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Azure Expert Managed Services Provider (MSP)

This program gives our most capable Azure MSPs full support to help drive revenue for themselves—and their customers.

What are the benefits?

Being an Azure Expert MSP has many advantages. Here are a few benefits designed to help your business stand out and excel.

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Differentiation

Earn an exclusive Azure Expert MSP badge, get showcased to our customers, and gain top priority in our referral engine.

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Customer Engagement

Be prioritized for co-sell engagements and leads.

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Sales and business development

Get support to develop new practices.

How do I qualify?

Azure Expert MSPs must pass a time and cost-intensive auditing process. Review the key steps below.

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Step 1: Meet the prerequisites

To get started, you must already hold Solutions Partner for Data & AI, Solutions Partner for Digital & App Innovation, and Solutions Partner for Infrastructure status and meet other business requirements explained below.

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Step 2: Submit your application

If you meet all the requirements listed below, you can access the application process and submit it for review.

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Step 3: Complete and pass the audit

After an initial check, we’ll connect you to a third-party auditor who will conduct an intensive two-day audit against the latest published checklist.

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Step 4: Meet ongoing requirements

You’ll be re-evaluated annually to ensure you continue to meet updated technology standards.

About the audit

Becoming an Azure Expert MSP involves both a pre-audit assessment and on-site audit. Depending on your business, the process can take more than 300 hours of effort, requiring expertise from across your business.

Azure Expert MSP prerequisites

Review the list to see if you qualify. If you meet the eight basic requirements, you can start the application process.

Partner program tier

All partners must have an active Solutions Partner for Data & AI, Solutions Partner for Digital & App Innovation, and Solutions Partner for Infrastructure.

Azure consumption

You must drive a high minimum bar of Azure consumed revenue per month.

Cloud Solution Provider (CSP)

You are required to have an active CSP contract in place.

MSP offer

Your MSP offer must be listed in AppSource or Azure Marketplace.

Azure MSP offer

Your business’s Azure MSP offering must be promoted on your website.

Certified staff

Must meet minimum number of individuals with required certifications.

Customer references

You'll need to submit four customer references for your Azure MSP solution, including one public case study.

Support contract

You must have Advanced Support for Partners or Premier Support for Partners covering Azure.

Ready to apply?

Sign in to your Microsoft account.

Nominate customers directly via Azure Migrate and Modernize and Azure Innovate

Partners with Azure specializations can directly nominate customers today.

Don’t qualify? No problem.

If you don’t qualify for the Azure Expert MSP at this time, you can still build your Microsoft partnership through membership enhancements, training, and other growth opportunities.

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Explore Solutions Partner Designations

Qualify for Solutions Partner Designations to help your business stand out from the rest.

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Expand your Azure expertise

Take a few training courses to increase your Azure knowledge and offering.

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Build your Intellectual Property

Look through the Cloud Practice Playbooks to start transforming your business today.

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Azure Expert MSP Badge

Display your Azure MSP expertise by using our easy Microsoft Logo Builder Toll to create your Azure Expert MSP badge.

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Partner profile and showcase

See how to set up your company profile to get noticed and represent the unique offerings and value you deliver.

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Customer-facing Collateral

What does it mean to your customers that you’re an Azure Expert MSP? Help them understand and see the value.

Proof of concept for Cloud Solution Provider

Your Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) end-customers can receive Azure credit during the proof of concept (POC) period. Download the partner instructions to apply for Azure Access CSP POC sponsorship today.

Tools and accelerators

Take advantage of easier wins with the chance to migrate your Enterprise Agreement (EA) customers to a Cloud Solution Provider agreement.

Two women working at desk and man with tablet

Explore Solutions Partner Designations

Qualify for Solutions Partner Designations to help your business stand out from the rest.

text: Woman with tablet presenting to man

Expand your Azure expertise

Take a few training courses to increase your Azure knowledge and offering.

Woman smiling with drink and tablet in hands

Build your Intellectual Property

Look through the Cloud Practice Playbooks to start transforming your business today.

Native management tooling and automation on Azure for Service Providers

Enhance efficiency, profitability, and growth in your managed services business with the tools to manage your customers’ cloud accounts at scale and help lead their digital transformation.