Introducing…

SMB paths for Solutions Partner

designations
Data & AI (Azure)
Digital & App Innovation (Azure)
Infrastructure (Azure)
Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program: Levels

Specializations and Expert offerings

Technical certification and attestation

Solutions Partner designations

Attained designation and attestation
(Partner capability score)

Partner Success
Partner success benefit holders

Membership
All channel partners
Benefits for Solutions Partner designations
Benefits for Solutions Partners are effective, helpful, and relevant to your organization. We’re investing
more to help you with business development, increasing customer reach, and expanding technical skilling
and enablement.

Expanding technical skilling

Encouraging business development Increasing customer reach
and enablement

Product benefits (formerly internal use licenses) • Co-selling with Microsoft to expand your • Personalized assistance, comprehensive
have been designed to align to the Solutions customer footprint courses, and world-class Microsoft experts
Partner designations, including: to build your knowledge
• Go-to-Market services, assets, and
• Azure bulk credits for your organization personalized consultation to help you along • Technical presales and deployment services to
• Access to development environments your marketing journey help you deliver solutions faster
• Cloud services subscriptions that are most • Microsoft solutions provider placement to • Product (on-prem and cloud), platform, and
relevant in market increase exposure technical support to help you troubleshoot
specific issues
• Customer-facing badges to showcase your
capabilities

For details about benefits specific to each Solutions Partner designation, review our benefits guide.
Foundation for growth and profitability
Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program Training Gallery for full list of resources.

Growth resources Incentives

Enablement GTM Microsoft MCI Azure Migration

Resources Resources Incentive Offerings
Build new technical and Marketing resources to help Differentiate your practice Drive AI and Azure
sales skills to fund new sales you find new customers, or and get paid from the workloads with
opportunities and routes land new solutions with Microsoft MCI incentive. differentiated incentives.
to market. existing customers.
Solutions Partner Solutions Partner
designation required* designation required

Specialization required

*Legacy cloud competency benefit kits are included for eligibility in FY25.
How to attain a Solutions Partner designation for
solution areas
The partner capability score provides flexibility to demonstrate knowledge, skills, and experience across
subcategories of performance, skilling, and customer success. Partners qualify either on an SMB path or an
Enterprise path, and must reach 70 points for the path they are on.

A minimum of 70
points must be earned,
with points in each
subcategory. Performance Skilling Customer success

This category is measured by This category verifies and This category is measured by
net customer adds. demonstrates your dedication usage growth and the number
There are 100 to skilling and training by of solution deployments.
points possible in total intermediate and advanced
across categories. certifications.

Admins can sign in to Partner Center to see how your organization is progressing towards a Solutions Partner designation today.
SMB path details and progress will be available later in 2024.
Understanding the partner capability score
Each solution area designation has a specific number of possible points that can be earned per category. You have the flexibility to choose
which categories to focus on within a solution area to match your business needs. The maximum number of points available for each
subcategory are the same for SMB and Enterprise paths.
Each Solutions Partner Solutions Partner for Solutions Partner for Solutions Partner for Solutions Partner for Solutions Partner for Solutions Partner for
designation for solution
Business Applications Data & AI Digital & App Infrastructure Modern Work Security
areas requires 70+ points
(Azure) Innovation (Azure) (Azure)
with at least one point in
each subcategory
Subcategory

Net customer Net customer Net customer Net customer Net customer Net customer
15pts 30pts 30pts 30pts 20pts 20pts
Performance adds adds adds adds adds adds

Intermediate Intermediate Intermediate Intermediate

20pts 20pts 20pts 10pts
Certs Certs Certs Certs

Intermediate Intermediate
40pts
Category

Skilling 40pts Certs

Certs
Advanced Advanced Advanced Advanced
15pts 20pts 20pts 15pts
Certs Certs Certs Certs

Usage Usage Usage Usage Usage Usage

30pts 20pts 20pts 20pts 30pts 20pts
Growth Growth Growth Growth Growth Growth

Customer Success
Represents maximum Deployments 20pts Deployments 10pts Deployments 10pts Deployments 10pts Deployments 25pts Deployments 20pts
# number of points in
that subcategory
Introducing: SMB paths for Azure designations

Existing One path Adjusted Updates to

designations or the other requirements deployments

Aligned to existing Either the SMB path Points for smaller net Deployments only if
Azure and Security or the Enterprise path customer adds they were created in
designations the trailing twelve
months

Same designation, Single score in Partner Fewer prerequisite Virtual machines now
regardless of the path Center certifications count as eligible
deployments

Specific criteria will Points for prerequisite

Same Benefits qualify for each path certifications
Partner path alignment Partners qualify either on the SMB or Enterprise path and will see in Partner Center only one
score aligned to their path.

Enterprise Path SMB Path

Partners driving more than USD $1,000,000 in revenue, or

Partners driving <USD $1,000,000 in revenue and ≥80% of customers
Partners with <USD $1,000,000 revenue and >20% of customers in the in the SMB/SMC segment.
enterprise segment.
Enterprise Path is for partners with significant revenue or a substantial portion of SMB Path is for partners with lower revenue or predominantly serving SMB/SMC
enterprise customers. customers.

ACR Trailing 12 months

< ≥
$1M $1M

≥ 80% SMB Path Enterprise

# Customers in
SMB/SMC
< 80% Enterprise Enterprise
 Three categories make up the framework for Solutions Partner for Digital & App Innovation
Requirements for Digital & App (Azure) and Infrastructure (Azure): performance, skilling, and customer success. Points are
earned through net customer adds, certifications and exams, growth in usage and the number
Innovation and Infrastructure of successful deployed customer solutions. Points are earned incrementally as partners make
progress in each subcategory.

Partners will see only one score in Partner Center aligned to their chosen path, simplifying the qualification process.

Maximum contribution Maximum contribution

Eligible attributions Max points
(Enterprise path) (SMB path)

Performance 30
Net Customer Adds PAL, DPOR, CSP 3 net customer adds >USD $1000 ACR per month 3 net customer adds >USD $500 ACR per month 30

Skilling 40

Certified professional associated to

Intermediate Certifications 5 unique individuals | 2 prerequisite certifications* 4 unique individuals | 1 prerequisite certifications** 40
Partner Center account

Certified professional associated to

Advanced Certifications 5 unique individuals | 2 prerequisite certifications* 4 unique individuals | 1 prerequisite certifications** 20
Partner Center account

Customer Success 30

Usage Growth PAL, DPOR, CSP 20% ACR growth YoY 20% ACR growth YoY 20

Deployments PAL, DPOR, CSP 5 new deployments in TTM + Virtual Machines 5 new deployments in TTM + Virtual Machines 10

TOTAL 100

Minimum total points required for Solutions Partner designation 70

*On the Enterprise path, partners must have prerequisite certifications before points are earned for scoring certifications. No points are earned for prerequisite certifications.
** On the SMB path, partners earn points for the two prerequisite certifications. Prerequisites must still be met in order to earn points for scoring certifications.
All dates and requirements subject to change.
Requirements for Data & AI Three categories make up the framework for Solutions Partner for Data & AI (Azure):
Performance, skilling, and customer success. Points are earned through performance,
certifications and exams, growth in usage and the number of successful deployed customer
solutions. Points are earned incrementally as partners make progress in each subcategory.

Partners will see only one score in Partner Center aligned to their chosen path, simplifying the qualification process.

Maximum contribution Maximum contribution

Eligible attributions Max points
(Enterprise path) (SMB path)

Performance 30

Net Customer Adds PAL, DPOR, CSP 3 net customer adds >USD $1000 ACR per month 3 net customer adds >USD $500 ACR per month 30

Skilling 40

Certified professional associated to

Intermediate Certifications 10 unique individuals | 4 prerequisite certifications* 8 unique individuals | 2 prerequisite certifications** 40
Partner Center account

Customer Success 30

Usage Growth PAL, DPOR, CSP 20% ACR growth YoY 20% ACR growth YoY 20

Deployments PAL, DPOR, CSP 5 new deployments in TTM 5 new deployments in TTM 10

TOTAL 100

Minimum total points required for Solutions Partner designation 70

*On the Enterprise path, partners must have prerequisite certifications before points are earned for scoring certifications. No points are earned for prerequisite certifications.
** On the SMB path, partners earn points for the two prerequisite certifications. Prerequisites must still be met in order to earn points for scoring certifications.
*All dates and requirements subject to change. | For more information about measurements specific to Solutions Partner for Data & AI (Azure), click here.
Resources

Assets Other links

Walking decks Training gallery

• Data & AI (Azure)
• Digital & App
Microsoft partner website
Innovation (Azure)
• Infrastructure (Azure)
Partner Center Membership
FAQ
Partner Center Insights

Partner Learn docs

Azure Certification Weeks
Get your teams ready: Certification Weeks for Partners
Microsoft Azure Certification Weeks for Partners is a five-day event that helps prepare you for Microsoft advanced role-based
certifications. This is one of the best ways to help your organization meet the skilling criteria needed to attain a Solutions Partner
designation.

Who is it for? Why should you attend?



When is the next one?

Azure Certification Weeks 
September 23-27, 2024 


Learn more: Azure Biz Apps​ Modern Work Security

Call to action

Learn about SMB Assess your score Leverage Attain designations

path and benefits Certification Weeks and unlock benefits
Requirements for performance 30pts

Net customer adds

The net customer adds subcategory measures the growth of a partner’s experience with new customers over time. We look at the
number of net customers added over the trailing 12 months. Partners earn 10 points for each incremental net customer add, up to 3 max
net customer adds.
Net customer adds is defined as: Contributing customers in the last two months – Contributing customers in same two months last year.
Customers will count positively toward the net customer adds score if they had USD $0 Azure consumed revenue (ACR) in both of the
two baseline months (last year) and had ACR above the threshold in any one of the last two months. Customers will count negatively
toward net customer adds if they are above the threshold in the baseline months and below the threshold in the last two months.
Customers will not count toward net customer adds if they are above the threshold or below the threshold in all considered months.

Enterprise path SMB path

Contributing customers = customers with >= USD $1,000/month Contributing customers = customers with >= USD $500/month
ACR in any one of the last two months and with USD $0 in both ACR in any one of the last two months and with USD $0 in both
of the baseline months. of the baseline months.

*All dates and requirements subject to change. | For more information about measurements specific to Solutions Partner for Infrastructure (Azure), click here.
Requirements for skilling: Digital & App Innovation, Infrastructure 40pts

Partners must meet the prerequisites before they will earn points for the scoring certifications in each skilling subcategory.
The individuals who earn the prerequisite certifications can be the same as or different than the individuals who earn the
scoring certifications. However, individuals who earn more than one of the scoring certifications will count only once
toward your scoring certifications in each subcategory. Individuals who earn scoring certifications in both intermediate and
advanced skilling will be counted for each subcategory.

Enterprise path SMB path

• Intermediate certifications • Intermediate certifications
– Must earn 2 Azure Administrator Associate prerequisite certifications to begin – Must earn 1 Azure Administrator Associate prerequisite certification to begin
earning scoring certification points. No points are earned for prerequisite earning scoring certification points, earn 4 points for that prerequisite
certifications. certification
– Once prerequisite is met, earn 4 points each for intermediate scoring – Once prerequisite is met, earn 4 points each for intermediate scoring
certifications for up to 5 unique certified individuals certifications for up to 4 unique certified individuals
• Advanced certifications • Advanced certifications
– Must earn 2 Azure Solution Architect Expert prerequisite certifications to begin – Must earn 1 Azure Solution Architect Expert prerequisite certification to begin
earning scoring certification points. No points are earned for prerequisite earning scoring certification points, earn 4 points for that prerequisite
certifications. certification
– Once prerequisite is met, earn 4 points each for advanced scoring certifications – Once prerequisite is met, earn 4 points each for advanced scoring certifications
for up to 5 unique certified individuals for up to 4 unique certified individuals

† This certification retired on July 31, 2023. It will remain eligible for partner capability score points through July 2024.
All dates and requirements subject to change. | For more information about measurements specific to Solutions Partner for Infrastructure (Azure), click here.
Requirements for skilling: Data & AI 40pts

Intermediate Certifications
For Data & AI (Azure), skilling points are earned only in the intermediate subcategory. Partners must meet the prerequisites for their path before they will earn
points for the scoring certifications. The individuals who earn the prerequisite certifications can be the same as or different than the individuals who earn the
scoring certifications. However, individuals who earn more than one of the scoring certifications will count only once toward your scoring certifications.

Prerequisite certifications Scoring certifications

• Azure Administrator Associate • Azure Database Administrator Associate • Data Analyst Associate
• Azure Solution Architect Expert • Azure AI Engineer Associate • Customer Data Platform Specialty
• Azure Data Scientist Associate • Azure Cosmos DB Developer Specialty
• Azure Data Engineer Associate

Enterprise path SMB path

• Prerequisites: Partners must earn at least 2 Azure Administrator Associate and • Prerequisites: Partners must earn 1 Azure Administrator Associate and 1 Azure
at least 2 Azure Solution Architect Expert. Prerequisites do not earn points. Solution Architect Expert, and earn 4 points for each.
• Scoring certifications: Once prerequisites are met, partners earn 4 points each for • Scoring certifications: Once prerequisites are met, partners earn 4 points each for
up to 10 unique certified individuals. up to 8 unique certified individuals.

*All dates and requirements subject to change. | For more information about requirements specific to Solutions Partner for Data & AI (Azure), click here.
Requirements for customer success 30pts

The definitions for both deployments and usage growth are the same for both the Enterprise and SMB paths.

Deployments 10pts Usage Growth 20pts

• Deployments are a measurement of a partner’s ability to • Usage growth is a measurement of a partner’s ability to
successfully deploy solutions for their customers. successfully guide customers as their Azure needs expand
year over year.
• Eligible deployments are any Service Level 2 Azure service**
deployed in the trailing 12 months. • Usage growth percentage = (Total ACR summed across all
customers last month – Total ACR summed across all
• Earn 2 points per deployment, up to a maximum of 5 customers same month last year)/Total ACR summed across
deployments and 10 points. all customers same month last year x 100.

• Each 1% growth in ACR contributes one point, up to a

maximum of 20 points.
** All Service Level 2 services will count toward your deployments score
except Virtual Machines Licenses • Total ACR must be at least USD $1,000 to qualify for scoring.

*All dates and requirements subject to change. | For more information about requirements specific to Solutions Partner for Infrastructure (Azure), click here.