Updated: Dec 29, 2025
Cisco Preferred Partner is the highest customer-facing partner designation under the Cisco 360 Partner Program. It represents Cisco’s validation of a partner’s delivery capability within a specific technology portfolio, based on measurable outcomes across the customer lifecycle.
Unlike legacy partner tiers that applied at an organisation level, Cisco Preferred Partner status is portfolio-specific. It confirms where a partner has consistently demonstrated architectural depth, delivery quality, customer adoption, and operational governance.
For customers, Cisco Preferred Partner status is not a marketing label. It is a signal of reduced delivery risk and verified capability in the technology area being deployed.
Proactive Data Systems is recognised as a Cisco Preferred Partner in India across multiple technology portfolios. This recognition reflects sustained performance under Cisco’s evaluation framework, not historical tier-based qualification.
With over 35 years of experience, Proactive has evolved alongside Cisco’s partner ecosystem. After being a Cisco Gold Partner for over a decade, Proactive transitioned to Cisco Preferred Partner status under the Cisco 360 Partner Program as Cisco moved to outcome-led partner validation.
Proactive Data Systems is a Cisco Preferred Partner in India across Networking, Security, Cloud & AI, and Collaboration portfolios. Cisco Preferred Partner is the highest customer-facing designation under the Cisco 360 Partner Program and is awarded based on portfolio-level delivery outcomes. Proactive’s recognition reflects lifecycle ownership, consistent delivery, and pan-India execution capability. Cisco Preferred Partner replaces legacy Gold Partner status from January 2026.
Proactive Data Systems holds Cisco Preferred Partner recognition across the following portfolios in India:
Each designation is independently evaluated and applies only to the specific portfolio named. Together, they reflect Proactive’s depth across enterprise networking, cybersecurity, cloud and AI-ready data centres, collaboration platforms, and managed services.
The Indian enterprise landscape presents unique challenges. Large, distributed environments, regulatory requirements, and rapid digital transformation demand partners that can deliver consistently beyond initial deployment.
Cisco Preferred Partner status helps Indian organisations:
As Cisco sunsets legacy partner tiers from January 2026, Cisco Preferred Partner designation becomes the primary reference point for partner credibility.
Cisco evaluates Preferred Partners under a continuous, performance-based framework. The Cisco 360 Partner Program focuses on how partners deliver outcomes across the customer lifecycle.
Key evaluation areas include:
Preferred status must be sustained through ongoing performance. It is not a one-time certification.
Proactive’s delivery model aligns closely with Cisco’s evaluation criteria.
Engagements begin with architecture and design, followed by structured deployment, optimisation, and long-term operational support. Proactive teams remain accountable beyond go-live, ensuring that solutions continue to perform as business needs evolve.
This lifecycle-led approach is a key reason Proactive has achieved Cisco Preferred Partner status across multiple portfolios.
Cisco Gold Partner status historically indicated scale, investment, and broad engagement with Cisco. Cisco Preferred Partner status replaces this model with portfolio-specific validation. Customers can now assess where a partner has proven capability, rather than relying on assumed breadth.
For Indian enterprises, this shift improves clarity and confidence in partner selection.
Proactive Data Systems operates across India with delivery and support teams based in:
This pan-India presence enables consistent delivery for enterprises with multi-site or distributed operations.
Proactive supports organisations across a wide range of industries, including:
These environments demand high availability, security, and operational resilience, areas where Cisco Preferred Partner validation is particularly relevant.
Customers can independently verify Proactive’s Cisco Preferred Partner recognition using Cisco’s official Partner Locator portal.
Verification should include:
This verification process reflects Cisco’s emphasis on transparency under the 360 Partner Program.
Cisco Preferred Partner status does not automatically imply lower pricing. However, Preferred Partners often demonstrate stronger alignment with Cisco’s solution architecture, licensing models, and deployment best practices.
This alignment can contribute to more efficient designs, reduced rework, and better long-term cost outcomes for customers.
Enterprises engage Proactive Data Systems as a Cisco Preferred Partner in India for several reasons:
These factors combine to reduce risk and improve long-term outcomes for Cisco-led initiatives.
Cisco Preferred Partner status represents Cisco’s shift toward outcome-based partner validation. For organisations seeking a Cisco Preferred Partner in India with proven delivery depth across critical technology portfolios, Proactive Data Systems offers validated capability aligned to Cisco’s current evaluation framework.
Yes. Proactive Data Systems is recognised as a Cisco Preferred Partner in India across Networking, Security, Cloud & AI, and Collaboration portfolios.
No. Cisco Preferred Partner is a portfolio-specific designation under the Cisco 360 Partner Program, while Cisco Gold Partner was a legacy organisation-wide tier.
Cisco has confirmed January 2026 as the transition point for customer-facing partner designations under the Cisco 360 Partner Program.
Customers can verify Proactive’s status using Cisco’s official Partner Locator by checking portfolio-level recognition for India.
