In This Blog
TL;DR
Over half of organizations worldwide use Microsoft Azure Cloud and 95% of Fortune 500 companies use Microsoft solutions.
Microsoft Solutions Partners help organizations implement, modernize, secure, and support Microsoft technologies.
Businesses should evaluate Microsoft partners based on certifications, specializations, experience, marketplace offerings, and long-term support capabilities.
Advanced specializations and Microsoft certifications help validate deep technical expertise.
Emergent Software holds multiple Microsoft Solutions Partner designations and advanced specializations.
Over half of organizations worldwide use Azure Cloud, including 95% of Fortune 500 Companies. Microsoft Teams has 145 million daily active users. 98% of the Fortune 100 use Microsoft SQL Server.
If your company is one of the millions leveraging Microsoft solutions — or if you’re interested in taking advantage of the ever-evolving landscape of Microsoft tools in the future — you need a Microsoft partner to help maximize the benefits of these solutions while keeping costs low.
But choosing the right partner isn’t easy. There are over 400,000 Microsoft partners and they don’t all have the same capabilities or levels of expertise.
In this blog post, we’ll break down how to evaluate Microsoft partners and what to look for when choosing the right technology partner for your business.
What Is a Microsoft Partner?
A Microsoft partner is a firm recognized by Microsoft as a provider of Microsoft products and related services.
A Microsoft partner could help your business with things like:
Microsoft partners help organizations modernize systems, improve operational efficiency, strengthen security, and better leverage Microsoft technologies across cloud, data, software, and workplace productivity initiatives.
How Do You Find a Microsoft Partner?
The Microsoft Partner Directory can be found on Microsoft AppSource.
You can search by name or keyword and filter based on:
Size
Capabilities
Industry
Products
Solution categories
Services provided
Take a look at Emergent Software’s profile here: Microsoft Partner Profile.
What to Look for in a Microsoft Partner
It can be overwhelming to choose a Microsoft partner out of the thousands available.
This firm will have a substantial impact on the performance, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness of your solutions, so it’s important to get it right.
As you evaluate potential partners, keep these key factors in mind.
1. Solutions Partner Designations
You want to be sure that the Microsoft partner you choose has deep knowledge of Microsoft solutions, especially in the area where you need support.
Microsoft offers Solutions Partner designations in six areas:
Solutions Partner for Business Applications
Solutions Partner for Data and AI (Azure)
Solutions Partner for Digital and App Innovation (Azure)
Solutions Partner for Infrastructure (Azure)
Solutions Partner for Security
Solutions Partner for Modern Work
These categories replaced the previous Microsoft Gold Partner and Silver Partner designations.
The new designations are more specific about a partner’s skills and experience delivering successful solutions.
Partners earn points toward these designations through certifications, customer success metrics, deployments, and demonstrated technical expertise.
2. Advanced Specializations
Microsoft also recognizes expertise beyond Solutions Partner designations through advanced specializations.
For example, within our Modern Work designation, Emergent Software earned the specialization for Modernization of Web Applications with Microsoft Azure.
To achieve this, we completed a rigorous live audit with a third-party auditing company selected by Microsoft.
You can read more about that process here.
If a Microsoft partner has advanced specializations, you know they’ve demonstrated deep technical knowledge and proven implementation experience.
3. Microsoft Certifications to Prove Technical Expertise
Individuals can demonstrate their knowledge of Microsoft technologies through Microsoft certifications.
Microsoft offers more than 250 certifications across different technologies and experience levels.
You want to work with a team that maintains a wide variety of certifications.
For example, our team at Emergent Software holds more than 100 Microsoft certifications.
Microsoft certifications must be renewed regularly, helping ensure that certified professionals stay current as Microsoft technologies continue evolving.
4. Experience Developing Custom Software with Microsoft Technologies
Don’t choose a partner that only provides out-of-the-box products.
The ability to develop custom software — a core competency of ours at Emergent Software — allows a partner to build Microsoft solutions tailored specifically to your business requirements.
Custom development often provides:
Better scalability
More flexibility
Stronger integrations
Improved operational alignment
Long-term cost efficiency
These factors help organizations avoid forcing their business processes into rigid software limitations.
5. AppSource and Azure Marketplace Offerings
The Microsoft commercial marketplace — consisting of Microsoft AppSource and Azure Marketplace — connects businesses with verified solutions and services from Microsoft partners.
These solutions are vetted by Microsoft to help ensure quality, security, and compatibility with Microsoft technologies.
You can easily review:
Partner services
Offer details
Capabilities
Pricing information
Here’s an example of one of our Azure Marketplace offers.
AppSource primarily focuses on business solutions while Azure Marketplace is more IT and developer focused.
6. Expertise Supporting Both Azure and Microsoft 365
Azure is Microsoft’s cloud platform containing more than 200 products and services.
Microsoft 365 is Microsoft’s productivity suite including Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel, SharePoint, and more.
Most businesses either already use both platforms or will eventually rely on both.
However, some Microsoft partners only specialize deeply in one side of the Microsoft ecosystem.
The right partner should have expertise supporting both Azure and Microsoft 365 environments.
7. Ability to Obtain Microsoft Funding for Your Projects
Advanced specializations often provide partners access to programs like Azure Migrate & Modernize.
These programs encourage partners to help customers grow their Azure Consumed Revenue (ACR), which measures usage of Azure services.
If a migration or modernization project increases Azure usage enough, Microsoft may provide funding opportunities that qualified partners can pass on to customers.
Not all Microsoft partners have access to these programs.
When evaluating partners, ask specifically about Microsoft funding programs and available incentives.
8. Experience With Companies and Projects Like Yours
Solutions Partner designations validate technical expertise, but organizations should also evaluate real-world experience.
Ask for:
Customer references
Industry experience
Examples of similar projects
A partner with experience solving problems similar to yours will often deliver better long-term outcomes.
9. Long-Term Partnership Potential
A strong Microsoft partner relationship should extend far beyond the initial implementation.
The right partner should continue helping your organization:
Improve systems over time
Support evolving business requirements
Modernize technology strategically
Optimize cloud usage
Maintain security and governance
Long-term partnership and strategic guidance often become just as valuable as the original implementation itself.
Emergent Software: Microsoft Solutions Partner
Emergent Software is a technology solution provider offering a full set of services including custom software development, cloud transformation, and data engineering services.
We hold Microsoft Solutions Partner designations in:
Data & AI (Azure)
Digital & App Innovation (Azure)
Infrastructure (Azure)
Modern Work
We also earned advanced specializations in:
Modernization of Web Applications to Microsoft Azure
DevOps with GitHub
We’re a boutique consulting firm focused on building long-term client relationships while delivering highly personalized service and technical expertise.
Get in touch to let us know how we can help your business.
How Emergent Software Can Help
We help organizations modernize infrastructure, migrate workloads into Azure, develop custom software, improve data and analytics capabilities, and strengthen security using Microsoft technologies and cloud best practices. Our team combines deep Microsoft expertise with long-term strategic partnership focused on scalable business outcomes. If this sounds familiar, we can help.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right Microsoft partner can have a major impact on the success of your technology initiatives.
The best Microsoft partners provide more than technical implementation support. They help organizations modernize strategically, improve operational efficiency, strengthen security, and maximize the value of Microsoft technologies over time.
If you're evaluating Microsoft partners or planning your next cloud, software, or modernization initiative, Emergent Software is here to help. Reach out — we'd love to learn more about your goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Microsoft Solutions Partner?
A Microsoft Solutions Partner is a company recognized by Microsoft for demonstrated expertise in specific Microsoft solution areas. Partners earn these designations through certifications, customer success, deployments, and technical performance metrics. Microsoft Solutions Partners help organizations implement, modernize, and support Microsoft technologies. The designations replaced the older Microsoft Gold and Silver Partner model. They provide a clearer way for businesses to evaluate partner expertise.
How do I find a Microsoft partner?
You can find Microsoft partners through the Microsoft Partner Directory on Microsoft AppSource. Businesses can search by industry, capabilities, services, location, and solution expertise. Reviewing certifications, advanced specializations, customer references, and marketplace offerings can help narrow down potential partners. Organizations should also evaluate cultural fit and long-term partnership potential. The right partner should align with both technical and business goals.
What are Microsoft advanced specializations?
Advanced specializations are additional recognitions Microsoft awards to partners with deep expertise in highly specific solution areas. Earning these specializations often requires rigorous audits and proven customer success. They go beyond standard Solutions Partner designations. Advanced specializations help organizations identify highly experienced implementation partners. They provide additional validation of technical capability and delivery experience.
Why are Microsoft certifications important?
Microsoft certifications validate technical expertise and demonstrate that professionals understand current Microsoft technologies and best practices. Certifications must be renewed regularly, helping ensure ongoing education and updated knowledge. Organizations working with certified teams often gain more confidence in technical execution quality. Certifications also help indicate specialization within specific Microsoft technologies. They are one important factor when evaluating consulting partners.
What services do Microsoft partners provide?
Microsoft partners provide services including Azure cloud migration, Microsoft 365 implementation, custom software development, cybersecurity, managed services, data engineering, DevOps automation, and infrastructure modernization. Some partners also specialize in AI, analytics, and application modernization initiatives. Service offerings vary depending on the partner’s designations and expertise. Many organizations rely on Microsoft partners for long-term strategic technology guidance. Strong partners help businesses maximize the value of Microsoft investments.
Why work with Emergent Software?
Emergent Software combines deep Microsoft expertise with long-term strategic partnership and personalized service. We hold multiple Microsoft Solutions Partner designations and advanced specializations across Azure, software development, and modern workplace technologies. Our team supports organizations with cloud transformation, custom software, managed services, and data engineering initiatives. We focus on practical business outcomes, strong client relationships, and scalable long-term solutions. Our goal is to help organizations modernize strategically and operate more efficiently.
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