Cisco cleans up support deals

Networking giant teams up with support services firm Networks First to help "re-establish a level playing field"

Support services firm Networks First is working with Cisco to combat incorrectly registered support deals.

The Redditch-based company will be working with end users to assemble agreements detailing devices to be maintained and service level agreements.

Networks First will fulfil deals through partners and fully back off contracts to Cisco.

These procedural changes cover all support contracts including the Shared Support programme, which the networking vendor has tried to police effectively for some time. Last year Cisco instigated a crackdown on Shared Support partners illegally selling own-branded services to third parties for subsequent resale to end users.

Steve Niven, sales director at Networks First, said: “The message to the channel is: if you work with Networks First, you are selling services legally backed off to Cisco.”

Niven claimed end-user education was the key to eradicating illegal deals.

Steve Harris, senior director of channel services for Cisco Europe, said: “We are committed to ensuring the legitimate sale of support services and re-establishing a level playing field.”