We value partner feedback and celebrate the diversity of voices within our community as we improve the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program. Our first blog of 2025 offers expert insights, updated learning resources, and recent benefits from the last four months to support your growth.
Announcements
Accelerating growth through partners in the era of AI
AI is reshaping every industry, and Microsoft partners are leading the way. Read Nicole Dezen's blog to learn about the role of Cloud Solution Providers (CSPs) in supporting small and medium businesses, new incentives and flexible billing for partners, and a special Microsoft 365 E5 promotion for AI readiness.
Partner Center Technical Corner: December 2024 edition
This month’s highlights include a closer glimpse at the Partner Center AI assistant (preview), important security updates, and a recap of recently released capabilities. As always, you can find the most up-to-date technical roadmap and essential Partner Center resources at the end of the blog.
Updates to the Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards
In 2025, we’re shifting the awards timeline to later in the calendar year to give our partners more time to showcase their innovations and achievements. Stay tuned for updates on nomination details coming later this spring and mark your calendars to celebrate the winners and finalists during Microsoft Ignite in 2025.
Flexible billing for Microsoft 365 Copilot; pricing updates for annual subscriptions and Teams Phone
As of December 1, 2024, we're offering an updated monthly billing plan for annual subscriptions to Microsoft 365 Copilot, Microsoft 365 Copilot for Sales, and Microsoft 365 Copilot for Service on the new commerce platform. Learn how this will give customers added flexibility and help accelerate partner momentum on Copilot sales.
The Digital Operational Resilience Act goes into effect this month
DORA—the Digital Operational Resilience Act—goes into effect on January 17, 2025, with sweeping changes to cybersecurity regulations in the United Kingdom (UK) that will affect Microsoft partners and customers in the UK and beyond. Visit our DORA page to learn more and find out how Microsoft can help with your cyber resilience and DORA compliance.
Community and events
Spotlight: Microsoft Ignite
Microsoft Ignite 2024 highlighted the latest innovations and updates across Microsoft technologies, empowering customers, partners, and developers to transform how they work. This year, with over 200,000 registrants and 14,000 in-person attendees in Chicago, the event offered 800+ sessions, demos, and labs focusing on advancements like Microsoft 365 Copilot, the Copilot and AI stack, developer tools, and AI-powered devices. Most of this powerful content is now available on demand for better accessibility, with feedback encouraged to refine the experience.
- Microsoft Ignite 2024: Empowering partners to drive growth and innovation
Learn about the more than 80 new products and feature announcements at this year’s Microsoft Ignite, including enhancements to Microsoft 365 Copilot, advancements in security, AI, and cloud, as well as updates from the AI Cloud Partner Program.
- Partner news from Microsoft Ignite 2024
Microsoft Ignite highlighted new innovations and investments, helping partners meet customer needs and grow their businesses. In this blog, we celebrate the successes across our partner ecosystem, with significant product announcements showcasing their collaboration with Microsoft.
- Unveiling the future of AI innovation for ISVs
For partners who provide software—also known as independent software vendors (ISVs)—seeking to transform their business, we're here to help you achieve your AI ambitions. At Microsoft Ignite, we announced product innovations, a suite of new offerings, and streamlined resources to empower software companies to differentiate, innovate, and grow in the ever-evolving landscape of AI-powered experiences.
- How agents in Microsoft 365 Copilot help customers and partners drive business results
We’re committed to building an outstanding AI ecosystem for customers and partners, powered by agents in Microsoft 365 Copilot. At Microsoft Ignite, we highlighted the potential of these AI assistants with real-world examples from enterprises and independent software vendors that have transformed apps and accelerated business processes. This blog covers highlights from the event and provides tips for realizing the value of agents.
- The next wave of Azure innovation: Azure AI Foundry, intelligent data, and more
We're expanding our AI model catalog with more specialized solutions and customization options. Discover industry-specific models in preview from partners like Bayer, Sight Machine, Rockwell Automation, Saifr, and Paige. From healthcare to manufacturing to finance, we’re unlocking the next wave of AI innovation for your industry.
Read the Microsoft Ignite Book of News for the full list of event announcements.
Showcasing the potential of the Microsoft partner ecosystem at the Marketplace Summit
We're thrilled to keep empowering you as you build and scale your Microsoft commercial marketplace strategies. Microsoft recently hosted a one-day Marketplace Summit that provided a deep dive on how partners can work together to accelerate business growth using the benefits of the marketplace and ecosystem opportunity. The sessions from this event are now available on demand.
Benefits and offers
New and expanded AI benefits available through ISV Success
The AI investments in ISV Success include technical guidance, developer resources, and go-to-market benefits to speed up AI application development and marketplace sales. Sign up for AI Envisioning workshops to identify AI use cases and create a development framework. ISVs can also use AI-focused 1:1 consults for integrating AI services and responsible AI practices. All ISV Success participants now have access to Azure credits for GitHub Copilot, with certified software ISVs eligible for financial incentives for AI application development. Partners with active AI projects on the Microsoft Cloud can receive extra Azure credits, consulting hours, and Marketplace Rewards. Eligible developers may also get incentives to migrate customers to Azure-based applications.
New campaigns in a box available for partners
Eleven new FY25 campaigns in a box aligned to mainstream solution plays are now available to help you accelerate growth. Campaigns include Unify your Intelligent Data & Analytics Platform (SMB), Innovate with Azure AI Platform, Microsoft 365 Copilot SMB, and eight other refreshed campaigns for FY25. These campaigns are available in 11 localized languages on Partner Marketing Center (PMC) and Digital Marketing Content OnDemand (DMC).
Building your migration practice
Discover the tools, resources, and guidance to grow your migration practice, lead customers to the cloud, and unlock AI-driven transformation opportunities.
- Unlock business growth: New resources to help you grow your migration practice
Elevate your migration practice with our robust suite of resources and offers, including incentives for deployment and forums for partners with specializations. Additionally, take advantage of pricing with Reserved Instances for Azure VMware Solution and up to 56% savings for customers with Linux VMs in Azure. Our skilling paths are designed to accelerate migration and ensure your team is well prepared.
- Lead more customers from migration to innovation with Azure VMware Solution
The VMware Rapid Migration Plan is designed to simplify and expedite customers' transition to the cloud using VMware on Azure and offers partners a proven framework to identify migration opportunities, provide tailored solutions, and support customers throughout the migration journey. Learn more about this opportunity to expand your cloud business, strengthen customer relationships, and demonstrate expertise in facilitating seamless cloud migrations.
- Drive AI transformation by capturing the SAP migration opportunity
Whether creating solutions or providing services, Microsoft partners are essential in driving AI transformation with SAP on the Microsoft Cloud. We're here to support you with the resources you need to differentiate your organization and deliver the cloud migration services SAP customers will be searching for. With your Azure cloud migration experience and the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program resources, you can help customers unlock AI's potential through RISE with SAP on the Microsoft Cloud and grow your business.
- SAP on the Microsoft Cloud Partner Guide
Help customers maximize impact when moving SAP workloads to Azure with our SAP on the Microsoft Cloud Partner Guide. With a focus on driving favorable business outcomes for customers and fostering growth in SAP and Microsoft practices, this guide offers valuable information and a range of resources.
Skilling
As a Microsoft partner, you can access various training and certification resources to enhance your skills and expertise in AI, Copilot, security, and cloud solutions. Learn how to sell and position Microsoft solutions, prepare for AI Cloud Partner Program skilling requirements, and hone your technical skills with Partner Project Ready Workshops.
Building proficiency with Microsoft partner skilling
Ensure your team is prepared to harness the power of AI across solution plays by activating our global skilling offerings. Examples of skilling opportunities include:
Certification Weeks:
Partner Project Ready technical workshops:
Celebrating partner success
UiPath Autopilot and Microsoft 365 Copilot agents transform business processes with AI and automation
By integrating generative AI with an "automation-first" mindset, UiPath views Copilot agents as a prime example of this transformative power. Learn how UiPath harnesses AI with Microsoft 365 Copilot to help users find their company's pre-built automations and run them with just a few clicks.
Solutions2Share boosts customer efficiency with Teams Manager agent in Microsoft 365 Copilot
ISVs can jump-start their AI initiatives by developing agents in Microsoft 365 Copilot, with help from our development resources. Learn about Solutions2Share's development and deployment of the Teams Manager agent using Microsoft 365 Copilot, including the benefits and strategies involved.
Discover the partner success video channel
Find out how partners are demonstrating AI innovation, delivering on their commitment to customers, and innovating with inclusive and sustainable solutions around the globe.
Explore the Microsoft partner success stories site to read how partners are solving business challenges and nominate your customer win for a chance to be featured.
As the program continues to grow and we continue to improve our offerings, we’re excited to bring you regular updates.