Recent Discussions
Visual Studio Lite benefits - without Azure Credits and Keys
As communicated earlier, the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program benefit offerings—including partner benefits packages, Solutions Partner designations, and specializations—will be updated later this month to support how you build, differentiate, and grow your business. The per-user monthly Azure credits associated with this benefit will no longer be available. You can still access organization-level Azure bulk credits that come with your benefits offering. This may require an Azure subscription migration for users to continue accessing credits, and we strongly recommend a change management plan for this transition. In addition, product keys will no longer be accessible within Visual Studio. Keys will instead be available as part of the benefits package(s) your organization holds and can be securely assigned to users directly from Partner Center. Please note that these changes will not be retroactively applied. They will go into effect when your organization renews its affected benefits offering(s) or if you activate a new offering on or after the February update. We have been partners for 20 years and using Partner benefits. Again, Microsoft tries to lower benefits, and in parallel benefit package price will increase (due to different reasons). This discussion and community of partners, should unit and tell to Microsoft Partner Benefits program that: Partners have employees/users, that use current Visual Studio benefit, that is (like MSDN), having the user access to keys and Azure credits, for specific user / employee need of test, dev, demo etc. Azure Bulk credit was never the same and cannot be used as a same Azure Bulk credit / Azure sponsorship, does not have cost control, Azure budgets and other methods. (This is in plan to change for several years, no progress) on Azure technical side. Will Microsoft increase Azure Bulk credits to compensate te amount of included benefit usage? Dear, Microsoft, please leave current Partner Benefits, with full Visual Studio, including Azure credits, and Keys for assigned users, without moving to lower benefit - Visual Studio Lite. Thank you for understanding, and hope this will not be active in production after partner renewals.
Renew CSP subscription
Hi everyone, I have a question regarding a CSP subscription renewal. I work for a company that is not a Microsoft partner. Previously, we worked with a partner from whom we purchased Microsoft Dynamics 365 FO and some other licenses. We recently received an email from this former partner stating that we need to renew a CSP subscription. For your information, we are a customer, not a partner. Could you please clarify whether this CSP subscription is something we need to renew ourselves, or if this is the responsibility of the partner? I would also appreciate your advice, as I am concerned this might not be legitimate. Please correct me if I am wrong. Best regards,
New FY26 benefits release date
As mentioned here https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/partner-center/benefits/benefits-faq-new the new benefits for FY26 should get available in February 2026. As we already have February 2026, is there an exact date when this will happen? Or will the new benefits only get available upon the annual renewal of the Partner Program as last time?
Account Suspended Despite Compliance – Seeking Clarification and Reinstatement
Hello Microsoft Community, My company’s Partner Center account currently shows a Suspended status for both the Indirect Reseller and Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider programs, even though we believe we’ve met all requirements. What we’ve done: Completed all security requirements (MFA enabled, security contact designated) Verified business and legal information is up to date Ensured there are no outstanding payments or compliance issues We received a notice about CSP indirect reseller eligibility (USD 1,000 revenue requirement), but our partner confirms our license spend exceeds this threshold. Our questions: Why is the account still suspended if we’ve addressed the stated requirements? Is there a hidden or unaddressed compliance issue? What specific steps must we follow to have the suspension lifted? Can Microsoft reinstate the account once we provide evidence of compliance? We’re unable to perform critical operations like assigning licenses or accessing partner benefits while suspended. Has anyone experienced a similar situation? Any guidance from Microsoft moderators or the community would be greatly appreciated.Net Customer Adds - encouraging the wrong culture?
We're a Microsoft Partner that focuses on delivering excellent service to our SMB clients. This involves making sure they're as secure and compliant as they can be, and that they understand how to use the vast array of modern workplace tools to maximum advantage. Our primary Solutions Partner Designation is therefore Modern Work (SMB). Our staff are keen on learning so we have maximum points for intermediate and advanced certifications. We are continuously helping our clients to exploit the modern work tools so deployment scores are excellent. We also help our clients ensure those tools are adopted into the everyday flow of work so usage growth is huge. BUT, given our focus is implementing more Microsoft workloads into existing customers, rather than adding more customers, our Net Customer Adds score is 0, putting our designation at risk (as you have to score points in every area to renew). I do feel we're effectively being penalised by Microsoft for concentrating on helping clients get the most out of their offerings, rather than just selling licenses. And after raising this with them, it sounds like there's nothing we can do other than simply keep our fingers crossed that a month of high net customer adds drops off the rolling 12 month window before our renewal date for us to maintain our designation. The skilling, deployment, and usage requirements all make sense as they're about providing a good service and ensuring adoption by the end customer, but net customer adds clearly puts selling over service which isn't our culture or business model (or that of many smaller partners). In chatting to other partners, many are choosing not to renew their SPD's for similar reasons so I'm hoping the relevant decision makers will listen to this feedback and review the scoring. What do you think?✨ FabCon + SQLCon 2026: Partner Know Before You Go Now Live!
Heading to FabCon + SQLCon 2026 in Atlanta? We’ve put together your full Partner Know Before You Go Guide — everything you need to navigate the week, maximize value, and make the most of all partner‑exclusive opportunities. 🚀 Here’s what you’ll find inside: 📅 Partner Day (Mar 17) — A full day of partner‑only learning, strategy, and networking. - SOLD OUT! 🍻 Partner Happy Hour — Connect with other partners and the Microsoft team. 🎤 AMA with the Fabric Partner Success Team — Bring your biggest questions around Data & AI priorities, partner opportunities, funding, enablement, and certifications. 🤝 1:1 Meetings — Book time with Fabric LT or the Partner Success Team to accelerate your strategy and unlock customer wins. 🎤 Partner Elevator Pitch Search — Submit your 2‑min pitch to be featured live on stage! 🔥 Partner Social Media Sprint — Daily LinkedIn challenge + chances to win Fabric SWAG. 🎓 Certification Spotlight — Get recognized during Arun’s keynote for hitting 100+ Fabric certs. 🎥 Testimonial Videos — Share your Fabric customer stories with global visibility. 📱 Whova Event App — Build your schedule, access slides, network, and join the partner community inside the app. 📘The full KBYG guide is attached below.In a Day (XIAD) Partner Events Program - Train the Trainer Events (AgIAD, AIAD, AuIAD, PPIAD)
We invite you to attend an upcoming Train the Trainer session for Microsoft Partners to learn more about the In a Day (XIAD) Partner Events Program and how to lead workshops that empower customers to use and adopt Microsoft products. Our Train the Trainer events are designed to provide you with the knowledge and tools necessary to deliver successful Microsoft In a Day (XIAD) sessions. *Please note, participation is restricted to individuals representing a Microsoft Partner organization. You must register using your corporate email address that is associated with your Partner ID. Personal emails will not be approved. ✨ Why Attend? Expert Guidance: Learn from experienced trainers and get your questions answered. Comprehensive Resources: Access all the content and support you need to succeed. 📅 Upcoming Events: Agent in a Day Discover the basics of building agents with Microsoft Copilot Studio, including generative AI orchestration and integrating external data sources. Tuesday February 24 | 09:00-10:30 (GMT-6) Central Time Zone Tuesday March 10 | 09:00-10:30 (GMT-6) Central Time Zone Thursday March 26 | 09:00-10:30 (GMT+1) Central European Time Zone Register Recordings available on-demand. Inquire at xiadevents@microsoft.com App in a Day Explore the fundamentals of building apps with Microsoft Power Apps, including creating custom business applications without writing code. Tuesday February 24 | 11:00-12:30 (GMT-6) Central Time Zone Tuesday March 10 | 11:00-12:30 (GMT-6) Central Time Zone Thursday March 26 | 11:00-12:30 (GMT+1) Central European Time Zone Register Recordings available on-demand. Inquire at xiadevents@microsoft.com Automation in a Day Explore automation solutions with Power Automate, including creating workflows and automating business processes. Tuesday February 24 | 14:00-15:30 (GMT-6) Central Time Zone Thursday March 26 | 14:00-15:30 (GMT+1) Central European Time Zone Register Recordings available on-demand. Inquire at xiadevents@microsoft.com Power Pages in a Day Get hands-on building simple, secure business websites with Microsoft Power Pages. Tuesday March 10 | 14:00-15:30 (GMT-6) Central Time Zone Register Recordings available on-demand. Inquire at xiadevents@microsoft.com Partner with us! Are you a Microsoft Partner interested in the opportunity to join the program and deliver In a Day (XIAD) events? 🔍 Learn more about the program and review partner eligibility criteria: https://aka.ms/xiadpartneropportunity. 📧 Contact the XIAD Program team: xiadevents@microsoft.com 🚀 Get started today: https://aka.ms/XIADGetStarted 📤 Submit requests to deliver events: https://aka.ms/xIAD/PartnerEvents
Tech Talks presents: Cloud PC Pools in Microsoft Copilot Studio
Join us on Thursday, February 12th at 8am PT as Jay Padimiti, CAT Advisory Principal PM, Power CAT presents 'From UI Actions to Enterprise‑Grade Automation: Cloud PC Pools in Microsoft Copilot Studio'. In this session, we’ll explore how Cloud PC Pools, powered by Windows 365 for Agents, unlock secure, enterprise‑ready UI automation inside Microsoft Copilot Studio. You’ll learn how Computer‑Using Agents (CUA) execute tasks across Windows apps and web systems just like a human - and how Cloud PC Pools enable these capabilities at scale with governance, compliance, and zero local infrastructure. This session demystifies the architecture behind Cloud PC Pools, provides a practical implementation walkthrough, and highlights best practices your organization can follow to deliver repeatable, high‑value automation securely using Microsoft‑managed Windows 11 Cloud PCs. We hope to see you there! Call to Action: Click on the link to save the calendar invite: https://aka.ms/TechTalksInvite View past recordings (sign in required): https://aka.ms/TechTalksRecordingJoin Microsoft's In a Day (XIAD) events partner program!
The Microsoft In a Day (XIAD) partner events program offers an exceptional opportunity for partners to deliver one-day, hands-on workshops that empower customers to adopt and use Microsoft products effectively. Why Participate? 🏆 Showcase Expertise: Highlight your skills by demonstrating your knowledge and capabilities. 🤝 Drive Connections: Build strong relationships with new customers. 📈 Generate Leads: Create valuable opportunities for business growth. Microsoft offers the content, support, and resources necessary for the success of these workshops, allowing partners to deliver impactful, high-quality sessions. Workshop catalog includes: Agent in a Day App in a Day Automation in a Day Chat with your Data in a Day Dashboard in a Day Fabric Analyst in a Day Power Pages in a Day Real Time Intelligence in a Day Are you a Microsoft Partner interested in the opportunity to join the program? 📧 Contact the XIAD Program team: xiadevents@microsoft.com 📤 Submit requests to deliver events: aka.ms/XIAD/PartnerEvents 🎓 Attend an upcoming Train the Trainer event: aka.ms/XIAD/TraintheTrainer/PowerPlatformEvents & aka.ms/XIAD/TraintheTrainer/AzureDataEvents 🔍 Learn more about the program and review partner eligibility criteria: aka.ms/XIADpartneropportunityLeading through disruptive change: What partners need now
On February 25th, Ultimate Partner is hosting its annual Executive Winter Retreat in Boca Raton, Florida. We are excited to welcome Nina Harding, CVP, Americas Global Partner Solutions, as this year’s keynote speaker. Nina will share key customer insights during this period of rapid transformation and highlight the critical role partners play in driving meaningful business outcomes. Over the past several months, one thing has become clear: AI is no longer an abstract conversation. Customers are asking how to run it securely, measure its impact, and scale it across their organizations. At the same time, partners are looking for ways to convert the momentum from the Microsoft AI Tour into real execution. Nina will discuss what executives are prioritizing right now, how Agentic AI is reshaping expectations, and how partners can help customers realize measurable value. She will be joined on stage by a strong lineup of Microsoft leaders—Katharine Kennedy, Jason Rook, Erwin Visser, and Steve Cohen—each bringing a real-world perspective on what it takes to build successful, durable partnerships. These leaders will help partners focus on the drivers of momentum: Translating AI strategy into actionable partner plans Understanding how marketplaces now dominate transactions Leveraging ecosystem orchestration as a competitive advantage Navigating a buyer who thinks, evaluates, and purchases differently This retreat is intentionally designed for execution—not theory, not product announcements, and not high-level dialogue. It is a forum where partners gain clarity on how to build, sell, and deliver with Microsoft in 2026. Learn more about Ultimate Partner here: Events - Ultimate Guide to Partnering®ICYMI: 🚀 February Azure Update: What’s New for Partners
From expanded Microsoft Fabric capabilities and new secure migration incentives, to major skilling opportunities and can’t‑miss Azure events, this month’s Azure update is packed with ways to help you migrate, modernize, and lead with AI. Highlights include: New Defender for Cloud migration investments and incentives Expanded Microsoft Fabric features, including Fabric IQ and OneLake integrations FY26 migration incentives for software development companies Upcoming events like Azure Summit, FABCON/SQLCON, and Cosmos DB Conference New go‑to‑market resources to drive SMB and enterprise growth 👉 Dive in to explore the latest updates designed to help you build smarter solutions, secure workloads, and unlock new partner opportunities. Read the full February Azure Newsletter hereRenew Az-305
My AZ-305 certification recently expired because I missed the renewal window. I did not receive any renewal notification emails before the expiration, which is why I was unable to complete the renewal assessment in time. I would like to kindly request whether any additional time or an exception could be granted in my case. If this is not possible, I completely understand, but I would appreciate it if you could review my situation and advise on any available options.Looking for advice on collaborating with complementary Microsoft partners
a { text-decoration: none; color: #464feb; } tr th, tr td { border: 1px solid #e6e6e6; } tr th { background-color: #f5f5f5; } Hi everyone 👋 My name is Martin Rojze. I’m focused on the Microsoft data platform, with a specialization in Microsoft Fabric and Power BI. My work is centered on helping organizations design, implement, and scale modern analytics and reporting solutions on Azure, with a strong emphasis on real world business outcomes rather than just dashboards. As demand for end to end solutions continues to grow, I’m looking to deepen collaboration with complementary Microsoft partners, for example partners who focus on Dynamics 365 or Business Central Data engineering, data science, or AI App development including Power Apps, custom apps, or ISVs Security, governance, or change management I’d really appreciate advice from partners who have successfully built co sell or referral relationships, specifically What has worked and what has not when partnering with other Microsoft partners How you structure collaboration so it’s mutually beneficial and scalable Tips on aligning around go to market, co selling, or delivery without stepping on each other’s toes If you’re a partner interested in collaborating around Fabric and Power BI led analytics engagements, or if you’re willing to share lessons learned, I’d love to connect and learn from your experience. Thanks in advance and looking forward to the discussion. MartinUnable to complete Partner Center Enrollment
Hello, I am trying to enroll in the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program. I can get through the process (fill out company information, etc.) but when I go to the final acceptance form and click submit, it constantly throws an error: I can sign in to the Partner Center but cannot open a support ticket because the "contact support" dialogue has no entry for workspace and will not let me enter anything: Is there a workaround to submit a ticket on this?Azure sponsorship and cost management challenge
I am listening for years that Azure Sponsorship type of Azure subscriptions will get Azure Cost Management. This includes the view of prices inside portal.azure.com, managing budgets, checking each individual resources etc. Current / old portal - https://www.microsoftazuresponsorships.com/Usage , does not show costs per each resource (name), instead only per resources type. Not possible to set budgets, alerts, limits, and other things. So, again, when does Microsoft plans to upgrade Azure sponsorships to use Cost Management? Any reference (roadmap) link on this please?Accelerate your AI innovation with App Advisor
Have a great idea for an AI app or agent but unsure how to take it to market? Microsoft’s newly released App Advisor provides a clear, guided path from concept to commercialization. Whether you’re shaping an early idea, navigating build decisions, or preparing your solution for the Microsoft commercial marketplace, App Advisor helps streamline each step—reducing friction and increasing confidence. This walkthrough highlights how App Advisor connects the dots: From concept to execution with structured guidance From development to best practices with informed build recommendations From finished product to revenue through proven Marketplace readiness insights If you’re looking to build and sell AI solutions faster and more effectively, this resource is well worth your time. Read the full article: Build an AI app or agent faster to sell on Marketplace with App Advisor | Microsoft Community HubJoin the Fabric Partner Community for this Week's Fabric Engineering Connection Calls
🚀 Excited to share this week’s Fabric Engineering Connection lineup for our Microsoft Fabric partner community! We’ll be joined by Johannes Kebeck, Principal PM Manager, to dive into Fabric Maps — and how partners can bring location intelligence and rich geospatial experiences into their Fabric solutions. 📍 Fabric Engineering Connection – This Week 🌎 Americas & EMEA 📅 Wednesday, February 11 ⏰ 8:00–9:00 am PT 🌏 APAC 📅 Thursday, February 12 ⏰ 1:00–2:00 am UTC (Wednesday, February 11, 5:00–6:00 pm PT) These weekly calls are a chance for partners to: ✅ Hear directly from Fabric engineering ✅ See what’s new and what’s coming ✅ Ask questions and share feedback To participate in these calls, you must be a member of the Fabric Partner Community Teams channel. 👉 Join here: https://aka.ms/JoinFabricPartnerCommunity
Events
We’re excited to announce an upcoming Ask Me Anything (AMA) session with the Fabric Leadership Team—a unique opportunity for partners to engage directly with the leaders shaping the future of Mi...
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Building a successful Marketplace practice takes more than great offers—you need the right people, processes, and strategy working together. Learn exactly how top‑performing partners organize their t...
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Recent Blogs
- 1 MIN READAccess the latest Instructor-Led Training (ILT) updates anytime at http://aka.ms/Courseware_Title_PlanFeb 13, 2026
- Expanded partner benefits are now available across the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program. These updates reflect continued investment in the tools, resources, and support partners rely on to build, d...Feb 13, 2026
