February update: What’s New in Azure for Partners

News and announcements

• New secure migration partner investments available for Microsoft Defender for Cloud: InfraDB-specialized and Azure Expert Managed Services Provider (MSP) partners with the Solutions Partner for Security designation are now eligible for workshop incentives to help drive Defender for Cloud in migration and modernization projects. Access helpful resources on the new Cloud Security Envisioning Workshop. For more information on Defender for Cloud incentives for partners, join the Azure Migrate and Modernize Partner Forum to access the recent Secure Migrations webinar recording and additional content (accessible in the Forum Teams site). 

• Expanded capabilities in Microsoft Fabric: The launch of Fabric IQ as the semantic foundation for enterprise AI brings business context to how AI turns data into intelligence. We are adding more third-party integrations to make OneLake the hub for data, whether in Databricks, SAP, or Google BigQuery. Both CosmosDB and SQL Database are now generally available in Fabric to accelerate app development. 

• Broadening our database investments: Microsoft is proud to offer a robust suite of database offerings, from ground to cloud to SaaS. We recently announced the general availability of SQL Server 2025 and Azure DocumentDB, as well as the preview of Azure HorizonDB for PostgreSQL, which introduces new levels of performance and scalability to PostgreSQL.  

• Infusing Databricks in our AI services: We are thrilled to welcome AI/BI Genie from Databricks into both Copilot Studio and Microsoft Foundry, demonstrating our ongoing partnership and making the power of natural language analytics available to everyone in your organization.  

Join the SQL Partner Community to connect with SQL Server and Azure SQL experts for engineering innovations, curated resources, and a dedicated space to collaborate with your peers. 

Incentives and offers

• New software development company (SDC) end-customer migration incentives: Our FY26 partner incentives empower software development companies to accelerate customer migrations and modernizations with substantial financial rewards. Solutions Partners with certified software designations—including Azure, Security, and Industry AI—can earn up to $175,0001 for qualifying Customer Migrate & Modernize engagements. Check out the “ISV Engagements” tab in the incentives guide for more information.  

• Secure every workload: Qualified partners can earn incentives for hosting a Microsoft Security Envisioning Workshop, which are designed to improve the security posture of cloud workloads. 

• Explore Azure Accelerate: A unified offering within the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program, Azure Accelerate brings together Azure Migrate and Modernize, Azure Innovate, and Cloud Accelerate Factory––all built upon the foundations of Azure Essentials. Nominate your project in Partner Center today.   

• Cloud Accelerate Factory: Find out more about this no-cost deployment assistance for more than 30 Azure services, with expert support and joint delivery no matter the project size. 

Skilling and events

Events 

• Microsoft Azure Summit partner pre-day event: Now is a pivotal moment to lead your customers’ cloud transformations with new agentic strategies that accelerate migration and modernization. Join us on March 10, 2026, for an exclusive partner preview of the upcoming Microsoft Azure Summit: Migrate & Modernize with Agentic AI event. You’ll get early access to key messages, product announcements, and breakout themes, plus insight into how these updates translate into concrete partner opportunities. Equip your teams to show up ready to guide customers from day one. Register now.

• Microsoft Azure Summit: Migrate & Modernize with Agentic AI: Back by popular demand, this event will take place on March 12 (Asia / EMEA) and April 23 (Americas). Encourage your customers to attend to discover how new, AI-assisted migration and modernization tools, features, and capabilities can equip them to modernize quickly and efficiently. Registration information is coming soon! 

• FABCON/SQLCON 2026: SQLCon and FABFABCON and SQLCON are now co-located, March 16–20, 2026, in Atlanta! Register before tickets sell out. This is a critical opportunity to check out the latest innovations and connect with customers, Microsoft, and your peers. Join us for Partner Day on March 17! 

• Azure Cosmos DB Conference 2026: Join us April 28, 2026, to hear how Cosmos DB is powering some of the world’s most powerful AI applications. Register today. 

• AMA with Fabric leadership: Join the Fabric Partner Community, which hosts regular Ask Me Anything (AMA) sessions with Amir Netz, whose next AMA is scheduled for April 15. In addition, the community is introducing new leadership AMAs with Bogdan Crivat, CVP, AZURE DATA ANALYTICS, (February 17), Shireesh Thota, CVP, AZURE DATA DATABASES, (March 24), and Yitzhak Kesselman, CVP, MESSAGING AND RTAP, (May 12), giving partners streamlined access to senior engineering leaders for product insights, roadmap discussions, and open Q&A. 

Skilling

• Upskill with Fabric: Microsoft Project Ready is offering a February workshop on Data Factory—equipping you to build cloud-scale data pipelines, transform data with Dataflows Gen2, and navigate migration guidance from Azure Data Factory. In March, choose between Fabric IQ or Advanced Real-Time Intelligence to deepen your expertise in cross-ecosystem intelligence and real-time analytics at scale. Register now. 

• Now is the time to expand your skills to move SAP workloads to S4/HANA before the 2027 deadline: Activate your SAP on Azure. Utilize Partner Ready and Sales Ready courses to empower business managers to unlock Azure benefits and equip sales teams to effectively position SAP on Azure solutions. 

Go-to-market

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are the backbone of the global economy—and they’re transforming fast. With Microsoft Azure, partners are uniquely positioned to help SMBs streamline operations, boost security, and harness the power of AI to make smarter decisions. The opportunity is massive—and growing. We have three campaign kits aligned to the most promising Azure opportunities in SMB. Leverage these assets to start a customer conversation and build pipeline now. 

• Migrate and modernize your estate (SMB): Leverage this go‑to‑market resource, designed to generate demand and execute Azure migration and modernization opportunities with SMB customers. This collection includes practical guidance, ready‑to‑use campaign assets, and a partner opportunity deck—so you can drive faster migrations, expand AI and security conversations, and build long‑term customer relationships with a repeatable motion. 

• Microsoft-in-a-Day workshops: The Microsoft-in-a-Day workshops are a powerful business development opportunity to position yourself as a subject matter expert on Fabric and Power BI, engage with new customers directly, and grow your pipeline of opportunities. Learn more about how to get started. 

• Digital Sovereignty specialization: Showcase your expertise in secure, compliant, and sovereign cloud solutions with the new Digital Sovereignty specialization. Gain enhanced visibility, priority access to sovereign cloud opportunities, and specialized badging by meeting rigorous audit criteria. Help customers stay in control of their data while driving innovation. 

• Become a Fabric Featured Partner: If you already have an Analytics on Microsoft Azure specialization, earning a Fabric Featured Partner endorsement from Microsoft is close within reach. Check out the requirements and apply.