Solutions Partner for Data and AI (Azure)

As a Solutions Partner for Business Applications, you've demonstrated your broad capability to deliver solutions with Azure - Data & AI.

To earn the Microsoft Solutions Partner designation for one of the three 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 need to:

  • 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 the skilling requirements and metrics in detail.

Skilling category

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 section.

Intermediate certifications

 

Eligible intermediate certifications

Step 1: Required Certifications

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

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:

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:

 

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 may 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.

Advanced certifications

Advanced certifications aren't applicable to Data & AI.