Navigating Microsoft


Schuster Gets Formal Nod as Microsoft Channel Chief

Microsoft on Thursday named Gavriella Schuster the corporate vice president of the Worldwide Partner Group (WPG), which is the company's top channel position.

Microsoft's Partner Competency Changes Signal End of an Era

Microsoft has long favored its licensing partners -- until now. The upcoming retirement of a dozen MPN competencies, including Volume Licensing, marks a turning point in how Microsoft does business through the channel.

Microsoft's Top 200 U.S. Partners

Who are the best Microsoft solution providers in the United States? You'll find them in Redmond Channel Partner magazine's first-ever list of the top 200 Microsoft partners, from huge generalists and deep specialists to well-connected influentials.

IAMCP Bets Big on New Free Membership Level

The mother of Microsoft partner communities is shaking things up by adding a no-cost tier, shifting its focus to online meetings and setting lofty diversity goals.

Microsoft To Streamline MPN Competencies

Microsoft on Tuesday announced a major, cloud-oriented streamlining of the Microsoft Partner Network (MPN) competencies that it uses to identify and validate the expertise of its partners.

5 Things the Cloud Changes for Microsoft Partners

You may have noticed Microsoft (and other cloud providers) usurping traditional partner services like migration. Get used to it.

Does the Cloud Doom Microsoft MSPs?

The shift to cloud services presents huge challenges to managed services providers (MSPs). Industry experts say the successful MSP of the near future looks very different from the successful MSP of the recent past.

Microsoft Resources for Partners: An Illustrated Guide

For cloud-bound partners, navigating Microsoft's various resources can be a time-consuming task. Here are some handy maps to help you figure out where to go for what you need.

Microsoft CSP Program Pushes Partners To Change Gears

More than being just a new offering, the CSP program requires Microsoft partners to design the business model that will take them into the future.

With FastTrack, Microsoft Keeps Its Cloud Partners Guessing

As Microsoft becomes more and more desperate to drive consumption, expect the range of free services offerings from FastTrack to keep ballooning.

Why Doesn't Anyone Talk About Microsoft Consulting Services?

For years, there's been conflict between MCS and Microsoft's closest enterprise partners -- sometimes boiling, sometimes just steaming. It's time for Microsoft to start communicating honestly and openly with partners about the role, and compensation model, of MCS.

Microsoft's New U.S. Channel Chief: Partner Enablement a Top Priority

Stephen Boyle spent his first four months on the job getting an education from partners and other Microsoft executives. Now he's vowing to provide some education in the form of partner enablement.

Microsoft Q&A: Defining Lanes for Partners, OBC and MCS

WEB EXCLUSIVE: The Microsoft Onboarding Center (OBC) has been controversial with partners since it was unveiled as a way to help customers migrate mailboxes to Office 365. The current iteration goes further, with Microsoft employees migrating data and branching out to other products. A Q&A with senior Microsoft exec John Case.

After Missteps, Microsoft Gets Its Cloud Partner Messaging Right

Microsoft turned off many partners last year when it flubbed the announcement of its Office 365 onboarding plans. This year, the messaging has been decidedly more partner-friendly.

A Decade of WPCs: Microsoft, 10 Years On

It's been 10 years since Redmond Channel Partner magazine launched at the 2005 Worldwide Partner Conference. Microsoft looked a lot different back then.