Microsoft Partner program changes

The Microsoft Partner Network (MPN) program is changing to the Microsoft Cloud Partner Program later this year. No longer will there be many competencies with Silver and Gold levels but six solution areas:

• Data & AI (Azure)
• Infrastructure (Azure)
• Digital & App Innovation (Azure)
• Business Applications
• Modern Work
• Security

Partner capability score

This new program is going back to a points model where you earn points in one of three areas

• Performance​
• Skilling​
• Customer Success​

You need to gain a number of points in these areas to become a solutions partner.

Specializations

Once you have achieved solution partner there are specializations that you can obtain than demonstrate your technical expertise.

Skilling

As you can probably guess, I am going to focus on the skilling area. Partners have always required a number of certified individuals to qualify for partner status and this new program does not change that but it does change the numbers and the certifications required.

Each solution area requires a number of individuals with intermediate certifications and and a number of individuals with advanced certifications. The numbers of certifications required varies by solution area.

I am going to summarize the certifications required in subsequent posts but what I have found interesting is that Power Platform (PL-400 and PL-600) and Dynamics 365 (MB-260) certifications qualify for solution areas other than Business Applications.

I expect the new program is going to drive training to meet these new requirements.

You can read more about these changes on the Microsoft Partner blog and checkout this infographic to see the timeline. If you can access the Microsoft Partner center to view your current solutions partner status.