How to Become a Cisco Reseller?

Cisco Systems, Inc. is a multinational technology company that provides networking hardware, software, telecommunications equipment, and other high-tech products and services. As a Cisco reseller, you can offer your customers top-tier technology solutions. However, becoming a Cisco reseller requires meeting several certified role requirements, specialization requirements, and hybrid IT requirements. This article will guide you through each of these steps in detail.

Table of Contents

How to Become a Cisco Reseller?

To become a Cisco reseller, you need a company with 12 unique certified full-time employees, including a minimum of four Cisco Certified Internetwork Experts (CCIEs). It would help if you talked to a local representative in addition because there are unique benefits and requirements based on your region.

Certified Role Requirements

To become a Cisco reseller, you must first meet specific certified role requirements. These include having a minimum of 12 unique certified full-time employees. In addition, this team must consist of at least four Cisco Certified Internetwork Experts (CCIEs), as they are skilled professionals who can handle the complexities and challenges of networking.

Additionally, you can count four employees with either the Selling Business Outcomes (SBO) or The Cisco Business Architecture Approach (DTBAA) certifications towards your total. These certified professionals are essential for understanding the business strategies of selling Cisco products.

Specialization Requirements

Beyond the certified role requirements, you must also meet several specialization requirements. For Gold Certification, which is the highest partner certification level, you are required to possess four of the following specializations:

Advanced Enterprise Networks Architecture Specialization (Mandatory)
Advanced Security Architecture Specialization (Mandatory)
Advanced Collaboration Architecture Specialization
Advanced Data Center Architecture Specialization
Advanced Service Provider Architecture Specialization

It’s important to note that Advanced Enterprise Networks and Security Architecture specializations are mandatory. You can choose the remaining two specializations from the other three options, depending on your business’s core competencies and your team’s expertise.

Role Sharing Rules

To ensure compliance with Cisco’s policies, you’ll need to thoroughly review their document on role sharing. This document outlines how roles can be divided among your team members, helping avoid conflicts and maintain organizational structure.

Manage $300 000 Account. Earn as trader!

Hybrid IT Requirements

Becoming a Cisco reseller also means that you must be able to resell four Hybrid IT Services. These include:

Cisco Cloud Service or Cisco Powered Cloud Service (required)
Cisco Managed Service, Cisco Powered Managed Service, or Cisco Based Partner-Created Managed Service (required)
Two other services, which can be either a Cisco Cloud Service, Cisco Managed Service, Cisco Powered Cloud Service, Cisco Powered Managed Service, or Cisco Based Partner-Created Service

Notably, a Cisco-based partner-created Managed Service refers to an offer in which the service’s key features are provided by a Cisco device or a network-based service built on Cisco infrastructure. The service includes monitoring and management of Cisco equipment owned or leased by the customer.

Hybrid Services

To sell hybrid services, you’ll need to secure provider contract(s) and ensure the following are in place:

Manage $300 000 Account. Earn as trader!

End customer Service Level Agreement (SLA)
Marketing and technical description of the services
Hybrid IT resale lifecycle management process

Support Requirements

Lastly, you must meet specific support requirements to maintain your Cisco reseller status. Gold certification includes having a valid resale agreement or Cisco Indirect Channel Partner Agreement (ICPA), demonstrating a technology or solutions specialization during the audit, and providing customer service 24/7.

You’ll also need an established escalation process for customer issues, a call-back service within one hour, and pre-sales support. In addition, collaborative service partners must have support lab equipment, and post-sales support requirements are based on the Partner Support Agreement.

Conclusion

Becoming a Cisco reseller opens up numerous opportunities for your business, but it’s not a process that can be rushed. By meeting the necessary certified role requirements, specialization requirements, and hybrid IT requirements, you’ll be well on your way to reaping the benefits of this prestigious partnership. It’s essential to remember that these requirements are not just boxes to check off but critical components to ensure you can effectively provide high-quality Cisco products and services to your customers.