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Is it mandatory to use ALH when delivering MOC to be eligible for Partner Program KPIs?
Hello team, I am curious is it mandatory for TSPs to use ALH when conducting the MOC in order to be eligible for Partner Program KPIs, register them on MTM, and etc? Below document (Microsoft FAQ –Lab Hosters (LH) and Azure Pass Distribution.pdf) from Get started: Solutions Partner for Training Services designationis a bit vague about the using non-ALH lab environments. Because the answer didn't say explicitly 'No', my understanding is that ALH is a recommended solution, but not mandatory. For example, if TSPs have their own Azure tenant that they use for non-production work, can they use this to deliver AI-102 course for doing the labs, and still be eligible for Partner Program KPIs and etc?
New Training Services Partner Onboarding Update
Hello new TSPs. We are currently updating the onboarding process to provide better communications around process and timing. While we work to update, please send me a private message if you have completed the onboarding form and you are currently waiting on a response. I anticipate this workaround to last for a few weeks and for us to have a new process in place in January. Once the update is complete and the normal process resumes, I will delete this thread. Thanks, DanChallenges with the availability of Applied Skills Assessments for TSPs
Hi team. I’d like to raise a critical issue impacting TSPs concerning the Applied Skills Assessments. According to the latest Courseware Title Plan (tab 'Applied Skills Assessments'), 17 out of 31 non-retired Applied Skills Assessments are currently offline—more than 50%. For ILT providers, this presents a significant challenge, as these assessments are a vital component for students who opt for paid instructor-led training over the free Microsoft Learn-based alternatives. The unavailability of these assessments undermines the value of our ILT offerings. Students enrolling in these courses expect access to assessments to validate their knowledge. Without this, their incentive to choose a paid option diminishes, forcing us to reconsider offering these courses altogether. Key questions we need clarity on: Why have these assessments been taken offline? Why hasn’t this been proactively communicated to TSPs? Is there a timeline for their return? This lack of visibility and communication complicates planning and makes it harder for us to deliver a consistent, valuable experience to students. Clear updates and transparency on this issue would greatly help TSPs align with Microsoft’s strategy while ensuring student satisfaction. I’d appreciate hearing from others facing similar challenges and any insights from the team regarding next steps. Kind regards, Marnix WolfImmediate Discontinuation of Azure Passes
Important breaking news that has immediate impacts to TSPs delivering courses that currently use an Azure Pass. Effective immediately, Microsoft is discontinuing the use of Azure passes and recalling any Azure Passes in use by students and trainers. Why is Microsoft removing the Azure Pass option? As a part of the commitment to provide the best possible learner experience, Microsoft was in the process of moving away from using Azure passes to provide cloud access to course labs. The lab experience via the Lab Hosters (LH) removes friction for learners (i.e. activation and support considerations) and provides a more uniform training experience for our learners regardless of their location. Recently, Microsoft has experienced a significant increase in potential fraud and unintended use of Azure services, resulting in the immediate discontinuation of Azure Passes. Which courses are impacted by the discontinuation of the Azure Pass? The following course will not have labs available until end of January: SC-200T00: Microsoft Security Operations Analyst Lab Hosters are working quickly to convert the following courses to non-Azure Pass. Please consult directly with your Lab Hoster to find out the status of what they have available. AZ-2001: Implement Security Through a Pipeline Using Azure DevOps AZ-2008: DevOps Foundations: The Core Principles and Practices AZ-400T00: Designing and Implementing Microsoft DevOps solutions SC-300T00: Microsoft Identity and Access Administrator All localized versions of labs for these courses are offline. An ETA on when they will be available will be provided at a later date. Please consult with your Authorized Lab Hosters to see if your delivery will be impacted as a result of not having Azure passes. Additional information can be found in the attached FAQ. Dan
