https://www.channelfutures.com/wp-content/themes/channelfutures_child/assets/images/logo/footer-new-logo.png
  • Home
  • Technologies
    • Back
    • Analytics
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Cloud
    • Data Centers
    • Desktop
    • IoT
    • Mobility
    • Networking
    • Open Source
    • RMM/PSA
    • Security
    • Virtualization
    • Voice/Connectivity
  • Strategy
    • Back
    • Best Practices
    • Business Models
    • Channel 101
    • Channel Programs
    • Channel Research
    • Digital Transformation
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Leadership
    • Mergers and Acquisitions
    • Sales & Marketing
    • Specialty Practices
  • MSSP Insider
    • Back
    • Business of Security
    • Cloud and Edge
    • Endpoint
    • Network
    • People and Careers
    • Training and Policies
  • MSP 501
    • Back
    • 2020 MSP 501 Rankings
    • 2020 Hot 101 Rankings
    • 2020 MSP 501 Report
  • Intelligence
    • Back
    • Our Sponsors
    • From the Industry
    • Content Resources
    • COVID-19 Partner Help
    • Galleries
    • Podcasts
    • Reports
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • EMEA
  • Awards
    • Back
    • Excellence in Digital Services
    • 2020 MSP 501
    • Top Gun 51
  • Events
    • Back
    • CP Conference & Expo
    • Channel Partners Evolution
    • Channel Evolution Europe
    • Channel Partners Event Coverage
    • Webinars
  • Channel Mentor
    • Back
    • Channel Market Intelligence
    • Channel Educational Series
Channel Futures
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Technologies
    • Back
    • Analytics
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Cloud
    • Data Centers
    • Desktop
    • IoT
    • Mobility
    • Networking
    • Open Source
    • RMM/PSA
    • Security
    • Virtualization
    • Voice/Connectivity
  • Strategy
    • Back
    • Best Practices
    • Business Models
    • Channel 101
    • Channel Programs
    • Channel Research
    • Digital Transformation
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Leadership
    • Mergers and Acquisitions
    • Sales & Marketing
    • Specialty Practices
  • MSSP Insider
    • Back
    • Business of Security
    • Cloud and Edge
    • Endpoint
    • Network
    • People and Careers
    • Training and Policies
  • MSP 501
    • Back
    • 2020 MSP 501 Rankings
    • 2020 Hot 101 Rankings
    • 2020 MSP 501 Report
  • Intelligence
    • Back
    • Our Sponsors
    • From the Industry
    • Content Resources
    • COVID-19 Partner Help
    • Galleries
    • Podcasts
    • Reports
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • EMEA
  • Awards
    • Back
    • Excellence in Digital Services
    • 2020 MSP 501
    • Top Gun 51
  • Events
    • Back
    • CP Conference & Expo
    • Channel Partners Evolution
    • Channel Evolution Europe
    • Channel Partners Event Coverage
    • Webinars
  • Channel Mentor
    • Back
    • Channel Market Intelligence
    • Channel Educational Series
    • Newsletter
  • REGISTER
  • MSPs
  • VARs / SIs
  • Digital Service Providers
  • Cloud Service Providers
  • CHANNEL PARTNERS ONLINE
 Channel Futures

MSP 501


Microsoft Move Gently Shoves Partners Into Cloud Age

Microsoft Move Gently Shoves Partners Into Cloud Age

  • Written by Aldrin Brown
  • April 14, 2016
By slowly retiring competencies, the tech giant provides a nurturing hand and kick in the pants to MSPs and other channel firms not moving quickly enough into cloud.

In the latest sign that managed service providers (MSPs) still dragging their feet on cloud offerings risk obsolescence, Microsoft this week announced it will retire certain partner competencies that are inconsistent with customers’ growing demand for cloud products and services.

During the next 18 months, the Microsoft Partner Network will do away with recognition of competencies like customer relationship management (CRM), midmarket solutions provider, hosting and distributor.

Instead, partners will be steered toward newly developed or existing competency categories that emphasize cloud-related skills and expertise.

In a blog post announcing the changes, Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner Group general manager Gavriella Schuster said that customer expectations of technology have changed.

“They’re looking for instant, on-demand delivery that’s cost-effective and provides a fast ramp to results without compromising quality,” she said in the blog. “Customers are turning to the cloud to meet these expectations.”

In a recently released eBook, Microsoft cites IDC research projecting that greater cloud spending – which includes SaaS, PaaS, IaaS, and cloud-related professional and managed services – will more than triple, exceeding $500 billion by 2020.

The research also found that nearly 80 percent of businesses are already making significant use of cloud technologies or plan to deploy to a cloud in the coming year.

Just 8 percent of businesses said they had no plans to pursue cloud solutions, down from 21 percent in 2014.

“Many solution providers wait until their customers are ready before investing in an area of technology,” the eBook states. “With the majority of customers now adopting cloud services, it’s critical that partners adapt to stay relevant to their customer base.”

Microsoft’s move offers stark illustration of the kinds of once-critical technology roles that are being disrupted by the rapid adoption of cloud.

Among the more interesting components of this week’s announcement is the “Interactive MPN Evolution Guide,” an online tool that allows partners to enter their obsolete competency, answer a few questions and generate suggestions for new competencies they should look to pursue.

For example, entering the retiring “distributor” competency directs the user through a series of screens that eventually offer one of three areas of focus: Usage of Office 365, providing Azure solutions or CRM Online.

Selecting “CRM Online” results in a recommendation that the user consider the “Cloud Customer Relationship Management Competency – distributor option.”

The recommendation is accompanied by the following information:

“The CRM market is growing fast – the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online installed base grew at 2.5X in 2015 Q4, and revenue nearly doubled. This competency will help you capitalize on this growing market.”

Users can then select one of two buttons marked “Tell me more” and “I’m not sure this is the right fit for me.”

In a way, Microsoft’s approach could represent both the nurturing hand and swift kick in the pants that some MSPs and other channel companies need to jump-start or add urgency to their move toward cloud-focused businesses.

“We recognize some partners may need to make changes to adapt and that changes like this take time,” Schuster said in her blog. “The 18-month transition period has been designed to give those partners the time needed to develop capabilities in cloud solutions, expand or build new practices, and transition into the competencies that will align your expertise to your customers’ needs.”

 

Send tips and news to MSPmentorNews@Penton.com.

Tags: MSPs MSP 501

Related


  • 501 Somewhere Logo
    It’s 501 Somewhere: Janet Schijns on Transformational Leadership
    Schijns talks about what it takes to be a true leader, transformational technology, and her three steps for success.
  • Digital workplace
    2020 MSP 501 Full Report
    An in-depth analysis of the managed services industry based on the world’s largest survey of MSPs, the MSP 501.
  • Business Diversity
    MSP 501 Profile: Monroy IT Services with a Minority's Perspective on the Channel
    Now that he thinks about it, everything makes perfect sense as to why George Monroy became a business owner.
  • Arrows made of clouds
    MSP 501 Profile: Middleground Technologies Reaps Cloud Benefits
    Cloud investment in 2019 helped lay a key foundation for 2020.

Leave a comment Cancel reply

-or-

Log in with your Channel Futures account

Alternatively, post a comment by completing the form below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • MSP 501 Newcomer Award: Oosha Limited Comes of Age
  • MSP 501 — 2020 EMEA Survey & Report
  • MSP 501 Profile: Xamin on COVID-19 Challenges and Strategic Partnerships
  • MSP 501 Profile: Unique IT Pro on Simple Switches and Boosting Product Offerings

Galleries

View all

New, Changing Partner Programs: AWS, Tech Data, Avaya, Verizon

January 11, 2021

Industry Perspectives

View all

The Rise in Remote Work Increases the Need for Patch Management

January 27, 2021

Partners Share Their 2021 Goals—and Plans for Achieving Them

January 26, 2021

The Importance of Being Security-Centric

January 22, 2021

Webinars

View all

Your Network Perimeter Has Changed

February 18, 2021

In Case of Emergency: The Importance of Proactive Critical Event Management

February 23, 2021

How Managed Hosting Providers Thrive with the Alternative Cloud

February 24, 2021

White Papers

View all

Product Brief: Kaseya VSA Integrated Workflows with BMS and IT Glue

January 26, 2021

Why Subscription Business Model

January 15, 2021

The Ultimate MSP Guide to Sales Efficiency

January 14, 2021

Upcoming Events

View all

Channel Partners Virtual

March 2, 2021 - March 4, 2021

Channel Partners Conference & Expo

November 1, 2021 - November 4, 2021

Videos and Fastchats

View all

FASTCHAT: How SOAR Eliminates Security Challenges and Elevates Service Provider Revenues

January 6, 2021

Happy Holidays from Channel Partners & Channel Futures!

December 21, 2020

FASTCHAT: How Old, Unpatched Technologies Are Creating New Security Threats for MSPs and Their Customers

December 3, 2020

Twitter

ChannelFutures

Building an efficient and profitable #patchmanagement practice in 2021 @ConnectWise #cybersecurity #endpoint #MSP… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 28, 2021
ChannelFutures

International effort takes down #Emotet botnet, but @Netenrich, @digitalshadows, @Vectra_AI say it will be back.… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 28, 2021
ChannelFutures

.@Microsoft @Azure’s Tyler Bryson, new U.S. channel head, talks priorities at @GetNerdio’s #NerdioCon… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 27, 2021
ChannelFutures

.@CryptoStopper hires @GetChanneled to build partner program, act as virtual channel chief. #ransomware… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 27, 2021
ChannelFutures

MSSPs, check for this ‘novel’ social engineering threat from North Korea. #Google. dlvr.it/RrTS9J https://t.co/2mDcnNvkHz

January 27, 2021
ChannelFutures

.@keepersecurity report shows financial sector heavily targeted by #cybercriminals. dlvr.it/RrTBPz https://t.co/joTBNeb2MT

January 27, 2021
ChannelFutures

.@Trustwave unveils new global referral partner program. #cybersecurity dlvr.it/RrT9Td https://t.co/amXCw33UsF

January 27, 2021
ChannelFutures

Ecosystem security provider Cyberpion launches first #partnerprogram. dlvr.it/RrSnxK https://t.co/g7Po3jq8iw

January 27, 2021

MSSP Insider

Newsletters and Updates

Sign up for The Channel Report, Channel Futures Update, MSP 501 Newsletter and more.

Live Channel Events

Get the latest information on the next industry-leading Channel Partners event.

Channel Partners Online

Want more? Find more channel news and analysis on our sister site, Channel Partners.

Media Kit And Advertising

Want to reach our audience? Access our media kit

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • Channel Partners Online
  • Channel Partners Events
  • MSP 501
  • MSSP Insider
  • IoT World Today
  • Webhostingtalk

WORKING WITH US

  • Contact
  • About us
  • Advertise
  • Newsletter

FOLLOW Channel Futures ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2021 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.
This website uses cookies, including third party ones, to allow for analysis of how people use our website in order to improve your experience and our services. By continuing to use our website, you agree to the use of such cookies. Click here for more information on our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.
X