B2B SaaS Provider
Cisco vs Zscaler
Structured technology and market comparison · 2026
Direct Feature Comparison
Cisco · vs · ZscalerEnterprise networking, security and collaboration software and infrastructure provider.
Enterprise zero trust cloud security software and managed services.
Analyze all overlapping signals and tech stacks for Cisco and Zscaler
Compare mutual enterprise clients, monetization models, live market signals, and partner networks directly in the interactive Knowledge Graph.
Comparison Analysis
What is the main difference between Cisco and Zscaler?
When comparing Cisco and Zscaler, both platforms operate within the Measurement & Analytics Platform and B2B SaaS Provider ecosystem. Cisco is positioned as Enterprise networking, security and collaboration software and infrastructure provider, whereas Zscaler focuses on Enterprise zero trust cloud security software and managed services. Decision-makers evaluate both solutions when orchestrating their commercial monetization and technology stack.
What are the top alternatives to Cisco and Zscaler?
When evaluating Cisco and Zscaler, enterprise buyers also consider other platforms in Measurement & Analytics Platform and B2B SaaS Provider. You can discover the full competitive landscape and evaluate other alternatives by viewing their respective footprint profiles on Polaris7.
How do the corporate scale, structure, and headquarters of Cisco and Zscaler compare?
Cisco is headquartered in United States (founded in 1984) with >5,000 employees. Zscaler is based in United States (founded in 2007) with >5,000 employees. Complete ownership, subsidiary trees, and corporate affiliations are documented across Polaris7.
Market Signals
Recent Market Signals & Activity: Cisco vs Zscaler
Documented market movements, strategic partnerships, product releases, and regulatory developments mapped across Polaris7.
Cisco
Recent Signals
- ·OpenAI BlogAI
Cisco Uses OpenAI Models for Machine-Speed Security Defense
Cisco is leveraging OpenAI's frontier AI models, including GPT-6 Astra and the Daybreak Defense Network, to enhance its enterprise security offerings. By combining network telemetry with AI reasoning, Cisco aims to close the gap between vulnerability exploitation and patching. The partnership emphasizes enterprise data privacy, with OpenAI's zero data retention and strict customer data boundaries. Cisco's Chief Product Officer Jeetu Patel highlights the need to defend at machine speed against AI-powered attacks. The collaboration focuses on integrating AI into existing security workflows and addressing challenges in an agentic world, such as protecting agents and detecting unintended behavior.
- Cisco and OpenAI are collaborating to integrate AI models into Cisco's security defenses.
- OpenAI's commitment to zero data retention enables Cisco to deploy AI on sensitive telemetry.
- Cisco's initiatives include Daybreak and GPT-6 Astra to improve vulnerability patching.
- ·ChipstratInfrastructure
Understanding Coherent Optics in AI Data Center Interconnects
This article explains coherent optical technology, which encodes data in light's amplitude, phase, and polarization, enabling transmission over hundreds of kilometers between AI data centers. It contrasts this with intensity modulation with direct detection (IM-DD) used inside data centers, which is limited to about 10 km. Coherent optics uses a local oscillator laser and digital signal processing (DSP) to overcome fiber dispersion and loss, supporting dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM). The article covers cost trade-offs, with a 2022 IEEE contribution estimating the coherent DSP costs 10x, lasers 15x, and receiver 20x more than 400G IM-DD modules. It highlights the shift towards coherent pluggables, citing Cignal AI's expectation of revenue growing from $2B in 2025 to $7.5B by 2030. The emerging 'coherent-lite' variant aims to bring coherent technology into campus networks, though volume adoption is not yet widespread.
- Coherent optics encodes data in amplitude, phase, and polarization, enabling transmission over hundreds of kilometers.
- A 2022 IEEE contribution estimated coherent DSP costs 10x, lasers 15x, and receivers 20x more than 400G IM-DD modules.
- Cignal AI projects coherent pluggable revenue to grow from $2B in 2025 to $7.5B by 2030.
- ·SEC APIfinancials
8-K Financial Filing Analysis for Viptela, Inc. (2026-10-09)
On October 7, 2026, the Board of Directors of Cisco Systems, Inc. appointed Girish D. Rishi, Chief Executive Officer of Cognite Holding B.V., as an independent director effective October 9, 2026. Board committee assignments for Mr. Rishi have not yet been finalized. In line with Cisco's standard non-employee director compensation framework, Mr. Rishi will receive a pro-rated annual cash retainer of $105,000, payable quarterly in arrears, along with a pro-rated initial equity award based on an annual grant value of $270,000 under the 2005 Stock Incentive Plan. He has also executed the standard corporate indemnity agreement and is eligible for up to $25,000 in annual charitable gift matching.
- Appointment of Girish D. Rishi (CEO of Cognite Holding B.V.) as an independent director effective October 9, 2026.
- Standard non-employee director compensation includes a pro-rated annual cash retainer of $105,000 and an initial equity award pro-rated from a $270,000 baseline under the 2005 Stock Incentive Plan.
- Eligibility for up to $25,000 in calendar year 2026 charitable gift matching alongside a standard indemnification agreement.
Zscaler
Recent Signals
- ·CNBC InvestingFinancials
Cybersecurity stock Zscaler's charts turn bullish: Jay Woods
In a CNBC Pro segment, technician Jay Woods discusses Zscaler (ZS), a cybersecurity company that has underperformed its sector peers. While CrowdStrike, Fortinet, Okta, and Palo Alto Networks have gained over 100% year-to-date, Zscaler shares fell as much as 65% from 52-week highs and remain down 13% this year. However, Woods observes a bottoming formation on both daily and weekly charts, with a bullish crossover in MACD and a breakout above $195 resistance. He suggests upside targets of $250-$265, representing 25-30% potential upside, with support at $165. The analysis highlights relative rotation within the cybersecurity sector, indicating that laggards like Zscaler may see renewed strength.
- Zscaler (ZS) shares fell as much as 65% from 52-week highs and remain down 13% year-to-date.
- CrowdStrike, Fortinet, Okta, and Palo Alto Networks have each gained over 100% year-to-date.
- Jay Woods identifies a bullish double bottom formation on Zscaler's weekly chart.
- ·CNBC InvestingPlatform
Investor Steve Grasso buys Cloudflare stock on AI growth
CNBC Pro contributor Steve Grasso has purchased shares of Cloudflare, a cybersecurity and network services company, citing its superior growth rate and new opportunities from AI. Grasso notes Cloudflare's revenue grew 36% year-over-year to $696 million in the last quarter, outpacing competitors CrowdStrike and Zscaler. He highlights that existing customers are increasing spending by about 20%, and AI is creating new revenue streams, such as helping companies manage AI bot traffic and using OpenAI models for security. Despite the stock trading at a premium of 40 times sales and being up 68% year-to-date, Grasso believes momentum can continue, though he advises using stop orders to manage risk. The next catalyst is Cloudflare's third-quarter earnings report.
- Cloudflare's revenue grew 36% year-over-year to $696 million in the last quarter.
- Cloudflare's stock is up about 68% this year and recently hit an all-time high.
- Cloudflare trades at roughly 40 times sales, higher than cybersecurity peers.
- ·CNBC TechnologyFinancials
Zscaler stock rises on earnings beat and upbeat guidance
Zscaler reported fiscal fourth-quarter 2026 earnings that beat Wall Street expectations, sending its stock higher. The cloud security company posted adjusted EPS of $1.19, exceeding the $1.09 estimate, and revenue of $898 million, above the $877 million forecast. Revenue jumped 25% year-over-year from $719 million. Annual recurring revenue rose 25% to $3.77 billion, surpassing StreetAccount's $3.75 billion projection. CEO Jay Chaudhry highlighted early momentum for the company's Zero Trust security solution for AI agents, which he expects to accelerate into fiscal 2028 and 2029. The company also issued better-than-expected guidance for the fiscal first quarter and full year. Despite a 20% stock decline this year, management remains confident in its differentiation strategy.
- Zscaler's adjusted EPS was $1.19 vs. $1.09 expected, revenue $898M vs. $877M expected.
- Revenue increased 25% year-over-year to $898M.
- Annual recurring revenue rose 25% to $3.77B.
Compare their exact ecosystem overlaps.
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