Azure Expert Managed Cloud Service Provider Partner Program

The Azure Expert Managed Service Provider program is a global initiative from Microsoft to highlight and promote the most capable partners. Microsoft has selected a very limited number of partners for its initiative.

Microsoft has a list of qualifications that tech firms need to fulfill to become an Azure Expert MSP.

Step 1: Meet the prerequisites

You must be already holding Gold Cloud Platform competency status, meeting other business requirements like

• Azure consumption revenue bar per month should drive a high minimum bar.
• An active Cloud Solution Provider contract in place.
• MSP offers listed in Azure Marketplace.
• Azure MSP offerings must be promoted on the website.
• Staff must be certified.

Step 2: Submit your application

If all the requirements mentioned above are fulfilled, you can access the application process and submit it for review.

Step 3: Complete and pass the audit

After the initial check, you will be connected to a third-party auditor who will conduct a rigorous two-day audit compared to the latest published checklist.

Step 4: Meet ongoing requirements:

There will be annual evaluations to check if you continue to meet updated technology standards.

How does it benefit the partner firms?

· Differentiation:

Partners earn an exclusive Azure Expert MSP badge and gain priority in the referral engine, thus increasing their customer base and credibility in the market.

· Customer engagement:

You are prioritized for co-sell engagements and leads, which advances to increased customer engagement.

· Sales and business development:

You receive support to develop new practices. And this can be very beneficial.

· Access, training, and support:

You get to attend exclusive events and participate in monthly calls with Azure Engineering.

What does that mean for the customers?

· Better service:

Working with an expert will bring you expert-level services. Microsoft makes identifying the best partners easy by awarding this accreditation to a few partners. This raises the bar and makes the game a lot more fun and creative.

· Broader offerings:

Providers are ready to provide all your needs, be it IaaS, PaaS, IoT, mobile working, or anything honestly. They have experts in all areas available.

· Closer partnerships:

Being one of the few Azure Expert MSPs, the partner companies and providers will become closer to Microsoft. And thus, all the benefits coming their way will be passed along to the customers too. Microsoft's capabilities with expertise and skills will work wonders for business.

The question now arises is how to choose the right Managed Cloud Service Provider?

There are certain things and parameters to be considered while choosing the right MSP.

1. Determining the specifics, you need from the MSP:

You can determine your MSP requirements based on the existing IT operations are. Data storage and security, backup, disaster recovery, network management, and help desk support are the most commonly demanded services. The MSP integrating and providing these services is useful and beneficial.

2. See if they provide remote and on-site support:

Apart from Remote monitoring and tier one support, MSP also has to provide face-to-face interactions and support. On-site visits are a part of the job for proper hardware and equipment maintenance. Even if the in-house team has solutions to fix stuff, the MSP needs to be familiar with the systems.

3. Does the MSP deliver cybersecurity solutions?

Businesses, how much ever secure, are prone to cyber-attacks, and it is the MSP's job to provide solutions to avoid and recover

from the same. You have to understand their security procedures and their methods of handling information.

4. Do they provide Cloud and Mobile solutions?

As businesses have been moving to the cloud, MSP should provide scalable solutions. You need to ask them if they work with a specific CSP or are they neutral and if they can customize cloud solutions according to the business needs. And this will give you an overview of their capabilities.

5. The MSP should have tenure in their respective space and industry:

Hiring an MSP is a long-term affair, so it is very important to know about their relationship with their current employers and existing clients. Ask your vendor for a list of past and present customers for reference and research what the industry experts say about them.

Bitscape is one such leading Gold Partner that leverages its clients and customers with the customized service of Azure. Our tailor-made solutions are industry-specific, area-specific, and purpose-driven. This technical empowerment allows the enterprises to go beyond customers' expectations, making them soar high in their respective marketplace.

We have been in this industry for more than a decade and have served numerous customers in the meantime. And this can be claimed by seeing satisfied customer responses and clientele. Hence, we've been on the top for a long time now and desire to continue in the future.