Cisco aligns with Microsoft for cloud, datacenter sales
Cisco announced a three-year agreement with Microsoft that integrates technologies and sales initiatives to accelerate the modernization of cloud and datacenter markets for the enterprise.
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The companies will focus on integrating Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS), Cisco Nexus switching and Microsoft Cloud OS solutions including Windows Server, System Center, SQL Server and Microsoft Azure.
In addition, Cisco and Microsoft will align partner incentive programs to accelerate solutions selling via mutual channel partners. The companies' sales teams will also work together on cloud and datacenter opportunities, including an initial program focused on the migration of Windows 2003 customers to Windows 2012 R2 on the Cisco UCS platform.
During the first year the companies will focus specifically on six countries — the US, Canada, UK, Germany, France, and Australia — with expansion to additional countries planned for the following years.
Stephen Boyle, VP of the worldwide enterprise and partners group for Microsoft, said in a statement:
Enterprise customers worldwide are betting on Microsoft and Cisco to realize the benefits of our combined cloud and datacenter technologies. Now, together, we're strengthening our joint efforts to help customers move faster, reduce costs and deliver powerful new applications and services for their businesses.
Cisco's Frank Palumbo, SVP of global data center and virtualization sales, added:
From innovative technologies and global brands to specialized channel partners, Cisco and Microsoft have the ingredients to transform the traditional datacenter. Now we're expanding our long-standing technical partnership with Microsoft with an aggressive global go-to-market and sales initiative. By providing our customers and partners with greater sales alignment and even deeper technology integration, we will help them transform their datacenters and accelerate the journey to the cloud.
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