Cisco and Thales tighten networking partnership

Cisco has extended its partnership with Thales to resell equipment and services for the global defence and security market.

Thales specialises in supplying electronics equipment and services to the defence, aerospace and transportation markets, using Cisco networking and communications systems.

While the pair already have links in the European market, these will be expanded upon, as well as being offered on a wider global stage.

This will involve developing Thales’ range of services in cooperation with Cisco, as well as targeting defence and security market opportunities such as mobile routing and broadband based radio networks.

As well as accessing its equipment, Thales will also be able to use the sales and training programmes that Cisco has on offer, such as Sales Expert and Cisco Vertical Solutions Architect.

Thales will get status as a Cisco Global Speciality Integrator, with the ability to partner directly with Cisco on a global basis, reselling its networking systems.

Jean-Michel Lagarde, senior vice president in charge of Systems Activities at Thales, welcomed the closer partnership.

“This will be a hugely valuable long-term collaboration for both businesses,” Lagarde said in a statement.

“Combining Thales’ specialist industry expertise and advance integration capabilities with Cisco’s world-leading networking knowledge and technology will allow us to develop and deliver genuinely innovative security solutions to our customers worldwide.”