Tips and Tools for Cisco STIs

Do this FIRST: Get a Cisco.com (CCO) User ID.

Locate a Cisco authorized distributor.

Identify the Cisco channel manager for the account in your geographical area.

Seek Presales Support

Partner Relationship Team
800-553-6387 available 24 hours a day

Cisco Customer Service
800-GO-CISCO (800-462-4726), option 2, 2
Quick answers to presales technical and non-technical questions

Get Post Sales Support

Technical Assistance Center
Partners need a valid SMARTnet contract in order to receive support from the TAC.
TAC Guide
This guide gives a detailed overview of the TAC, including descriptions of different case priorities, escalation procedures, and how to utilize a duty manager.

Networking Professional Forums
Technical discussion groups focused on various technologies.

Differentiate Your Skills via Training

Partner Education Connection
Contains numerous FREE technical and sales e-learning courses.
Provides links to fee-based official Cisco curriculum.
Provides FREE remote access to lab equipment.

Partner Tech Talk
Quarterly Web broadcast developed exclusively for Cisco Partner systems engineers and account managers that provides the latest information on Cisco solutions, tools, and programs. The Partner Tech Talk schedule is available through Partner Education Connection.

Event Calendar
Calendar of live sales and technical trainings/events

Career Certifications
More information on individual career certifications

Be Competitive

Competitive Edge Portal


Partner Quote Builder


Solutions Reference Network Designs
Contain guidelines, recommendations, and best practices to help design and deploy various networking solutions

Steps to Success
Provides partners with a step-by-step resource for selling and delivering service and support throughout the network life cycle. Focuses on individual technology verticals.

Power Tools

Portable Product Sheets
Hard-to-find pre-sales technical product information

Channel Partner Tools
Links to numerous online partner tools

Partner Business Central
Portal that lets Partners access commerce-enabling applications. Streamlines product selection, comparison, configuration, and validation processes, and gives easy access to distributor part numbers.

Take Advantage of Rewards

Partner Rewards Program