Not only is cloud is becoming mainstream as a business IT solution, but mobile is taking over as the preferred method of computing, and virtualization is proliferating, too.
Want to learn more about these opportunities and find out about what role the network will play in supporting these opportunities--from the comfort of your home or office? Then be sure to register for Cisco Virtual Partner Summit 2011. Virtual Partner Summit will be the spot in which you can learn, share, and engage.
Virtual Partner Summit takes place online on March 1–3, 2011 and costs nothing for Cisco partners to attend. All you have to do is register and join us.
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IT spending is on the rise says a recent report from Raymond James & Associates. In fact, 2010 was the first year in a decade to see double-digit growth. So what’s one of the reasons for that spike?
According to the report, an improved credit environment has played a part. And guess what? Here at Cisco, we’re doing our part to make it easier for partners to get fast access to credit decisions. Cisco Capital is opening its doors to small business with competitive financing in the US, Canadian, and European markets.
With straightforward, flexible leasing options, competitive rates, and fast credit processing, Cisco Capital can help any business acquire the solutions it needs to be successful. I got the chance to chat with Kristine Snow, President of Cisco Capital. She filled me in on what exactly Cisco Capital is doing to expand small business financing.
Very often, technology decisions occur because something broke, or perhaps because something has become so outdated or so difficult to manage that replacement of the offending product is the only way to avoid employee insurrection. But if your company’s technology decisions are solely made during such a state of emergency, then you’ve been missing the boat when it comes to getting the most out of your IT investment.
This is tantamount to driving your car and making left or right turns based solely on traffic conditions and then seeing where you end up at the end of the day. Not necessarily a bad thing if you’re just exploring the area, but it’s not exactly a business class response focused on expense control and profitability in a competitive environment.
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You have questions, we have answers. We gathered up questions we’ve been hearing from partners around the topic of managed services, cloud, and white label and sat down with one of the foremost experts on the topic: Todd Roth, Director of the Managed Services Channel Program at Cisco. In this Q&A, he addresses partner concerns around new consumption models, partner-to-partner collaboration, and highlights some new developments in the managed services realm.
And with new cloud service designations within the Managed Services Channel Program (MSCP) that were just announced, this is a good time to explain those as well.
Channels blog: Hi, Todd. Thanks for joining us. What does “cloud service designation within MSCP” mean?
Todd Roth: It’s the beginning of a new class of service designations that enables partners to align and brand their cloud-based offerings with Cisco. Offerings that are built on a Cisco-validated architecture.
CB: What are the designations and who can take advantage?
The best way to prepare for a meeting with your channel partner depends, in large part, on how long you have been working together. We’re going to look at five key points, assuming that you and the partner are starting from Square One. If you’ve been working with the same partner for a considerable period of time, you may already have done some of these. But be on the lookout for anything you might have missed.
#1: Look at your IT needs from a business perspective, as well as a technological perspective.
This is not as basic as it might sound. What are the pain points of your company? Where are your costs just a little too high? What types of functions are slipping through the cracks? As you can surmise, the true potential of technology runs much deeper than the basics around email, Internet access and whatever applications you currently may be using. Your partner may have some ideas for new software that can remove extra cycles or help your people more effectively track functions that somehow get lost in the shuffle.
#2: Provide an accurate accounting of the systems and software already in place.
2011 will be “The Year of Disruptive Technologies and Business Models,” if Everything Channels’ predictions hold true.
