Cisco Unveils New Cisco 360 Partner Program to Accelerate Value and Innovation, Launching in 2026

Rhea-AI Summary

Cisco has announced its most significant partner program evolution in nearly 30 years with the new Cisco 360 Partner Program, launching in February 2026. The program aims to transform how Cisco and partners create value for customers, focusing on modernizing infrastructure, AI workloads, and security. Key features include an $80 million investment in partner training ($60M for skill development and certification, $20M for quarterly training), simplified partner designations (Cisco Partner and Cisco Preferred Partner), and a new AI-Ready Infrastructure Solution Specialization. The program introduces a 15-month transition period and measures partner value based on customer outcomes rather than transactions.

Positive

• $80 million investment in partner training and development
• Introduction of AI-Ready Infrastructure Solution Specialization
• Simplified partner designation structure streamlining the partnership process

Negative

• 15-month transition period could create temporary operational uncertainties
• Potential disruption to existing partner relationships during program restructuring

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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SOURCE Cisco

FAQ

When will Cisco (CSCO) launch its new 360 Partner Program?

The Cisco 360 Partner Program will officially launch in February 2026, following a 15-month transition period.

How much is Cisco (CSCO) investing in its new partner program?

Cisco is investing $80 million, with $60 million for skill development and certification, and $20 million for quarterly training events.

What are the new partner designations in Cisco's (CSCO) 360 Partner Program?

The program introduces two main designations: Cisco Partner and Cisco Preferred Partner, which can be earned for specific portfolios like Security or Networking.

What is the new AI specialization announced by Cisco (CSCO)?

Cisco announced the AI-Ready Infrastructure Solution Specialization, focusing on delivering AI-ready infrastructure, security, and observability solutions.