Cisco pulls cloud and managed service providers together under one programme

Cisco has created a new partner programme, pulling together cloud providers and cloud services resellers under one banner alongside its managed services providers.

The creation of a single Cloud and Managed Service Programme (CMSP) is aimed at simplifying the ways that partners engage with Cisco, with an emphasis on driving more of its partners towards providing cloud services.   There are already similarities between the way that MSPs and cloud service providers operate, and Cisco is intent on avoiding any confusion or cross-over going forward.

Three tiers will be available. CMSP Express will include partners providing at least two Cisco services, while Advanced partners, and the top tier, Master, will provide more extensive services, either cloud or managed, as well as higher levels of customer management.

Cisco wants to make it easier for partners to attack business in the cloud.  Sales teams have had to deal with changes in payment models as a result of recurring payment models, which has affected both Cisco partners and its own sales staff.  With this in mind, Cisco is planning to reward those who are making the jump to offering cloud services.  This means offering new incentives to help drive changes that are occurring within its own organisation, rewarding partners for greater commitment, as the vendor aims to play a bigger role in the segment.

This will involve opening CMSP partners up to Cisco incentives including the Opportunity Incentive Programme (OIP), Teaming Incentive Programme (TIP), Solution Incentive Programme and Technology Migration Programme (TMP).

The US networking giant has been keen to drive more of its partners across the globe into providing cloud services.   This push began last year with the introduction of its cloud partner programme, and Cisco has tried to steer more and more partners towards providing services through the cloud, as well as transitioning MSPs over to this area.

Cisco has diversified from offering networking gear and has been quickly expanding  into offering more cloud services.  A string of smaller acquisitions in the past twelve months has helped to fill out parts of its portfolio it considered lacking.  Recent acquisition Meraki is an example of how Cisco has opened its wallet to keep up to date with software based networking available through the cloud.