To align with its expanding focus on cloud, AI and cybersecurity business, American networking technology giant Cisco is overhauling its existing partner program with the Cisco 360 Partner Program, scheduled for launch in February 2026.
As part of this overhaul, the company will shift from its historically transaction-centred strategy to a partner model that emphasises value, lifecycle engagement, and recurring revenue streams, according to a senior executive.
“This new program allows us to recognise and reward successful partners and better address the evolving needs of our customers,” said Elisabeth De Dobbeleer, Senior Vice President, Cisco Partner Program, adding that the goal is to enhance partner success and align the partner experience with Cisco’s strategic vision.
New v/s Old
The new partner programme aims to support partners in meeting increasingly complex demands by emphasising value-driven partnerships. This updated framework rewards partners based on their contribution to customer success and engagement throughout the lifecycle.
Cisco will now evaluate partners using a “value index,” which assesses partners based on engagement, technical capabilities, and lifecycle management. This approach marks a shift from Cisco’s previous partner model, which focused primarily on resale transactions and traditional tiered structures.
The San Jose headquartered firm has simplified its partnership designations by moving from a multi-tiered structure to two levels: “Cisco Partner” and “Cisco Preferred Partner.” This change eliminates the older Silver designation and creates clear distinctions based on partners’ abilities to meet specific performance and technical criteria.
According to a senior executive, the goal is to streamline networking giant’s partner landscape and recognise those partners who contribute most significantly to customer outcomes.
Incentives and Specialisations
A key change in the new partner program is the consolidation of incentives. The new Cisco Partner Incentive (CPI) merges previous programs, including VIP, CSPP, and Perform Plus, into a unified rewards system.
Under this structure, partners can earn rebates and bonus rewards based on success in sales, customer engagement, and lifecycle management. This streamlined approach also incorporates AI/ML-driven predictive insights to enhance partners’ capabilities in market forecasting and planning, the company said.
The program also includes an AI-specific specialisation, the “AI-Ready Infrastructure Solution Specialisation,” which equips partners to support AI infrastructure deployment. This change, following Cisco’s acquisition of Splunk, shows the integration of Splunk’s observability capabilities into Cisco’s offerings.
Cisco’s alignment with AI is in tune with its growing focus on next-generation technology and to supporting partners in addressing the growth of AI workloads and data-driven decision-making in enterprise environments.
Transition Timeline and Support
The company said it is providing partners with a 15-month transition period, supported by an $80 million investment in skill development. This includes $60 million in Cisco U. subscriptions for certifications and training and $20 million for quarterly training events.
Cisco U. is an advanced digital learning platform designed to equip IT professionals and organisations with the skills needed to navigate Cisco technologies.
This phased rollout, the company said, is designed to honour existing partner investments while allowing a gradual adjustment to the new requirements.
