Cisco Launches 360 Partner Program to Accelerate AI-Ready Growth
Cisco has unveiled the Cisco 360 Partner Program following fifteen months of close collaboration and co-creation with its partner community. Longstanding partner relationships have been central to Cisco’s growth, especially as customers navigate the rapidly evolving AI landscape. With this launch, Cisco is enhancing partner support while simplifying how partners deliver value to customers. Designed for a wide range of partner models—including developers, consultants, managed service providers, and resellers—the program strengthens partners’ ability to drive results across AI-ready data centers, modern workplaces, and digital resilience.
The Cisco 360 Partner Program focuses on transparency and empowerment, helping partners achieve more consistent and predictable profitability. In parallel, Cisco has introduced a new Partner Locator tool, enabling customers to easily identify the right partner across key portfolios such as Security, Networking, Collaboration, Services, Splunk, and Cloud and AI Infrastructure.
According to Tim Coogan, Senior Vice President of Global Partner Sales at Cisco, the company has further enhanced its already strong partner ecosystem to unlock greater value and help customers securely connect, protect their environments, and succeed.
Nicko Roussos, Senior Vice President of Cisco Strategy & Transformation at TD SYNNEX, noted that the program allows partners to stand out based on proven expertise and emphasizes the measurable value partners bring—ultimately benefiting customers.
Cisco’s latest AI Readiness Index highlights AI preparedness as a key competitive differentiator for organizations. Addressing this demand depends on knowledgeable partners working together to deliver the right infrastructure, services, and AI-native solutions. The Cisco 360 Partner Program acknowledges partner expertise and rewards value delivered across the entire customer lifecycle, enabling partners to provide secure, flexible solutions that support digital transformation.
Key enhancements of the Cisco 360 Partner Program include
Simplified and more predictable earnings through the Cisco Partner Incentive (CPI)
Now available, CPI consolidates previous incentive structures into a streamlined model. It offers clearer earning potential across Cisco’s portfolio and helps partners align their sales strategies and go-to-market plans with Cisco’s long-term roadmap.
Easier access to the right partner expertise for customers
New partner designations help customers quickly identify qualified partners. All participants are recognized as registered Cisco Partners. Cisco Portfolio Partners demonstrate validated sales and technical skills, operational maturity, and strong customer engagement. Cisco Preferred Partners exceed these requirements with advanced technical depth, comprehensive lifecycle practices, and the ability to deliver full end-to-end solutions.
Expanded partner resources: rebates, indexes, funding, and AI tools
Cisco has introduced additional tools and resources to help partners differentiate and scale:
The Cisco 360 Partner Program focuses on transparency and empowerment, helping partners achieve more consistent and predictable profitability. In parallel, Cisco has introduced a new Partner Locator tool, enabling customers to easily identify the right partner across key portfolios such as Security, Networking, Collaboration, Services, Splunk, and Cloud and AI Infrastructure.
According to Tim Coogan, Senior Vice President of Global Partner Sales at Cisco, the company has further enhanced its already strong partner ecosystem to unlock greater value and help customers securely connect, protect their environments, and succeed.
Nicko Roussos, Senior Vice President of Cisco Strategy & Transformation at TD SYNNEX, noted that the program allows partners to stand out based on proven expertise and emphasizes the measurable value partners bring—ultimately benefiting customers.
Cisco’s latest AI Readiness Index highlights AI preparedness as a key competitive differentiator for organizations. Addressing this demand depends on knowledgeable partners working together to deliver the right infrastructure, services, and AI-native solutions. The Cisco 360 Partner Program acknowledges partner expertise and rewards value delivered across the entire customer lifecycle, enabling partners to provide secure, flexible solutions that support digital transformation.
Key enhancements of the Cisco 360 Partner Program include
Simplified and more predictable earnings through the Cisco Partner Incentive (CPI)
Now available, CPI consolidates previous incentive structures into a streamlined model. It offers clearer earning potential across Cisco’s portfolio and helps partners align their sales strategies and go-to-market plans with Cisco’s long-term roadmap.
Easier access to the right partner expertise for customers
New partner designations help customers quickly identify qualified partners. All participants are recognized as registered Cisco Partners. Cisco Portfolio Partners demonstrate validated sales and technical skills, operational maturity, and strong customer engagement. Cisco Preferred Partners exceed these requirements with advanced technical depth, comprehensive lifecycle practices, and the ability to deliver full end-to-end solutions.
Expanded partner resources: rebates, indexes, funding, and AI tools
Cisco has introduced additional tools and resources to help partners differentiate and scale:
- Cisco Partner Incentive (CPI) bonuses – Temporary CPI bonuses are being rolled out to increase partner earning opportunities, with a focus on One Cisco, including Secure Networking and Secure AI Infrastructure specializations. These bonuses will run through July 2026.
- Partner Value Indexes (PVI) – Cisco’s core performance framework will expand to include tailored indexes for Developers/Advisors, Mass-Scale Infrastructure partners, and Distributors. Each index will feature customized learning paths and growth opportunities to drive higher value and profitability.
- Distributor Development Fund – A newly launched fund aimed at strengthening collaboration between Cisco and distributors, with an emphasis on partner enablement and business growth.
- Enhanced Cisco AI Assistant – An upgraded AI Assistant within the Partner Experience Platform (PXP) provides a more intuitive experience, helping partners work more efficiently and stay focused on customer value.
Additional details can be found in the Cisco 360 Partner Program overview and on the Cisco 360 Partner Program website. Customers can locate certified partners using the Cisco Partner Locator tool.
Partner and industry perspectives:
Partner and industry perspectives:
- Elisabeth De Dobbeleer, Senior Vice President of the Cisco Partner Program, shared that the Cisco 360 Partner Program was co-created to drive shared success, enable differentiation, and give partners the confidence to scale—clearly communicating the ecosystem’s value to both the market and customers.
- Kevin Brown, Vice President of Partner Management at Insight, emphasized strong alignment with the program’s focus on measurable customer outcomes, noting that this mirrors Insight’s daily approach to solving complex challenges and accelerating transformation.
- Lane Irvine, Director of Strategic Alliances at Long View Systems, highlighted early engagement with the program and the value of the Cisco Partner Incentive Estimator in planning competitive solutions for customers.
- Alex Schank, Senior Partner Operations at Pomeroy Technologies, LLC, acknowledged the significant effort Cisco invested in redesigning the program and praised the company for actively incorporating partner feedback throughout the process.
- Anurag Agrawal, Founder and Chief Global Analyst at Techaisle, described Cisco 360 as a transition to a high-touch, outcome-driven, AI-ready partner model, noting that partners who treat the Partner Value Index as a strategic roadmap can expect exceptional profitability in 2026 rather than consolidation.
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