singapore
From national infrastructure to community programmes, Cisco's impact in Singapore has been both deep and wide. Here are some key initiatives:
Cybersecurity collaboration: Cisco signed a Memorandum of Collaboration with the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore to enhance the nation's cyber and digital resilience.
Smart nation enabler: A 5G testbed developed with IMDA, alongside other pilot projects with industry players, are supporting Singapore's ambitions in connectivity and public safety.
S$54 million corporate lab: Cisco-NUS Corporate Lab, supported by the National Research Foundation, is focused on advancing critical areas like AI, cybersecurity, urban infrastructure, and healthcare.
AI startup investment: Singapore innovators can tap into Cisco's global US$1 billion AI investment fund to co-develop secure, next-generation solutions.
Upskilling for inclusion: Over 110,000 learners have trained through Cisco Networking Academy in Singapore, including displaced individuals supported by Jesuit Refugee Service.
