Cisco Adopts Vendor-Agnostic Strategy for Enterprise AI
The company now integrates third-party models from Google, Anthropic, and OpenAI into its Webex platform.
Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence
Live Poll
Do you prefer companies that allow their products to work with rival platforms?
As of October 2026, Cisco is pivoting to a vendor-agnostic strategy by integrating external artificial intelligence models into its enterprise software. The company now allows for bring-your-own-LLM capabilities within its Webex platform.
Why it matters
By acting as a neutral orchestration layer, Cisco aims to support customers who prefer using multiple AI models simultaneously. This approach allows the company to avoid direct competition with major AI developers while providing critical security and networking infrastructure.
Cisco provides the underlying networking, security, and observability layers for AI platforms. The company officially launched its agentic AI platform, Cloud Control, for general availability in 2026.
The players
Cisco
A multinational technology conglomerate that specializes in networking hardware, telecommunications equipment, and software solutions.
Webex
A brand of enterprise software solutions for collaboration, video conferencing, and online events.
The details
Cisco now functions as a neutral connectivity provider that bridges various AI agents and models, including those from Google, Anthropic, and OpenAI. This integration allows enterprise users to leverage existing AI workflows rather than being forced to adopt a single proprietary stack.
Timeline
In 2021, Cisco maintained a less agnostic market approach.
The Cloud Control platform became generally available in 2026.
Cisco held the WebexOne 2026 event in October 2026.
The Tech Race
Cisco is moving away from its legacy of closed, proprietary stacks to compete in an ecosystem dominated by cross-platform integration. This approach mirrors the broader industry shift toward AI-agnostic infrastructure, which allows companies to avoid being locked into a single provider.
Enterprise users can now connect their preferred AI models directly into their existing Cisco workflows, increasing flexibility in software deployment. IT administrators gain centralized control and observability across these diverse AI agents, potentially reducing the need for multiple disparate security subscriptions.
The takeaway
Cisco is positioning itself as the connective tissue for enterprises managing multiple AI providers simultaneously. Companies can implement this strategy by utilizing the new orchestration tools to streamline security and management across their existing LLM investments.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in the field by visiting our Artificial Intelligence section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CRN.
Live Poll
Do you prefer companies that allow their products to work with rival platforms?
