SAN JOSE, Calif., May 6, 2002 - Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) today introduced the Cisco Growing with Technology Awards 2002 contest, which recognizes small and medium-sized businesses that demonstrate how networking technology solutions can effectively address business challenges and drive growth and profitability. A judging panel of seven industry experts will review entries and select winners in four business categories.

According to AMI Partners, there are more than 7.5 million small and medium-sized businesses in the U.S. today (companies with less than 1,000 employees). Combined, these organizations employ a work force of more than 91 million people -- almost two-thirds of the entire U.S. labor force. Their aggregate revenues in 2001 amounted to more than $20.6 trillion. In IDC's eWorld 2001 survey of small and medium-sized businesses, 56 percent of the companies leverage some level of eBusiness application to achieve higher financial performance and increase customer satisfaction.

"Networking technology is changing the way small and medium-sized companies do business by helping these organizations grow their bottom lines while retaining the advantages of being lean and profitable," said Joe Diodati, director of market development of Cisco Systems' Worldwide Commercial Marketing Segment. "The theme for this year's contest is: Brains, Technology, and Glory. Being honored as a Cisco Growing with Technology Award 2002 winner will distinguish recipients as business leaders and technology innovators."

Award Categories and Prizes

Judges will select one winner and two runners-up in the following four categories: Sales and Marketing, Customer Relationship Management, Operational Excellence, and E-Commerce.

Grand-prize winners in each category will receive a $25,000 Cisco gift certificate for the purchase of Cisco gear, and one complimentary networking assessment and consultation. The Grand-prize winners and runners-up will also have opportunities to participate in speaking engagements at national business events, as well as wide-spread recognition and exposure opportunities associated with the award's distinguished panel of judges. The winners and runners-up will be announced and honored at a special ceremony in November 2002.

Criteria for Selection of Award Finalists

Judges will evaluate companies who have significantly improved their business through networking technology-based solutions. Criteria for selection will be based upon companies that:

• Improved revenue by entering new markets, introducing new products or reaching new prospects
• Adopted a new business model or reengineered their operations to cut costs or spark growth
• Give new meaning to the terms "customer support," "customer feedback," "supplier relations," or "strategic partnership"
• Overcame boundaries of size, time, and space
• Moved from a local or regional market into a national or international market

The Cisco Growing with Technology Awards 2002 Panel of Judges

A prestigious panel of judges has been selected from a diverse, cross-section of small and medium business representatives to review and select the winners of this year's contest. Members include: Joe Diodati, Cisco Systems; Josh Hyatt, executive editor, FSB: Fortune Small Business magazine; Geri Spieler, research director, Gartner/G2; Heather Alter, editor-in-chief, iQ magazine; Ray Boggs, vice president of small business and home office research, IDC; Christian Dussart, senior lecturer, Sloan school of management, MIT; and Mark Quinn, district director, Small Business Administration.

"A successful business is not measured in size, but on how it conducts business in the marketplace. Understanding what customers need and want - and when they want it - goes to the core of the company," said Geri Spieler. "Improving customer relationships, increasing revenue and gaining a competitive edge begins with the basics of networking the entire business process. Networking technology enables businesses of any size to have access to real-time information at the critical moments to make informed business decisions."

Entries for the Cisco Growing with Technology Awards 2002 program are now being accepted on the Web. The deadline to submit online applications will be July 31, 2002. For further information on the awards and directions on how to apply, please visit http://www.cisco.com/go/technology_awards/.