As an ex-Cisco IT person I would say that pretty much everything that Cisco IT has executed successfully is because of the expertise, planning, and architecture of the Cisco data network and its associated building blocks. One can not do anything meaningful without a solid platform beneath them which (when architected well) allows for the modularity and future-proofing you see in place now at all strata. Additionally, and from the outset, a focus on meaningful metrics and ability to charge back drives accountability and visibility throughout the organisation. The last piece of the puzzle is culture, and hiring the best to build the foundational elements is key.

Literally, both the data and human networks present the greatest risk and opportunity for reward. Don't scrimp on either.