There are times when the world comes full circle, proving how small it actually can be. Senior Vice President of U.S. Public Sector at Cisco, Gary DePreta, has been with Cisco for the past 16 years, minus a short break. When he briefly left Cisco to work for a small startup, he had little reason to expect that one day he would be back at Cisco, and they would acquire this “little company” in a massive deal. But here we are in 2024, DePreta is back and just last month Cisco acquired his former employer, Splunk, to become one of the world’s largest software companies. At the 2024 Red, White and You public sector conference at the beginning of April, DePreta served as keynote speaker to shed light on Cisco’s strategic direction and market dynamics within the public sector.
As he emphasized the significance of his return to Cisco and the unexpected convergence with Splunk, DePreta highlighted the interconnectedness of his professional path and the broader landscape of technological innovation. Acquisitions like Splunk and the more recent, Nutanix, are fundamental in augmenting Cisco’s portfolio, enabling them to offer comprehensive solutions tailored to evolving customer needs. Intertwining his personal experiences in both federal and commercial spheres with the strategic evolution of Cisco and TD SYNNEX, DePreta captivated the audience of over 500. Central to his address was the pivotal role of the public sector in Cisco’s growth trajectory. Cisco’s solutions have been transformative within governmental agencies and educational institutions, and just in this second quarter, ending July 31, DePreta said they anticipate a double-digit growth in SLED. Much of this is due to pent-up demand fueled by delayed federal resolutions and robust state education budgets.
Focused on some of the common themes impacting the FED and SLED space, including technical debt and cybersecurity, DePreta discussed the pressing need for modernizing legacy infrastructure to mitigate cyber risks. At a time when cyber threats loom large, there is also a shortage in the skills, knowledge and experience, known as human capital, necessitating external support to navigate evolving security landscapes. “Our customers do not have the human capital, and particularly in SLED they don’t have the human capital to deploy or manage this software anymore. And that’s an opportunity, as you can see, through these trusted business relationships,” DePreta said. Against the backdrop of escalating cyber threats, DePreta articulated Cisco has an unwavering commitment to cybersecurity as a linchpin of its strategic imperatives.
Drawing from Clayton Christensen’s Innovator’s Dilemma, DePreta emphasized the concept of disruptive innovation. Opposed to sustaining innovations that focus on proven, incremental improvements, disruptive ones may seem less advanced but have the potential to transform industries. In the 1997 book, Christensen said, “the key to successful disruptive innovation is being able to see beyond the limitations of existing technologies and business models.”
Citing Cisco’s foray into cloud-managed solutions like Meraki, DePreta discussed how these disruptive innovations represent examples of delivering customer value through simplicity. According to DePreta, Meraki accounts for 20 percent of Cisco’s SLED business, and it continues to grow by double digits. “If you’re not selling Meraki, you’re not meeting the customer demand and you’re not going up that high growth opportunity. And it’s probably the biggest growth opportunity that you have,” he added.
Weaving together his personal journey, Cisco’s vision for the future, and the imperatives of the public sector, Gary DePreta’s words exemplified the interconnectedness of professional paths and technological innovation. DePreta provided a comprehensive roadmap for navigating Cisco’s growth trajectory amidst evolving market dynamics and cybersecurity challenges. As Cisco charts its course in an era of digital transformation and escalating cyber threats, his emphasis on disruptive innovation and customer-centricity underscores the company’s commitment to delivering value and driving growth. With a keen eye on addressing the pressing needs of customers, particularly in the realms of cybersecurity and legacy infrastructure modernization, Cisco stands poised to navigate the complexities of the digital landscape with resilience and agility. As reflected throughout DePreta’s keynote, it is evident that Cisco’s journey is not merely about adapting to change but embracing it as a catalyst for innovation and empowerment.
