Cisco ready for "AI revolution" as it acquires Splunk in $28 billion deal

Networking giant Cisco acquired digital infrastructure company Splunk and says the merger will allow them to "supercharge" and revolutionize the way it wields artificial intelligence for its customers.

Cisco announced plans to acquire software company Splunk in September 2023 and announced the completion of the deal on Monday in a press release

The acquisition of Splunk now makes Cisco one of the largest software companies in the world, Cisco said in the release.

"We will revolutionize the way our customers leverage data to connect and protect every aspect of their organization as we help power and protect the AI revolution," Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins said in a statement.

The company also made the announcement in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"Cisco, now supercharged by @Splunk, will revolutionize the way customers use data to power and protect the AI revolution," states the post.

The combined companies "will provide truly comprehensive visibility and insights across an organization's entire digital footprint," said Gary Steele, the executive vice president and general manager of Splunk, in a statement.

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Cisco acquires Splunk: transaction details

Cisco acquired Splunk for roughly $28 billion, or about $157 per share in cash, the companies said. Combined, Cisco and Splunk "can create new profitable revenue streams," they said. 

With Splunk, Cisco looks to revolutionize AI

Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins said the merger would help prevent cybersecurity threats and limit downtime for its customers, by providing "secure customer and employee experiences across the physical, digital, and AI-powered worlds," in a blog post.

Combined, the companies can revolutionize AI and cybersecurity offerings for customers, Robbins said.

"To truly reap the benefits of AI, organizations need the infrastructure to power it, the data to develop it, a security platform to protect it, and an observability platform to monitor and manage it in real-time," he writes in the post. "They also need a trusted, strategic partner by their side every step of the way. With our combined solutions and services, we can ensure our customers are well-positioned to win in the era of AI."

What is Cisco? What does the company do?

San Jose-headquartered Cisco, which sells hardware and telecom equipment, is best known for its networking products and IT services, according to news site Tech Monitor.

"Our purpose is to power an inclusive future for all by helping our customers reimagine their applications, power hybrid work, secure their enterprise, transform their infrastructure, and meet their sustainability goals," stated Cisco in its press release.

What is Splunk? Why did Cisco want it?

Splunk is a San Francisco-based software company that creates AI programs that search, monitor and analyze data created by machines – and helps more quickly identify threats on networks.

Its software simplifies the way companies collect and manage huge volumes of machine-generated data and how they search for information found in that data, according to cybersecurity company Fortinet.

Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. She has covered various topics, from local businesses and government in her hometown, Miami, to tech and pop culture. You can follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz.