Austin – Analysis 1

Sean Austin
CST 3000 – Writing Lab
21 January 2018

Industry Analysis Overview

In the field of Computer Science, one of the most fascinating aspects is in the segment for

Network Security and Administration. My understanding of the definitions of a network

administrator, for example, includes a job in which someone administrates the network. This

means monitoring it and making sure it’s okay. It also means making sure that all of the

hardware connections to the network are okay and that the network itself is reliable. This is the

responsibility or one person or a team of people, depending on the size of the network. Network

security involves insuring that the network is safe from outside intrusion and hacks. It also means

safeguarding the information contained therein and preventing unauthorized individuals form

stealing the material. The companies that are most focused on this segment include IBM

Security, Raytheon, Mimecast, Lockheed-Martin, Cisco, and BAE Systems. These companies

have at least half of their corporate focus going toward network security and network

administration (Aspa, J., 2017). Of those companies, Cisco Systems, Inc. of San Jose, CA is my

chosen focus.

Cisco Systems, Inc. has its’ main headquarters in San Jose, CA. They currently have 387

satellite offices in 165 countries worldwide, on six different continents. The company employs

over 73,000 employees worldwide as of the fourth quarter of FY 2016. Their main products and

services include networking, security, analytics, software development, and wireless and

mobility solutions (Cisco Systems, Inc., 2017).

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The company was founded in 1984 by Leonard Bosack and Sandy Lerner. The two had

met while students at Stanford University outside of San Jose, CA. While attending school there,

they found something likable about each other and were married soon after graduation. Later,

they were both hired to run computer operations in two different departments on the Stanford

campus. They found that they couldn’t communicate via computer between the two departments

and were determined to find a way. They discovered a device and system called the Advanced

Gateway Server, developed by Yeager and Bechtolsheim at Stanford in the 1970’s. By devising a

way to utilize the system for use between the two departments, they were able to communicate.

With more research and study, Bossack and Lerner determined a way in which the technology

could be made viable for the private sector, outside the university. The pair first went to the

university board to present their idea of commercializing the concept for outside use but the

university was not interested at the time. They then created a company to forward this idea and

called it Cisco, a play on the city name of nearby San Francisco (Lewis, R., 2017).

There are three major players of Cisco systems that will be introduced. The first is Chuck

Robbins, the current CEO and Chairman of the Board of Cisco Systems. Mr. Robbins has over

20 years with Cisco, acting as senior vice president for a number of different departments and

functions. He has earned a B.S. in Mathematics with a CS minor from the University of North

Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1987. He was named as CEO of Cisco on 26 July, 2015 Cisco

Systems, Inc., 2018). The next major player of Cisco is the first of two co-founders of the

company, Leonard Bosack. Mr. Bosack graduated from the Wharton School of Business in 1973

and began studying Computer Science at Stanford in 1979. His primary focus was to

commercialize the Advanced Gateway Server for Cisco (IT History Society, 2018). The third
 Austin – Analysis 3

major player, and the second of the two co-founders, is Sandy Lerner. Ms. Lerner earned her

undergrad degree from CSU-Chico in 1971, M.A. from Claremont Graduate School in

econometrics, and an M.S. in Statistics and Computer Science from Stanford University. She

was the driving force behind the business of Cisco until she was dismissed from the company in

1990 (Encyclopedia of World Biography, 2018).

Cisco Systems has a number of products and services available including networking,

security, analytics, software development, and wireless and mobility solutions (Cisco Systems,

Inc., 2018). The company’s “Top Sellers” are Ethernet switches and enterprise routers in

products, and network and security management solutions in services. Their products

consistently sell well as they are the leader in the industry (Cisco Systems, Inc., 2018).

Cisco Systems, Inc., enjoys a great reputation in the business and IT worlds. Cisco has

focused much of their energy and efforts on their customer relations and delivering on

commitments to meet or exceed expectations (Lloyd, R., 2011). Employee relations are positive

with around 81% of current and former employees saying that they would recommend the

company to someone looking for work (Glassdoor.com, 2018). Cisco has enjoyed 16 straight

years on the Forbe’s list of best companies to work for and their workforce diversity is

approximately 22% female (Maranjian, S., 2013). Financially, it was reported that product sales

have stagnated somewhat, resulting in a 2-3% decrease in sales for FY 2017. Analysts are

predicting a continued decline while the company attempts to redefine itself from its offerings

being equally products and services to primarily services over the course of the next fiscal year

(Trefis Team, 2017).

 Austin – Analysis 4

Trends in the field of network security include finding solutions to answer the security

instability inherit with mobile devices connected to a hardened network through Wi-Fi, either

corporate through BYOD or private with roaming users on mobile networks, web server

protection from malicious code distribution and data stealing attacks, developing sound security

for future iPv6 protocol implementation, and developing and implementing Cloud security in

harmony with hardline and legacy network connections (Horwitz, L., 2018). With regard to

growth in this segment of IT, all indications point to continued growth with at least one analyst

predicting an increase in corporate network security outlays, increasing from $120B in 2017 to

$1T in 2021, an 8% increase of outlays over that time (Cybersecurity Ventures, 2017). Future

developments in network security products would include continued advances in biometric

hardware, antivirus and anti-intrusion software with intuitive, self-learning functionality, and

self-protecting mobile and desktop applications which prevent, or hamper, network incursions at

the source (Horwitz, L., 2018). The network security and administration field is seeking

employment candidates with at least 3 years of practical IT experience, exposure to WAN/LAN,

exposure to network administration, and possessing of any of a number of vendor, government or

association issued security certifications (Glassdoor, 2018) (Tittel & Lindros, 2017).

The jobs that have attracted the majority of my attention within the network security field

include the network security engineer and the information security engineer. In an attempt to

obtain one of these positions in time, it has been advised to build a solid foundation. I intend to

follow the protocol of classes offered to me in the CSUMB curriculum for the BS in Computer

Science, online course. Foundational courses that will be taken include a solid background in
 Austin – Analysis 5

mathematics, programming, planning, and analysis of programs and systems. Upon this

foundation will be added courses which directly address a specific discipline, in this case,

Network Administration and Security. These courses addressing a specific discipline will include

network fundamentals, network security, and network management and administration. The core

classes will provide a solid foundation and the elective courses that I take will allow me to focus

my attention and energy towards my desired discipline.

In trying to get and maintain a position in this field, I will need to learn a lot. What I

don’t really need to learn is writing, but here I am anyway. I have a very succinct way of writing.

Whatever I have put down on paper is the result of perhaps hours of poring over material and

considering how best to present the information in a quick, accessible way that flows well, is not

boring, and perhaps is presented in such a way that the reader will carry this information with

them for a while. This is not easy for me. When I first came back to school, it was a real

challenge for me to focus my writing. I would ramble on and on about things that may have had

nothing to do with the topic at all. This was a really old habit. But with concentration and a ton

of work, I was able to focus my writing properly and I could do it reasonably well, keeping a

sharp focus on the topic at hand. So, when I finally got to CSUMB, a four year university, I

thought that the quality of my writing would be enough to carry me. Imagine my dismay to find

that wasn’t the case at all. Instead, I’m finding that I will have to unlearn all of my carefully

crafted skills in focusing a topic and writing succinctly so that, when I come up short on pages, I

can ramble on and on about insignificant nuances or write about how distressing it is to unlearn

how to write properly. It’s almost insulting to know that I’m betraying myself in order to

accomplish this.
 Austin – Analysis 6

In preparation for entering the workforce in my desired field, I will need to address areas

that deal with building relationships, rather than a more practical, hands-on approach, although if

the latter becomes available, I will exercise that opportunity. I will connect or re-connect with

friends that own or work for businesses with a focus, or a segment of their business, dealing with

network security. As I can, I will involve myself with some of the ongoing projects that they may

have to familiarize myself with the rudimentary skills necessary to walk into and work in a

network security position. I will also research and pursue, as I can, network security

certifications, sponsored by vendors, government, or organization, as they apply to the field of

endeavor that I find, or am counseled towards. As I proceed into my degree discipline, I will gain

insight and a better understanding of where my focus should be and what certifications to pursue.

One possible route is through the County of Los Angeles as they have IT intern positions

available to students completing a degree program. I am now two years into this process.
 Austin – Analysis 7

References

Aspa, J. (2017, December 5). Top 10 Cybersecurity Companies. Retrieved from

InvestingNews.com: https://investingnews.com/daily/tech-investing/cybersecurity-

investing/top-cyber-security-companies/

Cisco Systems, Inc. (2017). Corpoprate Info. Retrieved from Cisco:

https://newsroom.cisco.com/overview

Cisco Systems, Inc. (2018). Chuck Robbins - Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Retrieved

from Cisco: https://newsroom.cisco.com/chuck-robbins?articleId=423653

Cisco Systems, Inc. (2018). Products and Services. Retrieved from Cisco:

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/index.html

Cisco Systems, Inc. (2018). What Is Network Security? Retrieved from Cisco:

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/security/what-is-network-security.html

Cybersecurity Ventures. (2017). Cybersecurity Market Report. Retrieved from Cybersecurity

Ventures: https://cybersecurityventures.com/cybersecurity-market-report/

Encyclopedia of World Biography. (2018). Sandy Lerner Biography. Retrieved from

Encyclopedia of World Biography:

http://www.notablebiographies.com/newsmakers2/2005-La-Pr/Lerner-Sandy.html

Glassdoor. (2018). Job Listing. Retrieved from Glassdoor.com:

https://www.glassdoor.com/Job/network-security-engineer-jobs-SRCH_KO0,25.htm

Glassdoor.com. (2018, January). Cisco Systems. Retrieved from Glassdoor:

https://www.glassdoor.com/Overview/Working-at-Cisco-Systems-EI_IE1425.11,24.htm

Great Speculations, Trefis Team. (2017, August 15). Cisco's Core Product Sales Growth Likely

To Be Limited. Retrieved from Forbe's:

 Austin – Analysis 8

https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2017/08/15/ciscos-core-product-sales-

growth-likely-to-be-limited/#3907f76b2a8a

Horwitz, L. (2018). he future of networking: A guide to the intelligent network. Retrieved from

Cisco: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/solutions/enterprise-networks/future-of-

networking.html

IT Business Edge. (2018). Eight Trends That Are Changing Network Security. Retrieved from IT

Business Edge: https://www.itbusinessedge.com/slideshows/eight-trends-that-are-

changing-network-security.html

IT History Society. (2018). Mr. Leonard Bosack. Retrieved from IT History Society:

https://www.ithistory.org/honor-roll/mr-leonard-bosack

Lewis, R. (2017, March 21). Cisco Systems - American Company. Retrieved from Encyclopaedia

Brittanica: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Cisco-Systems-Inc

Lloyd, R. (2011, September 12). Trust, Relationships and Reputation: How Cisco Differs from

the Competition. Retrieved from Cisco Blogs: https://blogs.cisco.com/news/trust-

relationships-and-reputation-how-cisco-differs-from-the-competition

Maranjian, S. (2013, April 18). 5 Leading Companies in Employee Relations. Retrieved from

The Motley Fool: https://www.fool.com/investing/general/2013/04/18/5-leading-

companies-in-employee-relations.aspx

Tittel, E., & Lindros, K. (2017, December 12). Best Information Security Certifications 2018.

Retrieved from TomsITPro.com: http://www.tomsitpro.com/articles/information-

security-certifications,2-205.html

Trefis Team. (2017, August 15). Cisco's Core Product Sales Growth Likely To Be Limited.

Forbe's, p. Online.
Austin – Analysis 9