Check out these top stories for the latest news of the week for Microsoft partners in the Americas.
UPDATED: October 30, 2024
Find upcoming skilling opportunities you won’t want to miss.
Partner Training Gallery: Bookmark this page to find up-to-date technical and sales enablement events, resources, and playbooks.
See the full view of the Microsoft Partner Skilling Calendar.
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Sales and Pre-Sales Skilling | Security | |||
Azure | Industry | |||
Business Applications | SMB Resellers | |||
Regional Skilling Service Phase 1 Now Live
We are happy to announce the new Regional Skilling Service is now launched to help managed partners close skilling gaps, drive certifications, and support Microsoft priorities. This new service will provide reactive support, monthly proactive office hours, key resources, and guidance to help enhance partner capabilities in areas like AI, cybersecurity, Microsoft 365, and more.
The new GPS Regional Skilling Service will:
- Provide managed partners with an inbound channel to submit questions and receive clear guidance on how to activate partner skilling offerings across certification training, project ready training, sales and pre-sales skilling
- All guidance is anchored on and provided via the Microsoft Partner Training website
- Provide a continuous feedback loop to capture field and partner feedback that will be used to continuously improve our partner skilling offerings
- Drive awareness and attendance at in-person regional events, Partner AI Training Days, Certification Weeks for Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program, and Project Ready Workshops
Partners can contact the Skilling Desk by sending questions via email to AskSkilling@Microsoft.com
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month
Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a vital reminder of the growing importance of securing digital environments. For Microsoft partners, investing in skilling around Microsoft security solutions is crucial to staying ahead of evolving threats. Share the latest Security skilling offerings with your partners here.
Register now for the latest skilling offerings
Microsoft AI Partner Training Day
Join us in person to hear about the latest trends and technology in the era of Al, with guidance from Microsoft executives and industry leaders.Hear about lessons learned from real-world Al deployments, discuss sales best practices followed by Microsoft teams, get hands-on experience with Microsoft’s Al platform, and learn about go-to-market tools to build and expand your Al practice.
Berlin
Nov 7, 2024
Register nowToronto
Dec 2, 2024
Register nowSydney
Dec 10, 2024
Register now
Copilot Certification – Generally Available
We are thrilled to announce that the GitHub Copilot certification exam became generally available on October 24th! This is an exciting opportunity for individuals looking to validate their skills with GitHub Copilot.
We believe this certification will play a vital role in helping professionals enhance their expertise and drive success in their projects.
For more information, please visit the certification landing page. You can also find the GitHub Copilot study guide, which includes links to the Microsoft Learning paths to help prepare for the exam.
Microsoft LevelUp for Partners
On-demand content covering sales, pre-sales, and technical skilling with labs.
Request access to Microsoft LevelUp
Request access by emailing Ask GPS Enablement. In the subject line, include “LevelUp Access Request” in the body of your email, and indicate your name, work email address, and organization name.
Video: Introducing Microsoft LevelUp for Partners
Upcoming events: Copilot (sales, pre-sales, and technical skilling)
Copilot for Microsoft 365, Copilot for Security, Copilot Studio, Microsoft Copilot for Service Workshop
Copilot Partner Project Ready Workshops (Level 300+ Technical)
Secure and Govern Copilot for Microsoft 365 with Microsoft Purview – Pre-sales
Nov 7, 2024
PDT, IST, GMTBuild or Buy? Driving customer conversations with Copilot and the Copilot stack
Nov 19-21, 2024
PDT, IST, GMTMicrosoft 365 & Copilot Sales Bootcamp
Nov 25, 2024
PDT, IST, GMT
Upcoming events: Sales and Pre-Sales Skilling
Microsoft CSP Security Sales Bootcamp – Simplifying ME5
Oct 29-30, 2024
IST, PDT, GMT
Upcoming events: Azure
Certification Week for Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program
Microsoft Certification Week for Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program is a five-day event that helps prepare you for Microsoft advanced role-based certifications. This is one of the best ways to help your organization meet the skilling criteria needed to attain a Solutions Partner designation.
Certification Weeks for Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program: Azure & GitHub
Achieving certification demonstrates your commitment to staying ahead of the curve in a fast-paced world. Accelerate your path to certification and mastering the intricacies of DevOps with GitHub, Azure AI, data science, infrastructure, and virtual desktop solutions with Azure & GitHub Certification Week.
Dec 2-6, 2024
IST, BST, PDT
On-demand certification prep content
Modular Training Videos
This content is derived from Microsoft Official Curriculum and presented in a modular format for each certification course.New training videos are available!
AZ-700: Designing and Implementing Microsoft Azure Networking Solutions – NEW
DP-600: Microsoft Fabric Analytics Engineer – NEW
DP-100: Designing and Implementing a Data Science Solution on Azure – Refreshed
AZ-204: Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure – Refreshed
AZ-305: Developing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions – Refreshed
Partner Project Ready Workshops (Level 300+ Technical)
Technical skilling designed to build implementation and deployment capability.
Transform SAP Business Processes with Microsoft Copilot and Azure Services Bootcamp
Nov 6-8, 2024
PDT, IST, GMTMicrosoft Fabric Workshop
Nov 11-14, 2024
PDT, IST, GMTAzure OpenAI Workshop
Oct 28-31, 2024
PDT, IST, GMTAzure VMware Solutions Bootcamp
Nov 12-15, 2024
PDT, IST, GMT
Upcoming events: Business Applications
Certification Week for Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program
Microsoft Certification Week for Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program is a five-day event that helps prepare you for Microsoft advanced role-based certifications. This is one of the best ways to help your organization meet the skilling criteria needed to attain a Solutions Partner designation.
On-demand certification prep content
Modular Training Videos
This content is derived from Microsoft’s official curriculum and is presented in a modular format for each certification course.New training videos are available!
PL-300: Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst – Refreshed
PL-900: Microsoft Power Platform Fundamentals – Refreshed
Partner Project Ready Workshops (Level 300+ Technical)
Technical skilling designed to build implementation and deployment capability.
Innovate with AI in Automation Workshop
Nov 12-14, 2024
PDT, IST, BST
Upcoming events: Modern Work
Certification Week for Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program
Microsoft Certification Week for Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program is a five-day event that helps prepare you for Microsoft advanced role-based certifications. This is one of the best ways to help your organization meet the skilling criteria needed to attain a Solutions Partner designation.
Certification Weeks for Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program: Modern Work
Accelerate your path to certification and mastering the intricacies of Microsoft 365 solutions including Copilot for Microsoft 365 with Modern Work certification week events.
Nov 4-8, 2024
IST, GMT, PST
On-demand certification prep content
Modular Training Videos
This content is derived from Microsoft’s official curriculum and is presented in a modular format for each certification course.New training videos are available!
MS-4005: Copilot for M365 – NEW
MS-4007: Copilot for M365 User Enablement Specialist – NEW
Get Started with Copilot for M365 – NEW
Partner Project Ready Workshops (Level 300+ Technical)
Technical skilling designed to build implementation and deployment capability.
Better Sell Copilot with M365 Business Case Builder and more Bootcamp
Nov 5-6, 2024
PDT, IST, GMT
Upcoming events: Security
Certification Week for Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program
Microsoft Certification Week for Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program is a five-day event that helps prepare you for Microsoft advanced role-based certifications. This is one of the best ways to help your organization meet the skilling criteria needed to attain a Solutions Partner designation.
Certification Weeks for Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program: Security
Accelerate your path to certification and mastering the intricacies of cybersecurity, threat protection, incident response, and more with Security certification week events.
Nov 4-8, 2024
IST, GMT, PST
On-demand certification prep content
Modular Training Videos
This content is derived from Microsoft’s official curriculum and is presented in a modular format for each certification course.New training videos are available!
SC-300: Implement an Identity Management Solution – NEW
SC-100: Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect – Refreshed
Partner Project Ready Workshops (Level 300+ Technical)
Technical skilling designed to build implementation and deployment capability.
Threat Protection and Incident Response with Microsoft Sentinel
Nov 12-13, 2024
IST, PDT, BSTFortify Your Data Security with Microsoft Purview
Nov 12-14, 2024
IST, PDT, BSTComing soon: Click here to register
Upcoming events: Industry specific skilling
Microsoft AI Envisioning Webinars for Industry
Encourage your partners to join our Microsoft AI Envisioning Webinars for Industry! These sessions are perfect for ISV or SI partners who are new to AI and looking to enhance their business. The webinars will provide valuable insights into AI’s impact on various industries, showcase practical use case examples, and guide partners in identifying business problems that can be solved with AI. Your partners will learn how to recognize AI opportunities, plan their development, and explore Microsoft tools for creating transformative AI applications. By leveraging the BXT framework, they can devise a comprehensive AI development plan and start building innovative AI solutions. Help your partners elevate their business with AI by encouraging them to participate in these informative webinars!
Register now: Retail | Manufacturing | Healthcare | Sustainability | Financial Services
Industry Sales Bootcamp
The goal of the industry sales bootcamp is to address the latency that exists between customer/field and partner enablement by developing a programmatic partner sales bootcamp day. The day consists of a 4-hour, interactive session with interactive session with AM and PM sessions available to suit different time zones.
Highlight this opportunity for your partners to join our half-day session focused on Sales Training and Enablement. This session offers a valuable opportunity for partners to hear and learn from Microsoft on important product updates and receive tailored training to unlock business value and deepen customer relationships. The agenda includes an introduction, through partner pitch, feature updates, sales orchestration, incentives, and a Q&A session. Help your partners enhance their sales skills and knowledge by encouraging them to participate in this informative session!
Industry AI Business and Capability Envisioning Event Series
We are excited to announce the continuation and expansion of our virtual Industry AI Business and Capability Envisioning event series, specially designed for ISV and SI partners. This is your chance to dive into the transformative world of AI and discover how it can revolutionize your business and benefit your clients.
AI for Manufacturing
Nov 6, 2024
AI for Sustainability
Nov 13, 2024
AI for Healthcare
Nov 20, 2024
Upcoming events: SMB Resellers
Copilot Sales Champion
This new offering is built to advance sales knowledge and product evangelism across each Microsoft Copilot solution within our partner community. The Copilot for Microsoft 365 Sales Champion program is an on-demand and interactive learning path available on a “first come, first served” basis while seats are available.
Registration link: Copilot Sales Champion
Access Code: XQLW-TDDJ
Azure Infrastructure SMB Sales Champion
This new offering is built to advance sales knowledge and product evangelism across each Microsoft Copilot solution within our partner community. The Copilot for Microsoft 365 Sales Champion program is an on-demand and interactive learning path available on a “first come, first served” basis while seats are available.
Registration link: Azure Infrastructure SMB Sales Champion
Access Code: MIAB-EIIH
High Volume Acceleration Series
Ready to scale and grow your Dynamics 365 practice? Take the next step and join the high-volume acceleration sessions provided by Microsoft and presented in partnership with Neural Impact. During these FREE, live experts facilitated sessions you will learn the best practices Dynamics 365 partners around the world are using to accelerate their Dynamics 365 practice and SMB & SMC customer adds. Sessions provide marketing, sales and delivery acceleration tips and strategies.
Oct 22-Dec 10, 2024
PST, CEST