The Cisco Managed Services Advanced Certification is for partners who provide Cisco-based managed services through a direct network operations center (NOC) investment, and offer basic management capabilities.
Cisco Managed Services Advanced Partners use Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) Foundation processes, practices, and tools to support advanced Cisco technologies.
The Managed Services Advanced Certification is attainable for partners who:
- Are entering the managed services space
- Have made an investment in a network operations center
- Follow ITIL best practices for IT Service Management
Partners participating at the MS-Advanced level of the program receive discounts on customer equipment and valuable benefits. They are also invited to join the Managed Services Community, and receive marketing benefits and technical training to help ensure the success of their services practice.
Cisco Managed Services Advanced Partners must demonstrate the capability to support a minimum of 2 customers, which will be validated through an independent, third-party audit.
These partners may also apply for one or more Cisco Powered Managed Services Designations for a particular service, indicating that it has met the highest Cisco user standards. Partners earn an additional payment on the purchase of Cisco Powered products, except as restricted, and can market the service using the Cisco Powered logo with descriptive text.
Managed Services - Advanced is attainable for partners who follow ITIL best practices for IT Service Management.
To achieve the Managed Services Advanced Certification, a partner must:
- Have a NOC serving at least two unique customers
- Have an ITIL-trained full-time employee
- Have a minimum of two professionals with at least one of the following certifications employed full-time:
- Cisco Certified Network Professional, Service Provider Operations (CCNP SP Operations) Highly Recommended
- Cisco Certified Internetwork Professional (CCIP)
- Cisco Certified Design Professional (CCDP)
- Cisco Certified Network Professional, Routing and Switching (CCNP)
- Cisco Certified Network Professional, Security (CCNP Security)
- Cisco Certified Network Professional, Voice (CCNP, Voice)
- Cisco Certified Network Professional, Wireless (CCNP, Wireless)
- Have at least two Cisco-based managed service offerings
- Pass a third-party audit of capabilities
Partners are invited to join the Managed Services Community, and gain resources to help them envision, build, market, and sell managed services.
The Managed Services Community is open to all registered Cisco partners. It is a web portal with resources to help with all stages of the service lifecycle, including:
- Service creation
- Building and operating a managed service
- Marketing and selling the service
Employees of companies that participate in the Managed Services Channel Program at the Express, Advanced, or Master level are automatically entitled to participate, once they have registered as users. Registered partners with an interest in managed services can also apply to join the Managed Services Community.
Partners that achieve MS-Advanced status may also apply for a Cisco Powered Managed Services or Cloud Designation for a particular service. Services that earn each designation meet or exceed high Cisco user-experience standards, as reviewed and validated by a third-party audit.
Partners with a service that qualifies for a Cisco Powered Designation can:
- Earn a rebate on the purchase of Cisco Powered products, except as restricted
- Market the service using the Cisco Powered logo with descriptive text
- Join the Managed Services Community, where they receive the highest level of go-to-market benefits from Cisco
Managed Connectivity
- MPLS VPN
- TelePresence Network Connection
- Internet Service
- IP Trunking
- Metro Ethernet
- Data Center Interconnect
Managed Security
Managed Mobile Communications
Managed Data Center
Managed Unified Communications
Managed Contact Center
Managed Business Video
Cloud Services
- Contact Center as a Service (CCaaS)
- Hosted Collaboration Solution (HCS)
- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
- TelePresence as a Service (TPaaS)