The previous few weeks have been thrilling ones within the Cisco world—from launching Cisco 360 Associate Program, internet hosting AI Summit, and presenting EMEA with an incredible Cisco Dwell.
I used to be part of couple large accomplice occasions in Amsterdam at Cisco Dwell and one factor is evident: we aren’t simply speaking about the way forward for AI; we’re constructing the infrastructure to safe it.
As we transfer from generative AI to Agentic AI, the stakes have by no means been larger. AI that acts for us additionally wants safety that thinks for us. For our companions, this represents the one biggest alternative for development in a decade.
The Massive Image: Safety is the Accelerator, Not the Brake
There’s a frequent false impression that safety slows down innovation. At Cisco, we consider the other. Consider safety just like the high-performance brakes on a System 1 automobile; they’re the one purpose the driving force feels protected sufficient to go 200 mph. As a Cisco accomplice, you’re the one handing them the keys to a safe, high-speed future.
The Rise of Agentic AI (And the Safety Hole)
Agentic AI is being adopted at a blistering tempo. Over half of organizations are already deploying brokers, with one other 30% experimenting. However these autonomous brokers introduce new dangers: immediate injection, device poisoning, and information leakage—simply to call just a few.
The Cisco Strategy: We shield AI brokers from the world, and we shield the world from AI brokers. We’re embedding safety immediately into the material of the community, making certain that safety and networking are not two separate conversations, however one unified system.
New Improvements: Defending the Complete Lifecycle
We’ve simply introduced probably the most important growth of our safety portfolio thus far, together with:
AI Protection Enlargement: Now defending your complete AI utility provide chain and mannequin integrity. It’s globally accessible and built-in with the NVIDIA Safe AI Manufacturing facility.
SASE for Agentic AI: We’ve launched automated detection and entry controls for AI brokers, together with safety for the Mannequin Context Protocol (MCP). This permits organizations to control how brokers work together with information.
AgenticOps in Safety Cloud Management: We’re utilizing AI to handle AI. These instruments proactively analyze firewall visitors and configuration information to autonomously remediate points, eradicating the handbook “grunt work” in your prospects’ IT groups.
Duo for Energetic Listing: We haven’t forgotten the fundamentals. Since 44% of id assaults goal legacy methods, we’ve built-in Duo safety for Energetic Listing to shut the hole on identity-based threats.
“Safety and observability aren’t issues that cut back productiveness—they speed up adoption. They’re conditions for productiveness.” — Jeetu Patel, EVP and Chief Product Officer, Cisco
The Cisco 360 Associate Program: Extra Worth, Extra Reward
On January 25, 2026, we formally launched the Cisco 360 Associate Program. This isn’t only a identify change; it’s a shift towards rewarding the depth of your experience.
Within the AI period, specialization is your forex. We even have aligned our incentives to reward those that put money into the “Safe Networking” and “Safe AI Options” portfolios:
The Specialization Bonus: Most well-liked Companions now earn an additional bonus on eligible bookings with one specialization.
The Multiplier Impact: If you happen to maintain a number of specializations inside a single portfolio (like Safety), that bonus will increase additional.
Everlasting Rewards: These aren’t short-term promos. These bonuses are a everlasting a part of the inducement construction, designed to reward your sustained funding in Cisco experience.
The Backside Line
The “Agentic Period” is right here, and your prospects are in search of a information. Don’t look ahead to them to ask about AI safety—carry the answer to them. Join together with your Cisco Associate Safety Account Government to study extra about how we’re making AI protected to scale.
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