RE: OT: Part time Cisco work with CCIE Number

Let me give you an example.

CDW is a gold partner.
Affirmed Systems is a Registered Partner (and when I get around to calling Cisco, an Advanced UC partner)

Routinely, customers come to us and find we are cheaper on 2900 series routers, ASA 5520's, etc and now that we can sell voice I'm willing to bet we are much cheaper on that as I have seen a few of their voice quotes lately...

It's simple- a big partner has MUCH higher overhead and has MANY more pigs at the trough - that's fine and I understand why they can't "sell hardware at cost". Small partners can - we make MUCH more money with monthly service contract. We are happy to lose chips on the flop to take the WHOLE pot on the River, or so. I'm sitting at a datacenter RIGHT NOW fixing something under one of my service contracts - So I guess my answer is the decision maker is technical so little of the time the partner stuff doesn't really matter - they know the local little registered partner is usually the guy fixing something, staying around after the sale etc.

I'm sure there are opportunities (like at a Boeing, or Disney) that are too small for anyone except Presidio or DiData to service - and I guess that's why "gold" partner still exists...

-----Original Message-----
From: Ryan West [mailto:rwest_at_zyedge.com]
Sent: Sunday, August 26, 2012 7:00 PM
To: Joseph L. Brunner; CCIEAgent; ccielab_at_groupstudy.com
Subject: RE: OT: Part time Cisco work with CCIE Number

I guess we can agree to disagree here. I work at a small partner and it's not an easy task going from Registered to Silver. There is an audit involved with Cisco that goes well beyond employing two CCIE's. The auditors are looking for a systematic approach to sales, implementation, and on-going support. The process and procedure aspect of the audit is a worthwhile internal exercise as well. And, we certainly position ourselves over a registered partner for the reasons listed above. We've been through the Advanced UC/Security CQS juggling act, that later turned into wireless, and now data center architecture. Cisco also has dedicated resources for Silver and Gold partners.

If customers aren't concerned about partner level status, why worry about a security IE or an IE at all for that matter? If they're already going to work with you, what's the point? If trust were the only thing, everyone could take you on your word that you're qualified to do the work. Certifications and partner levels are a distinguisher and customers certainly do, IMO, recognize this.

-----Original Message-----
From: nobody_at_groupstudy.com [mailto:nobody_at_groupstudy.com] On Behalf Of Joseph L. Brunner
Sent: Sunday, August 26, 2012 6:40 PM
To: CCIEAgent; ccielab_at_groupstudy.com
Subject: RE: OT: Part time Cisco work with CCIE Number

Being a Silver or Gold partner probably mattered back in 1999 - but these days everyone gets the same discount - we all buy from Ingram Micro anyway - registered partner, gold partner - doesn't matter.

The partner (of any suit) that registers the deal first has the best discount anyway)... finally, customers buy from who they trust... I have never lost a deal to a silver or gold partner from a customer who said "You know, Joe, I need a gold partner, I think I have some risk using a registered partner).

People with money don't have time to worry about these stupid little minutiae - so why even bother registering and going through all this crap anyway?

We just go Advanced UC - but that's as far as I'm going - and I still have to pester Cisco to put us in the system for that - 2 of my guys just passed all the voice field engineer certs and specialist badges - so now can officially sell voice.

A partner would be better off hiring more sales people than wasting time bringing more ccie's to Cisco to get gold status, etc.

-----Original Message-----
From: nobody_at_groupstudy.com [mailto:nobody_at_groupstudy.com] On Behalf Of CCIEAgent
Sent: Sunday, August 26, 2012 9:55 AM
To: ccielab_at_groupstudy.com
Subject: RE: OT: Part time Cisco work with CCIE Number

http://www.ccieflyer.com/2009-June-Monica-Cojocneanu.php

Excerpts from this article from Monica about some work done for CCIEs around this topic:

In Monica's case this example of her work should help all CCIEs breathe easier. After the recent counterfeit CCIE we smoked out I was contacted via LinkedIn by a recruiter in the UK who feels that this kind of activity lowers the salaries of ethical CCIEs. Maybe she is right and this exercise is helping preserve the value of the investment so many have made in their CCIE certifications.

When the names of 5 CCIEs appeared on a partner new application for Gold certification, the Program Manager had to validate that these CCIEs were eligible to fill those roles. As you know, Eman, the CCIEs have to reside in the country seeking certification. From the very beginning, the Program Manager suspected that the partner was not being completely transparent regarding the country of residency of the CCIEs listed on the application.
It was not too difficult to suspect deceit, especially since the CCIEs on the application had Korean names and the partner seeking certification was located in Pakistan.

The Cisco Brand Protection team immediately started an investigation. Three of the CCIEs stated that they had no knowledge that the Partner had listed them on the application. The other two CCIEs indicated they lived in Pakistan and worked for the Partner. However, when the email headers were analyzed, IP addresses indicated they originated in Korea.

-----Original Message-----
From: CCIEAgent [mailto:ccieagent_at_verizon.net]
Sent: Sunday, August 26, 2012 9:50 AM
To: 'Joseph L. Brunner'; 'Thomas Perrier'; 'Terry Tender'
Cc: 'ccielab_at_groupstudy.com'
Subject: RE: OT: Part time Cisco work with CCIE Number

Cisco audits include simple things like checking the LinkedIn page of a CCIE. I have seen this happen. But, I have also seen the contracts used to do Rent-a-certs and there are some good ones out there that seem to protect the CCIE, it's the channel that then suffers instead. Off-line if you want to discuss I am available. Protect your number because it cost too much to lose for the pittance paid for it's use.

-----Original Message-----
From: nobody_at_groupstudy.com [mailto:nobody_at_groupstudy.com] On Behalf Of Joseph L. Brunner
Sent: Saturday, August 25, 2012 5:35 PM
To: Thomas Perrier; Terry Tender
Cc: ccielab_at_groupstudy.com
Subject: RE: OT: Part time Cisco work with CCIE Number

That's impossible to prove...

Dozens of CCIE's who work for big banks, govt, etc and are not Affiliated with a partner have always done for this extra cash...

Partner's often can't stay competitive and keep up gold, silver and other thetan levels withour stunt c*ck CCIE's on their payroll..

If a partner is audited they can just state the CCIE's works 40 hours remote and 2 hours a week at customer meetings... most consultant firms are setup that way anyway - no worries...

-----Original Message-----
From: nobody_at_groupstudy.com [mailto:nobody_at_groupstudy.com] On Behalf Of Thomas Perrier
Sent: Saturday, August 25, 2012 2:35 PM
To: Terry Tender
Cc: ccielab_at_groupstudy.com
Subject: Re: OT: Part time Cisco work with CCIE Number

On Sat, Aug 25, 2012 at 5:53 PM, Terry Tender <terry.tender_at_gmail.com>
wrote:

> A CCIE who is doing online work unrelated to Cisco, wants to do
> part-time consultancy/pre-sales and wants to attach their CCIE number
> with a Cisco partner. Can anyone recommend how/where he can look?

Cisco partner rules state a CCIE must work for full time for a partner for the latter to use the former's number.

-Thomas

Blogs and organic groups at http://www.ccie.net
Received on Sun Aug 26 2012 - 23:06:01 ART