Adding the scores of the 15 factors, Cisco emerged as the top vendor to solution providers in the Channel Affinity Index, although Hewlett-Packard and SonicWall were not far behind.
The results, and Cisco's top position, came as no surprise to Frank Kobuszewski, vice president of the technology solutions group for CXtec, a Syracuse, N.Y.-based solution provider.
"They have such a robust stance and chokehold on the market right now," he said, adding that Cisco's end-to-end vision helps VARs get into larger deals with forklift upgrades.
Still, Kobuszewski said, with current economic pressures, Cisco may not hold its dominant spot for long, as end customers look toward lower-priced alternatives and deal sizes slip.
"A lot of the larger deals are not necessarily going to be canceled, but they're going to be moved down the line," he said.
