Overview:
Data security threats and regulatory compliance requirements are more challenging than ever, and talent adequately skilled in security is important. That means many organizations will count on partners to secure their business-critical systems and data.
These customers will be well-served by cloud security providers from a world-class ecosystem underpinned by a trusted global cloud services provider like Microsoft. That’s why Microsoft is introducing the Security Competency in Partner Center, to recognize partners who have demonstrated advanced skill and capability in delivering security solutions on the Microsoft platform—and continue to enhance that capability.
The Security Competency distinguishes partners who are best prepared to help customers:
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Protect information.
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Implement identity and access management.
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Defend against cyber-security threats
By attaining the Security Competency, you validate that you have deep technical and managerial competence as well as the skills, experience, and credibility necessary to design, engineer, implement, and manage your customers’ information security programs to guard against today’s sophisticated cyberthreats.
The Security Competency will create new opportunities for Microsoft partners who are selling security solutions by creating new specialization pathways to differentiate their capabilities in the marketplace.
Partners must meet specific requirements to attain the Silver or Gold Security Competency. Once the competency is attained, recognized partners receive access to extra benefits designed to help them:
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Differentiate themselves to customers.
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Attract interest and drive new sales leads.
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Receive expert technical guidance and support.
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Take advantage of special incentives.
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Grow their cloud security solutions business.
Security Competency eligibility:
To attain the Silver or Gold Security Competency, partners must meet three key requirements:
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Pass the skills validation (Microsoft certification requirement). Check article 2966380 Link or unlink an MCP ID to or from a partner organization to learn how to ensure the certifications completed are recognized towards your eligibility.
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Meet the performance requirements.
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Pay the fee. Partners must pay the Silver/Gold Security Competency fee which is based on the physical location of your organization. Once all skills validation and performance requirements are met, you can pay the fee by signing in to Partner Center. Check article 4505958 Silver or Gold Competency Purchase in Partner Center for more details.
Security Competency requirements:
Performance requirements:
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SILVER: 1,000 active users within the last 12 months in any of the following workloads: Microsoft Azure Active Directory Premium OR USD500/month (within the last 12 months) revenue in any of the following workloads: |
GOLD: 4,000 active users within the last 12 months in any of the following workloads: Microsoft Azure Active Directory Premium OR USD1,000/month (within the last 12 months) revenue in any of the following workloads: |
Skills validation (Microsoft certification requirements):
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SILVER: One individual must pass: MS-500: Microsoft 365 Security Administrator OR |
GOLD: Four individuals must pass: MS-500: Microsoft 365 Security Administrator AND |
Security Competency benefits:
Core benefits: All partners who attain a competency receive access to a set of benefits designed to help them enhance their knowledge, strengthen their offerings, attract more customers, and grow their businesses.
Product licenses: Please sign in to Partner Center to review your product licenses or check the competency benefits table.
Branding: Silver/Gold competency badge to market your organization as a partner with a Silver/Gold Security competency.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Seats must be paid licenses to count towards seat requirements. Trial or free seats are not applicable. Only tenants with active entitlements are included. Active Entitlement : When a purchased license is assigned to an end-user and end-user has performed an intentional action on the workload in last 28 days.
To qualify, you will need to be associated as the EMS or Microsoft Intune Delegated Administrator, Transacting Partner, FastTrack Partner, or Digital Partner of Record. Learn more about these associations.
Meeting the threshold applies individual, in either one of the three mentioned product areas.
Offer types Trial, Benefits programs, Support and Internal are excluded.
Your company should have achieved the Azure revenue through Digital Partner of Record association, selling as Direct providers, indirect resellers.
For Silver you should achieve 500$/month and for Gold 1000$/month or more in every month for last 12 months.
For the moment, viewing the details of the performance directly in Partner Center is unavailable. We are considering this improvement for upcoming period, however the final implementation is TBD.
Please engage Support for validation purposes, offering the following details for the customers you need additional verifications: Tenant id, Subscription GUID for the same, Customername, association type validation, transaction identifiers: (Enrollment Number and Microsoft Invoice proof).
Both exams need to be completed by 4 individuals within your organization.
If more than 72 hours have passed since the completion and the MCPs are already associated in My Profile, please engage Support and provide the Transcript Certification to prove this has been successfully completed and the Skills report downloaded from your dashboard. We will analyze the root cause and provide a resolution
Related Resources:
2966380 Link or unlink an MCP ID to or from a partner organization
4505958 Silver or Gold Competency Purchase in Partner Center
Contact Microsoft Partner Support
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