Will transform how Cisco and its Partners
create, deliver, and capture value in the age of AI.
- Cisco 360 Partner Program: connects partners'
success to how they meet customers' needs and ambitions as they
modernize their infrastructure, power AI workloads anywhere, and
keep their organizations secure, resilient, and
high-performing.
- Simplified, elevated, comprehensive: the new
program encourages collaboration across the partner ecosystem and
elevates partners' stature with customers through a simplified
partner experience.
- Investment in Partners: New $80 million investment in training to support
development of partners' skills and tools.
LOS
ANGELES, Oct. 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- CISCO
PARTNER SUMMIT -- Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO), the worldwide leader
in networking and security, today announced the most significant
evolution of its industry-leading partner program in nearly three
decades. The new Cisco 360 Partner Program is designed to
accelerate the value partners bring to customers by better
addressing their rapidly evolving and complex needs— modernizing
infrastructure, powering AI workloads anywhere, and keeping
customers' organizations secure, resilient, and high-performing.
Developed in collaboration with partners and customers, Cisco will
guide them through a 15-month transition period leading up to the
program's launch in February
2026.
Strategic Shift for a Competitive Market
The new
program reflects a strategic shift in how Cisco and its partners
create and deliver value for their customers in today's fast-paced,
competitive market. The program will redefine what it means to be a
successful Cisco partner measuring value over transactions: how
partners serve the needs and ambitions of their customers while
harnessing the collective strength of Cisco's partner ecosystem in
ways that drives growth. The program will elevate partners' stature
with customers and upgrade the partner experience with simplified
processes and new ways to plan and track performance.
$80 Million Skills Investment:
A First Step in a Transformed Partner Experience
Cisco
announces the first of its tangible enhancements to the partner
experience with a $80 million
investment into new partner initiatives to boost skills and provide
the tools needed to compete in the market. $60 million of that investment will support
qualified partners with benefits including all-access Cisco U.
subscriptions for skill development and certification. An
additional $20 million will fund
quarterly training events for all partners, focusing on AI,
security, and networking through self-paced learning, hands-on
labs, and continuing education credits.
"Today, it's about helping customers unlock the power of
technology to achieve their business outcomes. That's the
foundation of the Cisco 360 Partner Program. Whether through
lifecycle practices, technical capabilities, or managed services,
partners can drive profitable growth with our new value-based
program. With a 15-month transition, partners have time to prepare
and maximize their potential in Cisco 360 Partner Program," said
Rodney Clark, Senior Vice President
of Partnerships and Small and Medium Business at Cisco.
Cisco 360 Partner Program will include:
Redefining
Partner Value: a simplified framework that recognizes the
diverse ways partners add value to customers. This approach will
measure the value partners deliver within specific portfolios or
across multiple portfolios, rewarding partners on how their
business model supports lifecycle and managed services, skills
investment, customer base expansion, and engagement across the
customer journey and partner ecosystem. Qualified partners will
gain access to a broad range of benefits like the Cisco Partner
Incentive and other non-financial benefits.
Elevating Partner Stature: to simplify and improve our
partners' value proposition and awareness with customers, Cisco is
moving to two designations: Cisco Partner and Cisco Preferred
Partner. Partners can earn these designations for each portfolio,
such as Security or Networking, giving partners the ability to be
recognized and market themselves as a Cisco Preferred Security
Partner or a Cisco Preferred Networking Partner.
Future of Specializations: Cisco will continue to help
partners differentiate their market position by developing deep
expertise in specific or across multiple portfolios. The new
program will continue to shift from traditional Architecture
Specializations to Solution-Based Specializations, and ultimately
to next generation specializations that will be accessible to
Preferred Partners only.
Cisco also announced today its first specialization focused on
AI—the Cisco AI-Ready Infrastructure Solution Specialization—to
position partners as experts in delivering AI-ready infrastructure,
security, and observability solutions and services to customers
throughout their AI adoption journey.
Supporting Partners in the Transition
The Cisco 360
Partner Program will fully transition in February 2026. The rollout will be gradual, with
new elements introduced and piloted to keep partners and
distributors informed and supported throughout the process. Current
levels, roles, and lifecycle practice investments will be
recognized until the program is fully implemented, ensuring partner
investments are protected.
Quotes
"To further strengthen what is already a
world-class partner ecosystem, this new program allows us to
recognize and reward successful partners and better address the
evolving needs of our customers," shared, Elisabeth De Dobbeleer, Senior Vice President,
Cisco Partner Program. "Our goal is to transform partner success,
elevate Cisco partners, and upgrade the partner experience to align
with Cisco's strategic vision."
"We are excited about the launch of the Cisco 360 Partner
Program, which represents the culmination of our long-standing and
collaborative relationship with Cisco," said Steve Bland, Group Alliance, Director at
Computacenter. "Having worked closely with Cisco on the development
of this innovative program, we are confident that it will
significantly enhance our ability to meet the evolving needs of our
customers. The program's emphasis on skills development, combined
with Cisco's substantial investment in training, underscores their
commitment to our mutual success. We look forward to leveraging
these new opportunities to drive growth and deliver exceptional
value to our clients."
"As part of our commitment to uniting solutions that deliver
business outcomes today and unlock growth for the future, we are
proud to have contributed to the creation of the Cisco 360 Partner
Program," said Nicko Roussos, Senior
Vice President at TD SYNNEX. "This program exemplifies the spirit
of innovation and collaboration that has defined our long-term
partnership with Cisco and equips us to deliver exceptional,
outcome-based experiences. We believe the program will help us
better serve our customers to drive mutual growth and do great
things with technology."
"One of Cisco's historical strengths has been leading partners
through market changes and earning their trust as a result. With
this new direction, Cisco has an opportunity to reassume the
thought leadership helm going forward," said Cyndi Privett, Owner and Vice President of
Research, Viewpoint Research.
Additional Resources:
- For more information on Cisco Partner Summit, please
visit here
- For an overview of the Cisco 360 Partner Program, please
visit here
- For details on the Cisco 360 Partner Program, partners can
visit here
- Executive Platform Blog: Leading Through Learning With The
Cisco 360 Partner Program
About Cisco
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide technology leader that
securely connects everything to make anything possible. Our purpose
is to power an inclusive future for all by helping our customers
reimagine their applications, power hybrid work, secure their
enterprise, transform their infrastructure, and meet their
sustainability goals.
Discover more on The Newsroom and follow us on X (formerly
Twitter) at @Cisco.
Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks
of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. A
listing of Cisco's trademarks can be found at
http://www.cisco.com/go/trademarks. Third-party trademarks
mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The use of
the word 'partner' does not imply a partnership relationship
between Cisco and any other company.
Media Contact:
Ramona Redlingshafer
rredling@cisco.com
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