Microsoft Ups Its Cloud Partner Program
Microsoft Ups Its Cloud Partner Program by UCStrategies Staff
A new channel program has been launched by Microsoft in order to assist partners in building cloud deployment practises based around Office 365, amongst other on-demand applications.
A variety of support tools and services for cloud system planning, deployment and break-fix activities are offered to partners through the Cloud Deployment program, which is proven to be much better than Microsoft’s Cloud Essentials and Cloud Accelerate initiatives.
By enrolling on the program, partners will be entitled to communicate with technology consultants to aid in enhancing their plans for cloud deployment. New partners will also be able to consult with a team of technical support engineers 24/7 during a cloud software deployment project, in order to fix technical problems.
The senior director of new markets and emerging channels at Microsoft, Josh Waldo, said in a blog post: “We have heard from partners that what you need from Microsoft is more support on deployment.”
Only existing partners of the Cloud Accelerate program can join the new Cloud Deployment program, and they will therefore also be able to make use of technical advantages which are included in the new initiative. A further requirement for eligibility is that partners earn the Messaging Competency offered by Microsoft.
At present around 5,500 partners monthly are actively selling Microsoft’s cloud services. Last month, it became easier for partners to enroll onto the Cloud Essentials initiative, and Microsoft predicts that around 100,000 partners will have signed-up by mid-2013. These developments come as Microsoft seeks to expand and broaden its recruitment of channel partners for its cloud services.
Twenty-five free licenses for Office 365, Windows Intune and Dynamics CRM Online are offered to partners through Cloud Essentials, and these offer an entry into cloud computing for solution providers to familiarize themselves with cloud products provided by Microsoft. For those partners who already have some existing cloud computing customers, Cloud Accelerate is most suitable. (CY) Link