There are more applications, more devices, and now, more data than ever—all driven by the rise of cloud computing and the use of cloud services. For partners, there is a significant opportunity to use the family of Microsoft Cloud OS products to help customers realize more efficiencies and new value from their IT infrastructure.
The next releases of Windows Server 2012, Microsoft System Center, and Windows Intune will be available starting October 18. These products, along with Windows Azure and Microsoft SQL Server 2012, comprise the Cloud OS. Together, they provide a consistent platform for infrastructure, apps, and data and allow IT to rapidly build and deploy applications, flexibly manage IT services, and support real-time analytics across all forms and data.
Read the collection of Server & Tools blogs written by Microsoft product teams.
This guide provides Microsoft partners with links to the information and resources you need to understand the Microsoft Cloud OS vision and opportunity, prepare for the new releases, and engage with Microsoft. As new materials and content are available, we’ll update this guide. Come back to it any time at http://aka.ms/about-cloud-os.
Successful Cloud Partners: Higher, Faster, Stronger
A recent IDC study sponsored by Microsoft indicates that partners with more than 50 percent of their revenue related to the cloud benefit from higher gross profit, more new customers, increased revenue per employee, and faster overall business growth.
Understand the Microsoft Cloud OS Vision
On the Server and Cloud Platform website, read about the benefits the Cloud OS brings to customers and its alignment to these four pillars:
- Transform the datacenter
- Enable modern business applications
- Empower people-centric IT
- Unlock insights on any data
Try the Cloud OS
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Download evaluation versions of the pre-release public previews of Windows Server, System Center, Windows Intune, SQL Server, and Windows Azure from TechNet. - If you are a TechNet or MSDN subscriber, RTM versions of Windows Server 2012 R2 and System Center 2012 R2 are available to you.
- If you are a Microsoft Partner Network member with a competency or a Microsoft Action Pack subscription, you have internal-use software benefits. Access and use your benefits to run your business and gain hands-on experience with Microsoft products and technologies.
- If you are a member of the Microsoft Partner Network Cloud Essentials program, you receive the benefit of monthly credits of $100 for Windows Azure.
Get to Know the Product Lineup
- Windows Server 2012 R2
- Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials
- Windows Azure on Microsoft.com
- Windows Azure on the MPN portal
- System Center 2012 R2
- Windows Intune
- SQL Server 2012 on Microsoft.com
- SQL Server on the MPN portal
- Microsoft Private Cloud
Demonstrate Expertise with an MPN Competency
The competencies below have requirements that allow you to demonstrate your expertise to build, deliver, and support solutions that include products in the Cloud OS family. To meet exam and assessment requirements for each competency, learning paths specify technical, sales, and licensing training courses and link to the exam or assessment.
New requirements and new Cloud Track qualification within several competencies will be effective in January 2014. Details about these changes are in the MPN disclosure guide.
- Server Platform competency page
- Learning path page> MPN Competency > Core infrastructure
- This competency will become part of the new Datacenter competency in January 2014
- Application Development competency page
- Learning path page> MPN Competency > Application platform
- Business Intelligence competency page
- Learning path page> MPN Competency > Application platform
- This competency will be renamed Data Analytics in January 2014
- Data Platform competency page
- Learning path page> MPN Competency > Application platform
- Identity and Access competency page
- Learning path page> MPN Competency > Core infrastructure > Identity and Security
- This competency will become part of the new Datacenter competency in January 2014
- Management and Virtualization competency page
- Learning path page> MPN Competency > Core infrastructure
- This competency will become part of the new Datacenter competency in January 2014
- Midmarket Solution Provider competency page
- Learning path page> MPN Competency > Small and medium business
- Small Business competency page
- Learning path page> MPN Competency > Small and medium business
Where to Find Training and How to Earn Certifications and Accreditations
There are live in-person, live online, and on-demand training courses from Microsoft that can help every role at your company build product knowledge and skills around the products in the Cloud OS family. At the individual level, Microsoft Certifications distinguish technical expertise, and MPN Sales Accreditations allow sales, licensing, and marketing roles to demonstrate their expertise. At the organizational level, these individual achievements can help your company meet competency requirements.
- The US Partner Training Hot Sheet is a frequently updated calendar of live in-person and live online training courses offered on the Partner Learning Center, Microsoft Virtual Academy, and other Microsoft training sites.
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Microsoft Virtual Academy offers no-cost live and on-demand Jump Starts and other technical training courses, such as: - Windows Azure for IT Pros Jump Start
- What’s New in Windows Server 2012 R2 Jump Start
- What’s New in System Center 2012 R2 Jump Start
- System Center 2012: Transform the Datacenter Immersion
- Move to Hybrid Cloud with System Center and Windows Azure Jump Start
- Windows Intune for IT Professionals Jump Start
- The Exams and Accreditations learning paths align to the MPN competencies and specify training courses that help you prepare to pass Microsoft Certification exams, Sales Specialist assessments, Presales Technical Specialist assessments, and Technical assessments that apply to competency requirements.
- Microsoft Certifications
- Learn more about certifications on the Microsoft Learning website.
- Certification resources for Microsoft partners.
- Earn your cloud certification with free prep tools in the 90 Days to MCSA program.
- Save 40% on practice tests to help you get ready for exams.
- Save up to 50% on MPN Competency Exam packs.
- Microsoft Sales Specialist
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- Learn more about Sales Specialist training and accreditation.
- Sales Specialist accreditation is available for these competencies related to Cloud OS:
- Application Development
- Business Intelligence
- Data Platform
- Identity and Access
- Management and Virtualization
- Midmarket Solution Provider
- Server Platform
- Small Business
- Microsoft Presales Technical Specialist
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- Learn more about Presales Technical Specialist training and accreditation.
- Presales Technical Specialist accreditation is available for these competencies related to Cloud OS:
- Business Intelligence
- Management and Virtualization
Tools for Customer Discussions and Engagements
- Microsoft Private Cloud Assessment Tool
- Virtual Labs for Cloud OS
- Software Assurance Planning Services engagements are conducted by qualified partners who share best practices, analyze the customer's organizational environment, and help create comprehensive deployment and implementation plans. Visit the Planning Services site for details about requirements and how to get started with these opportunities related to Cloud OS:
- Public Cloud, Windows Azure Deployment Planning Services
- Private Cloud, Management and Virtualization Planning Services
- SQL Server Deployment Planning Services
- Ready-to-Go Marketing Campaigns include customer-ready sales and marketing materials.
Use Your MPN Membership Benefits and Support
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Get answers to product, developer, presales, and membership questions through the forums in the Microsoft Partner Support Community. - Plan to attend an upcoming Practice Accelerator for Business Intelligence or Data Center Infrastructure and Management.
- If you are a Microsoft Partner Network member with a competency or a Microsoft Action Pack subscription, you have internal-use software benefits. Access and use your benefits to run your business and gain hands-on experience with Microsoft products and technologies.
- If you are a member of the Microsoft Partner Network Cloud Essentials program, you receive the benefit of monthly credits of $100 for Windows Azure.
- Earn Partner Incentives for selling or implementing Microsoft products and technologies.
- Additional Microsoft Server and Cloud Partner resources are available to MPN members with a qualifying competency at http://www.microsoftpartnerserverandcloud.com.
