Updated: Jan 09, 2026
Cisco introduced the Cisco 360 Partner Program to fundamentally change how partner value is measured. The intent was clear: move away from static, tier-based recognition and toward a model that reflects how partners actually deliver outcomes across the customer lifecycle.
In earlier partner frameworks, scale, certifications, and commercial alignment played a significant role in determining partner status. While these factors remain important, they do not, by themselves, guarantee consistent delivery or customer success.
The Cisco 360 Partner Program addresses this gap by evaluating partners based on how they perform, not just what they hold.
The Cisco 360 Partner Program is Cisco’s global framework for assessing partner performance across defined technology portfolios.
Rather than assigning a single, organisation-wide label, Cisco now evaluates partners independently for each portfolio. This enables Cisco to recognise partners that demonstrate depth, consistency, and accountability in specific domains such as Networking, Security, Cloud & AI, and Collaboration.
Within this framework, Cisco Preferred Partner represents the highest customer-facing designation awarded to partners that meet Cisco’s performance thresholds within a given portfolio.
Cisco 360 replaces legacy tier-based partner labels with a continuous, portfolio-level evaluation model focused on customer outcomes.
Under the Cisco 360 Partner Program, partner evaluation is based on a value-led model that reflects real-world delivery.
Cisco assesses partners across multiple dimensions, including:
These dimensions focus on outcomes that matter to customers, rather than inputs such as certification counts or transactional volume alone.
One of the most important changes introduced by Cisco 360 is portfolio-specific evaluation.
A partner may demonstrate strong performance in Networking, but a different level of maturity in Security or Collaboration. Under the 360 framework, Cisco recognises this reality instead of masking it under a single tier.
For customers, this means Preferred Partner status is a precise indicator of where a partner has proven delivery strength, rather than a broad assumption of capability.
Another defining feature of the Cisco 360 Partner Program is continuous evaluation.
Partner performance is monitored over time, reflecting ongoing delivery quality, customer experience, and lifecycle engagement. Preferred status is not permanently assigned; it must be sustained through consistent execution.
This approach aligns partner recognition more closely with customer outcomes and reduces the risk of outdated or misleading partner credentials.
For Indian enterprises, the Cisco 360 Partner Program introduces greater transparency and clarity in partner selection.
Instead of relying on legacy titles, enterprises can now assess partners based on validated, portfolio-level performance. This is particularly relevant for large, distributed environments, regulated industries, and transformation initiatives that span multiple technology domains.
Cisco 360 also aligns partner evaluation with how Indian enterprises procure and operate technology today, where lifecycle ownership and operational accountability are critical.
As Cisco 360 becomes the standard framework, Indian enterprises should reflect this shift in their procurement and evaluation processes.
Recommended actions include:
This alignment ensures that partner selection mirrors Cisco’s own performance criteria.
Proactive Data Systems operates within the Cisco 360 Partner Program as a Cisco Preferred Partner in India across Networking, Security, Cloud & AI, and Collaboration portfolios.
This recognition reflects consistent delivery, governance, and lifecycle ownership across complex enterprise environments, rather than legacy tier-based qualification.
The Cisco 360 Partner Program represents a shift from partner labels to partner performance. For Indian enterprises planning Cisco-led initiatives in 2026 and beyond, understanding how Cisco evaluates partners under this framework is essential to making informed, lower-risk decisions.
Cisco Preferred Partner status should now be viewed as the most relevant indicator of validated, portfolio-specific delivery capability.
Yes. Cisco 360 phases out legacy tier-based partner labels such as Gold, Premier, and Select, replacing them with portfolio-specific designations like Cisco Preferred Partner.
Yes. Cisco 360 is a global partner framework. While implementation timelines and portfolio maturity may vary by region, the evaluation model is consistent worldwide.
No. Certifications remain important, but Cisco 360 places greater emphasis on delivery outcomes, customer adoption, lifecycle engagement, and operational governance.
Cisco has confirmed February 2026 as the transition point for partner designations under the Cisco 360 Partner Program.
