Specialization updates for October: Azure Local, Teams retirement, and Azure ACR workloads
Several specializations are changing this month to help ensure your credentials stay current with the products you deliver and the FY27 rollover taxonomy. Learn what’s new for each specialization, then check Partner Center to see if you meet the requirements. Azure Stack HCI specialization becomes Azure Local for Hybrid & Sovereign Private Cloud Azure Local is replacing Azure Stack HCI, and the corresponding specialization is changing so your credential stays current with the product you deliver. The Hybrid Cloud Infrastructure with Microsoft Azure Stack HCI specialization is being renamed the Azure Local for Hybrid & Sovereign Private Cloud specialization. What is changing Name: the Azure Local for Hybrid & Sovereign Private Cloud specialization replaces the Hybrid Cloud Infrastructure with Microsoft Azure Stack HCI specialization. Performance: your Azure Consumed Revenue (ACR) is now calculated from Azure Local instead of Azure Stack HCI. Skilling: the DevOps Engineer Expert certification is no longer required. Audit: a new audit checklist releases with this update. What to do Check Partner Center to determine whether you meet the new requirements. Custom Solutions for Microsoft Teams specialization retires in November 2026 The Custom Solutions for Microsoft Teams specialization retires in November 2026. What this means After retirement, new enrollments and renewals will no longer be accepted. If you are currently enrolled, your specialization stays active until your anniversary date. The retirement may affect benefits and incentives tied to the specialization. What to do Enroll in other Modern Work specializations to continue demonstrating your expertise. ACR workloads for five Azure specializations now match the FY27 rollover taxonomy The eligible ACR workloads for five Azure specializations have been updated to match the FY27 rollover taxonomy: AI Platform, AI Apps, App Modernization, Azure Virtual Desktop, and Azure VMware Solution. The specialization pages on partner.microsoft.com have been refreshed so the requirements listed match the new taxonomy. If you hold or are working toward any of these specializations, review the updated performance requirements to confirm your ACR workloads still count. What to do Check Partner Center to find out if you maintain the requirements under the new taxonomy.ACR workloads for Azure specializations are moving to the FY27 rollover taxonomy
The eligible Azure consumed revenue (ACR) workloads for five Azure specializations are being updated to match the FY27 rollover taxonomy: AI Platform, AI Apps, App Modernization, Azure Virtual Desktop, and Azure VMware Solution. The specialization pages on partner.microsoft.com have already been refreshed so the requirements listed match the new taxonomy. If you hold or are working toward any of these specializations, review the updated performance requirements to confirm your ACR workloads still count. Check Partner Center to find out if you maintain the requirements under the new taxonomy.Now live: Earn the Frontier Partner specialization
First announced at MCAPS Start for Partners in July, the Frontier Partner specialization is now open for enrollment in Partner Center. The Frontier Partner specialization validates partners who can design, build, deploy, govern, and secure AI agents across the Microsoft tech stack, including Microsoft 365 Copilot, Azure AI Foundry, GitHub Copilot, Microsoft Defender, Entra, and Purview. Partners who earn this specialization signal their deep expertise to customers—and get access to badging, priority search, and skill-aligned benefits. To earn the specialization, you must meet requirements across three components simultaneously under the same Partner Global Account: Specializations: Partners must hold the following four prerequisite specializations: Microsoft 365 Copilot, AI Apps on Microsoft Azure or AI Platform on Microsoft Azure, Data Security, and Identity and Access Management. Skilling: Five individuals from your organization must complete the Frontier Transformation Engineer badge; three individuals must earn the Fabric Analytics Engineer Associate (DP-600) certification. Audit: You must get a third-party audit validating delivery capability across design, build, deploy, govern, secure, and operate. Ready to apply? Sign in to Partner Center to see how close you are to meeting the requirements, then submit your application. Review the walking deck for full details and visit the Frontier Partner specialization page to learn more.
