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Copilot for MCTs
I participated in the February 2024 Training Services Partner Community Call (TSPCC) about an hour ago, where numerous Copilot courses and Applied Skills Assessments were announced. However, a critical concern remains unaddressed: the accessibility of Copilot for Microsoft Certified Trainers (MCTs) to effectively teach these courses and conduct assessments. The current guidance of "Bring your own subscription" (which was provided to me as a response in the TSPCC Q & A today) for training organizations is impractical and does not align with the needs of MCTs and training service providers (TSPs). The lack of a feasible solution for accessing Copilot presents a significant barrier to entry, particularly for individual trainers and small to medium-sized TSPs. The financial burden of procuring a Copilot license, with its substantial upfront cost and lack of a monthly payment option, is a deterrent to many, including myself and many TSPs in my region. This situation creates an uneven playing field, favoring larger enterprise TSPs capable of acquiring multiple licenses, thereby monopolizing the market and client base. It is imperative to recognize that the demand for instructor-led training in Copilot is high, with students seeking guidance and consultation in navigating this revolutionary tool. The self-learning route is not a viable alternative for all learners. I urge Microsoft WWL to expedite the development of a solution that provides MCTs with complimentary access to Copilot, enabling us to deliver the high-quality training that is in demand. The current model is not sustainable and risks alienating a significant portion of the training community. It is crucial for Microsoft WWL to address this issue promptly to ensure the successful rollout of Copilot courses and to maintain the integrity and inclusivity of the MCT program.1.5KViews13likes7CommentsOctober CC Technical Issues and Option 2 Call Cancelation
Hello partners, I want to ensure you see the latest update I made to the Community Call thread here. Yes, there was an access issue to the Option 1 call today that was discovered only after the call started. As the Option 2 call is built the same way, I expect a similar result. Due to this, we won't be hosting an Option 2 call today. Link to the shared folder and associated files (recording, deck) are at the link referenced above. Apologies for the late cancel and the confusion this month. We'll look to get right on our next call, Wednesday, December 4th. Dan133Views1like0CommentsUpdate on Labs Security Impacts (5/7)
Updated with additional information on 5/7 Hello TSPs, As outlined in today’s blog post by Charlie Bell (Executive Vice President, Microsoft Security), Microsoft continues to make security a top priority internally as well as with our partners and customers. Unfortunately, the unintended consequence of this focus continues to impact labs within our training ecosystem. We are keenly aware how these tenant issues are impacting your training business, from reducing the richness of the overall training experience all the way to potentially cancelled classes. We have updated the previously shared FAQ (attached) to provide additional details and answer your questions. While we’ve reached a resolution in some courses (see below), the larger question regarding when tenant access will be broadly available is still an unknown. As meaningful updates become available, we will share them here on ourTraining Services Partner Community (Forum). Today’s update (8 courses): SC-300: tenants are now being made available to the Authorized Lab Hosters (ALHs). We are working on creating stockpiles to support the quantity of classes PL-300 & DP-605: ALHs are now offering these labs via their own Azure subscriptions, and not the M365 tenants PL-100, PL-900, PL-7001, PL-7002, PL-7003: Skillable has created an M365 tenant solution which is now available to TSPs Our team is working hard behind the scenes to reinstate tenants or create workarounds for all impacted courses. If you have further questions, please post them via this thread. Thank you for your partnership, Dan4.2KViews0likes12CommentsFY25 Monthly Training Services Partner Community Call Thread
We will use this thread to communicate updates (invites and links) for the monthly TSP Community Calls. Thanks for joining us on yesterday's June TSP Community Calls. You can now access the recording, deck, and transcripts in our temporary shared folder:https://aka.ms/TSPCC_June24. The last year of calls continue to live on the Learning Resources site:https://partner.microsoft.com/marketing/learning-resources#/ We will not have a July call. Our next call will be August 28th. Invites are attached.DanDonohueOct 30, 2024Microsoft2.1KViews3likes17CommentsLegal name change
I am having issue in changing legal name before my DP-203 exam. Any help is really appreciated please!Balaji1905Oct 28, 2024Copper Contributor121Views0likes3CommentsLack of Adequate Alternatives for New Users: Problems because of Azure Pass being discontinued
Hi, The discontinuation of the Azure Pass presents significant challenges. As a Microsoft Partner, Palmeto Solutions has trained thousands of professionals in Azure over the past decade. This change could hinder our ability to provide effective training and support for new users, impacting their learning experience and potentially driving them to other platforms. Addressing these issues is crucial for maintaining Azure's appeal in the training market. In India, hands-on, practical training is crucial, as participants often prefer interactive sessions over purely theoretical explanations. Customization and the ability to address deeper questions are key. Incorporating real-time examples and allowing attendees to experiment alongside the instructor can enhance engagement and understanding. While pre-canned ILT materials provide a solid foundation, blending them with flexible, impromptu demonstrations can better address audience needs and encourage exploration. How do you currently balance structured content with hands-on learning in your sessions? The Microsoft Azure Pass has been instrumental in training thousands of new users on Azure, advancing beginners to higher levels of expertise. We have successfully onboarded tens of thousands of users, qualifying many as Azure Administrators and creating thousands of Azure Architects, all with the support of the Azure Pass. Many of our customers are hesitant to invest in paid subscriptions via credit cards but are open to one-month trial payments for staff training. One alternative we've considered is using a single Pay As You Go subscription to create multiple accounts for training purposes. However, with the mandatory MFA, managing these accounts becomes cumbersome, as we would need to reset them daily to prevent cost escalations. This approach would lead to unnecessary administrative overhead. When others are lowering the barriers to get people onto their platforms, these restrictions will hinder Azure adoption amongst educators, hobbyist developers, startups, small developers and students alike who will seek other platforms which seemingly welcome them. Lack of Adequate Alternatives for New Users: By discontinuing Azure Pass and imposing new restrictions like mandatory MFA, Microsoft may risk alienating beginners with little cloud experience. There isn’t a clear, user-friendly alternative that allows newcomers to easily gain hands-on experience without facing costs or dealing with complex authentication requirements. These restrictions add complexity instead of simplifying the learning experience, potentially discouraging new users from exploring the platform. It’s all about (our clients) resource management in big organizations, and its effects L&D teams decisions on Choosing between azure and other cloud platforms. Our trainers (MCT's) also expressed similar opinion, we are sharing one of our trainers thoughts below: "As a trainer, I'm considering transitioning to competing cloud platforms, but I wanted to share my thoughts in hopes that Microsoft will take feedback into account. Allowing training partners to purchase Azure Passes in bulk for specific training programs—tracked with Metrics That Matter—would be a valuable solution. This approach would ensure the Azure Passes are used appropriately for their intended purpose, minimizing the risk of misuse." Thank you for considering the points we've expressed regarding the challenges posed by the discontinuation of the Azure Pass. Your attention to this feedback is crucial for supporting Azure training.SrinivasROct 25, 2024Brass Contributor287Views0likes4CommentsWhat will be the validity period for the Azure codes purchased before October 25th?
I would like to seek clarification regarding the Azure passes in relation to our upcoming AZ-400 training scheduled from October 25th to 28th. As per your communication, it seems that Azure passes will retire on October 25th. Specifically, if we purchase labs from ALH provider and distribute them to participants for their training, will they be able to redeem the lab codes and collect the Azure pass codes on October 25th? If they redeem the ALH Lab key and collect the Azure pass code on October 26th, will they still be able to use it, or will all Azure pass codes be stopped effectively on October 25th? Additionally, since it was mentioned that Azure passes will no longer be available for purchase on the ALH platform, I would like to know the status of codes bought on or before October 25th, 2024. Will participants be able to access and use these Azure pass codes at a later time? What will be the validity period for the Azure codes purchased before October 25th? Your prompt response would be greatly appreciated, as we have committed these corporate classes to our clients some time ago. Thank you in advance for your assistance!SrinivasROct 25, 2024Brass Contributor236Views0likes5CommentsCannot login to Microsoft Learn on my new laptop, but able to do so on my other devices
Have to test my laptop for an exam but cannot login. There is no error message but every time I try to sign in to Microsoft, it keeps reloading and bringing me back to the login screen. I tried disabling browser extentions, resetting the browser and deleting the cache but the still cannot sign in Thank youSolvedkristinamoulyOct 25, 2024Copper Contributor96Views0likes1CommentCopilot Licenses and Evolution of Benefits Packages
Hi all, If you haven't already heard the news, Microsoft is making updates to the product licensing in benefits packages:partner.microsoft.com/en-US/blog/article/innovate-with-partner-benefits. This includes Copilot for Modern Work and Biz Apps benefits. What is changing? Beginning January 22, 2025, we are adding over 20 in-demand product licenses to our benefits packages. This includes game-changing Microsoft Copilot products, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, and Microsoft GitHub. These product licenses will be accessible in select partner benefits packages and Training Services Partner Solution Area designations. For information on changes by benefits package type, see our benefits transition walking deck. Additionally, the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program benefits guide has been updated to include the upcoming license availability (starting on page 45). As part of this benefit transition, we are also announcing that Microsoft will no longer sell Microsoft Action Pack, Microsoft Learning Action Pack, or legacy silver / gold benefits starting January 22, 2025. We will continue to offer the three new benefit packages that were released in January 2024: Partner Launch Benefits, Partner Success Core Benefits, and Partner Success Expanded Benefits. These are optional benefits packages and not required to participate in the Training Services Partner (TSP) ecosystem. Timeline January 21, 2025: partners will be able to purchase or renew Action Pack or legacy silver / gold benefits through this date. All existing legacy benefits purchased on or before this date will be valid for 12 months from the date of purchase. January 22, 2025: new product licenses will be added to qualifying benefits packages. Existing Action Pack and legacy silver / gold benefits packages will not receive the new licenses. Next Steps Having a benefits package as a TSP is optional, but recommended. Aside from product licensing, partners receive Azure credit greater than the cost of the package. Additionally, Solutions Area partners have access to elevated badging and the customer-facing partner directory (coming soon). Partners may opt to participate in the TSP ecosystem with no benefits package. Partners looking to receive benefits who have an Action Pack or legacy silver / gold renewal date on or before January 21, 2025, have the ability to: renew legacy benefits for one more 12-month period and / or transition to Partner Launch, Partner Success Core, or Partner Success Expanded benefits, available now and / or meet Solution Area badging requirements in one or more Microsoft Solution Areas (note: TSPs can simultaneously have all 3 options above) Partners looking to receive benefits who have an Action Pack or legacy silver / gold renewal data after January 21, 2025, have the ability to: transition to Partner Launch, Partner Success Core, or Partner Success Expanded benefits, available now and / or meet Solution Area badging requirements in one or more Microsoft Solution Areas Resources Familiarize yourself with the transition walking deck and updated benefits guide Review the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program FAQ Compare offerings across the Partner Launch, Partner Success Core, and Partner Success Expanded benefit packages Join the TSP Community Calls for additional information as it becomes available (August 28 th call invites are attached) Ask questions of other TSPs and Microsoft program managers via the Training Services Partner Forum We will continue to provide updates through our regular communication channels as we work towards January 2025 and beyond. As always, if you have any questions please reach out. Thanks for your support. Dan1.8KViews4likes2Comments
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