Revenue

6 Months Ended

Jan. 29, 2022

Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]

Revenue

Revenue

We enter into contracts with customers that can include various combinations of products and services which are generally distinct and accounted for as separate performance obligations. As a result, our contracts may contain multiple performance obligations. We determine whether arrangements are distinct based on whether the customer can benefit from the product or service on its own or together with other resources that are readily available and whether our commitment to transfer the product or service to the customer is separately identifiable from other obligations in the contract. We classify our hardware, perpetual software licenses, and software-as-a-service (SaaS) as distinct performance obligations. Term software licenses represent multiple obligations, which include software licenses and software maintenance. In transactions where we deliver hardware or software, we are typically the principal and we record revenue and costs of goods sold on a gross basis. We refer to our term software licenses, security software licenses, SaaS, and associated service arrangements as subscription offers.

We recognize revenue upon transfer of control of promised goods or services in a contract with a customer in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to receive in exchange for those products or services. Transfer of control occurs once the customer has the contractual right to use the product, generally upon shipment, electronic delivery (or when the software is available for download by the customer), or once title and risk of loss has transferred to the customer. Transfer of control can also occur over time for software maintenance and services as the customer receives the benefit over the contract term. Our hardware and perpetual software licenses are distinct performance obligations where revenue is recognized upfront upon transfer of control. Term software licenses include multiple performance obligations where the term licenses are recognized upfront upon transfer of control, with the associated software maintenance revenue recognized ratably over the contract term as services and software updates are provided. SaaS arrangements do not include the right for the customer to take possession of the software during the term, and therefore have one distinct performance obligation which is satisfied over time with revenue recognized ratably over the contract term as the customer consumes the services. On our product sales, we record consideration from shipping and handling on a gross basis within net product sales. We record our revenue net of any associated sales taxes.

An allowance for future sales returns is established based on historical trends in product return rates. The allowance for future sales returns as of January 29, 2022 and July 31, 2021 was $46 million and $55 million, respectively, and was recorded as a reduction of our accounts receivable and revenue.

Significant Judgments

Revenue is allocated among these performance obligations in a manner that reflects the consideration that we expect to be entitled to for the promised goods or services based on standalone selling prices (SSP). SSP is estimated for each distinct performance obligation and judgment may be required in their determination. The best evidence of SSP is the observable price of a product or service when we sell the goods separately in similar circumstances and to similar customers. In instances where SSP is not directly observable, we determine SSP using information that may include market conditions and other observable inputs.

We assess relevant contractual terms in our customer contracts to determine the transaction price. We apply judgment in identifying contractual terms and determining the transaction price as we may be required to estimate variable consideration when determining the amount of revenue to recognize. Variable consideration includes potential contractual penalties and various rebate, cooperative marketing and other incentive programs that we offer to our distributors, channel partners and customers. When determining the amount of revenue to recognize, we estimate the expected usage of these programs, applying the expected value or most likely estimate and update the estimate at each reporting period as actual utilization becomes available. We also consider the customers’ right of return in determining the transaction price, where applicable.

We assess certain software licenses, such as for security software, that contain critical updates or upgrades which customers can download throughout the contract term. Without these updates or upgrades, the functionality of the software would diminish over a relatively short time period. These updates or upgrades provide the customer the full functionality of the purchased security software licenses and are required to maintain the security license’s utility as the risks and threats in the environment are rapidly changing. In these circumstances, the revenue from these software arrangements is recognized as a single performance obligation satisfied over the contract term.

(a)Disaggregation of Revenue

We disaggregate our revenue into groups of similar products and services that depict the nature, amount, and timing of revenue and cash flows for our various offerings. The sales cycle, contractual obligations, customer requirements, and go-to-market strategies differ for each of our product categories, resulting in different economic risk profiles for each category. Effective in the first quarter of fiscal 2022, we began reporting our product and service revenue in the following categories: Secure, Agile Networks; Hybrid Work; End-to-End Security; Internet for the Future; Optimized Application Experiences; Other Products; and Services. This change will better align our product categories with our strategic priorities. The following table presents this disaggregation of revenue (in millions):

	Three Months Ended				Six Months Ended
	January 29, 2022		January 23, 2021		January 29, 2022		January 23, 2021
Product revenue:
Secure, Agile Networks	$	5,898	$	5,489	$	11,866	$	10,923
Hybrid Work	1,067		1,167		2,176		2,360
End-to-End Security	883		822		1,778		1,684
Internet for the Future	1,322		931		2,697		1,872
Optimized Application Experiences	180		161		361		314
Other Products	2		3		5		6
Total Product	9,353		8,572		18,882		17,159
Services	3,367		3,388		6,738		6,730
Total	$	12,720	$	11,960	$	25,620	$	23,889

Amounts may not sum due to rounding.

Secure, Agile Networks consists of our core networking technologies of switching, enterprise routing, wireless, and compute products. These technologies consist of both hardware and software offerings, including software licenses and SaaS, that help our customers build networks, automate, orchestrate, integrate, and digitize data. Our hardware and perpetual software in this category are distinct performance obligations where revenue is recognized upfront upon transfer of control. Term software licenses are multiple performance obligations where the term license is recognized upfront upon transfer of control with the associated software maintenance revenue recognized ratably over the contract term. SaaS arrangements in this category have one distinct performance obligation which is satisfied over time with revenue recognized ratably over the contract term.

Hybrid Work consists of our collaboration offerings. These products consist primarily of software offerings, including software licenses and SaaS, as well as hardware. Our perpetual software and hardware in this category are distinct performance obligations where revenue is recognized upfront upon transfer of control. Term software licenses are multiple performance obligations where the term license is recognized upfront upon transfer of control with the associated software maintenance revenue recognized ratably over the contract term. SaaS arrangements in this category have one distinct performance obligation which is satisfied over time with revenue recognized ratably over the contract term.

End-to-End Security consists of our overall security offerings. These products consist of both hardware and software offerings, including software licenses and SaaS. Updates and upgrades for the term software licenses are critical for our software to perform its intended commercial purpose because of the continuous need for our software to secure our customers’ network environments against frequent threats. Therefore, security software licenses are generally represented by a single distinct performance obligation with revenue recognized ratably over the contract term. Our hardware and perpetual software in this category are distinct performance obligations where revenue is recognized upfront upon transfer of control. SaaS arrangements in this category have one distinct performance obligation which is satisfied over time with revenue recognized ratably over the contract term.

Internet for the Future consists of our routed optical networking, public 5G, silicon, and optics offerings. These products consist primarily of both hardware and software offerings, including software licenses and SaaS. Our hardware and perpetual software in this category are distinct performance obligations where revenue is recognized upfront upon transfer of control. Term software licenses are multiple performance obligations where the term license is recognized upfront upon transfer of control with the associated software maintenance revenue recognized ratably over the contract term. SaaS arrangements in this category have one distinct performance obligation which is satisfied over time with revenue recognized ratably over the contract term.

Optimized Application Experiences consists of our full stack observability and cloud-native platform offerings. These products consist primarily of software offerings, including software licenses and SaaS. Our perpetual software in this category are distinct performance obligations where revenue is recognized upfront upon transfer of control. Term software licenses are multiple performance obligations where the term license is recognized upfront upon transfer of control with the associated software maintenance revenue recognized ratably over the contract term. SaaS arrangements in this category have one distinct performance obligation which is satisfied over time with revenue recognized ratably over the contract term.

In addition to our product offerings, we provide a broad range of service and support options for our customers, including technical support services and advanced services. Technical support services represent the majority of these offerings which are distinct performance obligations that are satisfied over time with revenue recognized ratably over the contract term. Advanced services are distinct performance obligations that are satisfied over time with revenue recognized as services are delivered.

The sales arrangements as discussed above are typically made pursuant to customer purchase orders based on master purchase or partner agreements. Cash is received based on our standard payment terms which is typically 30 days. We provide financing arrangements to customers for all of our hardware, software and service offerings. Refer to Note 9 for additional information. For these arrangements, cash is typically received over time.

(b)Contract Balances

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable, net was $6.0 billion as of January 29, 2022 compared to $5.8 billion as of July 31, 2021, as reported on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The allowances for credit loss for our accounts receivable are summarized as follows (in millions):

	Three Months Ended				Six Months Ended
	January 29, 2022		January 23, 2021		January 29, 2022		January 23, 2021
Allowance for credit loss at beginning of period	$	114	$	125	$	109	$	143
Provisions (benefits)	17		(15)		36		(1)
Recoveries (write-offs), net	(52)		(8)		(66)		(14)
Foreign exchange and other	(9)		—		(9)		(26)
Allowance for credit loss at end of period	$	70	$	102	$	70	$	102

Contract Assets and Liabilities

Gross contract assets by our internal risk ratings are summarized as follows (in millions):

	January 29, 2022		July 31, 2021
1 to 4	$	464	$	521
5 to 6	825		770
7 and Higher	164		166
Total	$	1,453	$	1,457

Contract assets consist of unbilled receivables and are recorded when revenue is recognized in advance of scheduled billings to our customers. These amounts are primarily related to software and service arrangements where transfer of control has occurred but we have not yet invoiced. Our contract assets for these unbilled receivables, net of allowances, was $1.4 billion as of both January 29, 2022 and July 31, 2021, and were included in other current assets and other assets.

Contract liabilities consist of deferred revenue. Deferred revenue was $22.3 billion as of January 29, 2022 compared to $22.2 billion as of July 31, 2021. We recognized approximately $3.3 billion and $7.4 billion of revenue during the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2022, respectively, that was included in the deferred revenue balance at July 31, 2021.

(c)Capitalized Contract Acquisition Costs

We capitalize direct and incremental costs incurred to acquire contracts, primarily sales commissions, for which the associated revenue is expected to be recognized in future periods. We incur these costs in connection with both initial contracts and renewals. These costs are initially deferred and typically amortized over the term of the customer contract which corresponds to the period of benefit. Deferred sales commissions were $999 million and $967 million as of January 29, 2022 and July 31,

2021, respectively, and were included in other current assets and other assets. The amortization expense associated with these costs was $147 million and $317 million for the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2022, respectively, and $129 million and $252 million for the corresponding periods of fiscal 2021, respectively, and was included in sales and marketing expenses.