FAQ: Solutions that run on old data centers

Q: Can a solution be on the marketplace if it runs on Microsoft software but in the partner's data center? I have a number of other solutions fully on Azure and in the Marketplace but have an outlier solution that is still in my old data center.  I imagine we will move it over eventually but we want to list it now.

A: The solution must be primarily platformed on Azure. Refer to this documentation for the official policy: Commercial marketplace general listing and offer policies | Microsoft Learn

Follow up Q: If a marketplace solution is only going to be used for transacting purposes and not for full provisioning/deployments and self-serve, is it a requirement to interact with the API's in order to be transactable?  In other words, can a solution be transactable without using the API's? 100% of the solution will live in Azure but the solution would only be sold as a private offer and it needs to be deployed with a services team, as each deployment is customized.  The fees are paid annually on a three year term. 

A: in order to be sold even as a private offer, the Fulfillment APIs need to be implemented. The customer will still need to accept the private offer and then subscribe to the offer for billing to happen. That subscription process requires the API integration. That's always been the case for a transactable SaaS offer. For Azure Managed apps (that live in the customer tenant) you don't need API integration (unless you use Custom Meters).

For simple implementation of the API, we recommend the SaaS Accelerator: Azure/Commercial-Marketplace-SaaS-Accelerator: A reference example with sample code for developers interested publishing transactable, Software as a-Service offers in the Microsoft commercial marketplace. (github.com))