Main by way of studying with Cisco 360 Associate Program

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Cisco’s $80 million funding invitations Companions “again to high school”

I’ve at all times mentioned that know-how is transferring quicker than folks. Ought to we simply settle for this? I imagine we’ve a accountability to assist folks in every single place construct abilities they should leverage rising know-how and keep on the forefront of innovation. Digital skill-building is how we are going to advance and architect the fast evolution of our info and communications know-how (ICT) trade, the place 92% of roles are anticipated to remodel attributable to AI. Digital abilities are additionally our greatest line of protection to deal with the worldwide hole in cyber readiness and the scarcity of 4.6 million cyber professionals which places our world’s digital ecosystem in danger. And most significantly, skilling is a pathway to participation – giving all the possibility to learn from the promise of superior know-how.

Collectively, these dynamics create a urgent want for enterprise and authorities leaders around the globe to verify their workforce is AI-ready and AI-enabled. At the moment at Cisco’s 2024 Associate Summit, we took the stage to speak in regards to the crucial want for skilling and the way a brand new imaginative and prescient for Associate enablement at Cisco – will enable us to cleared the path.

Talent-building as a strategic functionality

The flexibility to study – and quickly translate studying into motion – will differentiate corporations competing in at the moment’s hyper dynamic AI-driven market. However, we’ve to consider studying otherwise and domesticate skill-building as a strategic, ecosystem-wide functionality. It’s this concept that has leaders asking if they’ve sufficient employees with the best abilities, and the reply is usually “not but.” As a substitute, we see that:

What does all of this imply for Cisco and our Companions as we journey to AI-readiness? It means it’s time to return to high school!

Again to high school with the brand new Cisco 360 Associate Program

Cisco 360 is probably the most vital evolution of our Associate program in 25 years, designed from the bottom as much as assist Cisco Companions construct their workforce, allow outcomes, and cleared the path for our trade. The “college” we envision on the coronary heart of Cisco 360 is completely different from faculties of the previous. It’s AI-centric and AI-driven, with studying that’s easy, versatile and accessible. And, it consists of new approaches and gives like these:

Section 2 of AI-Prepared Infrastructure for Companions, addressing the superb information heart and AI merchandise launching at Associate Summit this week,
Associate Studying Journeys for easy, curated coaching suggestions,
A Unified Studying Method combining on-demand with digital Teacher-Led Coaching (ILT) capabilities, so Companions get credit score for abilities no matter methodology,
new vendor content material on AI, cloud, and networking and a 2x quicker replace cadence, and
our expanded AI specialization is now obtainable to Companions freed from cost.

And an $80 million funding in Associate enablement

There’s extra to Cisco’s dedication to our Partners’ success. For over three many years, we’ve seen how coaching turns into innovation and actual enterprise worth. Cisco is making an $80 million funding in two new applications to assist Companions energy their workforce – and their profitability. Each applications use our award-winning and AI-powered Cisco U. – the identical coaching platform utilized by Cisco’s inside gross sales pressure.

Quarterly “Ladder Ups” for all Partners

First, we’re making an $20 million funding in new quarterly “Ladder Up” coaching occasions, supplied free to all Cisco Companions. Ladder Ups present a self-paced coaching possibility, with hands-on labs and continuing education credit to help certifications. Every coaching is aligned to Cisco’s key enterprise priorities, corresponding to AI, safety, and networking. Our first Ladder Up focuses on the crucial situation of cyber resilience, providing each Cisco Associate free entry to our Cybersecurity Affiliate coaching on Cisco U. This coaching constructs abilities round community protection, risk evaluation, incident response, and safety operations – all essential elements of any safety observe. It’s obtainable beginning at the moment, and you may study extra right here.

10 annual all-access Cisco U. subscriptions for certified Most popular Companions

As we roll out Cisco 360 over the subsequent 15 months, we’re additionally investing $60 million in our Most popular Companions’ studying journey. Certified Most popular Companions will obtain a complete advantages package deal that features 10 annual all-access subscriptions to Cisco U., enabling their groups with crucial abilities and obtain or re-certify profession certifications. This funding displays Cisco’s deep dedication to our Companions and our goal to amplify the worth of Associate capabilities, efficiency and engagement.

As we gear up for the 2026 launch of the Cisco 360 Associate Program, we are going to work to verify the “on ramp” is straightforward and units us up for fulfillment. Our work displays vital suggestions from our Companions, and we’re relying on that suggestions loop persevering with as we carry Cisco 360 Associate enablement to life.

Deep technological abilities flip chance into opportunities

Asserting these new gives has been a spotlight of this 12 months’s Associate Summit. I particularly appreciated the possibility to convey in individual the deep gratitude we’ve for the tens of 1000’s of Companions who scale Cisco around the globe and deepen our impression in such significant methods.

In my 28 years at Cisco, I’ve seen two essential constants – the crucial function our Companions play in our success, and the facility of training and digital skilling to raise people, communities and corporations. Cisco and our Companions have embraced these concepts for a very long time now, and our dedication to main by way of studying is simply deepening as we prepare collectively for one more technological revolution.