Microsoft Inspire: Execs Discuss New Azure MSP Program And More

Microsoft is celebrating the work of MSPs at this week’s Inspire 2018 conference for partners in Las Vegas.

A new Azure MSP Program is designed to help partners stand out even more from the pack, rewarding partners that have the highest degree of capabilities and skills when it comes to delivering consistent managed services on Azure. It began as a pilot program in early 2018 and now includes a group of Azure MSPs who have been carefully vetted by Microsoft.

’When we think about how we communicate the value of our partners to our customers, we need to demonstrate to our customers that we are doing all of the things possible to objectively identify the capabilities, skills and market potential of all these partners,’ said Toby Richards, general manager of partner programs at Microsoft.

Microsoft also is unveiling new go-to-market benefits meant to help partners build a more targeted marketing practice. Later this year, partners will have a choice of four benefit packages based on their business focus: Modern Workplace, a package for partners that deliver services on Microsoft 365; Apps and Infrastructure, for partners who build and deliver services on the Microsoft stack; Artificial Intelligence, for partners with a focus on PowerBI and SQL Server solutions; and Business Applications, for partners who build services on Dynamics 365.

’Our partners will be able to leverage education, services and content depending upon their level: Member, Silver or Gold,’ said Cheryl Miller, Microsoft’s general manager of One Commercial Partner go to market.

Other announcements from Inspire this week will include several new cloud apps and technologies for Azure, updates for Microsoft 365, and new offerings for Azure Marketplace, including integrated partner-to-partner solutions.

Watch CRNtv’s video for full coverage from Microsoft Inspire 2018.