Microsoft Partner
Knowledge Base

Solution Partner Designation

How do Enterprise partners demonstrate substantial "usage growth" and "deployments" for SPD in mature markets (e.g., North America, Western Europe) where many customers already have significant cloud adoption?

In mature markets, focus on driving deeper adoption, expanding into new workloads, and migrating legacy systems. Emphasize digital transformation projects that lead to significant, measurable impact. Demonstrate how you are helping customers optimize their cloud spend and achieve greater business value.

Actionable Steps: Focus on upsell and cross-sell opportunities within existing accounts. Identify customers with hybrid environments and propose migration strategies to Azure. Showcase how your solutions leverage advanced Microsoft services (e.g., AI, IoT, Serverless) to deliver innovative outcomes. Document all stages of customer engagement and the resulting impact for potential customer evidence.

Solution Partner Designation

Can we use historical customer data to qualify for Customer Success metrics if it wasn’t tracked under the current CPOR/PAL model?

Unfortunately, you cannot directly use historical customer data that wasn't linked via the current CPOR (Claiming Partner of Record) or PAL (Partner Admin Link) models to retroactively qualify for Customer Success metrics in your Solutions Partner Designation.

Microsoft's Partner Capability Score (PCS) and its underlying metrics, including Usage Growth and Deployments, rely on attributable data captured within Partner Center. This data is primarily pulled from systems where your association with the customer (via CPOR, PAL, or CSP) is active and recognized.

Historical consumption or deployments that occurred before the proper attribution was established typically won't count towards your current PCS. The system needs that digital link to track and credit your influence.

As of July 2025, ensuring correct and continuous customer association via CPOR/PAL is paramount for all future and ongoing customer success metric accrual.

Solution Partner Designation

How do we navigate the Partner Center when managing multiple MPN IDs for different business units or regions?

Managing multiple MPN (Microsoft Partner Network) IDs for business units or regions is done via "locations" within a single global PartnerID in Partner Center.

Your primary organization maintains a global PartnerID. Then, for each distinct business unit or region, you add a "location" under this global account, each receiving a unique PartnerID. These location-specific IDs are used for regional transactional activities (e.g., CSP) and localized incentive eligibility. Ensure user roles align with access needs for each ID.

This structure streamlines consolidated reporting while allowing decentralized operational management. As of July 2025, manage this under "Account settings" > "Organization profile" > "Business locations" in Partner Center.

Solution Partner Designation

Can I track my growth metrics in real-time through the Partner Center?

While Partner Center offers robust insights, "real-time" isn't fully accurate for all growth metrics. Your Solutions Partner Capability Score (PCS) updates daily. However, underlying data, like Azure or Business Applications usage, typically refreshes every 3-5 days. Some fiscal reports may only update mid-next month.

Solution Partner Designation

Are performance points awarded for solutions sold through CSP or are they only applicable for direct sales?

Performance points for Solutions Partner Designations are awarded for solutions sold through both CSP (Cloud Solution Provider) and direct sales, provided your organization is the recognized Partner of Record (POR) or has the relevant association.

The key is proper attribution through mechanisms like CPOR (Claiming Partner of Record) or PAL (Partner Admin Link) for customer subscriptions and consumption. Microsoft's system aggregates eligible revenue and usage from all recognized channels to calculate your Partner Capability Score. Your sales motion determines the specific attribution method.

Solution Partner Designation

How do we account for custom solutions built on top of Microsoft’s platform, especially if the customizations are heavily client-specific?

For custom, client-specific solutions built on Microsoft platforms, your performance points are primarily recognized through the underlying Microsoft cloud consumption and the customer's active usage of those services.

While your intellectual property (IP) isn't directly scored, the Azure Consumed Revenue (ACR) or Microsoft 365 usage generated by your solution and properly attributed to your Partner ID (via PAL/CPOR) will count towards the "Customer Success" category (Usage Growth/Deployments) for the relevant Solutions Partner Designation. If your solution drives significant new customer adoption, it also helps "Net customer adds."

Solution Partner Designation

If we transition a customer to a different Partner ID, how does this affect their historical consumption and our Performance points?

When you transition a customer to a different Partner ID, their historical consumption generally remains tied to your Partner ID for the period it was attributed to you. However, future consumption and new deployments by that customer will be credited to the new Partner ID once the transfer is complete and the new attribution is established.

This means your "Performance" and "Customer Success" points will reflect consumption up to the transfer date. Subsequent activity won't contribute to your score, potentially impacting your ongoing designation eligibility if you don't replace that lost contribution.

Solution Partner Designation

Can we earn Customer Success points for services provided to a customer in the first 30 days of using Microsoft solutions, even if they are still in the trial phase?

Generally, no, you cannot earn Customer Success points for consumption or services during a customer's trial phase.

Solutions Partner Customer Success metrics (Usage Growth, Deployments) are tied to paid, active consumption of qualifying Microsoft services. While offering trials is a great sales motion, the consumption associated with free trials typically does not contribute to your Partner Capability Score. Points begin accruing once the trial converts to a paid subscription and active usage is registered under your Partner of Record association.

Solution Partner Designation

Can I use my previous customer references for the Solution Partner Designation?

As of July 2025, Microsoft continuously improves data latency, but it's not instantaneous for all datasets.

Solution Partner Designation

Can I reset my baseline performance score if I acquire another partner?

If you acquire another Microsoft partner, their performance data can be merged into your Partner Center account, impacting your Solution Partner qualifications. However, it's not a "baseline reset."

When accounts merge, the acquiring partner typically inherits the acquired partner's existing Solution Area designations and associated benefits. Your combined customer bases and their consumption, along with certifications, will contribute to your consolidated Partner Capability Score. Microsoft aims to retain the "highest anniversary date" if both partners had Solution Partner badges.

As of July 2025, the merge process integrates your combined metrics rather than resetting them to zero. You'll then work from this new, combined baseline.

Solution Partner Designation

How do SMBs with a diverse client base effectively consolidate their customer success metrics (usage growth, deployments) in Partner Center to meet the SPD requirements, especially when many clients have smaller footprints?

SMBs often serve a high volume of smaller accounts. Focus on consistently linking your Partner ID (CPOR, DPOR, CSP) to all relevant customer subscriptions. Leverage the "Partner Contribution Indicators (PCI)" report in Partner Center to track your impact. For usage growth, even small, consistent increases across many clients can add up. Ensure your deployments, even if smaller in scale, are accurately recorded and linked.
Actionable Steps: Regularly review the "Customer associations" section in Partner Center. Proactively work with customers to ensure your Partner ID is linked to their subscriptions. For new deployments, follow the correct process for associating your ID from the start. Utilize the PCI report in Partner Center to identify gaps and areas for improvement in data linkage.

Solution Partner Designation

For large Enterprise partners with complex global deployments, how can they ensure consistent and accurate Partner ID associations across all customer tenants and subscriptions to maximize their SPD score?

Enterprise partners often deal with numerous customer tenants and diverse procurement models. Centralized management of Partner IDs and consistent communication with sales and delivery teams are critical. Automated tools and rigorous internal processes are essential for accuracy.

Actionable Steps: Implement a standardized process for Partner ID association across all projects. Leverage APIs or integrations with your CRM/ERP systems to automate the linking process where possible. Conduct regular audits of customer associations in Partner Center. Train sales and project managers on the importance and process of accurate Partner ID linking from deal inception.

Certifications

How do I get a refund for a failed Microsoft certification exam?

Unfortunately, you generally cannot get a refund for a failed Microsoft certification exam. The exam fee covers the cost of taking the exam, regardless of the outcome.

Microsoft's exam retake policy outlines waiting periods for subsequent attempts, which require new payment unless you have another valid voucher. Refunds are typically only issued for:

Cancelled exams (if cancelled within the required timeframe).

Technical issues during the exam that prevented completion and were validated by the test proctor/vendor (e.g., Pearson VUE).

Solution Partner Designation

How do Solution Partner qualifications change if my customer base changes?

Your Solution Partner qualification directly hinges on your customer base's activity, especially for the "Performance" and "Customer Success" categories of your Partner Capability Score (PCS). Specifically:

Performance (Net Customer Adds): This metric subtracts churned customers from new ones over a trailing 12-month period. Losing customers here directly reduces your score.

Solution Partner Designation

How can SMB partners proactively manage their PCS throughout the year to ensure a smooth SPD renewal, particularly when facing team member turnover or shifts in customer focus?

Consistent monitoring of your PCS in Partner Center is crucial. Develop a succession plan for certified individuals and continuously invest in new certifications. Be agile in adapting your service offerings to align with evolving customer needs and Microsoft's strategic priorities.

Actionable Steps: Assign a dedicated individual or team to monitor the PCS dashboard in Partner Center monthly. Implement a mandatory certification renewal policy for relevant team members. If a key certified individual leaves, immediately identify and train a replacement. Review Microsoft's partner program updates regularly for any changes to SPD requirements.

Solution Partner Designation

What is considered “active usage” for customer success metrics?

Active usage" for customer success metrics means customers are actively using specific Microsoft cloud services and workloads, measured over a period (often monthly). The exact definition varies by:

Solution Area: Each designation targets specific product usage (e.g., Azure Consumed Revenue for Azure, Monthly Active Users for Microsoft 365).

Metric: "Usage growth" tracks increased consumption, while "Deployments" often requires a minimum usage level on new workloads.

Customer Track: SMB vs. Enterprise customers may have different thresholds (e.g., 40% MAU of paid licenses for Modern Work).

Partner Center provides detailed breakdowns. As of July 2025, driving this active consumption is critical for Customer Success points.

Solution Partner Designation

What happens to our performance points if a partner’s customer base changes significantly (e.g., through acquisition or divestiture)?

When your customer base changes due to acquisition or divestiture, your Performance points in the Solutions Partner Capability Score (PCS) will fluctuate. Acquisitions typically add customers and associated consumption/revenue, potentially increasing your "Net customer adds" and "Usage growth." Divestitures, conversely, remove customers and their contributions, which can decrease your points. Microsoft's system processes these changes based on official account mergers or transfers. The impact is on your net

Solution Partner Designation

If a customer moves from a pay-as-you-go Azure subscription to an enterprise agreement, how does this affect our Performance points for that customer?

When a customer transitions from a pay-as-you-go Azure subscription to an Enterprise Agreement (EA), your Performance points are not necessarily lost, but attribution method becomes critical.

For your consumption to count towards your PCS, your Partner ID must be correctly linked to the customer's EA subscription. This is typically done via a Partner Admin Link (PAL) for EAs. If the PAL link is correctly established and maintained, the Azure Consumed Revenue (ACR) under the EA will continue to contribute to your "Customer Success" (Usage Growth) points. Without proper linking, that consumption won't be attributed to you.

Solution Partner Designation

Do partners get credit for Azure consumption in pre-sales or PoC (Proof of Concept) stages, or does it only count after the deal is finalized?

Generally, partners do not receive credit for Azure consumption in typical pre-sales or PoC stages towards their Solutions Partner Designation performance points.

Performance metrics (especially "Usage Growth" and "Deployments") are tied to active, billable consumption from paid customer subscriptions. While Microsoft does offer programs like "Azure Access CSP - Proof of Concept (PoC) Credits" to fund PoCs, the consumption during these periods is often covered by Microsoft and not directly attributed to your PCS score for your customer success. Points typically accrue once the PoC transitions to a production environment and customer-billed consumption begins.

Solution Partner Designation

How do we ensure we get credit for customer usage if they’ve migrated from another partner, especially when the transition isn’t seamless?

Ensuring credit for customer usage after migrating from another partner is crucial. The primary method is establishing immediate and correct Partner of Record (POR) attribution from day one with the customer under your Partner ID.

This means:

For CSP: Create the new CSP subscription under your Partner ID.

For EA/Web Direct: Establish a Partner Admin Link (PAL) as soon as the customer is under your management.

If the transition isn't seamless, actively work with the customer to ensure they accept your PAL request or that the CSP subscription is correctly transferred. Without this digital link, usage won't be attributed. Partner Center's insights depend on this association.

Solution Partner Designation

How can I appeal if my Solution Partner Designation is revoked?

If your Solutions Partner Designation is revoked, you should immediately:

Understand the Reason: Access Partner Center to review the specific criteria you failed to meet (e.g., PCS drop below 70, non-compliance).

Contact Partner Support: Reach out to Microsoft Partner Support via Partner Center. Explain your situation and request guidance on the appeal process or remediation steps. They can provide specific instructions and forms.

Submit Documentation: Prepare any evidence demonstrating you meet the criteria or actions taken to regain compliance.

Solution Partner Designation

How frequently is the Partner Capability Score (PCS) updated in Partner Center, and what is the look-back period for performance and customer success metrics?

Microsoft Solutions Partner scores, which are used to assess a partner's capabilities, are generally updated on a monthly basis, with the Performance and Customer Success subcategories typically updated around the 20th of each month. The look-back period for performance and customer success metrics is 13 months.

Solution Partner Designation

What is Microsoft's precise definition of a 'net new customer' for the purpose of Solution Partner Designations, especially concerning existing customers expanding into new cloud services or subsidiaries of existing accounts?

Consult the specific SPD program guide for your desired designation, as the exact definition can have nuances. Generally, it refers to a customer organization that hasn't previously consumed Microsoft cloud services through any partner or directly. For large enterprises with subsidiaries, ensure each 'new' entity has a distinct, attributable tenant ID that meets Microsoft's net-new criteria before counting it towards your score

Certifications

Which certifications offer the most immediate ROI for SMB partners, balancing cost, time commitment, and direct applicability to common SMB client needs?

For SMB partners, certifications with immediate ROI often focus on foundational and associate-level roles directly addressing common SMB needs in cloud adoption and productivity. Prioritize:

Microsoft 365 Fundamentals (MS-900): Low cost/time, covers basic cloud services.

Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900): Essential for understanding Azure cloud basics.

Microsoft 365 Certified: Endpoint Administrator Associate (MD-102): Directly addresses managing SMB devices.

Microsoft Certified: Identity and Access Administrator Associate (SC-300): Crucial for SMB security and identity.

These provide quick wins for initial Solution Partner points and address core SMB pain points.

Certifications

How can SMB partners with limited training budgets effectively prepare their teams for Microsoft certifications, including access to labs and practice exams?

While paid resources exist, many free and low-cost options are available. Microsoft Learn is an invaluable resource, providing hands-on labs (sandboxes) and learning paths.

Actionable Steps: Utilize Microsoft Learn for free training modules and interactive labs. Look for community-driven study groups and free online resources. Purchase practice exams from reputable providers to gauge readiness. Consider leveraging internal Azure credits for sandbox environments.

Microsoft Partner Knowledge Base

Microsoft Partner
Knowledge Base