In what I am sure is headline news for most IT services companies, Microsoft is making changes to their partner program. No longer the Microsoft Partner Network, it becomes the Microsoft Cloud Partner Program. Quoting from ZDNet, Microsoft officials will also be changing the areas in which partners will be certified, qualified, and scored as part of what officials call “the first material change to the Microsoft Partner Network in 15 years.” The new program will focus on how proficient partners are in six solution areas aligned with the Microsoft Cloud.
The six areas of proficiency are Data & AI (Azure), Infrastructure (Azure), Digital & App Innovation (Azure), Business Applications, Modern Work, and Security.
Under the new program, there will no longer be a baseline “member” status plus Silver and Gold competencies and “advanced specializations.” Competencies will be phased out and replaced by two new qualifying levels beyond baseline: Solutions Partner and Specialist/Expert. And Microsoft will move to a new partner capability score and drop its current Partner Contribution Indicator score.
Why do we care?
If you’re not selling Microsoft’s Cloud, they don’t care about you. This shouldn’t be a surprise, and hold your outrage if you have any.
So everyone is a member. I suspect that many will end up in that Modern Work space, as Small and Midmarket Cloud Solutions, Communications, Collaboration and Content, and Windows and Devices Competencies all map to this.
While I don’t usually talk about partner programs… with Microsoft noting 400,000 in their program, this one has significant reach. I’d expect most delivering IT services would be in the program – and now you have some homework.