December 8, 2023

Americas Partner Newsletter: December 2023 Issue

As 2023 comes to a close, it’s a good time to look back on your accomplishments this past year and look ahead to your goals for 2024. We value your partnership and, although this will be our final Americas Partner Insider Newsletter, we look forward to finding new ways of working together to accomplish our joint business goals. And don’t forget to sign up today to receive the monthly Microsoft Partner Newsletter.

The Americas Partner Insider Newsletter highlights key messages from Microsoft for the month. Use these Quick Links to go directly to the content that’s most relevant to your business:

Quick links

Modern Work and Surface	Transformation
Azure	Partner Resources
Business Applications	Join Us for Events and Activities
Black Partner Growth Initiative

Modern Work and Surface

SURFACE BREADTH RESELLER EXPANSION PROGRAM EXTENDED THROUGH JUNE 2024
Partner Audience: All
Relevant to: #News #ProgramOfferUpdate #Surface

We’re excited to share that the Surface Breadth Reseller Expansion program has been extended! This program expands access to the Surface portfolio, allowing our full community of resellers to sell the Surface Portfolio (excluding warranty) to their customers. Review the program details in this blog.

NEW IN-MARKET PROMO OFFERS
Partner Audience: All
Relevant to: #News #ProgramOfferUpdate #Surface

Save on Surface Laptop 5
Through December 31, 2023, you can offer your commercial customers in the United States savings of up to $350 on Surface Laptop 5. Available customer-facing assets:
Customer Flyer
Customer Email Template

Save on Surface Pro 7+ and Surface Pro 8
Through December 31, 2023, you can offer your commercial customers in the United States savings of up to $825 on Surface Pro 7+ and Surface Pro 8. Available customer-facing assets:
Customer Flyer
Customer Email Template

NEW! SURFACE ELEVATE PROGRAM
Partner Audience: All
Relevant to: #News #ProgramOfferUpdate #Surface

Join the Surface Elevate Program for a comprehensive four-hour session that could transform you into a Surface expert. The session offers an all-encompassing training experience designed to enhance your product knowledge and sales tactics in one dynamic workshop. Learn more and enroll today for the inaugural session.

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Azure

TOP RESOURCES TO BOOKMARK TODAY
Partner Audience: All
Relevant to: #GrowYourBiz #WinFormula #Azure

As you close out the 2023 calendar year, here are some resources we recommend you bookmark:

- Leverage the new campaign in a box on DMC: Migrate and Secure Windows Server and SQL Server – SMB.
- Leverage the new campaign in a box on PMC: Migrate and Secure Windows Server and SQL Server – SMB.
- Check out the Partner Incentives page for details on our Microsoft Commercial Incentive Launch for Azure Customer Adds (ACA). Direct and Indirect Resellers can earn 15 percent on new customer adds over $100 for the first year, up to $250K. Indirect Providers can earn 11 percent on new customer adds over $100 for the first year, up to $250K.
- Understand the Windows Server 2012 End of Support (EOS) opportunity so you can help your customers migrate and secure their environment. Leverage these resources:
- Get up to speed on partner-led Azure Migrate and Modernize and Azure Innovate hero incentives:
  - Read this blog for more information on our hero Azure offerings.
  - Read this blog to learn about other Azure product updates and offerings.
  - Watch on demand the Inspire session Turn Vision into Impact with Microsoft Azure.
  - Learn more about the offerings.
- Check out this announcement on the new annual revenue requirement for CSP Indirect Resellers launching April 1, 2024.

MIGRATE TO INNOVATE AND SECURE
Partner Audience: All
Relevant to: #GrowYourBiz #WinFormula #Azure

Migrate to Innovate and Secure is our hero motion and aligns with end of support. Consider one of these paths for your customers:

- Migrate Windows Server/SQL Server to Azure VMs to Platform as a Service
- Migrate Windows Server/SQL Server to Azure VMs to Infrastructure as a Service
- Azure Arc + Extended Security Updates (ESU) through the Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) program (can be combined with above options when leaving some servers on-prem)

With Arc + ESU, you can provide security updates for servers that you can’t migrate or infrastructure in a private cloud and generate Azure Consumed Revenue.

Our CSP partners want to make 50+% margin to grow this highly profitable business model. Three key levers to call out as part of the CSP motion include:

- Azure Migrate and Modernize and Azure Innovate Partner-led
- Microsoft Datacenter Optimization (DCO)
- Workload Acquisition & Nurture incentive

Read our blog to learn more and look for our next blog coming soon!

MICROSOFT MSP VIRTUAL SUMMIT
Partner Audience: CSP
Relevant to: #Event #UnderstandBenefits #CrossSolution

On November 2, we held our first Microsoft Managed Services Provider (MSP) Summit to talk about the Managed Services opportunity for Microsoft partners. The inaugural event included an overview of new and updated technology to help you grow your practice. Register to watch the recording, and stay tuned for more MSP-specific content coming soon!

We’ve heard your feedback on some of the recent changes to the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program and want to hear from you about your experience with Solutions Partner designations. Please fill out this survey to help us continue to evolve the program.

AI OPPORTUNITY FOR MANAGED SERVICES PROVIDERS
Partner Audience: CSP
Relevant to: #LearnSolutionAreas #WinFormula #CrossSolution

Review the AI Opportunity for MSPs for guidance on how to integrate AI technology into your managed services, best practices for customer conversations, and tools for getting started. Check out the campaign resources today!

JOIN THE MICROSOFT MSP COMMUNITY
Partner Audience: CSP
Relevant to: #News #GrowYourBiz #CrossSolution

The new Managed Services Provider (MSP) community is a place where you can interact with Microsoft experts and partners. Whether you’re transitioning to cloud services or looking to optimize your cloud practice, the Americas MSP community is for you.

Learn from other partners that have transitioned to selling cloud solutions and discover how the latest technology can help you build solutions that your customers will love. We’ll share:

- News on the latest technology that will help customers stay secure, increase productivity, and realize the value of cloud solutions.
- Technical training to help you stay up to date on the latest Microsoft solutions designed for your cloud practice, like the Microsoft Copilot suite and Microsoft 365 Lighthouse.
- A guided breakdown of the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program to help you maximize your program benefits and master your partner designations.
- A deep dive into the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program to help you provide the best value solutions to your customers and earn the most money from Microsoft in the process.
- GTM support to help you build campaigns and find new customers.

Visit the new MSP community today!

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Business Applications

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
Partner Audience: All
Relevant to: #WinFormula #LearnSolutionAreas #BizApps

As you close out 2023, here are top resources to bookmark for December:

- Download the FY24 Partner Activities Overview Guide.
- See the November 2023 Partner Alert for updates to the AIM migration program.
- Leverage the new campaign in a box on PMC and DMC, Maximize Sales Impact with Dynamics 365 (SMB).
- Bookmark the updated Partner resources guide.
- Register here for the monthly Partners Activities Office Hours. The next call is on December 14. Recordings will also be available to watch on demand.
- Register here to attend the Q2 SMB Business Applications Partner Hour on December 12, or watch on demand.
- Copilot updates
  - BizApps Copilot and AI blogs compilation and customer examples
  - Partner Blog: Accelerate your adoption of Business Applications Copilot and its AI features – Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program
  - Partner Alert: Announcing demand planning and Microsoft Copilot capabilities in Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management
  - Partner Blog: New partner opportunities with Microsoft Copilot Studio
  - Partner Blog: ISV opportunity to extend Microsoft Copilot for Sales
- Register to watch the Ignite Recap for Business Applications Partners on demand.

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Black Partner Growth Initiative

DECEMBER 19 WORKSHOP: NAVIGATING THE MICROSOFT CLOUD AND AI PARTNER PROGRAM: OPPORTUNITIES FOR SAAS FOUNDERS
Partner Audience: All
Relevant to: #Event #GrowSkills #CrossSolution

Join Women in Cloud (WIC), a Microsoft Partner-led Association, as they host a workshop led by Microsoft stakeholders.

Explore strategic opportunities tailored specifically for SAAS founders within the program, enabling you to leverage Microsoft’s Cloud and AI resources for the growth of your software-as-a-service business.
Understand the technical resources available through the program, empowering SAAS founders with access to cutting-edge AI technologies and cloud infrastructure to enhance product offerings and customer experiences.
Learn about resources and support mechanisms that aid in business scaling, ensuring that SAAS founders can effectively grow their businesses while leveraging Microsoft’s expertise and resources.

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Transformation

DON’T FORGET TO USE YOUR CO-OP FUNDS!
Partner Audience: All
Relevant to: #ProgramOfferUpdate #UnderstandBenefits #CrossSolution

As of August 15, your Co-op FY23 H2 earnings are available for you to use. You have until December 31, 2023, to spend your co-op funds and until February 15, 2024, to submit your claims. You can use co-op funds for demand generation, partner readiness, and market development activities. Sign in to Partner Center to view your available funds and submit any claims. For more information, see:

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Partner Resources

Partner Audience: All
Relevant to: #News #GrowYourBiz #CrossSolution

- Microsoft is a national member of the Small Business Digital Alliance (SBDA). The SBDA provides small businesses with free tools, training, networking, and other resources—the keys to helping you innovate, grow, and succeed. Learn more and get started today!
- Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program provides the resources to help you stay engaged with your customers and take your business to the next level. Get the latest partner resources and news tailored to our Americas partners.

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Join Us for Events and Activities

Partner Audience: All
Relevant to: #Events #GrowSkills #CrossSolution

- How to quickly migrate customers to Azure with Microsoft and Datto. Join Henrik Gutle, Azure GTM Leader for the Americas, and Brent Torre, GM Unified Backup, for a conversation on the customer opportunity to securely migrate cloud workloads to Azure with Datto Backup for Microsoft Azure. Register today!
- Microsoft Cloud Weeks for Partners and Sales Bootcamps. Learn more and register here for these solution-focused training and certification events designed to help you build your expertise. Sign up for upcoming events or register to watch on demand.
- Partner Academy webinars. Register here for on-demand webinars designed to help you have richer conversations with your customers.
- Partner Training Calendar. Register today for upcoming training that will accelerate your Microsoft skills. Filter by solution area or solution play, among other options.