Cisco Launches New Cisco 360 Partner Program, Built with Partners for the AI Era
Rhea-AI Summary
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) launched the Cisco 360 Partner Program on Jan. 26, 2026, after 15 months of co-design with partners to help customers achieve AI-era outcomes.
The program adds new partner designations (Registered, Portfolio, Preferred), a Partner Locator covering Security, Networking, Collaboration, Services, Splunk, and Cloud & AI Infrastructure, and resources including the Cisco Partner Incentive (CPI), Partner Value Indexes, a Distributor Development Fund, and an enhanced Cisco AI Assistant for the Partner Experience Platform.
CPI temporary bonuses aim to increase partner earnings and expire at the end of July 2026.
Positive
- Program built after 15 months of co-design with partners
- Introduces Cisco Partner Incentive (CPI) to streamline and clarify partner earnings
- New Partner Locator spans Security, Networking, Collaboration, Services, Splunk, Cloud & AI Infrastructure
- Adds Partner Value Indexes with tailored paths for developers, mass-scale infrastructure, and distributors
- Creates a Distributor Development Fund to align distributor growth and enablement
- Enhanced Cisco AI Assistant for the Partner Experience Platform to improve partner productivity
Negative
- CPI bonuses are temporary and expire end of July 2026, limiting long-term visibility for partners
- New Partner Value Indexes and designations may require partners to invest in skills and practice maturity
- Program redesign prompted understandable hesitation from some partners during rollout
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
CSCO gained 0.35% with peers mixed: MSI (+1.21%), NOK (+0.74%), ERIC (+0.38%) versus HPE (-1.22%) and UI (-2.11%). No peers appeared in the momentum scanner and there were no same-day peer headlines, suggesting this AI-focused partner program launch was more stock-specific than a broad sector rotation.
Previous AI Reports
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 15 | AI Summit announcement | Positive | +1.1% | Second annual AI Summit showcasing ecosystem leaders and Cisco’s AI positioning. |
| Dec 04 | AI research insights | Positive | -0.2% | OECD-Cisco study on global generative AI adoption and digital well-being trends. |
| Nov 04 | Cisco IQ launch | Positive | -2.9% | Launch of Cisco IQ unified AI-powered experience for the end-to-end customer journey. |
| Nov 04 | 360 Program unveiled | Positive | -2.9% | Initial unveiling of Cisco 360 Partner Program with AI-focused incentives and tools. |
| Nov 03 | Unified Edge launch | Positive | +1.8% | Debut of Unified Edge platform to run real-time and agentic AI workloads at the edge. |
Recent AI-tagged announcements often read positively but have produced a mix of aligned gains and sharp divergences to the downside.
Over the past few months, Cisco has issued several AI-focused updates, including the AI Summit on Jan 15, 2026, OECD AI adoption research on Dec 4, 2025, and launches like Cisco IQ and Cisco Unified Edge in early November 2025. An earlier announcement of the Cisco 360 Partner Program on Nov 4, 2025 also highlighted AI-ready solutions. Price reactions to these AI items ranged from gains above 1% to declines near -3%, showing varied market responses to AI narratives.
Historical Comparison
In the last five AI-tagged updates, Cisco’s average 24h move was 1.77%, with both rallies and selloffs. Today’s AI-era 360 Partner Program launch fits this pattern of meaningful but not uniformly bullish AI news reactions.
AI-tagged history shows Cisco building an ecosystem: from Unified Edge and Cisco IQ launches to announcing the 360 Partner Program in Nov 2025. This article marks the formal go-live of that partner model, tying AI-ready infrastructure, incentives, and enablement into a concrete execution phase.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement formalizes the Cisco 360 Partner Program after 15 months of co-design, emphasizing AI-ready data centers, secure networking, and predictable partner earnings via the Cisco Partner Incentive, bonuses through July 2026, and new Partner Value Indexes. Historically, Cisco’s AI-tagged news has delivered mixed price reactions, so investors may focus on tangible metrics like partner adoption, revenue tied to AI portfolios, and how effectively the program differentiates Cisco in a competitive AI infrastructure landscape.
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
The new program helps customers reach transformative AI outcomes faster
News summary:
- Now live, the Cisco 360 Partner Program, designed to deliver outcomes that only Cisco and its ecosystem can achieve together, showcases the power of partnering with Cisco in the AI era.
- New partner designations and tools make it easier for customers to find and build partner teams for today's needs: AI-ready data centers, future-proofed workplaces, and digital resilience.
- At launch, new resources help partners differentiate and grow their offerings for customers.
The Cisco 360 Partner Program is designed to provide clarity and empower partners to drive more predictable profitability. At the same time, with the new Cisco Partner Locator tool, customers can now search for the right partner across key Cisco portfolios like Security, Networking, Collaboration, Services, Splunk, and Cloud and AI Infrastructure.
"With our partners, we've strengthened what is already a world-class ecosystem to deliver even greater value and help our mutual customers connect, protect and thrive," said Tim Coogan, Senior Vice President of Global Partner Sales at Cisco.
"The Cisco 360 Partner Program helps us differentiate based on our expertise. We appreciate that we're measured on the value we bring; that only benefits our mutual customers," said Nicko Roussos, Senior Vice President, Cisco Strategy & Transformation, TD Synnex.
Cisco's recent AI Readiness Index shows that being AI ready is a competitive advantage for companies. Meeting these needs relies on expert partners collaborating to provide essential infrastructure, services, and AI-native capabilities. The Cisco 360 Partner Program recognizes partner expertise and rewards value creation across the customer lifecycle—empowering partners to provide secure, agile solutions that support customers through transformation.
The Cisco 360 Partner Program evolves Cisco's program to align with partner and customer priorities:
Clearer, more predictable earnings for partners with the Cisco Partner Incentive
Now live, the Cisco Partner Incentive (CPI) streamlines past program elements; offers partners clearer, more predictable earnings across Cisco's portfolio; and helps partners plan for growth by aligning sales focus and go-to-market strategies with Cisco's roadmap.
Helping customers find the right expertise
Cisco's new partner designations help customers easily identify partners with the right capabilities. All participants are recognized as registered Cisco Partners. Cisco Portfolio Partners demonstrate proven sales and technical expertise, practice maturity, and a strong commitment to customer engagement. Cisco Preferred Partners go even further, offering advanced technical skills, robust lifecycle and adoption practices, and the capability to deliver comprehensive end-to-end solutions.
Enhanced resources: New Rebates, Partner Value Indexes, Development Fund, and AI Assistant
Partners have access to new resources to help differentiate and grow their offerings for customers:
- Cisco Partner Incentive (CPI) - Cisco is introducing CPI bonuses to increase partner earning potential, focusing on One Cisco including the new Secure Networking and Secure AI Infrastructure specializations. These temporary bonuses will expire at the end of July 2026.
- Partner Value Indexes (PVI) - Cisco's main measurement framework will soon add dedicated indexes for Developers/Advisors, Mass-Scale Infrastructure and Distributors with tailored learning paths and opportunities for these different types of partners to boost value and profitability.
- Distributor Development Fund - This new fund is designed to drive stronger alignment and success between Cisco and distributor, focusing on partner growth and enablement.
- Enhanced Cisco AI Assistant - A more intuitive Cisco AI Assistant for the Partner Experience Platform (PXP) helps partners work smarter and focus on delivering value to customers.
More information is available in an overview of the Cisco 360 Partner Program. Partners can learn additional details on the Cisco 360 Partner Program website. Customers can find Cisco partners at the Partner Tool locator.
Quotes:
- "The Cisco 360 Partner Program was designed with partners to foster collective success, enable differentiation, and help partners scale with confidence. It's about making our ecosystem's unique value clear to the market and our customers." - Elisabeth De Dobbeleer, Senior Vice President, Cisco Partner Program
- "Insight is fully aligned with the Cisco Partner 360 Program and its focus on delivering meaningful customer outcomes. This approach reflects how we engage every day — leaning in to solve complex business challenges and accelerate transformation. Together, we are positioned to create even greater impact and measurable value for our shared customers." - Kevin Brown, Vice President, Partner Management, Insight
- "We've already actively engaged in the Cisco 360 Partner Program leading up to the launch and are already seeing the benefits of the Cisco Partner Incentive Estimator for planning. This insight plays a critical role in ensuring we deliver the most competitive solutions to our customers." -Lane
Irvine , Director, Strategic Alliances, Long View Systems - "Cisco has invested significant time and effort in the redesign of this program. While there was understandable hesitation at the start, it's clear that the refinements made along the way have strengthened the overall approach. I especially appreciate that partner feedback was actively listened to and thoughtfully actioned throughout the process." - Alex Schank, Senior Partner Operations, Pomeroy Technologies, LLC
- "Cisco 360 is a bridge to the new partner model: high-touch, high-value, outcome-based, and AI-ready. The partners who embrace the Partner Value Index not as a scorecard but as a business plan will find that 2026 is not a year of consolidation but of unprecedented profitability." - Anurag Agrawal, Founder and Chief Global Analyst, Techaisle
About Cisco
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide technology leader that is revolutionizing the way organizations connect and protect in the AI era. For more than 40 years, Cisco has securely connected the world. With its industry leading AI-powered solutions and services, Cisco enables its customers, partners and communities to unlock innovation, enhance productivity and strengthen digital resilience. Cisco remains committed to creating a more connected and inclusive future for all. Discover more on The Newsroom and follow us on X at @Cisco.
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SOURCE Cisco
FAQ
What is the Cisco 360 Partner Program announced by Cisco (CSCO) on Jan. 26, 2026?
How does the Cisco Partner Incentive (CPI) within Cisco 360 affect CSCO partners?
When do the Cisco 360 CPI temporary bonuses expire for CSCO partners?
What new tools help customers find partners under the Cisco 360 Program (CSCO)?
What are Partner Value Indexes (PVI) in the Cisco 360 Program and who do they target?
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