Got Cisco? Are you Sure?

The Federal Bureau of Investigation reported today more than 400 seizures of counterfeit Cisco equipment and labels worth more than $76 million filtering into the United States from China.

The effort, which has been ongoing since 2005, is being driven by DHS and FBI. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Customs and Border Protection conducted 28 investigations and managed six indictments and four felony convictions, with more than 74,000 fakes seized, while the FBI’s portion of the initiative, dubbed Operation Cisco Raider, resulted in 36 search warrants with approximately 3,500 counterfeit network components identified, and a total of 10 convictions.

So why is government focusing on Cisco? Because the counterfeiters do. They go where the money is, and in terms of networking gear, which many regard as commodity items that can be easily copied, no manufacturer rakes in more revenue than Cisco. It’s the same reason that hackers focus on Microsoft: Market saturation.

The government is among the most profitable markets for Cisco. That makes federal agencies as susceptible as any to getting duped. Check out what happened to the Navy in 2004 for example, when counterfeit Cisco switches landed in one of its secure facilities. (You can read the whole sordid story at GovernmentVAR.com). One contractor involved was recently found liable, and now the circumstances are being investigated by the Navy’s Acquisition Integrity Office.

The lesson learned? Check those serial numbers.