Become a Security Specialized Partner
Cisco Security Specializations test knowledge in selling, designing, installing, and supporting integrated network security solutions.
Security Specializations
| Entry | Express | Advanced | Master |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Related Certifications: Advanced Security is required for Gold Certification or Optional for Silver Certification | |||
The Cisco Security Specializations help your company:
- Develop sales, technical, and service capabilities for integrated, collaborative, and adaptive security solutions
- Raise technical competency within your company
- Achieve recognition as a specialized partner in the Cisco Partner Locator
These specializations also entitle you to a range of additional benefits. You can:
- Participate in Cisco channel incentive programs
- Receive invitations to Cisco-sponsored partner events
- Access Partner Education Connection
- Use My Cisco to personalize web content and get information quickly
- Visit the Design Zone for tested designs and configurations
Account Manager | Systems Engineer | Field Engineer | Apply or Renew
Specialization Requirements
There are three required roles for the Advanced Security Specialization or Advanced Borderless Networks Specialization:
- Account Manager
- Systems Engineer
- Field Engineer
The roles provide a targeted roadmap with training content and exams tailored to the types of jobs these individuals would fill in a company
Account Manager
Responsible for sales methodology and customer engagement.
| Prerequisite: *All Costs are approximate and may vary by region |
Format | Cost* (USD) |
Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cisco Sales Expert (#646-206 CSE) | Exam | $80 | 60 mins |
| Requirement(s): | Format | Cost (USD) |
Duration |
| Cisco Security Sales Specialist #646-580 ASAM | Exam | $80 | 60 mins |
| Recommended Training: | Format | Cost (USD) |
Duration |
| Cisco Sales Essentials (CSE) v6.0 | E-learning | $0 | 5 hrs |
| Selling Advanced Security for Account Managers v4.0 | E-learning | $0 | 4 hrs |
| Smart Service Essentials for AM/SE | E-learning | $0 | 3 hrs |
| How to Sell Cisco Web Security Solutions | E-Learning | $0 | 4 hrs |
| Total: | $160 | 18 hrs | |
Role Sharing Guidelines:One qualified individual may fill only the AM role in up to 4 technology specializations. |
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Systems Engineer
Presales engineer responsible for security solution planning and design.
| Prerequisite: | Format | Cost (USD | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| CCDA associate-level certification (CCDP and CCIE supersede CCDA) |
Exam | $125 | 90 mins |
| Required Certification: | |||
| Cisco Security Solutions and Design Specialist #642-584 SSSE | Exam | $200 | 60 mins |
| Recommended Training: | Format | Cost (USD) | Duration |
| Advanced Security for Systems Engineers (SSSE) v4.0 | E-Learning | $0 | 6 hrs |
| Smart Service Essentials for AM/SE | E-Learning | $0 | 3 hrs |
| Cisco IronPort: Introduction to HTTP and HTTPS | E-Learning | $0 | 1 hrs |
| How to Sell Cisco Web Security Solutions | E-Learning | $0 | 4 hrs |
| Total: | $325 | 16.5 hrs | |
Role Sharing Guidelines:One qualified individual, may fill only the SE role in up to a total of 2 technology specializations. |
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Field Engineer
Post-sales engineer responsible for security solution implementation and operation.
| Prerequisite: | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| CCSP or CCNP Security or CCIE |
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| Requirement(s): | Format | Cost (USD) | Duration |
| Cisco Web Security Field Engineer Specialist (#650 - 568 WSFE) #650 - 575 LCSAS) |
Exam | $65 $65 |
45 mins 60 mins |
| Recommended Training: | Format | Cost (USD) | Duration |
| Cisco IronPort: Introduction to HTTP and HTTPS | E-Learning | $0 | 1 hrs |
| Securing the Web with Cisco Web Security Solutions (PASWSA) | Instructor-Led | $1,450 | 16 hrs |
| Cisco Lifecycle Services Advanced Security v2.0 | E-Learning | $0 | 2 hrs |
| Total: | $1,580 | 21 hrs | |
Role Sharing Guidelines:One qualified individual, may fill only the FE role in up to a total of 2 technology specializations. |
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Country Requirements:Learn more about Country Groupings |
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A consolidated list of specialization requirements offers a helpful overview.
Apply:
Your company must be a Cisco Registered Partner before you apply for specialization or certification. Follow these steps to apply:
- Visit the "Become a Registered Partner" page if you are new to the Cisco Channel Partner Program and have not registered.
- Verify that the certified individuals fulfilling job roles are allocated to your company with their CSCO testing number. Partner Administrators and internal Cisco employees (associated through the Channel Account Manager Assignment tool) are able to verify this information using the Partner Self Service tool. (Cisco usually receives exam results in 5 to 10 business days.)
- Complete and submit the Specialization application.
If you encounter any issues in the application or renewal process, please open a case with the Partner Relationship Team.
Renew:
To renew a specialization:
- Begin the recertification process 90 days before your anniversary date.
- Verify that you are in compliance with the current specialization requirements.
- Submit your application using the Certification and Specialization Application online web tool.
You must meet all requirements to submit your application. If you encounter any issues in the application or renewal process, open a case with the Cisco Partner Relationship Team.
If you fail to submit a recertification application within 10 days after your anniversary date, you will lose your specialization.
Note: If a partner does not remain in compliance with the applicable specialization or certification requirements, Cisco reserves the right to revoke the specialization or certification at any time. Partners must notify Cisco of its non-compliance promptly, but in no event more than thirty (30) days after partner fi rst becomes aware of its non-compliance. Upon receipt of such notice, partner may qualify for an extension of time in which to renew its compliance with the applicable specialization or certification requirements. Partner's failure to provide such notice may disqualify partner from receiving such an extension. If no extension is granted or if partner fails to comply with the certification or specialization requirements by the end of the extension period, Cisco reserves the right to revoke the applicable specialization or certification immediately. Additional information regarding non-compliance may be found in the Audit and Policies Document.
Read: New Master Security Specialization Requirements Updates - December 2012
The Master Security Specialization is targeted at an elite group of partners with in-depth technology skills. These partners also have demonstrated customer success in selling, deploying, and providing services for more sophisticated, value-added Cisco security solutions. Partners with a highly qualified security practice can achieve a Master Security Specialization, regardless of certification level.
Master Security Specialization
Step 1: Pre-Audit Validation
These requirements will be validated remotely before the onsite audit is scheduled.
| Requirement | Evidence |
|---|---|
| Advanced Security Specialization or Advanced Borderless Networks Specialization | Partner must hold the Advanced Security Specialization or Advaned Borderless Networks Specialization. Check is done via an internal system validation through the Certification & Specialization Application (CSApp) web tool. |
| CCIE Security | Assign individual in CSApp |
| One Project Management Certification: PMI (PMP) or Prince 2 | Partner uploads certificate to CSApp |
| Master Security Vulnerability Capabilities Assessment (see Master Security Vulnerability Capabilities Assessment) | Partner must answer the vulnerability capabilities assessment and the Cisco Channel SE must upload the assessment to CSApp. Review and validation of the vulnerability capabilities assessment is indicated by the Channel SE upload. In addition to the prequalifying Vulnerability Capabilities Assessment document which is to be uploaded into CSApp during the application process, partner must present evidence at the onsite audit of 3 completed Security Assessments. These customers may be from among the 5 deployment customer reference accounts or they may be different customers. See Master Security Assessment Example 1 and Example 2 under the Master Security header. |
| Customer References: Documentation to validate five* sophisticated deployments based on specific qualifying security criteria (see Master Security and Unified Communications Customer Reference Checklist) | Complete the customer reference document, which includes customer reference account deployment summaries, for the five* customer references. *Recertification applications require three customer references Cisco Channel Systems Engineer (SE) reviews the customer reference document and validates deployments. The Cisco Channel SE must upload the customer reference checklist into CSApp. Review and validation of the customer reference checklist is indicated by the Channel SE upload. |
Step 2: Onsite Audit |
|
| Requirement | Preparation |
| Onsite Audit Capabilities Validation | All requirements for the onsite audit are found in Cisco Channel Program Audit & Policies document. Please prepare accordingly. |
| Onsite Audit Demonstration | Be prepared to perform a demonstration as per the Master Security Demonstration Guidelines document. The following video helps you in preparing for the Onsite Audit Demonstration. A recommended list of Cisco Hardware and Software for demonstration is available in the Masters Specialization FAQ. |
Need Assistance? |
|
| Problem | Action |
| Need additional information? | Visit Master Specialization FAQ for answers to commonly asked questions Visit the training and tools page to view the Partner Preparedness and Demo Solution VoDs, and other documentation to help you. |
| If you are having issues with your online application, or Cisco online web tools: | Open a support case |
| If you have questions, issues, or concerns with regard to the audit process, demonstration requirements, or other issues related to this qualification: | Please contact your Partner Account Manager or Systems Engineer or send an email to master-specializations@cisco.com. |
See specialization requirements in a consolidated view
Apply:
- Your company must be a Registered Partner before applying for specialization(s) or a certification. Visit the "Become a Registered Partner" page if you are new to the Cisco Channel Partner Program and have not registered.
- Verify that the certified individuals fulfilling job roles are allocated to your company with their CSCO testing number. Partner Administrators and internal Cisco employees (associated through the CAM Assignment tool) are able to verify this information using the Partner Self Service tool . (It takes five to ten business days on average for Cisco to receive the exam results data from its respective testing agencies.)
- Complete and submit the Specialization application.
If you encounter any issues in the application or renewal process, please open a case with the Partner Relationship Team.
Renew:
You have 90 days prior to your anniversary date to begin the re-certification process. Your status has moved from "Approved" to "Re-Cert" in the Certification and Specialization Application (CSApp) online web tool. Once you verify that you are in compliance with the current specialization requirements, please submit your application in the CSApp tool. You will not be able to submit unless all requirements are met.
If you encounter any issues in the application or renewal process, please open a case with the Partner Relationship Team.
Failure to submit a re-certification application 30 days after your anniversary date will result in loss of the specialization.
Note: If a partner does not remain in compliance with the applicable specialization or certification requirements, Cisco reserves the right to revoke the specialization or certification at any time. Partners must notify Cisco of its non-compliance promptly, but in no event more than thirty (30) days after partner fi rst becomes aware of its non-compliance. Upon receipt of such notice, partner may qualify for an extension of time in which to renew its compliance with the applicable specialization or certification requirements. Partner's failure to provide such notice may disqualify partner from receiving such an extension. If no extension is granted or if partner fails to comply with the certification or specialization requirements by the end of the extension period, Cisco reserves the right to revoke the applicable specialization or certification immediately. Additional information regarding non-compliance may be found in the Audit and Policies Document.