Jeetu Patel: Cisco’s AI-powered cybersecurity future

In this episode of Inside the Network, we sit down with Jeetu Patel, Cisco’s Executive Vice President and Chief Product Officer. Jeetu previously led Cisco’s Security and Collaboration business units. Under his leadership, these divisions have become major growth engines fueled by AI-driven innovation, strategic acquisitions, and a renewed focus on user experience.

With a market cap of $250 billion and a security business generating $10 billion in revenue, Cisco is evolving into a different kind of startup, one that moves with speed and urgency. Jeetu shares why he joined Cisco to spearhead this transformation and how the company is positioning itself in the cybersecurity space, competing with incumbents like Palo Alto Networks and Zscaler, as well as disruptors like Wiz and Cato Networks. We explore how Cisco’s $28 billion acquisition of Splunk, along with key deals like Armorblox, Isovalent, and Robust Intelligence, is reshaping its security business. Jeetu also dives into the challenges CISOs face today - tool sprawl, talent shortages, and AI-driven threats - and how Cisco plans to simplify security at scale.

For founders, Jeetu breaks down his six-vector rubric for evaluating opportunities, the key factors Cisco considers in acquisitions, and what startup leaders need to do to get Cisco’s attention. He also provides an inside look at Cisco’s legendary distribution machine and how startups can leverage it for hypergrowth. Finally, we discuss Jeetu’s concept of a "personal board" and his views on navigating geopolitical challenges in the tech industry.