“Certification through Dicker Data's Ascend program provided the team with the necessary skills to improve customer experience, demonstrate industry knowledge, and add more value.” - Dicker Data Partner

Maria Furnari Maria Furnari Go-To-Market Marketing Manager - Microsoft at Dicker Data
Maria Furnari

Dicker Data supporting partners to bridge tech skills gap with Microsoft Certifications

Digital transformation has brought new opportunities to innovate, compete and drive economic growth. However, PwC’s paper on “How business-led upskilling can reboot Australia”, indicated 31 percent of Australian CEOs identified technical and cybersecurity skill shortages.

Cybersecurity experts predict the industry-wide skills shortage will continue for the next five years or longer increasing the need to educate and up-skill future generations.

“The shift to remote and hybrid workforces exposed businesses to cyber threats and security vulnerabilities like never before. As attacks become more sophisticated, IT and security experts need to be upskilled to address modern threats and future challenges.,” said Darren Bennett, Modern Work & Security Technical Specialist, Dicker Data.

“The cybersecurity threat landscape is evolving, and our partners have an increasing need to protect IT infrastructure and adopt modern cybersecurity solutions. Our training schedule offers exam focused training, 1-on-1 support and is tailored to the Australian market, giving partners the support, Microsoft based tools, content and capabilities required to offer their customers the right solution,” Bennett continued.

Dicker Data is proud to partner with Microsoft and offer partners training programs across IT, Cloud, and cybersecurity.

Programs include; 

  • specific cloud upskilling on Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365 (M365) and Dynamics 365 (D365),
  • practice building/ business coaching through our flagship partner enablement program, Ascend and
  • Certification as a Service; delivering Microsoft competencies and certifications.

Leverage Microsoft cloud expertise with Dicker Data

Gartner revealed Australia’s spending on cloud solutions is expected to increase by 18.4 percent over 2020 and reach $10.6 billion. As cloud-based solutions accelerate, advanced cloud and security skills are in high demand but 62 percent of SMB’s lacking the capabilities to support the take up.

Each quarter Dicker Data Microsoft’s dedicated cloud teams deliver a combination of broad base Microsoft Fundamentals bootcamps along with tailored training plans that support the upskilling of partners beyond fundamental certifications to cloud sales coaching & shadowing, Go To Market planning, hands-on pre-sales and implementation guidance and more. You can keep up to date with all the training the Dicker Data Microsoft teams offers across clouds, here.

Sarah Loiterton, General Manager Microsoft Cloud, Dicker Data said, “In line with our commitment to work with partners to build their tech advantage, maximise profitability and facilitate growth we offer partners access to resources and training to enable them to leverage Microsoft cloud solutions for the modern requirements of their customers.”

This year Dicker Data launched Modern Work Security Labs to complement their wildly successful virtual SMB fundamentals bootcamps, run by Robert Crane. The interactive labs are structured in three sessions and targeted at engineers, technical consultants, or solution architects.

“The one thing partners value the most about Modern Work Security Labs is the fact that we work through real life scenarios in real time however the sessions are still delivered completely virtually,” said Bennett, who facilitates the new training sessions.

Due to the overwhelming success of the first series, Dicker Data is now offering the Modern Work Security Labs bi-monthly. You can register for the next round here.

The Ascend Program

The Ascend Program is the culmination of Dicker Data’s center of excellence in practice building and is offered to partners every quarter. The 10-week program runs staff in sales, technical and marketing roles through relevant training and enablement, including Microsoft Certification readiness sessions.

“The focus of the program is delivering a productised, go- to- market ready offer, that partners can then roll out to market, however the added bonus is partners are also able to complete exams and achieve their certifications,” said Marrdy Ly, Partner Success Manager and Ascend program manager.

Paul Watson, Founder and Managing Director, Espire IT, a Dicker Data partner, has worked in the IT industry for 17 years. He said, “Gaining MS100 certification through Dicker Data’s Ascend program provided the team with the necessary skills to improve customer experience, demonstrate industry knowledge, and add more value by essentially upselling and better advising our customers. Our team is more confident, and we will be working with Dicker Data in the future with our trainers and engineers.”

Matt Seeds, Director of Inspired IT, a Dicker Data partner, said, “It’s my aim to have all tech employees undergo Microsoft Certification. Being certified gives me the confidence to sell the solutions. Having that Certification adds value and depth to what we can do as a business. I could not recommend the Ascend program more, and as it progresses; it is only going to get better.”

You can visit the Ascend homepage to learn more the program and upcoming sessions.

Certification as a Service

Microsoft Certification focuses on building, refining, and developing skills, while ensuring partners are equipped to understand the benefits of Microsoft’s solutions. The Dicker Data Microsoft team features 3 Microsoft Certified Trainers who have access and capability to run the vendor sanctioned content to support exam readiness and achievement of Microsoft competencies.

Dicker Data’s Certification as a Service events are focused on specific exams and are designed to offer readiness for successful exam completion.

Arsenio Mendoza, D365 Practice Lead, Dicker Data said, “Our instructor-led certification sessions help partners gain the tools, insights, and expertise that maximise digital transformation outcomes, meet customer’s business objectives and they also gain pre-sales support and assistance to identify opportunities to scale and grow.”

As Australia’s leading distributor of hardware, software, cloud and emerging technologies, Dicker Data will continue to offer training and development programs to suit the evolving needs of our partners. The more the IT sector advances, the more opportunity there is to upskill, retain and attract talent.

If you are interested in exploring Microsoft Certification to help reduce the skills gaps in your business, speak to our dedicated Microsoft Dicker Data team to learn about our offerings via microsoft.sales@dickerdata.com.au or visit our Microsoft training hub here

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