Intrinsic joins Cisco's top table

Ambitious VAR grabs Cisco Gold and denies the top-level badge has become devalued

Golden touch: Intrinsic has set itself the goal of quadrupling revenue over three years

Newly promoted Cisco Gold partner Intrinsic Technology has dismissed suggestions the networking giant’s top tier has become too crowded.

The number of Gold partners is edging above the 30 mark, Cisco confirmed, all of whom will have had to invest “substantially” in training and equipment.

Mike Mason, managing director of Intrinsic, agreed that accreditation remains “the best way of validating a company’s overall capability” and still carries “significant
value”.

“I am aware there are partners concerned there are too many, but I think it is good to see so many firms taking the step up,” he added. Intrinsic made the grade shortly after announcing plans to quadruple its turnover to £100m with help from a mystery private-equity backer.

Cisco Silver partner Kelway is awaiting its final Gold status audit at the moment – a step it says VARs have to take if they want to be “seriously involved with Cisco at a reasonable volume”.

Greg Carlow, business development director at Kelway, added: “For bigger customers you have to go for Gold.”

Paul Sweeney, managing director of ANS Group – which bagged Cisco Gold last year – said Intrinsic Technology deserved praise for meeting the criteria, but added the onus is now on them to deliver.

He said: “What remains to be seen is whether, given their other partnerships, they can give Cisco the focus and dedication required.”