Microsoft Azure is a rapidly growing cloud platform that provides a wide range of services to build, deploy, and manage applications through Microsoft’s global network. Azure offers over 100 services including computing, storage, databases, analytics, networking, mobile, security, and more. With Azure, organizations can quickly build, manage, and scale applications using the cloud.
What is Azure Competency?
Azure Competency is a program from Microsoft that allows partners to demonstrate their expertise in delivering solutions on the Azure platform. It serves as a validation of a partner’s deep knowledge, extensive experience, and proven success in implementing Azure cloud solutions for their customers.
There are 3 levels of Azure Competency that partners can attain:
- Silver Competency – Partners need to have at least 2 individuals pass the Azure Administrator Associate exam. This shows a foundational level of Azure skills.
- Gold Competency – Partners need four Microsoft Certified Administrators Associate and one Microsoft Certified Solutions Architect Expert to achieve Gold Competency. This showcases Azure’s larger and deeper capabilities.
- Platinum Competency – Partners need 4 more individuals certified as Azure Solutions Architect Experts. This exhibits the ability to deliver complex Azure solutions at scale.
The higher levels reflect an increased capability to deliver Azure services and solutions. Attaining Azure Competency demonstrates that a partner has made significant investments in their Azure technical, sales, marketing, and support capabilities.
Why Azure Competency Matters
Achieving Azure Competency demonstrates a partner’s deep knowledge, extensive experience, and proven success in implementing solutions on Azure. This validation of expertise builds trust and confidence for customers looking for help with their cloud migration and transformation.
Azure Competency highlights partners who truly understand Azure and can deliver consistent, high-quality solutions. Competency requirements validate the partner’s technical capabilities, development processes, staff certifications, and customer success – proving they have the skills and expertise to architect, build, and manage complex solutions on Azure.
Partners with Azure Competency receive exclusive benefits and support from Microsoft that further enhance their capabilities. They gain early access to Microsoft resources, training, and new product launches to stay ahead of the curve. Customers can feel confident knowing these partners have Microsoft’s stamp of approval.
Azure Competency demonstrates a partner’s commitment to excellence and customer success with Azure. It shows they have made investments in their people, processes, and delivery capabilities to provide the highest level of service on Azure projects. Customers can trust Azure’s Competent partners to advise them on the best approach and guide them through a smooth implementation and adoption of Azure.
Benefits for Partners
Achieving Azure Competency provides valuable benefits for Microsoft partners. These include:
- Access to Tools and Resources
Partners gain access to technical, sales, and marketing resources from Microsoft. This includes Azure product roadmaps, training, and support to help partners deliver solutions and services more effectively. Partners also get access to demo environments, APIs, and software development kits.
- Marketing and Sales Support
Microsoft provides Azure Competent partners with proven go-to-market offers and campaigns. Partners can leverage Microsoft branding, generate leads, and get prioritized referrals. Competent partners also get marketing tools like logos, free Azure credits, and content syndication.
- Incentives
Partners can earn financial incentives by selling Azure services and solutions. Microsoft offers rebates, development funds, and bonuses to motivate partners. There are also incentives for partners to build repeatable Azure practices. Competent partners get higher margins and bonuses.
Benefits for Customers
When partner organizations achieve Azure competencies, their customers gain confidence in the partner’s expertise and ability to deliver quality solutions. Customers can trust that the partner has demonstrated real-world capabilities in implementing, migrating to, and managing Azure workloads.
Some key benefits for customers working with Azure competent partners include:
- Confidence in partner expertise – Competency requirements validate the partner’s skills and experience with Azure. Customers don’t have to worry whether the partner knows Azure.
- Access to skilled resources – Competent partners have certified architects, developers, engineers, and consultants focused on Azure. Customers can leverage the partner’s skilled resources for their Azure projects.
- Proven success delivering Azure projects – To gain competency, partners must prove they have completed customer projects involving Azure implementation, migration, development, and management. Customers can trust the partner has a real-world Azure delivery experience.
- Better solutions – With deep Azure expertise, partners can build higher quality solutions on the Azure platform tailored to each customer’s needs. Customers benefit from better-performing, more secure, and robust Azure solutions.
- Faster time-to-value – Partners with Azure competency can help customers deploy Azure faster and maximize the benefits. Their experience avoids pitfalls and roadblocks.
Selecting an Azure-competent partner gives customers confidence that the partner truly understands Azure and can expertly guide their cloud migration and development. This results in smoother deployments, better solutions, and faster time-to-value.
Conclusion
Azure competency is critical for business success in today’s cloud-focused world. By attaining Azure competency, organizations demonstrate deep knowledge, extensive experience, and proven success in implementing solutions on Azure. This builds confidence and trust with customers that partners can reliably deliver top-notch solutions.
Additionally, Azure’s competency enables partners to differentiate themselves from competitors. Competent partners gain exclusive access to Microsoft technical support, Azure roadmap information, and market development funds. These benefits empower partners to more efficiently develop innovative solutions on Azure.
For customers, choosing an Azure competent partner ensures expertise that translates to reduced risk and accelerated time-to-value. Competent partners have the capabilities to properly assess, architect, migrate, and manage Azure environments. Their experience implementing robust, secure cloud solutions results in higher-quality outcomes for customers.
Azure competency is a powerful indicator of expertise that brings tangible business benefits. Attaining and maintaining competency should be a priority for any organization that wants to thrive in the modern cloud era. The investment required is well worth the rewards of standing out as a leader in Azure capabilities.