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Revenue
 12 Months Ended
Jul. 27, 2024
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]  
Revenue Revenue
(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 2024, we began reporting our product and service revenue in the following categories: Networking, Security, Collaboration, Observability, and Services and conformed our product revenue for prior periods to the current year presentation.
The following table presents this disaggregation of revenue (in millions):
Years EndedJuly 27, 2024July 29, 2023July 30, 2022
Product revenue:
Networking$29,229 $34,570 $29,265 
Security5,075 3,859 3,699 
Collaboration4,113 4,052 4,472 
Observability837 661 581 
Total Product39,253 43,142 38,018 
Services14,550 13,856 13,539 
Total$53,803 $56,998 $51,557 
Amounts may not sum due to rounding.
Networking consists of our core networking technologies of switching, routing, wireless, and servers. These technologies consist 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.
Security consists of our Network Security, Identity and Access Management, SASE and Threat Intelligence, Detection, and Response 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.
Collaboration consists of our Webex Suite, Collaboration Devices, Contact Center and CPaaS 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.
Observability consists of our network assurance, monitoring and analytics and observability suite 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 our hardware, software and service offerings. Refer to Note 9 for additional information. For these arrangements, cash is typically received over time.
Subscription revenue includes revenue recognized from our term software licenses, security software licenses, SaaS, and associated service arrangements. Our subscription revenue is recorded in product and services revenue in our Consolidated Statements of Operations as follows (in millions):
Years EndedJuly 27, 2024July 29, 2023July 30, 2022
Product$14,078 $11,931 $10,030 
Services13,302 12,709 12,363 
Total$27,380 $24,640 $22,393 
The majority of our product subscription revenue is recognized over time and the remainder is recognized upfront. Substantially all of our services subscription revenue is recognized over time based on the contract term.
(b)Contract Balances
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable, net was $6.7 billion as of July 27, 2024 compared to $5.9 billion as of July 29, 2023, as reported on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The allowances for credit loss for our accounts receivable are summarized as follows (in millions):
July 27, 2024July 29, 2023July 30, 2022
Allowance for credit loss at beginning of fiscal year$85 $83 $109 
Provisions (benefits)36 39 64 
Recoveries (write-offs), net(34)(37)(81)
Foreign exchange and other— — (9)
Allowance for credit loss at end of fiscal year$87 $85 $83 
Contract Assets and Liabilities
Gross contract assets by our internal risk ratings are summarized as follows (in millions):
July 27, 2024July 29, 2023
1 to 4$1,266 $672 
5 to 61,456 954 
7 and Higher72 60 
Total$2,794 $1,686 
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. As of July 27, 2024 and July 29, 2023, our contract assets for these unbilled receivables, net of allowances, were $2.7 billion and $1.6 billion, respectively, and were included in other current assets and other assets.
Contract liabilities consist of deferred revenue. Deferred revenue was $28.5 billion as of July 27, 2024 compared to $25.6 billion as of July 29, 2023. We recognized approximately $13.8 billion of revenue during fiscal 2024 that was included in the deferred revenue balance at July 29, 2023.
(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. Capitalized contract acquisition costs were $1.3 billion and $1.1 billion as of July 27, 2024 and July 29, 2023, respectively, and were included in other current assets and other assets. The amortization expense associated with these costs was $742 million, $723 million, and $679 million for fiscal 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively, and was included in sales and marketing expenses.