Cloud Champion – Round 1: Partnering

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Please note this program has been retired - Our New Program for all Microsoft Partners in Australia is Partner Next which covers the below and the latest opportunities for Partnering with Microsoft.

 

Welcome to the first week of our Cloud Champion course. This 12-week step-by-step course is designed to get you cloud competent and cloud confident. If you haven’t signed up yet, please visit www.microsoft.com.au/cloudchampion.

This week is to help you “Get Started” with the Microsoft Partner Network (MPN). This is important as many of the subsequent steps require you to sign in using your MPN credentials. The summary graphic and detailed notes are below.

Partnering with Microsoft
The Microsoft Partner Network is in the process of integrating our Cloud Partner programs—Cloud Essentials, Cloud Accelerate, and Cloud Deployment—into the Microsoft competencies and the new Microsoft Action Pack subscription. Cloud Essentials and the cloud internal-use software benefits have been integrated into the Partner Network.

  • Decide on your level of membership
    • No cost! Community. Join now >
    • Most popular! Action Pack. Learn more >
      Access Microsoft services, software, development tools, training, market visibility, and support—all at significant savings.
      The new Action Pack was designed based on partner feedback. We heard your need for a single subscription that is organised around the way you do business. Action Pack now provides simple and flexible resources that can grow and evolve with you, whether you’re focused on providing cloud, on-premises or hybrid solutions. Action Pack delivers training customised to partner needs along with added technical advisory support to provide help with customer scenarios.
      Watch this video for an overview.
    • Best value! Competency Partner. Learn more >
      Demonstrate your proven capabilities by choosing from among 26 competencies that match a variety of business focuses—and customer’s needs.
      Office 365 competencies include Devices and Deployment, Messaging, Collaboration and Content, Communications, Project and Portfolio Management, Small Business and Midmarket Solution Provider.
      Windows Azure competencies are Application Development, Datacenter, Data Analytics and Data Platform.
  • Activate your internal use rights
    • With the integration of cloud into the Microsoft Partner Network, cloud licence benefits are changing, as is the process used for Partners to access them. From April 2, 2014, Australia will adopt the worldwide model for Office 365 Internal Use License (IUR) entitlement and attainment. Until then:
      • If you do not already have your Office 365 IUR: You can gain access to your licenses by following these steps.
      • If you already have your Office 365 IUR: You will not be able to transition your licences until April 2, from this date you have until June 30, 2014 to complete the transition. The procedure is quick and easy – you won’t even need to change your tenant.
    • Learn more about the transition and new entitlement structure here
      • How many seats are you currently using?
      • How many seats will you be entitled to under the new model?
      • What steps, if any, do you need to take to ensure full license coverage?

Microsoft Executive Blogs

  • Read Julie Bennani’s blog post (Worldwide General Manager of the Microsoft Partner Network) about the recent changes Microsoft has made to the MPN
  • Read Phil Sorgen’s blog post (Worldwide Corporate Vice President for the Worldwide Partner Group) about the Microsoft Action Pack

Next steps

  • Read Jack Pilon’s (Australia’s MPN Lead) detailed guide. For issues signing up, please contact the Australian partner support team on 13 20 58 (Options 2,4,1).
  • Read the Disclosure Guide for the program changes that might affect you

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