Co-designed with partners, the Cisco 360 Partner Program introduces new specializations, bonuses, and resources to help partners deliver the full power of Cisco’s innovation
Cisco has unveiled key elements of its Cisco 360 Partner Program, launching on January 25, 2026. Co-designed with partners, the program aims to boost partner profitability and deliver greater customer value. With partners expecting AI to drive most of their revenue in the next five years, the enhanced program offers incentives to help organizations capitalize on AI despite infrastructure, data, and skills challenges. It also strengthens collaboration across Cisco’s global partner ecosystem, enabling partners to leverage the full Cisco portfolio to build AI-ready data centers, modern workplaces, and stronger digital resilience.
Cisco 360 Partner Program: Driving customer impact and predictable partner profitability
Building on the Cisco 360 Partner Program announced at last year’s Partner Summit, the latest updates create new paths to profitability across key solution areas—campus refresh, AI, security, collaboration, and mass-scale infrastructure. Partners can potentially earn as much or more than under the current program, with Preferred Partners gaining access to new specializations aligned with Cisco’s critical AI-era infrastructure. Cisco is also expanding its enablement efforts, offering new training, tools, and resources—including a marketing Launchpad and Branding Toolkit—to support partners as the program rolls out.
“This program is critical to our mutual success with partners. The Cisco 360 Partner Program serves the agile partner ecosystem that reacts and adapts quickly, innovates continuously, and scales efficiently through platform and ecosystem effects,” said Tim Coogan, Senior Vice President of Global Partner Sales at Cisco.
“We appreciate that Cisco invited partners to co-design the new program and listened to ideas along the way. This program is a true reflection of partnership and we’re confident it will help set us up for success,” said Nicko Roussos, Senior Vice President, Cisco Strategy & Transformation, TD Synnex.
New Cisco 360 Partner Program elements announced:
Enhanced partner incentive tied to customer priorities
The Cisco Partner Incentive introduces the Eligible Offers list and rebate rates designed to accelerate growth and incentivize adoption in across campus refresh, AI, security and premium services, adopt and renew. Partners can model profitability using the Cisco Partner Incentive Estimator and unlock two additional bonuses as they advance expertise and accelerate portfolio growth. Cross Sell Bonus – rewarding portfolio breadth; and a Next Generation Specialization Bonus – rewarding deep expertise or greater value and predictable growth. Together, these levers deliver predictable growth while positioning partners to earn as much or more than with the previous program by focusing on integrated solutions that drive customer outcomes.
New specializations recognizing AI infrastructure expertise
In February 2026, Cisco Preferred Partners can earn two new specializations – Secure AI Infrastructure and Secure Networking. This will recognize partners who deliver comprehensive solutions from design through ongoing customer engagement using Cisco’s integrated hardware, software, and services. Both specializations unlock an additional Cisco Partner Incentive bonus, increasing profitability for partners building deep expertise in the era of AI.
Expanded partner enablement: Training, tools, and demo environments
Partners gain access to new resources designed to accelerate expertise and time to revenue:
- Cisco Partner Learning Journeys – clear, role-based training paths for both technical and sales professionals at every level, with recognition through the Cisco 360 Partner Value Index accelerating the ability to build the skills that drive business growth.
- Cisco AI Assistant for Partners – streamlined access to high-quality, multi-language content and training, available in Learning Journeys and Partner Experience Platform.
- Advanced dCloud Demo Experiences – customizable virtual labs that replicate real customer environments, allowing Preferred Partners to demonstrate Cisco’s full capabilities alongside their own solutions, while reducing physical equipment needs and lowering training and sales costs.
- Cisco U. AI Skills Expansion – practical training in AI skills, data analysis, and AI APIs usage for designing AI pilot projects, fostering an agile ecosystem that supports partner success, and innovation in a rapidly evolving technology landscape.
- “Learn with Cisco” now includes an all-new Cisco AI Infrastructure Specialist Certification within the CCNP Data Center Certification track to help partners build and validate skills on Cisco data center infrastructure.
Marketing investment for program launch
Partners preparing for launch can access a Launchpad and a Branding Toolkit plus high-touch, one-on-one marketing support to customize marketing assets with their new brand and ensure readiness for January 25, 2026.
