10 Reasons Cisco Is Down, But Not Out

Just about everywhere you turn today, you'll find someone saying something bad about Cisco. The company's recent decision to lay off 6,500 employees and sell off a manufacturing plant where it had 5,000 employees has only served to pump up the volume on the chorus of critics who say that Cisco's best days are behind it, and it might be trounced by a competitor. Admittedly, when one looks at where things stand right now, it's not difficult to jump to that conclusion. Cisco seems like it's in disarray, and the company's management has done little quell unrest on Wall Street. Even worse, corporate users are unsure where the company is headed in the future, causing them to rethink their roadmaps. In many ways, it's a nightmare scenario for Cisco. But before the alarms are sounded, it's important to point out that it's not all bad. Cisco is taking action to fix things, and it has apparently changed up its strategy to more effectively focus on the enterprise market. And in the coming years, all those critics might just find a company in Cisco that's bigger and better than ever.

Here's a look at why Cisco might be down, but it's certainly not out.