Solutions Partner for Data & AI,

Infrastructure, and Digital & App

Innovation
Article • 07/03/2024

Appropriate roles: Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program partner admin

This article describes the Microsoft Solutions Partner program for all three areas of Azure:

Data & AI
Infrastructure
Digital & App Innovation

Each of those three areas has its own, separate Microsoft Solutions Partner designation.
To earn the Microsoft Solutions Partner designation for one of those Azure areas, your
partner capability score must meet the qualification requirements for that area.
Eligibility is determined by your scores for Performance, Skilling, and Customer success,
which are measured automatically.

There are common requirements and thresholds for metrics in the Performance
and Customer Success categories.
There are separate certification requirements in the Skilling category.

To attain a Solutions Partner designation, you must:

Earn a minimum of 70 points.

Have one or more points for each of the following five metrics.
Performance
Skilling: intermediate certifications
Skilling: advanced certifications
Customer success: usage growth
Customer success: deployments

The following sections describe these requirements and metrics in detail.

Performance
The Performance category measures your organization's ability to increase the number
of customers who use Azure services and workloads. The metric: Net customer adds is
the only metric in the Performance category.
Net customer adds
Scoring:

Each net new customer contributes 10 points, up to a maximum of 30 points.

Calculation:

Net customers added = (Eligible Customers last month) – (Eligible Customers same
month last year)

Eligible Customers:

Eligible customers shows the number of unique customer tenants contributing at least
USD1,000 Azure Consumed Revenue (ACR) in one of the last two months from eligible
Azure services associated with eligible offers for specific partner association types.

Eligible workloads: All Azure Service Level 2 services are eligible workloads.
(Workload eligibility is subject to change. Check frequently to ensure that you have
the latest workload eligibility information.) For the list of Azure services bundled at
Second-highest level, see Directory of Azure Cloud service . For example, find
Azure Machine Learning in the section AI + Machine Learning.
Eligible offers: All offers are eligible except Support, Internal, Benefit Program, and
Trial.
Eligible association types: CSP (CSP Tier 1 and CSP Tier 2), Digital Partner of
Record (DPOR), Partner Admin Link (PAL)

Skilling
The skilling category uses the number of certified persons in an organization as a
measure of partner capabilities and skills.

There are two metrics in this category:

Intermediate certifications
Advanced certifications

The certifications required are different for each of the three Azure areas, as described in
the following sections.

Intermediate certifications
Data & AI
Step 1: Required certifications:

To earn points for the Intermediate certifications for Data & AI, you must have at least:

Two people with the Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification.

If you don't meet this prerequisite, you won't earn any points in this metric.

Step 2: Required certifications:

To earn points for the Intermediate certifications for Data & AI, you must have at least:

Two people with the Azure Administrator Associate certification.

If you don't meet this prerequisite, you won't earn any points in this metric.

Step 3: Other certifications:

After you complete the prerequisites in step 1 & step 2, you earn intermediate
certifications points for every person who has obtained any one of the following:

Azure Database Administrator Associate

Azure AI Engineer Associate
Azure Data Scientist Associate
Azure Data Engineer Associate
Power BI Data Analyst Associate
Dynamics 365 Customer Insights (Data) Specialty
Azure Cosmos DB Developer Specialty
Fabric Analytics Engineer Associate

Scoring:

Each person with one of the preceding certifications earns you four points, up to a
maximum of 40 points.

Important consideration(s):

Steps #1 and #2 are prerequisites to Step #3 and don't add any points directly.
However, Steps #1 and #2 must be completed before any points are awarded in
this metric. Points are only awarded for certifications earned in Step #3 once the
first two steps are complete.

Individuals can be counted more than once across the different steps, but only
once per step. Each certified individual is counted only once toward your points if
 they have completed multiple certifications in Step #3. However, the individuals
counting toward Steps #1 or #2 can be the same or different as the individuals
counting toward Step #3.

Some of these certifications can have prerequisites listed on the certification

website (select on individual certification link). Those prerequisites need to be
completed for an individual to complete certification.

Examples:

Individuals A and B complete Step 1, individuals C and D complete Step 2 and

individuals E, F and G complete at least one of the certifications each in Step 3. In
this case, the prerequisites are satisfied, and three individuals qualify for points (E,
F, G), hence you would be awarded 3*4 = 12 points.

Individuals A and B complete all three Steps. In this case the prerequisites are
satisfied, and two individuals (A, B) qualify for points, hence you would be awarded
2*4 = 8 points.

Individuals A and B complete Step 1 and 3, In this case, the prerequisites aren't
satisfied, and no points would be awarded since at least two individuals must
complete Step 2 before any points can be awarded. Once two individuals (A, B, or
others) complete Step 2, 2 individuals would qualify (A, B) and your organization
would be awarded 2*4 = 8 points.

Individual A completes Step 1, and individuals B and C complete Steps 2 and 3. In

this case, no points are awarded because at least two individuals must complete
Step 1 before any points can be awarded. Once one more individual (B, C or others
not including A) completes Step 1, 2 individuals would qualify (B, C) and your
organization would be awarded 2*4 = 8 points.

Digital & App Innovation

Step 1: Required certifications:

To earn points for Intermediate certification for Digital & App Innovation, you must have
at least two people with the Azure Administrator Associate certification.

If you don't meet this prerequisite, you won't earn any points in this metric.

Step 2: Other certifications:

After you complete the prerequisite in step 1, you earn points towards intermediate
certifications for Digital & App Innovation for every person who has obtained any one
of the following:

Azure Developer Associate

Power Platform Developer Associate

Scoring:

Each person with one of the preceding certifications earns you four points, up to a
maximum of 20 points.

Important consideration(s):

Step #1 is a prerequisite to Step #2 and doesn't add any points directly. However,
Step #1 must be completed before any points are awarded in this category. Points
are only awarded for certifications earned in Step #2 once the first step is
complete.

Individuals can be counted more than once across the different steps, but only
once per step. Each certified individual is counted only once toward your points if
they have completed multiple certifications in Step #2. However, the individuals
counting toward Step #1 can be the same or different as the individuals counting
toward Step #2.

Advanced certifications can be earned by the same or different people than the
Intermediate certifications.

Some of these certifications might have prerequisites listed on the certification

website (select the individual certification link). Those prerequisites need to be
completed for an individual to complete certification.

Examples:

Individuals A and B complete Step 1, individuals C and D complete Step 2. In this

case you would have two individuals qualifying (C,D) and would be awarded 2*4 =
8 points.

Individuals A and B complete Steps 1 and 2. In this case, the prerequisite is

satisfied and two individuals (A, B) qualify for points, hence you would be awarded
2*4 = 8 points.

Individual A completes Step 1, and individuals B and C complete Step 2. In this

case, no points are awarded since at least two individuals must complete Step 1
before any points will be awarded. Once one more individual (B, C, or others not
including A) completes Step 1, 2 individuals would qualify (B, C) and your
organization would be awarded 2*4 = 8 points.
Infrastructure
Step 1: Required certifications:

To earn points for Intermediate certification for Infrastructure, you must have at least
two people with the Azure Administrator Associate certification.

If you don't meet this prerequisite, you won't earn any points in this metric.

Step 2: Other certifications

After you complete the prerequisite in step 1, you earn points towards Intermediate
certifications for every person who has obtained any one of the following:

Azure Network Engineer Associate

Azure Stack Hub Operator Associate†
Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate

† This certification retired on July 31, 2023. It will remain eligible for partner capability
score points through July 2024.

Scoring:

Each qualifying person who fulfills the listed certification requirements earns you four
points, up to a maximum of 20 points.

Important consideration(s):

Step #1 is a prerequisite to Step #2 and doesn't add any points directly. However,
Step #1 must be completed before any points are awarded in this category. Points
are only awarded for certifications earned in Step #2 once the first step is
complete.

Individuals can be counted more than once across the different steps, but only
once per step. Each certified individual is counted only once toward your points if
they have completed multiple certifications in Step #2. However, the individuals
counting toward Step #1 can be the same or different as the individuals counting
toward Step #2.

Advanced certifications can be earned by the same or different people than the
Intermediate certifications.

Some of these certifications might have prerequisites listed on the certification

website (select on individual certification link). Those prerequisites need to be
completed for an individual to complete certification.
Examples:

Individuals A and B complete Step 1, individuals C and D complete Step 2. In this

case you would have two individuals qualifying (C,D) and would be awarded 2*4 =
8 points.

Individuals A and B complete Steps 1 and 2. In this case, the prerequisite is

satisfied and two individuals (A, B) qualify for points, hence you would be awarded
2*4 = 8 points.

Individual A completes Step 1, and individuals B and C complete Step 2. In this

case, no points are awarded since at least two individuals must complete Step 1
before any points are awarded. Once one more individual (B, C, or others not
including A) completes Step 1, 2 individuals would qualify (B, C) and your
organization would be awarded 2*4 = 8 points.

Advanced certifications

Data & AI
Advanced certifications aren't applicable to Data & AI.

Digital & App Innovation

Step 1: Required certifications: To earn points toward Advanced certifications, at least
two people must have the Azure Solutions Architect Expert certificate. If there are fewer
than two people in your organization who are certified as an Azure Solutions Architect
Expert, you won't earn any points in this metric, even if you meet the other certification
requirements.

Step 2: Other certifications: You earn points toward Advanced certifications for every
person who has obtained any one of the following:

Azure IoT Developer Specialty†

Azure DevOps Engineer Expert
Power Platform Solution Architect Expert

† This certification retired on July 31, 2023. It will remain eligible for partner capability
score points through July 2024.

Scoring:
Each person who fulfills the previously listed certification requirements earns you four
points, up to a maximum of 20 points.

Important consideration(s):

Step #1 is a prerequisite to Step #2 and doesn't add any points directly. However,
Step #1 must be completed before any points are awarded in this category. Points
are only awarded for certifications earned in Step #2 once the first step is
complete.

Individuals can be counted more than once across the different steps, but only
once per step. Each certified individual is counted only once toward your points if
they have completed multiple certifications in Step #2. However, the individuals
counting toward Step #1 can be the same or different as the individuals counting
toward Step #2.

Intermediate certifications can be earned by the same or different people than the
Advanced certifications.

Some of these certifications might have prerequisites listed on the certification

website (select on individual certification link). Those prerequisites need to be
completed for an individual to complete certification.

Examples:

Individuals A and B complete Step 1, individuals C and D complete Step 2. In this

case you would have two individuals qualifying (C,D) and would be awarded 2*4 =
8 points.

Individuals A and B complete Steps 1 and 2. In this case, the prerequisite is

satisfied and two individuals (A, B) qualify for points, hence you would be awarded
2*4 = 8 points.

Individual A completes Step 1, and individuals B and C complete Step 2. In this

case, no points are awarded since at least two individuals must complete Step 1
before any points will be awarded. Once one more individual (B, C, or others not
including A) completes Step 1, 2 individuals would qualify (B, C) and your
organization would be awarded 2*4 = 8 points.

Infrastructure

Step 1: Required certifications: To earn points toward Advanced certifications, at least

two people must have the Azure Solutions Architect Expert certificate. If there are fewer
than two people in your organization who are certified as an Azure Solutions Architect
Expert, you won't earn any points in this metric, even if you meet the other certification
requirements.

Step 2: Other certifications: You earn points toward Advanced certifications for every
person who has obtained any one of the following:

Azure Virtual Desktop Specialty

Azure for SAP Workloads Specialty

Scoring:

Each person who fulfills the certification requirements listed above earns you four
points, up to a maximum of 20 points.

Important consideration(s):

Step #1 is a prerequisite to Step #2 and doesn't add any points directly. However,
Step #1 must be completed before any points are awarded in this category. Points
are only awarded for certifications earned in Step #2 once the first step is complete

Individuals can be counted more than once across the different steps, but only
once per step. Each certified individual is only counted once toward your points,
even if they have completed multiple certifications in Step #2. However, the
individuals counting toward Step #1 can be the same or different as the individuals
counting toward Step #2

Intermediate certifications can be earned by the same or different people than the
Advanced certifications

Some of these certifications might have prerequisites listed on the certification

website (select the link for the individual certification). Those prerequisites need to
be completed for an individual to complete certification

Examples:

Individuals A and B complete Step 1, individuals C and D complete Step 2. In this

case you would have two individuals qualifying (C,D) and would be awarded 2*4 =
8 points.

Individuals A and B complete Steps 1 and 2. In this case, the prerequisite is

satisfied and two individuals (A, B) qualify for points, hence you would be awarded
2*4 = 8 points.

Individual A completes Step 1, and individuals B and C complete Step 2. In this

case, no points are awarded since at least two individuals must complete Step 1
 before any points are awarded. Once one more individual (B, C, or others not
including A) completes Step 1, 2 individuals would qualify (B, C) and your
organization would be awarded 2*4 = 8 points.

Customer success
The customer success category measures your ability to:

Increase the use of Microsoft products (Usage growth)

Expand Microsoft Azure services and workloads utilized by customers
(Deployments)

Usage growth
The usage growth customer success metric measures your ability to increase the use and
consumption of qualifying products. You earn points for growth in ACR (Azure
consumed revenue) across all of your qualifying customer tenants. Each 1% growth in
ACR contributes one point, up to a maximum of 20 points.

Scoring:

Percentage usage growth = (Total qualifying ACR last month - Total qualifying ACR

same month last year) * 100 / (Total qualifying ACR same month last year)

Qualifying ACR:

Qualifying ACR is total ACR for the trailing 12 months across the entire customer base
from eligible Azure services associated with eligible offers for specific partner
association types.

Total ACR must be at least USD1,000 to qualify for scoring.

Eligible Azure services: All Azure Service Level 2 services are eligible.
Eligible Offers: All offers are applicable except Support, Internal, Benefit Program,
and Trial.
Eligible association types: Eligible attributions for all Azure areas include: CSP Tiers
1 and 2, Digital Partner of Record (DPOR), Partner Admin Link (PAL)

Deployments
The deployments metric measures the number of advanced Azure services represented
in ACR over the last 12 months. An Azure service is defined as a unique, top-level Azure
workload indicated by the Service Level 2 data for the deployed tenants. Each eligible
deployment contributes two points, up to a maximum of 10 points.

Eligible deployments: Eligible deployments shows the number of unique Azure services
across the entire customer base contributing more than zero ACR over last 12 months
from eligible Azure services associated with eligible offers for specific partner
association types.

Eligible Azure services: All Azure Service Level 2 services are eligible except Virtual
Machines and Virtual Machines Licenses. For the list of Azure services bundled at
Second-highest level, see Directory of Azure Cloud service . For example, find
Azure Machine Learning in the section AI + Machine Learning.
Eligible offers: All offers are eligible except Support, Internal, Benefit Program and
Trial.
Eligible association types: CSP (CSP Tiers 1 and 2), Digital Partner of Record
(DPOR), Partner Admin Link (PAL)

Data freshness:

The Performance and Customer Success subcategories are typically refreshed by

the 20th day of every month. However, there might be other minor data refreshes
throughout the month.
Skilling subcategories are typically refreshed within 10 days after certification is
completed.

Related content
Link a PartnerID for DPOR or PAL
Link a PartnerID for CSP
Link certified employees

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