For partners, skilling is more than a support function. It’s the economic engine helping you grow, compete, and differentiate your business in the age of AI. New Microsoft research shows that project-ready and workload-aligned training directly accelerates partner success by increasing win rates, improving deal velocity, and unlocking higher margins.
Skilling also serves as the foundation for building Frontier Firms, organizations that are defining the next wave of AI-led innovation through IP development, co-creation, and outcome-based solutions. Through the Partner Skilling Hub, Certification Weeks, LevelUp, and regional investments, partners are building the expertise needed to lead AI transformation and deliver measurable customer impact.
Explore these opportunities to strengthen your capabilities and shape your own business for the AI future.
Partner skilling in the age of AI: Impact on partner success and growth
This new blog explores how intentional, workload-aligned, project-ready skilling directly enhances partner profitability by shortening sales cycles, increasing win rates, and unlocking higher margins. It also details our structured AI readiness programs and resources, empowering partners to shift from traditional implementation models to IP-led, co-innovation business models that define Frontier Firms. A jointly skilled Microsoft partner delivers faster, smarter, and more resilient AI outcomes—helping the customer transform operations, capture new market value, and lead confidently in the frontier era of AI.
Certification Weeks
Join us for a week of live, expert-led training focused on Azure AI, infrastructure, cybersecurity, threat protection, and more. Designed for beginner and intermediate learners, these virtual events feature live instruction, hands-on labs, and practical guidance to help you grow your technical skills and support your organization’s skilling goals. Participants will be eligible for a 100% discounted exam voucher. Explore upcoming Certification Weeks:
Spain Certification Week: Microsoft AI Cloud & AI Platform and Security
Monday, October 20, 8:00 AM – Friday, October 24, 6:00 PM CET
Spain Certification Week: Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program – AI Business Solutions
Monday, November 3, 8:00 AM – Friday, November 7, 6:00 PM CET
Brazil Certification Week: Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program – AI Business Solutions
Monday, November 3, 8:00 AM – Friday, November 7, 6:00 PM BRT
France Certification Week: Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program – AI Business Solutions
Monday, November 3, 8:00 AM – Friday, November 7, 6:00 PM CET
Latin America Certification Week: Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program – AI Business Solutions
Monday, November 10, 8:00 AM – Friday, November 14, 6:00 PM CST
Germany Certification Week: Cloud & AI Platforms + Security
Monday, November 10, 9:00 AM – Friday, November 14, 6:00 PM CET
Germany Certification Week: Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program – AI Business Solutions
Monday, November 24, 8:00 AM – Friday, November 28, 6:00 PM CET
Asia Certification Week: Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program – AI Business Solutions
Monday, December 1, 8:00 AM – Friday, December 5, 6:00 PM IST
Japan Certification Week: Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program – AI Business Solutions
Monday, December 1, 8:00 AM – Friday, December 5, 6:00 PM JST
Korea Certification Week: Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program – AI Business Solutions
Monday, December 1, 8:00 AM – Friday, December 5, 6:00 PM KST
China Certification Week: Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program – AI Business Solutions
Monday, December 1, 8:00 AM – Friday, December 5, 6:00 PM CST
Certification ready on-demand: Cloud & AI Platforms and Security
Advance your Microsoft Cloud expertise and achieve your Solutions Partner designation goals for the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program with on-demand certification training—now available on the Partner Skilling Hub.
You’ll gain access to:
- Self-paced courses, offered in 10 languages and aligned to Microsoft certifications.
- Hands-on practice labs and exam-prep resources.
- Weekly live interactive office hours with experts to guide your readiness.
- A free exam voucher, earned when you complete your course and score 80% or better on the assessment.*
*Terms and conditions apply
LevelUp is your fast track to Microsoft AI readiness
This self-paced skilling platform helps partners like you sharpen sales, presales, and technical skills across Microsoft solutions. With interactive learning paths, hands-on labs, and digital badges, LevelUp makes it easy to build deep technical skills and deal-ready expertise. Recent updates include streamlined registration, multilingual content, and expanded AI Business Solutions, Cloud & AI Platforms, and Security skilling tracks. Register for courses here.
Upcoming bootcamps include:
LevelUp - CSP Security: Designed to strengthen partner sales and technical expertise in Microsoft Security solutions, with a focus on Microsoft 365 E5, this initiative equips partners to confidently position, sell, and support Microsoft Security offerings to drive customer acquisition and growth in the SMB and SME&C segments. Through digital and in-person training, partners gain insights into the value of Microsoft Security, threat protection strategies, and data security best practices, alongside practical sales tools and real-world scenarios. With resources to guide effective customer conversations, the program enables partners to lead security discussions, address customer challenges, and accelerate business growth.
Boost your expertise: Secure your spot at an upcoming in-person Microsoft Regional Workshop
Discover hands-on Project Ready and Tech Deal Ready workshops at your local Microsoft office. Join us in person to connect with expert trainers and peers while exploring topics such as building agentic AI in Copilot Studio, strengthening security with Microsoft Defender XDR, architecting and implementing AVS, and advancing with Microsoft Sovereign Cloud, as well as workshops on agentic AI acceleration and Microsoft Fabric.
Join the Microsoft AI Tour for Partners and transform insight into impact
Don’t miss your chance to be part of the Microsoft AI Tour for Partners, a global series of in-person events designed to showcase breakthrough AI advancements and give partners hands-on experience with our AI Business Solutions, Cloud & AI Platforms, and Security solution areas. You’ll learn from real-world deployments, explore proven sales practices, and connect with Microsoft experts to accelerate customer success and shape the Frontier Firm of the future.
Upcoming Microsoft AI Tour for Partners events:
- Frankfurt | Tuesday, December 2 | 8:00 AM–5:45 PM CET
- Mumbai | Tuesday, December 9 | 8:00 AM–7:00 PM IST
- Sao Paulo | Tuesday, February 10 | 9:00 AM–5:30 PM BRT (registration opening soon)
- London | February 2026
- Paris | March 2026
- Seoul | March 2026
- Tokyo | April 2026
- Sydney | April 2026
- Zurich | April 2026
Ongoing skilling opportunities
Our popular skilling series offers new dates for:
- Partner Project Ready Workshops: These multiday skilling events are designed to deepen your ability to assess customer needs and seamlessly implement Azure solutions.
- Sales & Presales Skilling Bootcamps: Create new business opportunities and stand out in the AI and cloud market by investing in sales skilling. Get help with planning, building, and assessing strategies for closing sales opportunities. You will learn how to articulate the value of your solutions and services, expand your sales strategies, and accelerate the customer journey.
- Partner Meetups for Microsoft Azure: Join live and virtual events designed by Microsoft to help Azure partners stay current, connect with experts, and deepen their technical and go-to-market capabilities.
Drive success with Microsoft skilling
Skilling is no longer optional; it is a catalyst for transformation, profitability, and sustained growth. Partners who invest in building their teams’ AI, cloud, and security capabilities consistently outperform peers in both revenue and customer success. Skilling is also what differentiates Frontier Firms, giving them the agility to innovate faster, co-sell more effectively, and deliver greater value to customers.
By leveraging Microsoft programs such as the Partner Skilling Hub and LevelUp, you can accelerate readiness, create new offerings, and position your organization at the forefront of AI-driven change. Together, we can close skilling gaps, deliver faster innovation, and unlock the full potential of the Microsoft Cloud.