security-1Solutions Partner for
Security Designation
solutions-designation logo-FADE-1

 

 
MODULE 1

Introduction

 
MODULE 2

Performance

 
MODULE 3

Skilling

 
MODULE 4

Customer Success

 
MODULE 5

Appendix

 
MODULE 6

What’s Next

MODULE 1

Introduction

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LESSON 1.2

Security Designation Overview

What Is Required to Attain This Designation?

 

As a Solutions Partner for Security, you demonstrate your broad capability to help customers safeguard their entire organisation with integrated security, compliance, and identity solutions. Becoming a Solutions Partner for Security gives customers a way to identify you as a partner who has the commitment to training and accreditation and has delivered solutions that lead to customer success. 

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START HERE

The Microsoft Solution Partner for Security Designation is a critical credential for IT partners, signalling their expertise and commitment to providing robust security solutions. This designation not only enhances the partner's credibility but also grants access to exclusive resources, training, and support from Microsoft, enabling them to deliver superior security services to their clients. 

Microsoft Solutions for Security Designation At a Glance: 


Is there a cost for this designation? Yes, $4,730USD annual
Is this cost per designation? No, additional designations have no additional fee
Are exams required? Yes, both prerequisite and mandatory 
Do I need to earn points for this designation: Yes, 70 (minimum).
What are the metrics: Performance (20 points), Skilling (40 points), Customer Success (40 points). 
How do I earn points: See below
Are there specialisations available for the designation? Yes, 4 in total
Are there additional exams required for specialisations? No
Do specialisations need to be renewed? Yes, annually
Do I need to engage in an audit process? No
Do I need customer references? Yes, 3 in total
Is there a cost for specialisations? No 



The following is an overview of what is required to attain the Microsoft Solutions Partner for Security designation, to give you a sense of what is ahead. 

However, full specifics of each criteria are mapped out, in lessons 1 of the Performance, Skilling and Customer Success modules. 

Importantly, how points can be tracked within the Microsoft Partner Center are detailed in Lesson 4.4: Tracking Your Performance Points and Lesson 4.5: Tracking Your Customer Success Points of the Customer Success module!   

For a complete overview of this Security designation, see here.
For a complete overview of Microsoft Designation Program, see here.

 

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Point Criteria Overview 

To achieve the Microsoft Solutions Partner for Security designation, partners must earn a minimum of 70 points across the following key metrics: 

Asset 18  PERFORMANCE (20 POINTS)

Net Customer Adds is defined as the number of eligible customers added to your customer base during the trailing 12-month period. Each net new customer contributes to two points for up to a maximum of 20 points, obtained from 10 customers. 

Eligible customers Azure: This value is the number of unique customer tenants contributing at least a monthly average of $100 ACR (Azure Consumed Revenue) in past 12 months from eligible Azure services associated with eligible Offers for specific Partner association types. 

Microsoft 365: This value is number of unique customer Tenants having at least 25 paid licenses in given month from eligible Microsoft 365 workloads for specific Partner association types. 

Asset 19  SKILLING (20 POINTS)

Certifications: Points are awarded based on the number of team members with relevant certifications. To earn points for this metric, you must have four certified individuals, within your organisation, in the following areas:


STEP 1. (Prerequisite): There must be at least two individuals certified as an Azure Security Engineer Associate (AZ-500) 

STEP 2. (Prerequisite): There should be at least two individuals certified as a Microsoft Security Operations Analyst (SC-200)

Asset 20  CUSTOMER SUCCESS (30 POINTS)

The ‘Customer Success’ category measures your ability to enable growth in the use of Microsoft products or in the expansion of Microsoft's services and workloads utilised by the customers.

 

USAGE GROWTH

Points are awarded based on the increase in usage of security solutions by existing customers. For this metric, your organisation earns points based on growth in the number of customer deployments as specified by the qualifying criteria and definitions. 

Calculation

Each net new customer contributes to 3.3 points for up to a maximum of 20 points, obtained from six deployments.

Asset 29

 
Net new deployments = Eligible deployments last month − Eligible deployments same month last year

 

DEPLOYMENTS

Points are awarded for successful implementation of security solutions for customers. For this metric, your organisation earns points based on growth in the usage of security workloads across your associated customer deployments as specified by the following qualifying criteria and definitions.


Calculation

Azure: Every Security Azure consumed revenue (ACR) growth of USD 1,250 gets you one point (maximum of 20 points) 

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 Security ACR growth = Eligible Security ACR last month − Eligible Security ACR same month last year 

Security ACR: This is ACR (Azure Consumed Revenue) totalling over trailing 12 months across entire customer base from eligible Azure services associated with eligible Offers for specific Partner association types. 

 

Microsoft 365: Every Microsoft 365 protected users** growth of 125 gets you one point (maximum of 20 points) 

Asset 29

 

 Microsoft 365 Protected Users Growth = Eligible Microsoft 365 Protected Users Last Month − Eligible Microsoft 365 Protected Users Same Month Last Year

**Microsoft 365 Protected Users: This is number of active paid licenses across entire customer base from eligible Microsoft 365 workloads for specific Partner association types.

Need More Information?

The full details of this designation criteria are available here.