SAN JOSE, Calif., April 21, 2003 - Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO), today introduced a suite of new intelligent network solutions to help small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) improve operational efficiencies, increase productivity and sustain competitive advantage.

The SMB offerings - available for purchase from Cisco partners as part of a "Cisco Growing with Technology Solutions" program - include core network foundation products (switching and routing), as well as Cisco security, IP communications, and mobility technologies. These solutions have been tailored to help SMBs meet their current and future networking needs, while optimizing network investments. They include all Cisco SMB-scale products, and are compatible with Cisco's AVVID architecture for enterprise networks and with Cisco Powered Network services from service providers globally.

The Cisco web site for small and medium-sized business has been recently extended to include these new solutions. The site is now populated with helpful guidelines and information including solution overviews, network blueprints, case studies, white papers, implementation guides and business value information. The content is available to partners and end-users to support them in the deployment and operations of the SMB solutions at http://www.cisco.com/go/smbusiness.

Support services and financing options are also part of the "Growing with Technology Solutions" effort.

"As they look toward the future, SMBs must adopt a networking strategy that meets their current technology requirements, while providing a framework for the new applications and technologies they will need as their businesses grow," said Peter Alexander, vice president, worldwide commercial marketing segment, Cisco Systems. "The Cisco Growing with Technology Solutions offer SMBs this strategy, with complete flexibility and investment protection.

Unleashing Business Potential Through the Power of the Network

Small and medium-sized businesses benefit from the Cisco Growing with Technology Solutions as they provide the agility SMBs need to compete successfully in today's challenging economy, while allowing them to scale their networks at any future point during their companies' growth. They are particularly designed to assist companies in securing, converging and mobilizing their business with:

• Network Foundation (Switching and Routing) - Cisco's Growing with Technology Solutions for the network foundation offer intelligent services, such as security, availability, and quality of service (QoS), that optimize networked application performance, ease management, and streamline operations and administration.
• Security - Cisco's Growing with Technology Solutions for integrated network security include security-enhanced routing and switching platforms as well as the latest in virtual private networking (VPN), firewall, intrusion detection systems, and access control systems.
• IP Communications - Cisco's Growing with Technology Solutions for IP Communications provide integrated communications (voice-mail, e-mail and fax), converged networking with data, voice and video on a single infrastructure, and converged applications using dynamic XML technology for improved employee productivity and customer responsiveness.
• Mobility - Cisco's Growing with Technology Solutions for Mobility include secure remote network access and wireless local area network (WLAN) technology to enable employees to efficiently interconnect with whomever they need to in order to conduct business in real time while they are at work, at home or on the road.

"For SMBs, a poorly planned technology investment can harm the business as much as it is intended to help. Because of this, it is critical that smaller firms work with a vendor and its partners who will help them evaluate their existing business processes and determine ways to harness the power of connectivity, said Kneko Burney, chief market strategist at In-Stat/MDR. "In this context, technology can become an essential element of smaller company's competitive advantage and provide a clear return on investment."

Vendor and partner engagement will remain an ongoing, critical element of the SMB solutions. To that end, Cisco partners are being trained and will be supported to deliver on the Cisco Growing with Technology Solutions offerings.