Miguel Almeida
General Manager of Cisco Portugal

The digital economy is the engine of global competitiveness, now exponentially amplified by Artificial Intelligence (AI).

At Cisco, we believe this transformation requires a solid foundation, built on data sovereignty, resilient critical networks, next-generation cybersecurity and a responsible AI strategy.

AI is revolutionizing the way we manage assets, requiring critical networks capable of processing massive volumes of data in real time with low latency. Our adaptive architectures not only support this load, they also integrate AI to predict failures and optimize performance.

At the same time, data sovereignty remains an imperative: we develop solutions that guarantee control and compliance, which are essential for training and deploying AI models ethically and securely.

Cybersecurity is the cornerstone of this trust. With AI being used for both defense and attack, we implement Zero Trust strategies and predictive security, protecting the ecosystem against increasingly sophisticated threats and ensuring business continuity.

Portugal is in a privileged position. With robust infrastructure, skilled talent and a strategic location, the country has unique conditions to establish itself as a technology and AI hub in Europe. At Cisco, we are committed to accelerating this digitalization, modernizing critical infrastructure and empowering Portuguese companies to lead in the age of AI.

Our focus is clear: to build bridges to a future where innovation and security go hand in hand. By investing in network resilience and AI ethics, Portugal is not only keeping pace with the new digital economy, but taking on a leadership role, ensuring sustainable, secure and intelligent growth for all.

This perspective is part of Chapter 3, “Portugal in the Digital Capital Economy”, of the Barometer of American Companies in Portugal, which you can read HERE.