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 3

Skilling

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LESSON 3.5

Tracking Your Skilling Points 

How To Track The Skilling Metric

Following and tracking a training timetable is crucial when training is required for a team of people, as it: 

  1. Ensures Consistency: A timetable ensures that all team members receive the same training, leading to a consistent skill set across the team. 

  2. Monitors Progress: Tracking the timetable helps monitor each team member’s progress. This allows you to identify who is on track and who might need additional support or resources 

  3. Identifies Knowledge Gaps: By tracking training, you can identify areas where team members may be struggling. 

  4. Improves Training Effectiveness: Regular tracking provides insights into the effectiveness of the training program. 

  5. Boosts Accountability: A structured timetable and tracking system hold team members accountable for their learning.  

  6. Optimises Resource Use: Efficient tracking ensures that training resources, such as time, materials, and trainers, are used effectively. 

  7. Facilitates Goal Achievement: A well-tracked timetable helps in setting and achieving training goals. 


Adhering to a structured training schedule allows you to monitor your team's progress, promptly identify and resolve potential problems, and achieve superior training results. 

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START HERE

As mentioned in the last lesson, we’ve built our program on tentative dates, making allowances for training, exam preparation and sitting the exam itself. 

If an individual’s timeline, requires changing, you can change the various timeline factors as needed, in the location indicated in the following image. 

Image 1: Editing timeline factors, if and when required


Unfortunately, in this example, Ringo was unable to take part in the initial training group. After contacting the Dicker Data team, Ringo was rebooked into the next block of sessions, a few weeks later. 

Image 2: Updating Ringo’s training date.

The good news is that simply changing Ringo's initial training date, automatically extends the rest of his program by the two weeks – keeping his overall program intact.  

Consequently, the visual timeline will be updated accordingly. 

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COMPLETED CERTIFICATIONS

How To Track Certification Achievement 

This is the exciting part, when all the hard work is completed, by each team member, and we get to record the certifications! 

In this example John is the first to complete a certification, one of the required AZ-500 certs. For this there are two things we need to do – update the ‘Certified’ and ‘In PC’ fields for John. 

Image 3: Where we update the Certification Details



At this point we change the dropdown for John, in the ‘Certified’ column. Unfortunately, however, John’s certification can take a period of time to appear in Partner Centre. 

Image 4: Acknowledging that John is now certified!



After checking during this 10-day period, we have confirmed John’s certification is now visible in Partner Centre. To reflect this, we update the dropdown in the ‘In PC’ Column, acknowledging John certification – and the business is underway! 

Image 5: Acknowledging that Johns Certification has appeared in Partner Centre! 



After checking during this 10-day period, we have confirmed John’s points are now visible in Partner Centre. To reflect this, we update the dropdown in the ‘In PC’ Column, giving John his points – and the business is underway! 

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ACCESS PARTNER CENTER

How Do You Check For Point Updates In Partner Center? 

1. Sign in to Partner Center and select Membership. 

If you don't see the Membership workspace, check your assigned roles in Partner Center. You must have the Global admin or Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program partner admin role to view the Membership workspace. 

Image 6: Membership | Overview Page



2. Select  Solutions Partner > Overview. Here's what the status means for each solution area. 

  • In progress: You aren't yet qualified for this solution area to get enrolled into this solution area. This status appears when you've earned some points, but either have less than 70 total points, or when you have 0 points in an individual metric. 
  • Qualified: You've met the qualifications and can purchase a Solutions Partner designation. Make a payment in Membership offers to enrol. 
  • Enrolled: You're enrolled in the Solutions Partner designation for this solution area. You remain enrolled until your anniversary date regardless of increase or decrease in your score. Because you're enrolled, you can see your renewal status and qualification eligibility window on this page. 
  • Enrolled (Renewal due): You're currently enrolled for this solution area and are within the renewal window. To maintain your enrolled status, renew before the last date of your renewal window. 

Image 7: Solutions Partner | Overview page



3. Select View details for any of the solution area cards on the page or select any solution area of interest on the navigation menu. 


The page that appears shows the details of your partner capability score for the solution area. If multiple tracks are available for the solution area, the page shows the score of the selected track. You can change the selected track by selecting the page title that also contains the name of the selected track. 

Image 8: Solution Partner | Security Overview Page 



After you select a track, multiple cards appear, one for each metric that makes up the partner capability score for that solution area. Each of these metric cards provides you with several details about the metric: the criteria, your score, and other details for the metric. 

Image 9: Reviewing the Security | Skilling metric in Partner Center.



Selecting the ‘View Details’ button under Skilling will open a panel on the right, giving you the full points details. From here, you can also download the data that contributes to the score calculation so that you can analyse and take appropriate actions to get qualified wherever the required score is not met.

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LASTLY

When Will Points Start Accumulating?  

To earn points through the Skilling metric, you must complete the prerequisite exams and ensure they are visible in Partner Centre.  

  • For The Enterprise track, all 4 x prerequisite certs must be completed first. 
  • For SMB, you earnt 4 x points for each of the 2 x prerequisite certifications.  

To ensure we are across this, the tracker will take this into account also. 

Image 10: John including John SC-100 exam.



Above, we are added John’s previously achieved SC-100 exam. Unfortunately, until all four of the prerequisite designation points are in Partner Centre, we will not receive these additional points. 

Image 11: With all four prerequisite certs complete, additional points are unlocked! 



Remember: for the SMB track, however, you will earn a total of 8 points, when these 2 x prerequisite certs are complete! 

Above, as all for are complete and confirmed as being listed in Partner Centre, lets confirm John’s SC-100 exam is now visible? 

Image 12: John’s SC-100 cert is now listed in Partner Center!



After checking, we can see John’s point have been added, and as a result, we now have our 6.67 points, and are on our way! 

Asset 14  LESSON TAKE AWAYS

We demonstrated how to monitor your team's progress, adjust training timelines as needed, how to check Partner Center for your points awarded upon certification, and identified when additional points are included.  
Skilling Module Review 

Throughout this module, we walked through the Skilling requirements and discussed the following: 

  • Completing certification prerequisites is essential for earning points and achieving qualifications.

  • Certifications provide a clear pathway for career advancement and compliance with industry standards.

  • Instructor-led training combined with self-paced elements offers structure and flexibility for certification preparation.

  • Creating a structured training timetable helps manage time effectively and ensures all necessary topics are covered.

  • Tracking skilling points and adjusting timelines as needed ensures training goals are met, and progress is maintained. 

Asset 14  MODULE TAKEAWAYS

The overall takeaway from these lessons is about achieving success through structured training and certification pathways. The goal is to help individuals and teams navigate the certification process, manage their training schedules, and track their progress effectively. 

The lessons emphasize the importance of completing prerequisites for certifications and how doing so, can earn points. 

The training pathways are designed to provide clear guidance on how to prepare for and pass the necessary exams, with resources and support available from training partners. 

There's also a focus on building a training timetable that aligns with your exam schedule. This helps ensure that all necessary topics are covered and that trainees can manage their time effectively.  The timetable provides structure and routine, which can be motivating and comforting for trainees.  

Tracking your skilling points is another key aspect. By adhering to a structured training schedule, you can monitor progress, identify potential issues early, and achieve better training outcomes.  

Overall, the key learning is that a well-structured and supported training program can significantly enhance professional growth and career advancement. By following the outlined pathways, managing your time effectively, and tracking your progress, you can achieve certification success and earn valuable points along the way.

Progress
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Next Module: 

In the next module we’ll outline the Customer Service requirements, helping your team to target New Customer Adds (achieving the Performance metric) and ensuring these new customers are being tracked into business, by Microsoft, achieving the Customer Service metric!