#LearnSolutionAreas Archives | Americas Partner Blog http://approjects.co.za/?big=en-us/americas-partner-blog Microsoft Tue, 18 Mar 2025 04:59:48 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Top Stories: March 25, 2025 http://approjects.co.za/?big=en-us/americas-partner-blog/2025/03/25/top-stories-march-25-2025/ Tue, 25 Mar 2025 13:00:35 +0000 http://approjects.co.za/?big=en-us/americas-partner-blog/?p=50111 Partner Audience: #AllPartners
Relevant to:  #SalesAndMktg #News #AccelerateDeals #BizApps

New sales agents for Microsoft 365

Microsoft recently announced two new sales agents accessible in Microsoft 365 Copilot to help teams close more deals, faster: Sales Agent turns contacts into qualified leads and Sales Chat helps accelerate the sales cycle.

Learn more in this blog.

 


Partner Audience: #AllPartners
Relevant to:  #AllRoles #DoingBizwMSFT #LearnSolutionAreas #Azure #Security

LevelUp training for Azure and Security

Take your journey as a Microsoft partner to the next level with the self-paced flexible LevelUp learning programs.

To see the extensive offering of Azure and Security courses, including Threat Protection courses, select View all courses and filter under Solution Area in the course catalog.

 


Partner Audience: #CSP
Relevant to:  #DoingBizwMSFT #GrowYourBiz #Azure #ModernWork #Security

No Better Time video series: Accelerate Secure AI in CSP

As you navigate the ever-evolving landscape of technology, we’re excited to share the latest updates and opportunities that can help you accelerate your business and stay ahead of the curve. Hear from our Go-to-Market team on how to get started in this series of three short videos.

 


Partner Audience: #AllPartners
Relevant to: #SalesAndMktg #DoingBizwMSFT #GoToMarket #CrossSolution

Digital Marketing Content OnDemand

Digital Marketing Content OnDemand provides fresh go-to-market content for multichannel marketing campaigns at no extra cost to Microsoft partners. Unlock expertise that can help drive customer engagement and elevate your business.

Learn more and get started today!

 


 

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Americas Partner Skilling News: March 2025 Issue http://approjects.co.za/?big=en-us/americas-partner-blog/2025/03/11/americas-partner-skilling-news-march-2025-issue/ Wed, 12 Mar 2025 05:28:01 +0000 http://approjects.co.za/?big=en-us/americas-partner-blog/?p=50063 Find upcoming skilling opportunities you won’t want to miss.

See also Partner Skilling Resources and the Partner Skilling Calendar.

 


Skilling Spotlight


Certification Week for Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program: Business Applications

Achieving certification during Business Applications Certification Week helps you stay ahead by deepening your ERP and CRM knowledge, exploring low-code tools, and driving innovation through expert-led training.

Mar 24-28, 2025
IST, GMT, PDT

Click here to Register


Spotlight


Cosell Operations Service for Skilling (AskSkilling):

The Co-sell Operations Service for Skilling is a new service where partners can submit skilling related questions to our agents. The agents will respond within 24 hours.

This service helps partners understand the skilling offers available to them in their area and ensures they have the resources they need to build skilling capacity and capability.

You’re invited to join the upcoming Office Hours to learn more about this new skilling service. During these sessions our team will review the Partner Skilling Playbook, review the H2 skilling events calendar and answer any skilling questions you may have.

Please find below the schedule for sessions based on your time zone:
March 12, 2025 | Asia 1:00 PM IST | EMEA 9:30 AM GMT | Americas 10:00 AM PDT
April 9, 2025 | Asia 1:00 PM IST | EMEA 9:30 AM BST | Americas 10:00 AM PDT

These sessions are scheduled for the 2nd Wednesday of every month.

Register here.

For any questions or support, email AskSkilling.

Top

Sales & pre-sales skilling

Enhance your sales and pre-sales capabilities with expert-led training to boost your skills, communicate value, and accelerate the customer journey.

Accelerating AI Solutions Partner Series
Mar 25-27 (IST, GMT, PDT)

Partner Sales Bootcamp for Secure Productivity
Mar 25 (PDT) 

Sales & pre-sales skilling

Azure Project Ready

Enhance your Azure skills to effectively architect, deploy, and implement cloud and AI solutions, ensuring you are project-ready and can drive customer success.

Microsoft Fabric Workshop: Real Time Intelligence, Data Warehousing and Data Insights with AI ​
Mar 11-13 (IST, GMT, PDT) 

Building governance and security strategy for AI success
Mar 18-20 (IST, GMT, PDT) 

Azure OpenAI
Mar 24-27 (IST, GMT, PDT) 

Proactive resiliency: Reduced risk for reliable workloads
March 25-26 (IST, GMT, PDT)

Azure Project Ready

Business Applications Project Ready

Enhance your expertise in Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Microsoft Power Platform to streamline deployments, helping you become the go-to expert for client projects.

Transform frontline operations with AI in Dynamics 365 Field Service
Mar 17-19 (IST, GMT, PDT) 

Business Applications Project Ready

Top

Modern Work Project Ready

Accelerate your path to Modern Work certification to master Microsoft 365 tools and productivity solutions, empowering your team and boosting efficiency.

Modern Work Project Ready

Security Project Ready

Accelerate your path to Security certification to master cybersecurity and threat protection, ensuring you can effectively safeguard modern IT environments.

Defender for Endpoint, Identity & OT – Better Together Bootcamp ​
Mar 3-4 (IST, GMT, PDT)

Implement Microsoft Security Copilot
Mar 18-20 (IST, GMT, PDT)

Security Project Ready

GitHub

Validate your skills with GitHub Copilot to enhance your expertise and drive success across projects.

Access the GitHub Copilot study guide, to help prepare for the exam.

GitHub Copilot Certification

Industry events

Enhance Your Industry Expertise: Leverage sales and AI training to foster innovative solutions, accelerate business growth, and deliver tailored strategies for complex challenges.

Sustainability Sales Bootcamp
Mar 5 (PST, IST)

Retail Sales Bootcamp
Apr 16 (PST, IST)

Industry skilling

Top

Cross-solution area Project Ready Workshops

Build and extend AI-powered agents with Copilot Studio

Mar 4-6, 2025
IST, GMT, PDT

Click here to register

Secure and govern Microsoft 365 Copilot with Microsoft Purview – Pre-sales

Mar 11, 2025
IST, GMT, PDT

Click here to register

Build governance and security strategy for AI success

Mar 18-20, 2025
IST, GMT, PDT

Click here to register

Partner meetup for Microsoft Azure

Join this community to get invited to a series of weekly webinars designed exclusively for Microsoft Partners. These sessions will provide an opportunity to connect with Microsoft Experts and learn about the latest Azure, Data, and AI Services, features, programs, and technical content.

Feb-June 2025 Weekly Thursdays
PST/PDT

Click here to register

Copilot Sales Champion

This new offering is built to advance sales knowledge and product evangelism across each Microsoft Copilot solution within our partner community. Microsoft 365 Copilot Sales Champion 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

Top

LevelUp for Partners

NEW: LevelUp sponsored by Microsoft is an on-demand, self-paced LMS that provides skilling resources for Technical Project Ready with labs and Sales Ready skilling for the Microsoft Cloud Solution Areas and GTM Solution Plays.

Partner organizations have the flexibility to purchase additional seat capacity to meet their immediate skilling needs.

ACTION: For more information on this offer, including how to purchase seats, please refer to the LevelUp Playbook.

For support, please contact LevelUpHelp@technofocus.com

GPS Consumption-Led Skilling initiative

NEW: Solve critical technical skills gaps in your Delivery teams with just-in-time, live private ILT deployment skilling with access to real-world hands-on-lab experiences.

This skilling offering is available for MPL SI partners with a confirmed MSX Opportunity ID anchored GTM Solution Plays.

The initiative covers a wide range of Solution plays available in the Partner Project Ready Workshop Catalog.

ACTION: Please contact CLE_VTEAM@microsoft.com or your PDM, PTS, PSA and Account Executive to submit your training request.

Get “Deal Ready” with upcoming partner sales events 

NEW: A series of partner skilling events and webinars designed exclusively for Microsoft Partners. These sessions will provide an opportunity to connect with Microsoft Experts and gain proficiency with proposal building best practices supporting overall deal readiness.

These weekly series will provide quick sessions with interactive Q&A from our SMEs to better fit your schedule. All content and recordings will be available on-demand.

Register for the following upcoming partner series below:

These sessions will run weekly through April with multiple time zones available.

For any questions or support, email AskSkilling.

Top


Resources


LevelUp for Partners

Modular training

AskSkilling

Top

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Top Stories: March 11, 2025 http://approjects.co.za/?big=en-us/americas-partner-blog/2025/03/11/top-stories-march-11-2025/ Tue, 11 Mar 2025 13:00:27 +0000 http://approjects.co.za/?big=en-us/americas-partner-blog/?p=50059 Partner Audience: #AllPartners
Relevant to:  #SalesAndMarketing #Event #AccelerateDeals #ModernWork #Security

Partner Sales Bootcamp for Secure Productivity

Organizations are looking to boost productivity with AI, but face challenges protecting their data while managing multiple productivity tools and complex hybrid environments.

Microsoft 365 E3 helps customers jumpstart their generative AI transformations with AI-powered productivity. Best-in-class productivity apps provide a solid base for the best AI experience with Microsoft 365 Copilot. The recommended zero-trust security foundations help protect identities, devices, applications, and data.

This four-hour virtual bootcamp on March 25 will help you prepare to successfully pitch Microsoft 365 E3 and unlock new business growth potential. Learn more and register today.

 


Partner Audience: #AllPartners
Relevant to:  #AllRoles #News #GrowYourBiz #ModernWork #CrossSolution

Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat

Organizations of all sizes are looking to scale their AI transformation and realize the enterprise-wide ROI that comes with broad adoption of Microsoft 365 Copilot.

Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat adds pay-as-you-go agents to our existing free chat experience for Microsoft 365 commercial customers. Moving forward, every organization will have a mix of Copilot Chat and Microsoft 365 Copilot—our best-in-class offering—to drive AI transformation at scale.

Learn more in this blog and check out these partner resources:

 


Partner Audience: #AllPartners
Relevant to:  #AllRoles #WinFormula #LearnSolutionAreas #Security

Security Solution Assessment

How much do you know about your cybersecurity posture?

Our data-driven self-assessment will provide answers and actionable insights into your actual Cloud Security position.

Learn more and leverage this Self-Service Security Assessment for your customer today.

 


 

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Americas Partner Skilling News: February 2025 Issue http://approjects.co.za/?big=en-us/americas-partner-blog/2025/02/18/americas-partner-skilling-news-february-2025-issue/ Tue, 18 Feb 2025 22:28:49 +0000 http://approjects.co.za/?big=en-us/americas-partner-blog/?p=49997 UPDATED: 2/24/2025

Find upcoming skilling opportunities you won’t want to miss.

See also the full Partner Skilling Calendar and Partner Skilling Playbook.

 


CopilotSecurity
AzureIndustry
Business ApplicationsSMB Resellers
Modern Work

Cosell Operations Service for Skilling (AskSkilling)

The Co-sell Operations Service for Skilling is a new service where partners can submit skilling related questions to our agents. The agents will respond within 24 hours.

This service helps partners understand the skilling offers available to them in their area and ensures they have the resources they need to build skilling capacity and capability.

You’re invited to join the upcoming Office Hours to learn more about this new skilling service. During these sessions our team will review the Partner Skilling Playbook, review the H2 skilling events calendar and answer any skilling questions you may have.

Please find below the schedule for sessions based on your time zone:
March 12, 2025 | Asia 1:00 PM IST | EMEA 9:30 AM GMT | Americas 10:00 AM PDT
April 9, 2025 | Asia 1:00 PM IST | EMEA 9:30 AM BST | Americas 10:00 AM PDT

These sessions are scheduled for the 2nd Wednesday of every month.

Register here.

For any questions or support, email AskSkilling.

LevelUp for Partners

NEW: LevelUp sponsored by Microsoft is an on-demand, self-paced LMS that provides skilling resources for Technical Project Ready with labs and Sales Ready skilling for the Microsoft Cloud Solution Areas and GTM Solution Plays.

Partner organizations have the flexibility to purchase additional seat capacity to meet their immediate skilling needs.

ACTION: For more information on this offer, including how to purchase seats, please refer to the LevelUp Playbook

For support, please contact LevelUpHelp@technofocus.com.

GPS Consumption Led Skilling Program

NEW: Solve critical technical skills gaps in your Delivery teams with just-in-time, live private ILT deployment skilling with access to real-world hands-on-lab experiences.

This skilling offering is available for MPL SI partners with a confirmed MSX Opportunity ID anchored GTM Solution Plays.

The program covers a wide range of Solution plays available in the Partner Project Ready Workshop Catalog.

ACTION: Please contact CLE_VTEAM@microsoft.com or your PDM, PTS, PSA and Account Executive to submit your training request.

Top


Upcoming events: Sales, pre-sales, and technical skilling


GitHub Copilot Certification – Generally Available

We are thrilled to announce that the GitHub Copilot certification exam is now generally available! 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.

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 Microsoft 365 Copilot 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

Partner Project Ready Workshops (Level 300+ Technical)

Build and extend AI-powered agents with Copilot Studio

Mar 4-6, 2025
PST, IST, GMT

Click here to register

Secure and govern Microsoft 365 Copilot with Microsoft Purview – Pre-sales

Mar 11, 2025
PDT, IST, GMT

Click here to register

Build governance and security strategy for AI success

Mar 18-20, 2025
PDT, IST, GMT

Click here to register

Top

 


Upcoming events: Sales and pre-sales skilling


Accelerating AI Solutions Partner Series

Mar 25-27, 2025
PDT, IST, GMT

Click here to register

GitHub Partner Bootcamp

Mar 25-26, 2025
PDT, IST, GMT

Click here to register

Partner Sales Bootcamp for Secure Productivity

Mar 25, 2025
PDT, IST, GMT

Click here to register

Microsoft 365 Copilot and Agents Sales Bootcamp

Feb 25-27, 2025
PST, IST, GMT

Click here to register

Top


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 Week for Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program: AI and Security
Accelerate your path to certification and mastering the intricacies of AI, cybersecurity, threat protection, incident response, and more with Security certification week events:

Korea AI & Security Certification Week
Feb 24 – 28, 2025

Click here to register

China AI & Security Certification Week
Feb 24 – 28, 2025

Click here to register

Certification Week for Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program: Azure and GitHub

Achieving certification demonstrates your commitment to staying ahead of the curve in a fast-paced world. Take the next step in your certification path with technical training in Azure Data and Al services, GitHub Copilot and Advanced Security, Infrastructure Administration, Cloud Application Development and more.

Feb 24-28, 2025
PDT, IST, GMT

Click here to register

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.

Click here to register

Partner Project Ready Workshops (Level 300+ Technical)

Technical skilling designed to build implementation and deployment capability.

Partner meetup for Microsoft Azure

Feb-June 2025
Weekly Thursdays
PST/PDT

Click here to register

Azure OpenAI Workshop

Feb 24-27, 2025
PDT, IST, GMT

Click here to register

DevOps with GitHub and GitHub Copilot

Feb 24-27, 2025
PDT, IST, GMT

Click here to register

Microsoft Fabric Workshop: Real Time Intelligence and Data Insights with AI

Mar 11-12, 2025
PDT, IST, GMT

Click here to register

Azure OpenAI Workshop

Mar 24-27, 2025
PDT, IST, GMT

Click here to register

GitHub partner bootcamp

Mar 25-27, 2025
PDT, IST, GMT

Click here to register

Azure Databricks: Migration and integration

Mar 25-27, 2025
PDT, IST, GMT

Click here to register

Top


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.

Certification Week for Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program: Business Applications

Achieving certification demonstrates your commitment to staying ahead of the curve in a fast-paced world. Accelerate your path to certification and deepen your understanding of intelligent ERP and CRM business applications. During Business Applications Certification Week you’ll also explore low-code tools and explore how to drive innovation and efficiency across customer solutions. Through expert-led training, you’ll be empowered to help your customers adapt and innovate by connecting teams, processes, and data across business functions for increased efficiency, greater agility, and exceptional customer experiences.

Mar 24-28, 2025
PDT, IST, GMT

Click here to register

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.

Click here to register

Partner Project Ready Workshops (Level 300+ Technical)

Technical skilling designed to build implementation and deployment capability.

Low code app modernization for developers

Feb 25-26, 2025
PDT, IST, GMT

Click here to register

Transform frontline operations with AI in Dynamics 365 Field Service

Mar 17-19, 2025
PDT, IST, GMT

Click here to register

Top


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.

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.

Click here to register

Partner Project Ready Workshops (Level 300+ Technical)

Technical skilling designed to build implementation and deployment capability.

Innovate with Microsoft 365 Copilot and build your own agents

Feb 18-20, 2025
PDT, IST, GMT

Click here to register

Top


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 Week 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:

Korea AI & Security Certification Week
Feb 24 – 28, 2025

Click here to register

China AI & Security Certification Week
Feb 24 – 28, 2025

Click here to register

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.

Click here to register

Partner Project Ready Workshops (Level 300+ Technical)

Technical skilling designed to build implementation and deployment capability.

Defender for Endpoint, Identity & OT – Better Together Bootcamp

Mar 3-4, 2025
PDT, IST, GMT

Click here to register

Implement Microsoft Security Copilot

Mar 18-20, 2025
PDT, IST, GMT

Click here to register

Top


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.

Click here to register: 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.

Click here to register

Sustainability Sales Bootcamp

Mar 5, 2025
PST, IST

Click here to register

Retail Sales Bootcamp

April 16, 2025
PDT, IST

Click here to register

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 Sustainability

On demand
Click here to register

AI for Healthcare

On demand
Click here to register

Top


Upcoming events: SMB Resellers


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

Top

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Americas Partner Skilling News: January 2025 Issue http://approjects.co.za/?big=en-us/americas-partner-blog/2025/01/15/americas-partner-skilling-news-january-2025-issue/ Wed, 15 Jan 2025 19:44:13 +0000 http://approjects.co.za/?big=en-us/americas-partner-blog/?p=49934 Find upcoming skilling opportunities you won’t want to miss.

See also the full Partner Skilling Calendar and Partner Skilling Playbook.

 


CopilotSecurity
AzureIndustry
Business ApplicationsSMB Resellers
Modern Work

LevelUp for Partners

LevelUp sponsored by Microsoft is a self-directed, self-paced interactive learning management system tailored to Microsoft Partners. Partner organizations have flexibility to purchase seat capacity to meet their skilling needs.

LevelUp offers partners high-value sales, pre-sales, and technical courses across all Microsoft Cloud Solution Areas and GTM Solution Plays:

  • Sales skilling to enable Microsoft partner sellers to build mindshare & sell more effectively
  • Pre-sales skilling to enable Microsoft partner tech sellers to convert mindshare into customer projects
  • Project Ready skilling with hands-on-labs to improve delivery team deployment capability

For more information on this offering, including how to purchase seats, please refer to the LevelUp Playbook. For support, please contact LevelUpHelp@technofocus.com.

Regional Skilling Services is now live

The Regional Skilling Service desk is designed to help managed partners close skilling gaps, drive certifications, and support Microsoft priorities. This service offers reactive support, PDM-led partner outreach, key resources, and guidance to enhance partner capabilities in areas like AI, cybersecurity, Microsoft 365, and more.

Email AskSkilling@Microsoft.com to learn more about Microsoft partner skilling offerings, resources, support, and feedback.

Introducing the GPS Consumption Led Skilling Program

We are pleased to announce the Consumption Led Skilling (CLS) program, formerly known as Account Led or Consumption Led Enablement. This initiative equips GSI, GCS, and Enterprise SI partner delivery teams with L300+ project-ready skills through exclusive live virtual instructor-led training and hands-on labs. Designed for partner teams working on won client projects, the program ensures they are technically prepared for successful project outcomes.

Trainings Offered: The program covers a wide range of Solution plays available in the Partner Project Ready Workshop Catalog.

Key Features:

  • Availability: Open to GSI, GCS, and Enterprise SI partner delivery teams working on client projects for which the contract between the partner and client is already signed.
  • Training delivery: Dedicated private live virtual instructor-led L300+ depth training with hands-on labs.

Qualification: Consumption Led Skilling triage v-team reviews and prioritizes requests based on business justification and Azure Consumption Revenue impact.

How to Request CLS Training: Contact your skilling manager to request CLS training for your delivery team.

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to enhance the CLS program to better serve our partners and drive successful project outcomes.

Top


Upcoming events: Copilot (sales, pre-sales, and technical skilling)


SMB Sales Bootcamp

The SMB Sales Bootcamp is a multi-day partner sales event that will cover key sales and go to market topics aimed to help grow partner capabilities to successfully sell the Microsoft Cloud to SMB customers. Join this sales bootcamp to learn about the massive opportunity in the small and medium business space (one of the fastest growing businesses within Microsoft), overview of Microsoft SMB FY25 Solution Plays and the hero products, understand the SMB AI and Copilot narratives, and resources to land more SMB deals. This will be brought to life with real use case scenarios and objection handling best practices.
Jan 28-30, 2025
PDT, IST, GMT

Click here to register

GitHub Copilot Certification – Generally Available

We are thrilled to announce that the GitHub Copilot certification exam is now generally available! 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.

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 Microsoft 365 Copilot 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

Copilot Partner Project Ready Workshops (Level 300+ Technical)

Power your AI transformation with Copilot and the Copilot Stack Bootcamp

Jan 21-23, 2025
PDT, IST, GMT

Click here to register

Build and extend your own agents using pro-code capabilities

Jan 28-31, 2025
PDT, IST, GMT

Click here to register

Top


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 Week for Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program: AI & Security
Accelerate your path to certification and mastering the intricacies of AI, cybersecurity, threat protection, incident response, and more with Security certification week events:

Korea AI & Security Certification Week
Feb 24 – 28, 2025

China AI & Security Certification Week
Feb 24 – 28, 2025

Registration coming soon

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.

Click here to register

Partner Project Ready Workshops (Level 300+ Technical)

Technical skilling designed to build implementation and deployment capability.

Build and Modernize AI Apps Workshop

Jan 20-23, 2025
PDT, IST, GMT

Click here to register

Microsoft Fabric Workshop: Admin and Governance

Jan 28-29, 2025
PDT, IST, GMT

Click here to register

Microsoft Fabric Workshop: Data Warehousing

Jan 28-29, 2025
PDT, IST, GMT

Click here to register

Top


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.

Click here to register

Partner Project Ready Workshops (Level 300+ Technical)

Technical skilling designed to build implementation and deployment capability.

Full contact center solution with Power Platform and Dynamics 365

Jan 28 – Feb 20
PST

Click here to register

Enhance business performance planning in Dynamics 365 Finance

On-demand
Available January 29

Registration coming soon

Top


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.

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.

Click here to register

Partner Project Ready Workshops (Level 300+ Technical)

Technical skilling designed to build implementation and deployment capability.

Frontline Worker technical bootcamp

Jan 22-23, 2024
PDT

Jan 29-30, 2024
PDT

Click here to register

Top


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 Week for Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program: Security & GitHub

Stay ahead of the curve and get ready for certification by gaining cybersecurity expertise with the Security track and advancing your coding skills with the GitHub track.

Jan 27-31, 2025

Click here to register

Certification Week 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:

Japan Security Certification Week (only security)
Feb 17 – 21, 2025

Korea AI & Security Certification Week
Feb 24 – 28, 2025

China AI & Security Certification Week
Feb 24 – 28, 2025

Registration coming soon

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.

Click here to register

Partner Project Ready Workshops (Level 300+ Technical)

Technical skilling designed to build implementation and deployment capability.

Implementing Microsoft Defender for Office 365, Identity and Cloud apps Bootcamp

Jan 21-23, 2025
PDT, IST, GMT

Click here to register

Top


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.

Click here to register: 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.

Click here to register

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 Sustainability

On demand
Click here to register

AI for Healthcare

On demand
Click here to register

Top


Upcoming events: SMB Resellers


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

Top

]]>
Americas Partner Skilling News: December 2024 Issue http://approjects.co.za/?big=en-us/americas-partner-blog/2024/12/16/americas-partner-skilling-news-december-2024-issue/ Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:07:01 +0000 http://approjects.co.za/?big=en-us/americas-partner-blog/?p=49868 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.


CopilotSecurity
AzureIndustry
Business ApplicationsSMB Resellers
Modern Work

LevelUp for Partners

LevelUp sponsored by Microsoft is a self-directed, self-paced interactive learning management system tailored to Microsoft Partners. Partner organizations have flexibility to purchase seat capacity to meet their skilling needs.

LevelUp offers partners high-value sales, pre-sales, and technical courses across all Microsoft Cloud Solution Areas and GTM Solution Plays:

  • Sales skilling to enable Microsoft partner sellers to build mindshare & sell more effectively
  • Pre-sales skilling to enable Microsoft partner tech sellers to convert mindshare into customer projects
  • Project Ready skilling with hands-on-labs to improve delivery team deployment capability

For more information on this offering, including how to purchase seats, please refer to the LevelUp Playbook.

Regional Skilling Services is now live

The Regional Skilling Service desk is designed to help managed partners close skilling gaps, drive certifications, and support Microsoft priorities. This service offers reactive support, PDM-led partner outreach, key resources, and guidance to enhance partner capabilities in areas like AI, cybersecurity, Microsoft 365, and more.

Email AskSkilling@Microsoft.com to learn more about Microsoft partner skilling offerings, resources, support, and feedback.

Introducing the GPS Consumption Led Skilling Program

We are pleased to announce our Consumption Led Skilling (CLS) program, previously known as Account Led or Consumption Led Enablement. This initiative helps GSI, GCS, and Enterprise SI partner delivery teams achieve L300+ project-ready skills for client projects. The goal is to ensure partner teams are technically equipped through systematic skilling signals for successful project outcomes.

Program Highlights: The Consumption Led Skilling program provides exclusive live virtual instructor-led level 300+ training with hands-on labs for partner delivery teams working on won client projects.

Trainings Offered: The program covers a wide range of Solution plays available in the Partner Project Ready Workshop Catalogue and can include customized topics based on business needs.

Key Features:

  • Availability: Open to GSI, GCS, and Enterprise SI partner delivery teams working on client projects for which the contract between the partner and client is already signed.
  • Training delivery: Dedicated private live virtual instructor-led L300+ depth training with hands-on labs.

Qualification: Consumption Led Skilling triage v-team reviews and prioritizes requests based on business justification and Azure Consumption Revenue impact.

How to Request CLS Training: Contact your skilling manager to request Consumption Led Skilling training for your delivery team.

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to enhance the CLS program to better serve our partners and drive successful project outcomes.


Register now for the latest skilling offerings


SFI Partner Series

Join Microsoft SMEs for a virtual series on the Secure Future Initiative (SFI); a multiyear commitment to evolve the way we design, build, test, and operate our products and services, to achieve the highest possible standards for security.

Building on our October 24 event, on-demand here, this series will continue to explore SFI’s six pillars. Each session will focus on security and governance best practices tailored specifically for different partners and industries, providing insights, recommendations, and novel strategies.

Business Applications partners

Dec 11, 2024
Click here to register

Modern Work partners

Dec 12, 2024
Click here to register

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.

Top


Upcoming events: Copilot (sales, pre-sales, and technical skilling)


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

Copilot Partner Project Ready Workshops (Level 300+ Technical)

Microsoft 365 & Copilot Sales Bootcamp

Dec 10-12, 2024
PDT, IST, GMT
Click here to register

Build Governance and Security for Successful AI Bootcamp

Dec 10-12, 2024
PDT, IST, GMT
Click here to register

Sales Go To Market Bootcamp

Dec 10-13, 2024
PDT, IST, GMT
Click here to register

Top


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 Week for Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program: AI & Security
Accelerate your path to certification and mastering the intricacies of AI, cybersecurity, threat protection, incident response, and more with Security certification week events:

Korea AI & Security Certification Week
Feb 24 – 28, 2025

China AI & Security Certification Week
Feb 24 – 28, 2025

Registration coming soon

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.

Click here to register

Partner Project Ready Workshops (Level 300+ Technical)

Technical skilling designed to build implementation and deployment capability.

Migrate to Innovate

Dec 10-12, 2024
PDT, IST, GMT
Click here to register

Azure OpenAI

Dec 10-13, 2024
PDT, IST, GMT
Click here to register

Top


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.

Click here to register

Partner Project Ready Workshops (Level 300+ Technical)

Technical skilling designed to build implementation and deployment capability.

SAP Integration with Power Platform Workshop

Dec 10-11, 2024
PDT, IST, GMT
Click here to register

Top


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.

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.

Click here to register

Partner Project Ready Workshops (Level 300+ Technical)

Technical skilling designed to build implementation and deployment capability.

Frontline Worker technical bootcamp

Jan 22-23, 2024
PDT

Jan 29-30, 2024
PDT

Click here to register

Top


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 Week 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:

Japan Security Certification Week (only security)
Feb 17 – 21, 2025

Korea AI & Security Certification Week
Feb 24 – 28, 2025

China AI & Security Certification Week
Feb 24 – 28, 2025

Registration coming soon

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.

Click here to register

Partner Project Ready Workshops (Level 300+ Technical)

Technical skilling designed to build implementation and deployment capability.

Implementing Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Workshop

Dec 10-12, 2024
PDT, IST, GMT
Click here to register

Identity & Access Management with Microsoft Entra Workshop

Dec 16-19, 2024
PDT, IST, GMT
Click here to register

Top


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.

Click here to register: 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.

Click here to register

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 Sustainability

On demand
Click here to register

AI for Healthcare

On demand
Click here to register

Top


Upcoming events: SMB Resellers


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

Top

]]>
Top Stories: December 3, 2024 http://approjects.co.za/?big=en-us/americas-partner-blog/2024/12/03/top-stories-december-3-2024/ Tue, 03 Dec 2024 14:00:25 +0000 http://approjects.co.za/?big=en-us/americas-partner-blog/?p=49833 Partner Audience: #AllPartners
Relevant to: #AllRoles #Event #GrowSkills #CrossSolution

December 4 Americas Partner Insider Call

There’s still time to register for the next Americas Partner Insider Call. We’ll explore how Microsoft embraces Responsible AI principles and practices when developing AI solutions, including how our legal department uses Copilot to achieve more. Next, we’ll help get you ready for H2 renewals and the one-year anniversary of Microsoft 365 Copilot on CSP with a discussion on the latest licensing changes, new promotions, product updates, and tools for successful pilots.

This event will be added to the list of previous sessions available to watch on demand.

 


Partner Audience: #AllPartners
Relevant to: #SalesAndMarketing #DoingBizwMSFT #GrowYourBiz #CrossSolution

Microsoft Americas CMO Partner Roundtable

You’re invited to join us for the first Microsoft Americas CMO Partner Roundtable of FY25! The focus of this exclusive, small-group conversation will be the pivotal role of AI and Microsoft Copilot in revolutionizing marketing strategies. Crafted to foster a rich and varied dialogue between Microsoft marketing executives and key marketing leaders from our partner community, don’t miss this opportunity to help shape our go-to-market strategy.

Seven curated roundtables will run simultaneously on January 16 at 10–11 AM PT. Learn more and reserve your seat today at the virtual roundtable that is most relevant to your business.

 


Partner Audience: #AllPartners
Relevant to: #AllRoles #News #LearnSolutionAreas #ModernWork

Microsoft named a Leader in the Magic Quadrant™ for UCaaS

Microsoft is a dominant player in the Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) space, offering robust and innovative solutions and a forward-thinking strategy for the future of UCaaS, including the integration of advanced technologies like AI.

Read why Gartner® has named Microsoft a Leader in this Magic Quadrant.*

 


Partner Audience: #AllPartners
Relevant to: #AllRoles #DoingBizwMSFT #UnderstandBenefits #CrossSolution

Last chance to spend your FY25 H1 Co-op funds

As the holiday season approaches, we wanted to remind our partners that the last day to spend your FY25 H1 Co-op funds is December 31. Your H1 funds will not roll over into H2.

See the FY25 Partner Incentives Co-op Guidebook, Co-op Funds Resources, and our blog to learn more.

 


Partner Audience: #AllPartners
Relevant to: #AllRoles #DoingBizwMSFT #GrowYourBiz #Azure #Retail

Resources to get you started: Retail industry

Data is the thread that connects consumers and experiences in the retail industry. Companies that embrace innovation and data-driven strategies can drive key business outcomes.

Leverage the Power Business Decisions with Cloud Scale Analytics campaign assets to drive demand for Retail Analytics MVPs (Pilot/POC), migrations, and deployments. This solution play is designed to help retail companies unify their data estate for analytics, build fit-for-purpose AI models, responsibly democratize analytics, and scale transformative applications so retail businesses can unlock insights and gain value faster.​

 


Partner Audience: #AllPartners
Relevant to: #AllRoles #Event #GrowSkills #CrossSolution

Copilot Partner Prompt-a-Thon

The Copilot Partner Prompt-a-Thon is an online series of actionable, hands-on sessions designed to help Microsoft partners make the most of Copilot.

Learn more and register now for the December 19 session on Vacation Mode: Simplified with Copilot.

 


*Gartner, Magic Quadrant for Unified Communications as a Service, Pankil Sheth, Megan Fernandez, 7 October 2024

 

GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner and Magic Quadrant is a registered trademark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and are used herein with permission. All rights reserved. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

 

 

]]>
Top Stories: November 19, 2024 http://approjects.co.za/?big=en-us/americas-partner-blog/2024/11/19/top-stories-november-19-2024/ Tue, 19 Nov 2024 14:00:57 +0000 http://approjects.co.za/?big=en-us/americas-partner-blog/?p=49822 Partner Audience: #AllPartners
Relevant to: #AllRoles #Event #GrowSkills #CrossSolution

December 4 Americas Partner Insider Call

Register now for the next Americas Partner Insider Call. We’ll explore how Microsoft embraces Responsible AI principles and practices when developing AI solutions, including how our legal department uses Copilot to achieve more. Next, you’ll hear from Partner Marketing about how to accelerate your pipeline by leveraging funded engagements.

See the list of previous sessions, now available to watch on demand.

 


Partner Audience: #AllPartners
Relevant to: #SalesAndMarketing #DoingBizwMSFT #AccelerateDeals #CrossSolution

Resources to get you started: Retail industry

The emergence of AI has transformed the retail industry. Customers look to you for guidance, and there’s a wealth of information to help guide you when building your practice. But sometimes it’s hard to know where to begin.

Leverage these campaign assets designed for system integrators and service providers targeting corporate and enterprise customers in the retail sector. Help your customers empower their frontline retail workers with technology that enables them to focus on what matters most and their frontline workers to work smarter, not harder.

Read last week’s Top Stories for additional resources you can leverage to empower your retail customers, and look for more to come!

 


Partner Audience: #CSP
Relevant to: #Tech #SalesAndMarketing #Event #GrowSkills #ModernWork #Security

Level Up CSP Microsoft 365 & Copilot Bootcamps

Join us for these upcoming special edition bootcamps built to help you get ready to drive a successful renewal cycle and capture upsell opportunities starting in January.

Upsell and Renewal Sales Bootcamp
December 10 at 8:00 AM–12:00 PM PT

Upsell and Renewal Tech Bootcamp
Day 1:
December 11 at 8:00 AM–12:00 PM PT
Day 2: December 12 at 8:00 AM–12:00 PM PT

Voiceover language coverage: Japanese, Chinese, Korean, French, German, Spanish (EU), Spanish (LATAM), Italian, and Hindi​

Learn more and register here. And be sure to check out the list of previous bootcamps, now available to watch on demand.

 


Partner Audience: #AllPartners
Relevant to: #AllRoles #News #LearnSolutionAreas #ModernWork

Microsoft 365 Copilot for SMBs—new study

Generative AI is transforming businesses of all sizes. To better understand how AI is helping businesses grow and compete, Microsoft commissioned Forrester Consulting to study the potential return on investment (ROI) of Microsoft 365 Copilot for SMBs. The study shows that Microsoft 365 Copilot drove up to 353% ROI for small and medium businesses. Read the blog to learn more about the results of the study.

 


 

]]>
Americas Partner Skilling News: November 2024 Issue http://approjects.co.za/?big=en-us/americas-partner-blog/2024/11/13/americas-partner-skilling-news-november-2024-issue/ Thu, 14 Nov 2024 05:34:25 +0000 http://approjects.co.za/?big=en-us/americas-partner-blog/?p=49807 Updated 12/2/2024

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.


CopilotModern Work
Sales and Pre-Sales SkillingSecurity
AzureIndustry
Business ApplicationsSMB Resellers

Regional Skilling Services is now live

The Regional Skilling Service desk is designed to help managed partners close skilling gaps, drive certifications, and support Microsoft priorities. This service offers reactive support, PDM-led partner outreach, key resources, and guidance to enhance partner capabilities in areas like AI, cybersecurity, Microsoft 365, and more.

Email AskSkilling@Microsoft.com to learn more about Microsoft partner skilling offerings, resources, support, and feedback.


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.

Toronto
Dec 2, 2024
Register now

Sydney
Dec 10, 2024
Register now

SFI Partner Series

Join Microsoft SMEs for a virtual series on the Secure Future Initiative (SFI); a multiyear commitment to evolve the way we design, build, test, and operate our products and services, to achieve the highest possible standards for security.

Building on our October 24 event, on-demand here, this series will continue to explore SFI’s six pillars. Each session will focus on security and governance best practices tailored specifically for different partners and industries, providing insights, recommendations, and novel strategies.

Digital Apps and Innovation partners

Dec 3, 2024
Click here to register

Infrastructure partners

Dec 5, 2024
Click here to register

Data & AI partners

Dec 10, 2024
Click here to register

Business Applications partners

Dec 11, 2024
Click here to register

Modern Work partners

Dec 12, 2024
Click here to register

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 LevelUp sponsored by Microsoft

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.

Top


Upcoming events: Copilot (sales, pre-sales, and technical skilling)

Copilot for Microsoft 365, Copilot for Security, Copilot Studio, Microsoft Copilot for Service Workshop


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

Copilot Partner Project Ready Workshops (Level 300+ Technical)

Build and extend AI-powered Copilots with Copilot Studio Workshop

Dec 3-5, 2024
PDT, IST, GMT
Click here to register

Microsoft 365 & Copilot Sales Bootcamp

Dec 10-12, 2024
PDT, IST, GMT
Click here to register

Build Governance and Security for Successful AI Bootcamp

Dec 10-12, 2024
PDT, IST, GMT
Click here to register

Sales Go To Market Bootcamp

Dec 10-13, 2024
PDT, IST, GMT
Click here to register

Top


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

Click here to register

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.

Register now

Partner Project Ready Workshops (Level 300+ Technical)

Technical skilling designed to build implementation and deployment capability.

Build and Modernize AI Apps

Dec 2-5, 2024
PDT, IST, GMT
Click here to register

Microsoft Fabric Workshop

Dec 3-5, 2024
PDT, IST, GMT
Click here to register

Migrate to Innovate

Dec 10-12, 2024
PDT, IST, GMT
Click here to register

Azure OpenAI

Dec 10-13, 2024
PDT, IST, GMT
Click here to register

Top


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.

Click here to register

Partner Project Ready Workshops (Level 300+ Technical)

Technical skilling designed to build implementation and deployment capability.

SAP Integration with Power Platform Workshop

Dec 10-11, 2024
PDT, IST, GMT
Click here to register

Top


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.

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.

Click here to register

Partner Project Ready Workshops (Level 300+ Technical)

Technical skilling designed to build implementation and deployment capability.

Copilot for Microsoft 365 Deployment & User Enablement Bootcamp

Dec 3-5, 2024
PDT, IST, GMT
Click here to register

Frontline Worker technical bootcamp

Dec 3-4, 2024
PDT
Click here to register

Converged Communications Sales bootcamp

Dec 2-4, 2024
PDT
Click here to register

Cloud Endpoints Partner Technical bootcamp

Dec 9-11, 2024
PDT
Click here to register

Top


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.

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.

Click here to register

Partner Project Ready Workshops (Level 300+ Technical)

Technical skilling designed to build implementation and deployment capability.

Implementing Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Workshop

Dec 10-12, 2024
PDT, IST, GMT
Click here to register

Identity & Access Management with Microsoft Entra Workshop

Dec 16-19, 2024
PDT, IST, GMT
Click here to register

Top


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.

Click here to register: 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.

Click here to register

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 Sustainability

On demand
Click here to register

AI for Healthcare

On demand
Click here to register

Top


Upcoming events: SMB Resellers


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

Click here to register

Top

]]>
Enhance your Cybersecurity: 5 simple steps to protect yourself from hackers http://approjects.co.za/?big=en-us/americas-partner-blog/2024/10/28/enhance-your-cybersecurity-5-simple-steps-to-protect-yourself-from-hackers/ Tue, 29 Oct 2024 04:16:28 +0000 http://approjects.co.za/?big=en-us/americas-partner-blog/?p=49735 Partner Audience: #AllPartners
Relevant to: #BestPractice #LearnSolutionAreas #Security


Cybersecurity Awareness Month is an international initiative celebrated in the United States each October. It’s the perfect time to reflect on our digital habits and fortify our defenses against cybercriminals. In an age where technology permeates every aspect of our lives, ensuring our personal devices and accounts are secure has never been more crucial.

Here are five practical actions you can take to significantly reduce the likelihood of being hacked or breached by cybercriminals.

Step 1: Use strong, unique passwords

One of the most effective ways to shield yourself from cyberthreats is by using strong, unique passwords for each of your accounts. Avoid common passwords such as “123456” or “password,” and instead create complex combinations of letters, numbers, and special characters. Using a different password for each account ensures that even if one password is compromised, your other accounts remain secure. Consider using a reputable password manager to generate and store your passwords securely.

Step 2: Enable two-factor authentication (2FA)

Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security to your accounts by requiring two forms of verification before granting access. Typically, this involves something you know (like your password) and something you have (such as a verification code sent to your phone). Enabling 2FA significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access, even if your password is compromised. Make sure to enable 2FA on all accounts that offer it, especially those containing sensitive information.

Step 3: Keep your software updated

Regularly updating your software is a simple yet powerful way to protect against cyberthreats. Software updates often include patches for security vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit. Ensure that your operating system, applications, and antivirus software are set to update automatically. This practice not only enhances your device’s performance but also fortifies your defenses against potential attacks.

Step 4: Be wary of phishing scams

Phishing scams are a common tactic used by hackers to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information. These scams often come in the form of emails or messages that appear to be from legitimate sources but contain malicious links or attachments. To avoid falling victim to phishing, always verify the sender’s identity and refrain from clicking on suspicious links. Additionally, be cautious of unsolicited requests for personal information and report any suspicious activity to the appropriate authorities.

Step 5: Secure your Wi-Fi network

Your home Wi-Fi network can be a gateway for hackers if not properly secured. Start by changing the default username and password of your router to something more secure. Use WPA3 encryption, if available, to enhance your network’s protection. Additionally, consider hiding your network’s SSID (service set identifier) to make it less visible to potential intruders. Regularly monitoring your network for any unfamiliar devices can also help detect unauthorized access.

Stay safe!

As we become increasingly reliant on digital technologies, the importance of cybersecurity cannot be overstated. By implementing these simple yet effective measures, you can significantly reduce your risk of falling prey to cybercriminals. This Cybersecurity Awareness Month, take proactive steps to safeguard your and your customers’ digital life and encourage others to do the same. Remember, a secure digital environment starts with informed and vigilant individuals. Learn more about Microsoft industry-leading Security solutions.

Keep learning

I have the privilege of working with many Microsoft partners across the Americas. If you are a Microsoft partner (anywhere in the world) bookmark the Microsoft Security Partners page. Stay up to date on new content, including recently launched Security training videos!

Stay safe, stay secure, and embrace the power of cybersecurity!

Join the conversation

Want to explore this and other topics you care about with Microsoft and other US partners? Head over to the Microsoft Americas Partner Community on LinkedIn.

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