Outsource IT & Types of Microsoft Partnerships

As one of the largest technology providers in the world, Microsoft works with IT, data management, and service providers to offer access to their products, services, and support.

Microsoft offers a large partnership network of companies that provide these products, services, and/or support. There are a variety of qualifications and certifications required if a company wants to partner with Microsoft at the higher levels. There are dozens of partnership titles available from Microsoft depending on a company’s offerings and qualifications.

Some of the most common types of Microsoft Partners are Microsoft Cloud Solutions Providers and Microsoft Silver Partners. The more valuable partnerships include Microsoft Gold Partners, and more notably, the restricted invitation only Microsoft Managed Partners. Each level comes with benefits for the customer to help ensure they are receiving the best service possible.

Outsource IT is proud to be a Microsoft Managed Partner, Cloud Solutions Provider, and Gold Partner. But what exactly do these types of Microsoft partnership designations mean?

Microsoft Gold Partner

The designation of Microsoft Gold Partnership is the highest standard of the Microsoft partnership program. It shows that a company collaborates with and has a very close working relationship with Microsoft. As a holder of this partnership, Outsource IT is committed to using and evolving Microsoft products for our clients and is among the top 5% of Microsoft partners worldwide.

To qualify as a Microsoft Gold Partner, a company must meet a number of requirements, including competency credentials and certification exams for the team. They have a high level of competence and expertise with Microsoft technologies and have the capabilities for strategizing, planning, and deploying particular Microsoft business solutions.

The partners are then provided with a number of benefits that they can utilize to the advantage of their clients:

• Exclusive access to staff training in products and services
• Presales support for client solution design
• Microsoft utilities, products, and services
• Microsoft incident support for the highest level of escalation

These advantages mean that clients who work with Microsoft Gold Partners can receive qualified and professional customer service, the latest Microsoft products, and Microsoft business solutions.

Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider

Outsource IT is also a Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider. Microsoft introduced this designation first in 2014 and it has drastically simplified the relationship between the provider and the client. CSPs can in-house manage the client’s entire Microsoft cloud lifecycle, from sales, to support, to billing.

The client deals with the CSP directly, making relationships more straightforward. Billing, packages, products, and support all come from the same company. In terms of issues, the partner is typically the first point of contact for resolutions thereby simplifying the support process.

Cloud Solution Providers have access to dedicated in-product tools to directly provision, manage, and support our client’s subscriptions. Programs include:

• Office 365
• Microsoft Azure
• Dynamics CRM Online
• Enterprise Mobility Suite
• Microsoft Intune

Microsoft Managed Partner

A Microsoft Managed Partner means a deep level of engagement with Microsoft and is a more exclusive type of partnership. Microsoft identifies potential partners and invites them to this invitation only partnership. There are only about 60 Microsoft Managed Canadian Partners in Ontario, including Outsource IT.

When a company is a Managed Partner, they have access to a variety of tools and support directly from Microsoft. This access and these benefits allow the company to give their clients better service and products. One of the most important features of being a Microsoft Managed partner is that Managed Partners have an Account Manager working at Microsoft who is responsible for the relationship with the company. This is a dedicated person to provide support, news, and help with products and services related to the partner and their clients.

A Managed Partner has direct and escalated access to technical support, solution design teams, and technical consultants. On the day-to-day, this means that here at Outsource IT, we are able to get our clients on a conference call with Microsoft directly for Q&A and consultation as well as support our own internal team to the highest level.

To qualify for a Managed Partnership with Microsoft, a company must:

• Have a high level of expertise with Microsoft products and services
• Have a high level of customer satisfaction
• Share business goals and global priorities with Microsoft
• Connect with Microsoft directly to work on certifications for your team
• Maintain these standards and certifications
• Be selected by Microsoft to participate

Contact Outsource IT

Outsource IT is proud to be a Microsoft Gold Partner, a Cloud Solution Provider, and a Managed Partner. These relationships with Microsoft allow us to better serve our clients and provide the best possible customer service, strategies, business solutions, and products through Microsoft.

For more information about Microsoft business solutions and other products and IT services, contact us today!