New Small Business Competency Launching in June 2012

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Hi All,

In June this year we will be launching the new Small Business Competency.  The new competency is designed to help Partners that sell to small business  take advantage of the growing opportunity in both Online Services and current opportunity in on-premise solutions within this customer base.  The competency leverages Small Business Server 2011, Microsoft Office 365 and Windows 7.

One of the biggest changes is the reduced number of Microsoft Certified Professionals required for this competency.  Silver Small Business will require one MCP, and two MCPs are required for Gold.  The competency allows Partners that have a high level of expertise in Office 365, Small Business Server and Windows 7 , but potentially have a smaller number of staff to attain a competency.  Having studied the requirements of the new competency, they are very robust – so although a smaller number of MCPs are required, Partners should understand that we have set the bar high in terms of requirements, and so Partners that attain the Small Business Competency will be recognised as having a high level of expertise and skill in the technologies the competency reflects.

I will updating the blog with the latest information about the competency – and we will shortly have some additional training for Partners that wish to prepare for the competency before it is released.  We will also have some incentives and extras for UK Partners – again, more info will be released via this blog.

If you have any feedback or questions, I’d love to hear from you – alex.kureen@microsoft.com

Full requirements for the competency are as follows:

To earn the Microsoft Partner Network Silver Small Business Competency, you will need to achieve the following:

  • Exam Credentials:
    • 1 MCP must pass 2 exams:
      • Required: 70-323 - Administering Office 365
      • And another exam from:
        • 70-321 - Deploying Office 365
        • 70-680 - TS: Windows 7, Configuring
        • 70-169 - TS: Windows Small Business Server 2011, Configuring
  • Business Assessments:
    • Sign and complete: MOSPA (Microsoft Online Services Provider Agreement)+ Assessment
    • 1 person must complete Licensing assessment
    • 1 person must complete Business focused small business assessment
  • Evidence:
    • Must have 3 submitted customer references

To earn the Microsoft Partner Network Gold Small Business Competency, you will need to achieve the following:

  • Exam Credentials:
    • 1 MCP must pass 2 exams from:
      • 70-321 - Deploying Office 365
      • 70-323 - Administering Office 365
      • 70-680 - TS: Windows 7, Configuring
    • 1 MCP must pass 2 exams from:
      • 70-321 - Deploying Office 365
      • 70-323 - Administering Office 365
      • 70-169 - TS: Windows Small Business Server 2011, Configuring
      • 70-680 - TS: Windows 7, Configuring
      • 70-642 - TS: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuring
  • Revenue Requirements:
    • Meet a minimum revenue requirement (after renewal date after October 2013)
      • The revenue requirements differs per geography
  • Business Assessments:
    • Sign and complete: MOSPA (Microsoft Online Services Provider Agreement)+ Assessment
    • 1 person must complete Licensing assessment
    • 2 people must complete Business focused small business assessment
  • Evidence:
    • Must have 5 submitted customer references
    • CSAT Index

 

Have a great week!

Alex