What is Cisco MSP, and why is it important?
Amer: Cisco MSP is a framework and set of offerings that enable providers to deliver Cisco-powered managed services. It helps businesses consume technology as a service rather than through large upfront investments. This model offers flexibility, scalability, and reduced operational complexity.
Alaa: It’s transformative because it allows customers to focus on outcomes rather than infrastructure. MSPs handle operation, management, and security, leveraging Cisco’s proven platforms.
How is Cisco MSP performing in the Saudi market?
Amer: We see strong adoption across enterprises, government, and SMEs. The demand for secure, cloud-ready environments aligns perfectly with Cisco MSP capabilities.
Alaa: From a service provider’s perspective, clients in KSA appreciate having predictable costs, high availability, and local expertise, which strengthens trust.
What advantages do MSP partners gain by working with Cisco MSP?
Amer: Cisco provides purpose-built partner programs, lifecycle services, and flexible licensing. Partners can scale offerings without heavy capex.
Alaa: We gain access to a broad Cisco portfolio, robust security integration, and support that accelerates go-to-market strategies.
What are the main challenges facing MSPs today, and how does Cisco address them?
Amer: Security threats and skills shortages are major challenges. Cisco addresses these with integrated threat protection and partner enablement programs.
Alaa: Managing multi-vendor environments can be complex, but Cisco MSP simplifies this with unified management platforms and interoperability.
Where do you see Cisco MSP headed in the next five years?
Amer: We expect exponential growth driven by AI-powered automation, network-as-a-service, and zero-trust security frameworks.
Alaa: There will be deeper integration with hybrid and edge solutions, enabling faster delivery of digital transformation projects.
Image Credit: Taqnyat & Comstor
