Become a Master Cloud Builder
Expand your data center and cloud opportunities while you increase profitability.
Enterprises, service providers, small businesses, and governments are looking for cloud solutions to solve some of their biggest business and technology challenges. A solution to these challenges requires an approach that fully integrates the three pillars of cloud: cloud applications and services, data centers, and networks.
Building on your Advanced Data Center Architecture Specialization, the exclusive Master Cloud Builder Specialization brings Data Center mainstream by recognizing and rewarding channel partners who have proven capabilities to build and deploy cloud-ready, integrated infrastructures based on Cisco solutions and our technology ecosystem partner cloud offerings across storage, virtualization, cloud management and virtual desktop. By achieving the elite Master Cloud Builder Specialization you will create a strong competitive differentiation and facilitate a new generation of IT and cloud services delivered economically, without compromising security or functionality. This specialization helps you:
- Differentiate your organization from other Cisco partners
- Increase profitability with rebates, and accelerate business and market growth
- Use the Master Cloud Builder Partner logo to uniquely position your capabilities
- Benefit from partnerships with Cisco technoloogy ecosystem partners
- Capture and grow business opportunities in cloud management, virtualization, and desktop virtualization
The Master Cloud Builder Specialization also offers the following incentives:
- Additional Value Incentive Program rebates
- Teaming Incentive Program and Opportunity Incentive Program discounts
Requirements
The Cisco Master Cloud Builder Specialization is for a specific group of partners who have in-depth technology skills. These partners also have demonstrated customer success in more sophisticated, value-added Cisco Data Center and Cisco Cloud Builder solutions, including:
- Sales
- Deployment
- Services
Partners with a highly qualified data center and cloud practice can achieve a Master Cloud Builder Specialization regardless of certification level.
Master Cloud Builder Specialization Steps
Step 1: Pre-Audit Validation
| Requirement | Evidence | |
|---|---|---|
| Cisco Advanced Data Center Architecture Specialization | Partner must hold the Advanced Data Center Architecture Specialization. A check is performed through an internal system validation, through the Certification and Specialization Application (CSApp) online tool. | |
| Storage Partnership (one or more) | EMC | Velocity Partner with Consolidate or Advanced Consolidate Specialization. The partner uploads a copy of the certificate into CSApp. |
| NetApp | Gold, Platinum, or Star Certification. The partner uploads a copy of the certificate into CSApp. | |
| Hitachi Data Systems (HDS) | Gold or Platinum Certification. The partner uploads a copy of the certificate into CSApp. | |
| Cloud Management (one or more) | Cisco | Intelligent Automation for Cloud. Validated during audit. |
| BMC | Cloud Lifecycle Management (CLM). Validated during audit. | |
| CA | AutoSuite for Cloud. Validated during audit. | |
| VMware | vCloud Director. Validated during audit. | |
| Virtualization (hypervisor) (one or more) | VMware | Enterprise or Premier Certification. The partner uploads a copy of the certificate into CSApp. |
| Citrix | Gold or Platinum Certification. The partner uploads a copy of the certificate into CSApp. | |
| Red Hat | Premier or SI Certification. The partner uploads a copy of the certificate into CSApp. | |
| Microsoft | Silver or Gold Certification. The partner uploads a copy of the certificate into CSApp. | |
| Desktop Virtualization | Cisco | The partner assigns individuals in CSApp. |
| VMware or Citrix (one or more) | The partner uploads copies of the appropriate specialist certificates for account manager, systems engineer, and field engineer roles for each vendor into CSApp. Please see table 1 for specialist details. Candidates need not be the same individuals as those holding the Cisco certifications above. | |
| VXI Foundation | The partner uploads the Training Verification template into CSApp. Please see table 2 for course details. Training attendees MUST be the same individuals holding vendor certifications. | |
| Integrated Infrastructure (one or more) | Vblock (Smart Solution) | The partner uploads as part of the customer reference requirement. Validated during audit. |
| FlexPod (Smart Solution) | The partner uploads as part of the customer reference requirement. Validated during audit. | |
| VIA-HDS | The partner uploads as part of the customer reference requirement. Validated during audit. | |
| Customer References: For certification and recertification, partners provide documentation to validate three sophisticated deployments based on specific qualifying data center and cloud criteria. See the Master Cloud Builder Customer Reference Checklist. | The partner completes the customer reference document, which includes customer reference account deployment summaries, for the three customer references. A Cisco Channel Systems Engineer (SE) reviews the customer reference document and validates deployments. The SE must upload the customer reference checklist into CSApp or sign the copy uploaded by the partner admin. This indicates review and validation of the customer reference checklist. |
|
Desktop Virtualization Vendor Certifications (Table 1)
| VXI Foundation by Partner | Role | Eco Partner Certification |
|---|---|---|
| Citrix | AM | Citrix Certified Sales Professional (CCSP) |
| SE | Citrix CCA Xen Desktop 5 | |
| Citrix CCA Xen App 6 | ||
| FE | Citrix CCA Xen Desktop 5 | |
| Citrix CCA Xen App 6 | ||
| VMware | AM | VMware Sales Professional 5 |
| Desktop Virtualization Sales | ||
| SE | VMware Technical Sales Professional 5 | |
| DV Technical Sales | ||
| FE | VMware Certified Professional 5 | |
| VCP-4 Desktop |
Desktop Virtualization Training Courses (Table 2)
Step 2: Onsite Audit
| Requirement | Preparation |
|---|---|
| Onsite Audit Capabilities Validation | All requirements for the onsite audit are found in the Cisco Channel Program Audit and Policies document. Prepare accordingly. |
| Onsite Audit Demonstration | Be prepared to perform a demonstration as directed by the Master Cloud Builder Demonstration Guidelines document |
Need Assistance?
| If you need additional information: | CSApp Checklist  At A Glance Frequently Asked Questions Partner Presentation - Long Partner Presentation - Short |
| If you have questions about your online application or Cisco online tools: | Open a support case |
| If you have questions, problems, or concerns with regard to the audit process, demonstration requirements, or other issues related to this qualification: | Contact your partner account manager or systems engineer, or send an email. |
Certifications and specializations are based on meeting all requirements within a given country, or country grouping where relevant.