Microsoft Partners Get Credit on MSP Exam

Microsoft and the MSP Alliance, the International Association of Managed Service Providers, announced Thursday a certification and education relationship for Microsoft partners interested in managed IT services.

MSP Alliance President Charles Weaver told PHONE+ as part of the agreement, the association’s Managed Services Accreditation Program (MASP) will recognize Microsoft technical certifications as part of the assessment. Specifically, companies that are Microsoft Certified or Gold Certified Partners within the Systems Management or the Hosting Solutions Specialization in the Advanced Infrastructure competency will receive credit on the MSAP exam.

Weaver said companies must pass the assessment with 70 percent proficiency to be accredited. Recognizing the Microsoft certification will enable more companies to become accredited, he said.

Weaver said about 130 companies are accredited today, and he expects that number to rise significantly as a result of the agreement with Microsoft. “Microsoft recognizes MSAP as a best practice standard. It’s a big feather in our cap to have the approbation of Microsoft,” he said. “They will encourage partners to take the MSAP.”

In addition, Weaver expects membership in the MSP Alliance to get a lift from the relationship. Microsoft is going to promote membership in the organization to its global partner base, he explained. The MSP Alliance has 7,000 members worldwide.

Microsoft partners who become members will be able to access a wide variety of educational tools and resources through the MSPAlliance Managed Services Institute, including Managed Services Professional Liability insurance through the MSPAlliance.

Another goal of the relationship will be to educate companies on adopting managed services best practices, particularly when using Microsoft IT management tools such as Microsoft Systems Management Server or Microsoft Operations Manager.

“Microsoft is committed to helping its partners make the transition into being professional managed IT service providers,” said Arnie Mondloch, director of marketing and relationship engines at Microsoft, in a press statement. “These initiatives with the MSPAlliance will not only help educate our partners, but they will ensure that end-users are buying managed services from a knowledgeable and skillful MSP.”

This is the third vendor alliance for the MSPAlliance; it signed similar agreements with Intel in September 2007 and N-Able Technologies Inc. in April.