In March 2022, Cisco Systems recruited Previn as its Chief Information Officer. Cisco stands at the center of the world's networking infrastructure, but its internal operations faced modern workplace challenges. The shift to permanent hybrid work demanded updated internal collaboration tools, zero-trust security postures, and lower friction for engineering teams.
At Cisco, Previn applies the same design philosophy he refined at IBM. Enterprise software, he insists, should look and feel as intuitive as consumer software. If a corporate expense tool or internal chat application is frustrating to navigate, employees build workarounds that create security vulnerabilities. By treating corporate staff as discerning customers rather than a captive audience, IT organizations can improve compliance while eliminating friction.
His recent focus targets the internal operational integration of artificial intelligence and automated developer environments. Instead of chasing generic AI marketing trends, Cisco’s internal IT organization uses machine learning models to identify network bottlenecks, automate identity verification, and resolve routine help-desk requests before human intervention is needed. Previn treats enterprise IT as a productivity engine rather than a passive cost center.
