Forum Discussion
Legacy silver benefits end date ?
This has been asked quite a few times and I know was covered pretty comprehensively in the old version of these forums which I don't know if they are accessible any longer. Here's what I found:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/partner-center/solutions-partner-faq#i-have-a-legacy-competency-and-choose-to-attain-a-solutions-partner-designation--what-is-the-process-------
In short, the official documentation does not give a timeline for the retirement of legacy benefits.
One of the moderators might be able to find one of the older threads that was conclusive on this topic.
I work on a IT company (Microsoft Partner) and the answer is pretty easy...
After september 30 2022, you can pay in order to retain the benefits you already have (in whatever partner program you are). i.e. If you still have running the benefits for Silver Partner Memebership, you are able to renew those benefits by paying.
In other words, after september 30, 2022, you will be able to renew your on-going benefits just once more, and that's all. i.e. if your Silver Partner Membership suppouse to end July 30, 2023, and you renew that day, you will retain the Silver Partner Benefits for one year more. After that, you will only have this Partnership options:
- Program Member
- Action Pack
- Solution Partner
- Specialization/Expert
Note: if you pay, you will only keep the benefits, because the "Silver Partner Program" ended on sept 30 2022.
Source: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/news-from-microsoft-norway/silver-and-gold-competency-partners-guidance-on-renewal/ba-p/3808345 (section 4)
Hello,
Thank you for your answer.
You mentioned "your Silver Partner Membership suppose to end July 30, 2023, and you renew that day, you will retain the Silver Partner Benefits for one year more". So that means that I won't be able to renew again July 30, 2024 ?
I checked the source link but I don't find anything about this 😕
I had someone from Microsoft on phone this day that told me that nothing was decided so far about Legacy partners and that it should (not will - we can't have any information about this as always) be ok to renew again in 2024.
I would like to be sure because this is an important decision from Microsoft for a company like ours.
Regards
It's correct what fel_man mentioned. After September 30th 2022, you could renew your legacy competency benefits only once more, after that you'll loose that status and the benefits.
You've done your one-off legacy competency renewal in January 2023, meaning you retain those legacy benefits until your next renewal date in January 2024. After that all benefits will drop and a new Solution Partner Designation is required to earn benefits, eg IUR or Incentives.
More info, check the FAQ: Solutions Partner designations FAQ (microsoft.com)
Hello MartijnElfers,
Thank you for your time and answer !
Sorry again but once again it's said: "retain your legacy benefits until your next anniversary date" which is quite logic since the legacy silver subscription is for one year. However, there is no information about the fact that we couldn't proceed with a new renewal in 2024, 2025, etc.
Given the call I had these last days and what I saw in the MS Partner portal, this seems to confirm my thoughts:
Of course, we are OK to pay the fees again and proceed with a traditional renewal.
Regards
It's all in the wording I guess, and Microsoft documentation isn't the clearest in that part. And Microsoft's answers on their own policies are sometimes incomplete or wrong as well
Here's another FAQ answer to your question, think this is the answer you're looking for.
You won't be able to renew your legacy competency a second time after September 2022 when legacy competencies were deprecated.
Each partner gets one legacy competency benefit renewal option as a grace period.
