Kolkata: Microsoft is offering new Azure skill training and certification to channel partners to help support their growth. The company believes that channel partners across the world need to upgrade their skills in order to meet the changing needs of customers, who are increasingly deploying digital technologies and practices.
Gavriella Schuster, corporate vice president, Worldwide Partner Group, Microsoft, mentioned in the company blog post that “the new Azure training opportunities is aimed at helping partners respond to the surging demand, realize positive returns, and grow their market opportunity.” [Read the full story here]
Microsoft has made some Azure training completely free, while it has reduced other courses for partners by offering ‘deep discount’. The new training courses are available in a self-paced online learning environment, the company said.
Currently available courses include Azure Fundamentals that deals with how Azure works, and the services it provides, and Azure for AWS Experts, to name a few. Schuster said the new courses will typically take four to 16 hours to compete. The courses include online videos, hands-on labs, office hours and graded assessments.
“Today 80% of our customers have already deployed or fully embraced the cloud and that momentum is real and will continue to rise, and the technical competency of your business will be a critical component to success.
“To help ensure our partners can tap into a skilled and well-equipped workforce, Microsoft is investing in a variety of technical training, tools and resources, including the Microsoft Virtual Academy, the Cloud + Enterprise University Boot Camps, and the Microsoft Professional Program, just to name a few,” Schuster said.
Read more: Microsoft Claims Big Gains In Azure Cloud Biz
Channel partners can take advantage of the free Azure training and opt for a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) exams that remains a respected and recognized designation of cloud capability, and these offers can help partners to differentiate their business.
In addition, Microsoft will partner with the Linux Foundation to provide an optional add-on discount that may be applied toward Linux certification. That offer will launch in January 2017. Microsoft joined the Linux Foundation as a platinum member in November 2016.
Schuster stated that even a year ago, 3,500 partners were transacting business through Microsoft’s Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) program. Today, more than 20,000 partners are transacting via CSP, a 470% year-over-year increase. She stated that partners can also expect to see the company making additional training investments in 2017.