Surrey-based integrator MTI Europe has become the latest Cisco partner to earn its spurs on the vendor's unified computing system (UCS) technology.

The firm indicated it has been picked out as an Authorised Technology Provider (UCS ATP) for the networking titan's datacentre architecture technology. MTI has also been awarded Cisco's Advanced Datacentre Networking Infrastructure (DCNI) specialisation.

In November, Cisco announced its formation of the Virtual Computing Environment (VCE) coalition alongside EMC and VMware, vendors with which MTI has a high level of accreditation. The integrator claims the ability to sell UCS kit is the final piece of the jigsaw it needed to provide comprehensive VCE offerings.

MTI's chief marketing office Aad Dekkers said: "The accreditations mean a lot to us and reflects a shift in the organisation. (Having) moved into system integration, this is another proof of the fulfillment of our roadmap. To become a partner for the VCE coalition, MTI is one of a select few.

"There are not that many datacentre specialisation partners for Cisco and most come from a switching background. We come from a datacentre background, which is good for Cisco as it is actively looking for datacentre partners."

Bernadette Wightman, managing director of channels for Cisco UK and Ireland, claimed the new badges made MTI one of the datacentre networking channel's leading lights.

”As a Cisco Advanced DCNI specialised partner, MTI’s investment in the training required to provide integrated, collaborative and adaptive datacentre networking solutions ranks it among the industry’s most qualified and extends its existing business model," she said.