Coming soon: the Frontier Partner specialization
One of two Frontier-focused offerings in the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program, 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 such as: Eligibility for Frontier-aligned co-sell opportunities Microsoft Agent prepurchase plan credits and Microsoft 365 E7 licensing Packaged go-to-market resources including marketing campaigns and case study opportunities Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program Concierge support through the qualification process The specialization will be open for enrollment later in FY27, but you can start preparing now. Requirements across three components must be met 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. The people who hold the badge and the certification can be the same or different. Audit: You must get a third-party audit validating delivery capability across design, build, deploy, govern, secure, and operate. There is a two-year audit cadence. Review the walking deck for more details on this exciting opportunity.Explore the Azure specialization V.Next—a streamlined path to Azure specializations
At Microsoft, our goal is to continually improve the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program experience, which includes updating specializations to help you deliver greater customer value and drive revenue. Below, you’ll find information on an exciting update we recently made to a key Azure specialization to improve the partner experience. The Build AI Apps on Microsoft Azure specialization—aligned to both the Data & AI (Azure) designation and the Digital & App Innovation (Azure) designation—is getting an updated path to meet the Module B audit requirement. With the Azure specialization V.Next, we are offering an alternative means to meet the audit requirement for this specialization by using completed engagement data through Azure Innovate partner-led scenarios. This new option cuts down on both time and cost for partners—making it easier for you to earn your Azure specializations. While the Build AI Apps specialization is the first to offer the V.Next option, our goal is to expand to all applicable Azure-aligned specializations in the future. Before Azure specialization V.Next, the audit was performed by a third-party supplier and consisted of Modules A and B. While this traditional path is still an option, the information that V.Next gathers through completed Azure Innovate partner-led qualified scenarios can meet the Module B portion of the audit. Module A is still required, but each partner only needs to complete it every other year. The Azure specialization V.Next is now live for the Build AI Apps on Microsoft Azure specialization and is applicable for qualified renewals as well as net new enrollment scenarios. Finally, as Microsoft approaches our 50th anniversary, we want to thank our partners for transforming businesses and communities around the world. Our goal remains to empower organizations, and our success hinges on how we harness Al and other technologies to amplify human achievement and create positive change for society. Explore specialization details in the walking deck. Discover how to apply for a specialization and browse the specializations overview page for more information.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.Explore changes to the updated AI Apps on Microsoft Azure specialization
Our specialists deliver high-performing solutions backed by deep technical expertise. To help ensure the ecosystem of specialists remains strong, the performance and audit criteria for the AI Apps on Microsoft Azure specialization have been updated. To earn or renew this specialization, your organization must first have an active Solutions Partner designation for either Data & AI (Azure) or Digital & App Innovation (Azure). Then, you must meet all of the following updated requirements. Please note that while this article contains the requirements that are changing—performance criteria and audit criteria—there are also skilling requirements that your organization will need to meet. These are not being updated and therefore do not appear below. Performance requirements Your organization must show a total of $15,000* Azure consumed revenue (ACR) from Microsoft Foundry and underlying AI services in the last three months, measured through the following strategic pillars: Rest of Azure AI, Azure OpenAI, and/or 3P GPU. Your organization must show a total of $15,000 ACR from Azure Application Platform services (AKS, ACA, ARO, App Service, Logic Apps, APIM, Functions, Managed Redis) and GitHub products in the last three months, measured through the following strategic pillars: App Platform Services, Container Services, Serverless and Supporting App Services, Integration Services, Developer Services and Platform, and/or GitHub Copilot. Your organization must show a total of $15,000 ACR from Azure Data Platform services (Cosmos DB, SQL DB Hyperscale, Azure SQL Core, MySQL PaaS, PostgreSQL PaaS, Fabric F SKU) in the last three months, measured through the following strategic pillars: Modern DB, MySQL and PostgreSQL PaaS, Azure SQL Core, and/or Fabric F SKU. Your organization must have at least three unique customers contributing to ACR in the last three months from the following eligible strategic pillars and association types. Strategic pillars: Rest of Azure AI, Azure OpenAI, 3P GPU, Modern DB, MySQL and PostgreSQL PaaS, Azure SQL Core, App Platform Services, Container Services, Serverless and Supporting App Servicves, Integration Services, Fabric F SKU, Developer Services and Platform, and GitHub Copilot Association types: Digital Partner of Record (DPOR), Partner Admin Link (PAL), and Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) The services included in all of the above eligible strategic pillars are listed here. Audit or customer references Please review the AI Apps on Azure specialization audit checklist and ensure your company can complete the audit before selecting the "schedule audit" button. The audit is conducted remotely by an independent third party and has an associated fee. After selecting the "schedule audit" button, your company has 30 days in which to both schedule and complete the audit. Failure to complete the audit within the 30-day period will result in an automatic "no pass.” Check Partner Center to see if you meet the new specialization requirements. *Throughout this page, $ refers to US dollar (USD).Skilling updates to the Analytics specialization, DW Migration specialization, and Azure Expert MSP
As always, Microsoft is seeking ways to evolve with the growing needs of our partners. Recent updates to some specialization requirements are just one way we’re working toward that goal. On June 18*, we are adjusting the certification requirements for the Analytics on Microsoft Azure specialization, the Data Warehouse Migration to Microsoft Azure specialization, and the Azure Expert MSP offering. These updates are designed to account for the retirement of the Azure Data Engineer Associate certification on March 31, 2025. For both the Analytics specialization and the Data Warehouse Migration specialization, the Azure Data Engineer Associate certification will be replaced with the Fabric Data Engineer Associate certification. For the Azure Expert MSP offering requirements, the Azure Data Engineer Associate certification is being removed without replacement. To meet the updated requirements, please ensure you have enough certified individuals in relevant certifications. The number of required certified individuals across each of the three offerings will remain the same. If you meet the prior requirements and are negatively impacted, you will have a six-month grace period to work toward meeting the new requirements. During this time, an override status will be indicated in Partner Center. Check out these links for more information: Skilling resources Specializations re-enrollments Analytics on Microsoft Azure specialization Data Warehouse Migration to Microsoft Azure specialization *Language has been updated since the original post was published
