Cisco is making a bold play for MSP mindshare. The company debuted a series of AI-driven programs and platforms built to simplify IT and boost profitability. While Cisco strengthened its secure network architecture for enterprise customers, the company also delivered updates in partner enablement, security, edge computing, and customer experience. The latter four areas are central to the next wave of managed services growth.
Tim Coogan
“We are hearing from our customers that AI is moving faster than their infrastructure can support. … It’s also revealing a significant gap in skills,” said Tim Coogan, senior vice president of global partner sales at Cisco, during a media call ahead of the Cisco Partner Summit, where these products were introduced. “We expect AI to form the majority of our partners’ business over the next one to three to five years. And we see that as a great opportunity.”
Cisco’s goal is to empower its partners to simplify operations, strengthen security, and deliver smarter, higher-margin services.
Major Enhancements for Service Providers
During the Cisco Partner Summit, held Nov. 3-5 in San Diego, CA, Cisco unveiled its strategy to help IT service providers scale and prosper. The news most relevant to MSPs was:
- Cisco 360 Partner Program: A revamp of Cisco’s framework for partners, originally introduced a year ago
- Security Cloud Control: A platform built for multitenant MSP operations
- Unified Edge Platform: An edge platform designed for distributed AI workloads
- Cisco IQ: A unified AI-powered customer-experience interface
Below, we take a closer look at some details from each announcement, as well as how they will benefit MSPs.
1. Cisco 360 Partner Program: A New Model for MSP Profitability
Cisco will launch its enhanced Cisco 360 Partner Program on January 25, 2026. The program was co-created with partner feedback to deliver deeper portfolio incentives, clearer performance visibility, and new specialization pathways.
The refreshed program builds on Cisco’s commitments. It now seeks to simplify engagement, reward innovation, and align incentives with partner-delivered outcomes. It also includes new cross-sell and specialization bonuses to recognize MSPs that deliver full-stack solutions rather than one-off deals.
Elisabeth De Dobbeleer
“The Cisco 360 Partner Program is … about empowering every partner to thrive at the center of Cisco’s innovation,” Cisco Partner Program Senior Vice President Elisabeth De Dobbeleer said in a prepared statement. “By investing in our partners’ capabilities and giving them the tools and resources they need, we’re enabling our ecosystem to deliver greater customer outcomes and lead in an AI-powered world.”
Cisco also introduced two new specializations, Secure AI Infrastructure and Secure Networking. These will recognize MSPs that deliver integrated solutions combining Cisco hardware, software, and managed services. With expanded enablement, virtual labs, and AI-assisted training, MSPs gain faster onboarding and improved profitability.
2. Simplified Security for MSPs: Multicustomer Management and Hybrid Mesh Firewall
Cisco also enhanced its Security Cloud Control platform. This was purpose-built for MSPs, enabling unified management and simplified licensing across multiple client environments. The update allows MSPs to manage Hybrid Mesh Firewall deployments and other security tools from a single dashboard, streamlining operations and cutting overhead. It also supports flexible commercial models, including multiarchitecture and consumption-based agreements.
Jeetu Patel
For MSPs seeking scalability and simplified service delivery, this central management capability provides a foundation for building security-as-a-service models while improving efficiency and responsiveness.
“MSPs are on the front lines, helping businesses navigate the complexities of modern cybersecurity, especially as AI makes threats more sophisticated,” Jeetu Patel, Cisco president and chief product officer, said in a prepared statement. “The new multicustomer management capabilities in Cisco Security Cloud Control, coupled with our Hybrid Mesh Firewall, are designed to eliminate operational friction, empower our partners to accelerate revenue growth, and ultimately deliver superior security outcomes for their customers.”
3. Unified Edge Platform for Distributed Agentic AI Workloads
Cisco rolled out the Unified Edge Platform, which combines compute, networking, storage, and security to support real-time, agentic AI workloads closer to where data is generated. The platform helps partners simplify infrastructure at the edge while maintaining enterprise-grade reliability.
Jeremy Foster
For MSPs managing distributed clients in industries like retail, manufacturing, or healthcare, the platform offers flexibility, reduced cabling and management complexity, and built-in redundancy. It provides zero-touch deployment, centralized visibility via Cisco Intersight, and integration with observability tools like Splunk and ThousandEyes. It also features Cisco’s Zero Trust security embedded at every layer.
“We’ve tried to think of every single operational use case through countless interviews with customers about where and how to put this,” said Jeremy Foster, senior vice president and general manager of Cisco Networking, during the media preview call. “It’ll mount in a four-post rack, a two-post rack, or to a wall … You can do just about anything with this platform in terms of where you would want to put it in a traditional enterprise.”
4. Cisco IQ: ‘Boldest Step Yet’ in AI-powered Experience
The new Cisco IQ brings AI-driven insight, automation, and personalized support into a single interface. The unified interface is available as SaaS or on-premises, supporting compliance-sensitive customers. This gives MSPs the ability to deliver proactive management and continuous optimization through Cisco’s lifecycle-driven ecosystem.
“Cisco IQ is our boldest step yet in reimagining how customers interact with Cisco, from planning and design to optimization and transformation,” said Liz Centoni, Cisco executive vice president and chief customer experience officer, in a prepared statement. “It intelligently anticipates, personalizes, and transforms how you assess, deploy, and operate, providing one connected experience to reduce complexity and empower IT teams to act with clarity and confidence.”
Liz Centoni
By embedding Cisco IQ into their managed services stack, MSPs can position themselves as proactive partners delivering higher-value customer experiences.
What MSPs Should Do Now
Cisco’s announcements signal a major evolution in how it supports MSP partners. From performance-based incentives to AI-driven platforms and edge infrastructure, the company is reshaping its partner ecosystem to align with how MSPs will grow in 2026 and beyond.
To prepare, Cisco partners should consider taking these steps now:
- Map your specialization path. With Cisco 360 launching in January, identify which certifications or partner tiers best align with your service strengths.
- Re-evaluate your security stack. Multitenant management and simplified licensing in Security Cloud Control make it easier to scale managed security services.
- Position for edge AI growth. The Unified Edge Platform offers an on-ramp to distributed AI and edge computing. This is a space MSPs can own early.
- Adopt Cisco IQ for differentiation. Embed it in service workflows to enhance customer visibility and lifecycle management.
The takeaway is clear: Those who embrace Cisco’s new frameworks and tools will be best positioned to deliver smarter, more profitable, and AI-enabled managed services.
Anjali Fluker is senior channel editor for The ChannelPro Network, where she covers news, trends, and best practices for the MSP community. She specializes in telling the stories that matter to IT providers serving the SMB market. When she’s not reporting on the latest in managed services, she’s connecting with channel pros at industry events across the country.
Images: iStock, Cisco
