A Clear Definition
A Cisco Preferred Collaboration Partner is a Cisco partner that has been validated under the Cisco 360 Partner Program for its delivery capability within the Collaboration portfolio.
This designation confirms that the partner has demonstrated consistent ability to design, deploy, optimise, and operate Cisco collaboration solutions across the customer lifecycle. It is a portfolio-specific recognition and does not apply across all Cisco technologies by default.
From January 2026, Cisco Preferred Partner designations replace legacy tier-based labels as the primary customer-facing benchmark.
How Cisco Preferred Collaboration Partner Status Is Awarded
Cisco awards Cisco Preferred Collaboration Partner status based on measured performance rather than organisational scale or historical tenure.
Under the Cisco 360 Partner Program, Cisco evaluates partners on how effectively they deliver collaboration outcomes in real-world customer environments. This includes solution architecture, deployment quality, user adoption, and ongoing operational performance.
The designation must be sustained through continuous execution. It is not a one-time certification.
What Falls Under the Cisco Collaboration Portfolio
The Cisco Collaboration portfolio covers technologies that enable secure, reliable communication and teamwork across organisations.
This typically includes cloud calling, on-prem and hybrid calling, meetings, messaging, contact centre solutions, and integrated collaboration platforms. These systems must deliver high availability, quality of experience, and security at scale.
A Cisco Preferred Collaboration Partner is validated specifically for competence across these collaboration domains.
Cisco Preferred Collaboration Partner vs Legacy Cisco Gold Partner
Under the earlier partner framework, Cisco Gold Partner status was awarded at an organisation level. While it indicated broad investment and alignment with Cisco, it did not always reflect depth in collaboration delivery.
Cisco Preferred Collaboration Partner status replaces broad assumptions with explicit portfolio-level validation. It confirms where a partner has proven collaboration expertise, rather than implying universal capability.
For customers, this distinction improves clarity and reduces delivery risk.
Why Cisco Preferred Collaboration Partner Status Matters
Collaboration platforms are mission-critical for modern organisations, supporting hybrid work, customer engagement, and business continuity.
Cisco Preferred Collaboration Partner status helps organisations:
- Validate collaboration expertise before engagement
- Reduce risk during migration or modernisation initiatives
- Align partner selection with Cisco’s evaluation framework
- Ensure lifecycle ownership beyond initial deployment
This is particularly relevant for large user bases, distributed teams, and hybrid work environments.
What Customers Should Look for in a Cisco Preferred Collaboration Partner
Beyond the designation itself, customers should assess how a Cisco Preferred Collaboration Partner approaches collaboration strategy, deployment, and operations.
Key considerations include experience with cloud and hybrid models, user adoption planning, operational governance, and the ability to support evolving collaboration needs over time.
Verification of portfolio-specific Preferred status should always form part of due diligence.
Cisco Preferred Collaboration Partner in the Indian Context
In India, organisations are accelerating the adoption of cloud calling, hybrid work models, and digital collaboration platforms.
Cisco Preferred Collaboration Partner status provides Indian enterprises with a clearer signal of validated capability aligned to Cisco’s global evaluation framework and local delivery realities.
Where Proactive Data Systems Fits In
Proactive Data Systems is recognised as a Cisco Preferred Collaboration Partner in India under the Cisco 360 Partner Program.
This recognition reflects consistent delivery across calling, meetings, and collaboration environments, supported by lifecycle ownership and pan-India execution capability.
The Practical Takeaway
Cisco Preferred Collaboration Partner status reflects Cisco’s shift toward outcome-based, portfolio-specific partner validation.
For organisations modernising collaboration platforms or enabling hybrid work at scale, this designation provides a more reliable indicator of proven collaboration delivery capability.
