Specializations overview
Appropriate roles: Global admin | Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program partner admin
Aligned to the Microsoft Cloud, specializations display your deep technical expertise and experience in areas with high customer demand. After attaining a Solutions partner designation, earning a specialization further differentiates your organization from your competitors and helps customers identify your capabilities to meet their specific needs.
Note
To learn more about specializations, see the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program specializations webpage.
To learn more about the Azure Expert MSP program, see Azure Expert MSP.
Current specializations available across all solution areas
Each specialization corresponds to a solution area:
- Azure
- Data & AI
- Digital & App Innovation
- Infrastructure
- Business Applications
- Modern Work
- Security
Azure specializations
Azure specializations include:
- AI and Machine Learning on Microsoft Azure
- Analytics on Microsoft Azure
- Build and Modernize AI Apps with Microsoft Azure
- Data Warehouse Migration to Microsoft Azure
- DevOps with GitHub on Microsoft Azure
- Hybrid Cloud Infrastructure with Microsoft Azure Stack HCI
- Infra and Database Migration to Microsoft Azure
- Kubernetes on Microsoft Azure
- Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop
- Microsoft Azure VMware Solution
- Migrate Enterprise Applications to Microsoft Azure
- Networking Services in Microsoft Azure
- SAP on Microsoft Azure
Business Applications specializations
Business Applications specializations include:
- Business Intelligence
- Finance
- Intelligent Automation
- Microsoft Low Code Application Development
- Sales
- Service
- Small and Midsize Business Management
- Supply Chain
Modern Work specializations
Modern Work specializations include:
- Adoption and Change Management
- Calling for Microsoft Teams
- Custom Solutions for Microsoft Teams
- Meetings and Meeting Rooms for Microsoft Teams
- Modernize Endpoints
- Teamwork Deployment
Security specializations
Security specializations include:
- Cloud Security
- Identity and Access Management
- Information Protection and Governance
- Threat Protection
How to enroll in a specialization
Azure specialization
- Meet the qualification requirements, which include the aligned Solutions Partner designation, Performance and Skilling requirements.
- Schedule the audit and pass the audit (Audit can be scheduled only when after the qualification requirements are met).
Modern Work and Security specializations
- Meet the qualification requirements, which include the aligned Solutions Partner designation, Performance and Skilling requirements.
- Submit customer reference and get approval of the customer references (Customer references can be submitted only after the qualification requirements are met).
Business Applications specializations
- Meet the qualification requirements, which include the aligned Solutions Partner designation, Performance and Skilling requirements. Once the qualification requirements are met, you'll be automatically enrolled for this specialization.
Product benefits for each specialization
We've introduced product benefits aligned to specializations and expert offerings. These benefits increase value for partners who invest in demonstrating deep technical expertise and experience in specific technical scenarios aligned to solution areas.
If you already have the relevant Solutions Partner designation and have opted to select the Solutions Partner benefits (and pay the fee), incremental specialization benefits are received when the specialization is earned and will be available through your next Solutions Partner designation anniversary date. The total number of specializations or expert offerings associated benefits must be within the respective maximum benefit cap amounts for each category of specializations and expert offerings.
To see an example of the timeline and maximum benefit cap amounts for receiving the benefits associated with specializations and expert offerings, visit the section titled "Illustrative example" in the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program Benefits Guide.
Renewals
The renewal process is triggered based on the anniversary date of your current specialization. The Specialization renewal process (not including Azure Expert MSP) is set to start year 1 in 2023. Check your specialization anniversary date in Partner Center.
Year 1 (First anniversary of specialization)
To renew the specialization, you need to meet qualification requirements (such as eligibility, performance, certifications, offer publishing). The qualification requirements are valid for one year and revalidated annually.
Qualification requirements will be reviewed for all anniversary dates beginning February 2023. Renewing your specialization during the first renewal cycle doesn't require any action outside of monitoring that your organization meets the qualification requirements. If your organization meets the qualification requirements, you'll be enrolled upon your renewal window opening.
The audits and customer reference requirements are valid for two years and revalidated every other year. So, for the first anniversary, you don't need to pass the audit or submit the customer references again.
- Qualification requirements include: Solutions Partner, Performance, Knowledge, and (if applicable) Offer publishing in AppSource
Year 2 (Second anniversary of specialization)
To renew the specialization, you must meet the qualification requirements and complete the manually validated requirements (such as audits or providing customer references depending on the specialization).
The audits and customer references requirements are valid for two years and revalidated every other year. This will start with anniversary dates beginning February 2024.
Years 3 and beyond
Subsequent years follow the same process with qualification requirements annually and telemetry + manually validated requirements every other year.
Reminder notifications: You'll receive a minimum of three emails to remind you about the renewal of the specialization. Emails are sent at multiple points in time, such as 120 days, 90 days, 60 days, 30 days before the anniversary date, on the anniversary date and 30 days after the anniversary date. These notifications are received by the individual(s) from your organization who has either the "Global admin" or "Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program partner admin" role. Also, you can see these notifications within Partner Center.
The renewal window opens 60 days before your anniversary date and close on your anniversary date (with a 30 calendar day grace period). Partners must meet the published qualification requirements within the 90 day period to renew their specialization.
For the first, third, fifth anniversaries of your specialization (and subsequent odd years), once the qualification requirements are met, the specialization is automatically re-enrolled.
For the second, fourth, sixth anniversaries of your specialization (and subsequent even years), once the qualification requirements are met, manually validated requirements such as audit or customer references must be met for the successful re-enrollment.
Mapping specializations to Solutions Partner designations
| Specialization | Solutions Partner designations |
|---|---|
| Azure | |
| AI and Machine Learning on Microsoft Azure | Data & AI OR Digital & App Innovation |
| Analytics on Microsoft Azure | Data & AI |
| Build and Modernize AI Apps with Microsoft Azure | Data & AI OR Digital & App Innovation |
| Data Warehouse Migration to Microsoft Azure | Data & AI |
| DevOps with GitHub on Microsoft Azure | Digital & App Innovation |
| Hybrid Cloud Infrastructure with Microsoft Azure Stack HCI | Data & AI OR Digital & App Innovation OR Infrastructure |
| Hybrid Operations and Management with Microsoft Azure Arc | Data & AI OR Digital & App Innovation OR Infrastructure |
| Infra and Database Migration to Microsoft Azure | Data & AI OR Infrastructure |
| Kubernetes on Microsoft Azure | Data & AI OR Digital & App Innovation |
| Microsoft Azure VMware Solution | Infrastructure |
| Microsoft Windows Virtual Desktop | Infrastructure |
| Migrate Enterprise Applications to Microsoft Azure | Data & AI OR Digital & App Innovation |
| Networking Services in Microsoft Azure | Infrastructure |
| SAP on Microsoft Azure | Infrastructure |
| Business Applications | |
| Business Intelligence | Business Applications or Data & AI |
| Finance | Business Applications |
| Intelligent Automation | Business Applications or Digital & App Innovation |
| Low Code Application Development | Business Applications OR Digital & App Innovation |
| Sales | Business Applications |
| Service | Business Applications |
| Small and Midsize Business Management | Business Applications |
| Supply Chain | Business Applications |
| Modern Work | |
| Adoption and Change Management | Modern Work |
| Calling for Microsoft Teams | Modern Work |
| Customer Solutions for Microsoft Teams | Modern Work |
| Meetings and Meeting Rooms for Microsoft Teams | Modern Work |
| Teamwork Deployment | Modern Work |
| Modernize Endpoints | Modern Work |
| Security | |
| Cloud Security | Security |
| Identity and Access Management | Security |
| Information Protection and Governance | Security |
| Threat Protection | Security |
Next steps
- Use Partner Center to apply for and check the status of specializations
- Learn more about specializations, their benefits, and unique requirements
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