Cisco’s 2026 Data and Privacy Benchmark Study, based on responses from 5,200 IT, technology and security professionals across 12 markets, shows that 90% of organizations have expanded their privacy programs as artificial intelligence adoption accelerates. Moreover, 93% of respondents plan to increase spending on privacy initiatives to keep pace with AI complexity, and 38% of companies report investing at least $5 million in privacy over the past year, up from 14% in 2024. The study highlights that 96% of organizations view robust privacy frameworks as essential to AI agility and innovation, while 95% say privacy underpins customer trust in AI-powered services. However, only 12% describe their AI governance structures as mature, and 65% struggle to efficiently access high-quality data, underscoring the need for improved data hygiene and oversight to sustain trustworthy, scalable AI strategies.

Evercore ISI raised its recommendation on Cisco shares from In Line to Outperform, citing the network and security leader’s strategic positioning in the AI-driven market and enhancing its previous valuation assumptions. Separately, Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. boosted its stake by 4.3%, purchasing 24,033 additional shares to bring its total holding to 588,908 shares, valued at over $40 million in the most recent quarter. This follows a broader trend in which multiple hedge funds and asset managers—including Bare Financial Services, Marquette Asset Management and Lowe Wealth Advisors—have collectively increased or initiated positions, reflecting growing institutional confidence in Cisco’s ability to leverage its AI-enabled networking and security portfolio for sustained revenue growth.