Announcing the new ‘SMB’ path for Azure Partners Solution Designations

Posted: April 3rd

Author: Microwarehouse

Microsoft have officially announced the new ‘SMB’ path for the Azure Solution Designations. This new SMB path provides an opportunity for eligible partners to achieve an Azure Solution Designation while focusing on serving the Small and Medium Business (SMB) segment.

Who will be eligible for the Azure Designation SMB path?
Partners who meet the following criteria will qualify for the Azure Designation SMB Path:
1. Revenue (ACR): Partners driving less than $1M in Azure consumed revenue (ACR).
2. Customer Segment: Partners with 80% or more of their customers in the SMB/SMC segment

SMB path changes by ‘Category’:

1. Performance – Net Customer Adds

To succeed on the SMB path, partners must achieve the following net customer adds:
• 3 customer adds with monthly ACR exceeding $500
• Contributing customers: customers with >= $500/month ACR in any one of the last 2 months and with $0 in both of the baseline months

2. Skilling – Intermediate/Advanced Certifications

Partners can now earn points from obtaining the prerequisite certifications! SMB partners now earn 4 points for the first prerequisite certification. SMB partners then earn 4 points each for up to 4 unique certified individuals.
For both the Azure Infrastructure and Digital & App Innovation tracks, the number of prerequisite certifications has been lowered from 2 prerequisites to 1.

3. Customer Success (Usage Growth and Deployments)

This category remains unchanged. This means that the rules for the Usage Growth and Deployments subcategories will not change.

Partner Solution Designation SMB Badge?
Partners who earn the Solution Partner Designation via the Azure SMB path will receive the same recognition, status, and benefits as they do today. There will be no separate Designation badge for the SMB path.

When will the SMB path be available?
Microsoft aim to have SMB track live for partners in Partner Center at the beginning of FY25.

Conclusion:

The new SMB Azure Designation is great news for SMB-focused CSP partners, making the Azure Infrastructure and Digital & App Innovation Designations more achievable for partners to attain.

Please share the news with your colleagues and stay tuned for further updates and get ready to embark on the Azure Designation SMB Path. Let’s continue to empower businesses with Azure solutions!

Note:
The SMB path details for the Security Solution Designation will be announced soon.

Download the Microsoft Solutions Partner Designations (Azure Infra) walking deck (20Mar24).