7 Fast Facts About the New Microsoft Cloud Partner Program
The revamped program comes with new requirements for Microsoft partners.
March 17, 2022
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Microsoft partners with gold or silver designations will either become base, solution or expert partners.
Microsoft is looking to simplify its partner programs by eliminating competencies, instead offering six primary solution areas which are:
· Data and AI: Data management, providing AI and analytics solutions in Azure.
· Infrastructure: Cloud migration with Azure.
· Digital app innovation: Building, running and managing applications in Azure across multiple clouds, on premises and at the edge.
· Business applications: Creating and running solutions with Microsoft Dynamics 365 and the Microsoft Power Platform.
· Modern Work: Focus on productivity with Microsoft 365.
· Security: Providing Microsoft’s compliance, security and identity solutions.
Partners will be required to show that they have the technical resources for any or all the six new solution areas. Each solution area requires partners to achieve a PCS of at least 70. Microsoft said it will no longer use PCI. A dashboard is now available in the in the Microsoft Partner Center, where partners can see their capability scores.
Achieving a partner solutions designation will be required effective Oct. 3, 2022, to be considered co-sell ready. Microsoft said this will give partners the opportunity to publish their solutions in the Microsoft commercial marketplace for consulting service offers.
Microsoft has established three categories with specific metrics to achieve solution partner for training services designation. The new Learning Partner program service designations are slated to be available in the fourth calendar quarter of this year. The categories are:
· Partner performance: At least 1,000 Microsoft Official Courseware (MOC) activations, and minimum of 200 Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) exam vouchers purchased within a 12-month period.
· Quality of training: Learning Partners require a minimum score of 4.25 out 5.0 among select survey questions on Microsoft’s Advanced Role-based courses from post-training surveys hosted on Microsoft’s required Metrics that Matter (MTM) survey platform.
· Solution area depth: Learning Partners must achieve at least one solution partner designation.
· March 16: Microsoft reveals new solution partner designations and encourages partners to assess their scores through its Partner Center.
· Sept. 30: Last days partners can renew legacy competencies. After that date, badging will no longer be valid, though partners retain their benefits.
· Oct. 3: Partners can attain new solution designations but must meet the required PCS. Microsoft will no longer process competency renewals, though benefits from legacy competency will continue through the partners’ next anniversary date.
New solution partner designation: Infrastructure (Azure); Legacy competencies: cloud platform, data center
New solution partner designation: Data and AI (Azure); Legacy competencies: app integration, data analytics, data platform
New solution partner designation: Digital app innovation (Azure); Legacy competencies: application development, app integration, DevOps
New solution partner designation: security; Legacy competencies: Enterprise mobility management, security
New solution partner designation: Business applications; Legacy competencies: cloud business applications, ERP, project portfolio management
New solution partner designation: Modern work; Legacy competencies: productivity, collaboration, communications, messaging, SMB cloud solutions, Windows and devices.
New solution partner designation: Infrastructure (Azure); Legacy competencies: cloud platform, data center
New solution partner designation: Data and AI (Azure); Legacy competencies: app integration, data analytics, data platform
New solution partner designation: Digital app innovation (Azure); Legacy competencies: application development, app integration, DevOps
New solution partner designation: security; Legacy competencies: Enterprise mobility management, security
New solution partner designation: Business applications; Legacy competencies: cloud business applications, ERP, project portfolio management
New solution partner designation: Modern work; Legacy competencies: productivity, collaboration, communications, messaging, SMB cloud solutions, Windows and devices.
Transitioning to the new Microsoft Cloud Partner Program promises to have a major impact on its partner ecosystem. As we reported Wednesday, Microsoft revealed that it is replacing the Microsoft Partner Network (MPN) with its new cloud-focused program.
By phasing out MPN, partners will have to give up their competencies in various product areas. Instead, with the new Microsoft Cloud Partner Program, partners can focus on any or all of six new solution designations.
Nick Parker is Microsoft corporate VP for global partner solutions.
Microsoft’s Nick Parker
“Building new capabilities and differentiation on the Microsoft Cloud gives partners the ability to transform and disrupt in their markets and with their customers,” said Parker.
Rodney Clark is Microsoft’s global channel chief. He said customers drove the changes.
“It’s very much our customers that are directing us based on their emerging needs,” Clark said. “Now, while our customers are directing us there, they’re still very much in need of that partner who has the capability to deliver on the promise of innovation.”
It will take some time before Microsoft partners can assess the impact of the changes. But we put together seven important things partners need to know. They’re in the slideshow above.
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