Cisco has launched a new framework that helps Cisco partners deliver AI-focused infrastructure and services while growing their businesses. The Cisco 360 Partner Program was co-designed by the technology company and its partners over fifteen months.
It aims to strengthen partner support while making it easier for them to assist customers. The programme is designed for developers, consultants, managed services providers, resellers, and other partner business models. It is intended to equip Cisco partners to deliver customer outcomes across AI-ready data centres, future-proofed workplaces, and digital resilience.
The 360 Partner Program can support partners in driving more predictable profitability. At the same time, customers can search for the partners by using the new Cisco Partner Locator tool across key portfolios. These include 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,” says Tim Coogan, Cisco SVP for global partner sales.
Nicko Roussos, senior vice president for strategy and transformation at TD Synnex, says: “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.”
The recent Cisco AI Readiness Index shows that being AI ready is a competitive advantage for companies. Meeting these needs, says the company, relies on expert partners collaborating to provide essential infrastructure, services, and AI-native capabilities. The Cisco 360 Partner Program intends to recognise partner expertise and rewards value creation across the customer lifecycle. This aims to empower partners to provide secure, agile solutions that support customers through transformation.
Cisco Partner Incentive
The Cisco Partner Incentive (CPI) consolidates several existing programme elements into a single structure. It is intended to provide partners with clearer earning mechanisms across Cisco’s portfolio and to align sales and go-to-market activities more closely with Cisco’s product roadmap.
Partner designation system update
Cisco has updated its partner designation system to help customers identify partners based on specific capabilities. All participants are recognised as registered Cisco Partners. Cisco Portfolio Partners meet defined sales and technical criteria, while Cisco Preferred Partners are assessed against additional requirements related to technical capability and lifecycle support.
Cisco says partners have access to the following 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 specialisations. 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.