Gold Partner
Help your customers engage in new business models. Get certified in enterprise networking, security, collaboration, data center virtualization and service provider technology. Integrate the deepest level of Cisco Lifecycle Services expertise into your offerings. Receive technical support, productivity tools, online training, marketing resources and sales promotions.
Certified Role Requirements
Partner must have a minimum of 12 unique certified full-time employees:
- minimum of four Cisco Certified Internetwork Experts (CCIEs)
- no more than four Selling Business Outcomes (SBO) or The Cisco Business Architecture Approach (DTBAA) may be counted toward the total
Specialization Requirements
Partners need four of the following specializations for Gold Certification:
- Advanced Enterprise Networks Architecture Specialization (Mandatory)
- Advanced Security Architecture Specialization (Mandatory)
- Advanced Collaboration Architecture Specialization or
- Advanced Data Center Architecture Specialization or
- Advanced Service Provider Architecture Specialization
NB: Enterprise Networks and Security Architecture are mandatory; the other two required specializations can be selected from the three remaining Architecture Specializations.
Role Sharing Rules
Please review Cisco’s document on role sharing
Hybrid IT Requirements
Partners must be able to resell four Hybrid IT Services from the following list:
1. Cisco Cloud Service or Cisco Powered Cloud Service (required)
2. Cisco Managed Service, Cisco Powered Managed Service or Cisco Based Partner-Created Managed Service (required)
3. Cisco Cloud Service or Cisco Managed Service or Cisco Powered Cloud Service or Cisco Powered Managed Service or Cisco Based Partner-Created Service
4. Cisco Cloud Service or Cisco Managed Service or Cisco Powered Cloud Service or Cisco Powered Managed Service or Cisco Based Partner-Created Service
Cisco Based Service Definitions:
- Cisco Based Partner-Created Managed Service: An offer where the key features of the service are provided by Cisco device(s), or a network-based service is built on Cisco infrastructure AND the service includes monitoring and management of Cisco equipment owned or leased by the customer (Cisco endpoints or customer premises equipment)
- Cisco Based Partner-Created Cloud Service: A cloud-based service built on Cisco reference architecture.
Hybrid Services
To sell the hybrid services, you will need to secure a provider contract(s) and ensure the following are in place:
- End customer SLA
- Marketing and/or technical description
- Hybrid IT resale lifecycle management process
Support Requirements
| Type | Gold |
|---|---|
| Legal agreement | Valid resale agreement or Cisco Indirect Channel Partner Agreement (ICPA) in place |
| Demonstration capabilities | Ability to demonstrate a technology or solutions specialization at the time of audit |
| Customer service | 24 hours a day, 7 days a week |
| Escalation process | Required |
| Call back | One hour |
| Support lab | Support lab equipment requirement for collaborative service partners only |
| Pre-sales support | Required |
| Post-sales support | Requirements based on Partner Support Agreement |
Customer Satisfaction
NB: Participation in the Cisco Partner Customer Satisfaction survey is required.
| Measurement | Explanation |
|---|---|
| January measurement | Provide 30 valid contacts / email addresses for current customers to receive a customer satisfaction survey |
| July measurement | Partner must enter follow-up activities in PAL tool for all low scores received for the current fiscal year |
| New Partner Certification* | Participation in customer satisfaction activities at the first measurement after a full six months of attaining Gold certification (January or July measurement) |
| Recertification | Participation in both January and July measurement customer satisfaction activities |
*The definition of “new” partner as it relates to the enforcement of the customer satisfaction requirement is a partner that has not been certified at any level within the previous six months.
Exception
Premier partners moving to Gold Certification must provide a minimum of 30 valid customer contact names/email addresses at the first January measurement period that occurs after a full six months of attaining Gold Certification.
Service Requirements
Service Attach Rate New and renewing Gold Certified Partners are required to have a minimum service attach rate of 40 percent during the four previous Cisco quarters. For partners who have not previously been Gold Certified, the service attach rate requirement may be met by achieving a rate of 40 percent within the past 12 months.
Revenue from Services New and renewing Gold Partners must generate at least 15 percent of revenue from services during the two previous Cisco quarters.
Revenue from services must meet the following requirements:
- The percentage of revenue from all services (includes all vendors, and does not have to be 100 percent Cisco-specific) against the product revenue must be at least 15 percent
- Partners must provide documented evidence that they have met or exceeded this requirement Measurement must be specific to the division engaged in providing networking services or solutions in the country applying for certification.
The service requirements apply to both Cisco Branded Services (CBR, Packaged Services, Pay-for-Performance), and Partner Branded Services (CSSP, Co-Brand, Collaborative Technical Services).
Full details of Cisco’s Channel Partner Program can be found here