Cisco Cloud Builders Begin to Gain Momentum
Cisco Systems’ cloud partner program continues to have three tracks — Cloud Builder, Cloud Service Provider and Cloud Reseller. Cisco is seeing momentum across all three tracks, but the fastest-grow area has been among cloud builders, according to Cisco Channel Chief Edison Peres.
“All three of those conversations are starting to talk hold in the marketplace,” said Peres. “The one getting most attention is really the Cloud Builder [specialty]. You need to build out the highway before you see the cars on the highway. And we see a lot more in the areas of private clouds.”
Still, Peres said the other two cloud specialties should not be underestimated. Peres, interviewed at Cisco Partner Velocity in Las Vegas, sees a Cloud Service Provider trend starting to unfold among Cisco’s channel partners. “We didn’t think a lot of partners would want to stand up and promote their own clouds. But we’re changing our mindset on that. It’s a real trend that has started.”
Meanwhile, Cisco’s channel partners are starting to pursue merger and acquisition (M&A strategies) to get ahead of the cloud computing curve. A prime example: Presidio today acquired BlueWater Communications Group, combining two VAR500 companies that offer both cloud services and managed services.
