Yes—Cisco did announce a second 2024 workforce reduction. On August 14, 2024, the company disclosed a restructuring plan expected to affect approximately 7% of its global workforce, widely reported as about 6,000 jobs. The announcement came five days after a Reuters-based report said Cisco could reveal cuts alongside its fiscal fourth-quarter results.
The original August 9 report was a forecast based on sources who were not authorized to speak publicly. It was not an official Cisco announcement at the time.
What the August 9 report actually said
The August 9 report said Cisco could announce another round of layoffs as soon as Wednesday, August 14, when it was scheduled to release fiscal fourth-quarter and full-year 2024 results. Sources told Reuters that the reduction could be at least comparable to Cisco’s February cuts, which affected more than 4,000 employees.
- Status on August 9: reported expectation, not company confirmation.
- Possible announcement date: August 14, alongside earnings.
- Expected scale: similar to or somewhat larger than the February reduction.
- Source limitations: the sources were not authorized to speak publicly.
Network World’s Reuters-based account also connected the expected cuts with weak or uneven demand, supply-chain pressure in Cisco’s traditional networking business, competitive pressure and the integration of Splunk.
#1 Best Overall
- SWITCH PORTS: 16 -Port 10/100/1000
- SIMPLE: Plug-and-play without a need for IT know-how or support.
- FLEXIBLE: Extensive portfolio provides ultimate flexibility from 5 to 24 ports and PoE combinations
- PERFORMANCE: Gigabit Ethernet and integrated quality-of-service (QoS) intelligence optimize delay-sensitive services and improve overall network performance.
- INNOVATIVE DESIGN: Elegant and compact design, ideal for installation outside of wiring closet such as retail stores, open plan offices, and classrooms
What Cisco announced on August 14
Cisco reported its fiscal fourth-quarter results and disclosed a restructuring plan the same day. In its filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Cisco said the plan was expected to affect approximately 7% of its global workforce. Contemporary coverage commonly translated that percentage into approximately 6,000 jobs; the company’s filing established the percentage rather than a precise headcount.
Cisco said the restructuring was intended to let it invest in key growth opportunities and improve efficiency. The announcement was a plan, not proof that every affected employee was notified or that all jobs disappeared on August 14.
The company estimated up to $1 billion in pretax restructuring charges, including severance, termination benefits and related costs. Cisco expected approximately $700 million to $800 million of those charges in the first quarter of fiscal 2025, with the remainder recognized during the rest of that fiscal year. See the SEC Form 8-K and Cisco’s investor-relations release.
Rank #2
- SWITCH PORTS: 5 -Port 10/100/1000
- SIMPLE: Plug-and-play without a need for IT know-how or support.
- FLEXIBLE: Extensive portfolio provides ultimate flexibility from 5 to 24 ports and PoE combinations
- PERFORMANCE: Gigabit Ethernet and integrated quality-of-service (QoS) intelligence optimize delay-sensitive services and improve overall network performance.
- INNOVATIVE DESIGN: Elegant and compact design, ideal for installation outside of wiring closet such as retail stores, open plan offices, and classrooms
How the 2024 reductions add up
| Announcement | Official description | Commonly reported headcount |
|---|---|---|
| February 14, 2024 | Approximately 5% of the workforce | More than 4,000, often reported as about 4,200 |
| August 14, 2024 | Approximately 7% of the global workforce | About 6,000, according to contemporary reporting |
| Combined | Two announced reductions | Roughly 10,000 jobs, an approximation rather than a single official cumulative figure |
Cisco reported approximately 84,900 employees as of July 2023 in the context of the February reduction. Five percent of that figure is about 4,245, which explains the widely cited “more than 4,000” or approximately 4,200 estimate. The February announcement is documented in Reuters coverage syndicated by Investing.com.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Timeline of the Cisco restructuring story
- February 14, 2024: Cisco announces a reduction affecting approximately 5% of its workforce.
- March 2024: Cisco completes its approximately $28 billion acquisition of Splunk.
- August 9, 2024: Reuters sources report that another announcement could come with Cisco’s earnings.
- August 14, 2024: Cisco confirms the 7% restructuring plan and reports fiscal-year results.
Why Cisco said it was restructuring
Cisco’s stated priorities
Cisco described the plan as a way to invest in growth opportunities while driving greater efficiency. The company’s strategic focus included artificial intelligence, security, networking, software and recurring revenue. That language points to portfolio reallocation and cost management, not an announced exit from networking.
Business pressures reported at the time
The August 9 report cited sluggish demand and supply-chain constraints affecting Cisco’s main business. Cisco was also trying to diversify beyond traditional networking as competition increased and as it integrated Splunk.
Rank #3
- Cisco Catalyst 2960X-48LPS-L Ethernet Switch - 48 Ports - Manageable - 48 x POE - 5 x Expansion Slots - 10/100/1000Base-T - PoE Ports - Rack-mountable
- Cisco Catalyst 2960X-48LPS-L Ethernet Switch
- 48 Ports - Manageable - 48 x POE - 5 x Expansion Slots - 10/100/1000Base-T - PoE Ports - Rack-mountable
Analyst interpretation
Scott Bickley of Info-Tech Research Group said Cisco and Dell were streamlining operations to protect margins amid tepid customer demand and competition. He identified Arista Networks as pressure on Cisco’s core networking position and lower-cost PC makers, including Acer, as pressure on Dell. He also suggested that Cisco’s Splunk acquisition could create overlapping management and sales functions and integration costs.
Those are analyst interpretations, not a company-provided breakdown of why each position was eliminated. Cisco did not disclose how many August jobs were attributable to Splunk, AI, sales, engineering or any particular geography.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minutePC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11What Dell had to do with the headline
Dell was the comparison that prompted the original framing, not evidence of a coordinated program. Contemporary reporting described Dell as cutting thousands of sales employees during a reorganization intended to increase revenue from AI-related products through a new AI-focused sales structure.
Rank #4
- 𝗙𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝟮.𝟱 𝗚𝗯𝗽𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿-𝗙𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: 5× 2.5-Gigabit ports unlock the highest performance of your Multi-Gig bandwidth and devices, and provide up to 25 Gbps of switching capacity.
- 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗼-𝗡𝗲𝗴𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Auto-negotiation intelligently senses the link speeds and adjusts between 3-speeds (100Mb/1G/2.5G) for compatibility and optimal performance for all your devices, including 2.5G WiFi 6 AP, 2.5G NAS, 2.5G PCIe Adapter, 2.5G Server, gaming computer, 4K video, and more.
- 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗩𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗦𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘀: Built for LAN parties, home entertainment, small and home offices, and instant transfer for workstations.
- 𝗛𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗹𝗲-𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴: Instantly upgrade to 2.5 Gbps without the need to upgrade to Cat6 wiring, reducing wiring costs and hassle. *
- 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Industry-leading fanless design ensures silent operation, ideal for any home or business.
The companies were grouped together because both were redirecting resources toward strategically important or faster-growing markets. There is no evidence that Dell’s cuts caused Cisco’s, that the companies announced a joint plan, or that Cisco formally said it was “following Dell.”
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How the earnings results change the interpretation
Cisco’s August 14 release shows why the event should not be described as a simple financial collapse.
| Metric | Fiscal 2024 result |
|---|---|
| Fiscal fourth-quarter revenue | $13.6 billion |
| Product-order growth | 14% year over year, or 6% excluding Splunk |
| Fiscal-year revenue | Approximately $53.8 billion |
| Total subscription revenue | $27.4 billion, including Splunk |
| Annualized recurring revenue | $29.6 billion, including $4.3 billion from Splunk |
| GAAP fiscal-year net income | Approximately $10.3 billion, down 18% |
These figures show the tension in the announcement: Cisco had strong order and recurring-revenue indicators while still managing weaker areas, integration costs and a strategic shift. Workforce reductions can therefore accompany investment in growth and margin management rather than signal an immediate inability to operate. Cisco’s full release is available in its newsroom announcement.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Best Value
- GIGABIT ETHERNET PORTS: Features 5 x 1.0Gbps Ethernet ports for high-speed connectivity. Auto-negotiating ports detect the optimal speed for connected devices and work with existing Cat5e or Cat6 Ethernet cables.
- PLUG-AND-PLAY UNMANAGED NETWORK SWITCH: Simple plug-and-play setup with no software to install or configuration required.
- FLEXIBLE MOUNTING OPTIONS: Compact metal design supports desktop or wall-mount placement for versatile installation.
- SILENT & ENERGY-EFFICIENT OPERATION: Fanless design ensures silent performance, while IEEE 802.3az Energy Efficient Ethernet reduces power consumption without compromising high-speed network performance.
- REGIONAL COMPATIBILITY: Made for use in U.S. & CA only
The role of Splunk
Cisco completed the approximately $28 billion Splunk acquisition in March 2024. The transaction expanded Cisco’s software and security footprint and contributed to its recurring-revenue growth, but it also brought integration work, financing costs and the possibility of overlapping organizational functions.
Splunk integration is therefore relevant context and a plausible factor identified by analysts. No cited primary source assigns a specific number of the August layoffs to Splunk, so it should not be presented as the confirmed cause of the reduction.
What employees, investors and customers should take from it
Employees
The 7% figure describes the planned global workforce impact. It does not establish a complete departmental, geographic or seniority breakdown, nor does it mean every employment action occurred on announcement day.
Investors
The up-to-$1-billion estimate is a near-term restructuring cost. It should be distinguished from any recurring operating savings that may emerge later; Cisco did not describe the charge as an immediate cash saving.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Customers
The announcement described resource reallocation and efficiency efforts, not abandonment of Cisco’s networking business or a statement that product support would end.
Bottom line
The August 9 report was a genuine pre-announcement account that was resolved five days later. Cisco announced a second 2024 restructuring on August 14, affecting approximately 7% of its global workforce—widely reported as about 6,000 jobs—with up to $1 billion in pretax charges. Dell supplied the comparison, but the available evidence does not show a coordinated Cisco-Dell plan. Cisco framed its action as a combination of efficiency, growth investment and strategic repositioning after a major Splunk acquisition.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
