When Cisco Systems announced a revised managed services strategy this week, the company said it expected VARs to offer white label NOC (network operating center) services to each other. It begged the question: Would Cisco build a NOC of its own for established and aspiring managed service providers to leverage?
The answer from a Cisco spokesman: No, the company has no plans to build a NOC. One potential reason, I think, involves Cisco’s established relationships with Verizon Business and other big service providers. If Cisco built a NOC that small VARs could leverage, the networking giant essentially would be directly helping Small VARs compete directly against big service providers.
Changes Ahead
Cisco’s original managed services partner program required MSPs to have their own NOCs.
But times are changing. In a new strategy, launching in August 2009, Cisco will allow VARs without NOCs to participate in the managed services partner program — as long as the VARs white label NOC services from Cisco’s higher-level partners.
Surinder Brar, senior director of marketing for Cisco’s worldwide channels, explained the evolving managed services partner program in this video.
Follow MSPmentor via RSS; Facebook; Identi.ca; and Twitter. And sign up for our Enewsletter; Webcasts and Resource Center.
Read More About This Topic
Share This Post
Posted In: Platforms
Tags: Cisco Managed Services Partner Program | Cisco Network Operations Center | Cisco Powered Managed Services
Interact: Add a Comment | Trackback Link | Permalink
Subscribe: RSS Feed
Take a look at our 
Joe do you know if Cisco plans to offer some sort of way for VARs to find Cisco certified MSPs that white label their NOCs? Thank you.
Omar: During Cisco’s press conference it sounded like Cisco was going to let MSPs and VARs sort out their white labeling strategies on their own. But I will ask Cisco your question and seek an answer.
-jp
Joe –
I’d recommend you talk to someone @ Cisco ROS about what can be done re: enabling a VAR to take on a Cisco managed NOC….
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps6192/serv_category_home.html
Jot: I will extend an interview request to Cisco and report back.
Readers: Let me know if you have specific questions for Cisco.