AWS Partner Network (APN) FAQs

APN Overview

Q: What is APN?

AWS Partner Network (APN) is the global partner program for AWS. It is focused on helping Partners build a successful AWS-based business by providing members of the AWS partner ecosystem with great technical, sales, marketing, and GTM support. For AWS customers, APN makes it easier to find and connect with high-quality AWS partners who can help them take full advantage of the AWS cloud.

Q: What types of Partners are included in APN and how are they tiered?

APN is made up of two primary partner types: Technology Partners and Consulting Partners. Technology Partners include Independent Software Vendors (ISVs), tools providers, platform providers, and others. Consulting Partners include System Integrators (SIs), agencies, consultancies, Managed Service Providers (MSPs), and others. Within each of these two partner types, partners can attain one of three progressive performance-based tiers. These three tiers are: Registered, Standard, and Advanced. To learn the details associated with each of these tiers, check out the APN Overview page.

Q: What is the difference between Standard and Advanced tier Partners?

APN has been structured to be performance-based within the Standard and Advanced tiers. Specifically, partners that meet the additional performance requirements associated with the Advanced tiers will receive extra prominence as Advanced tier partners via the AWS Partner Directory, APN Partner logos, etc. Advanced tier partners also receive benefits such as higher-touch account management from the AWS Alliance team, selective eligibility for financial support from AWS for joint GTM activities, among other benefits. Importantly, Standard tier partners may be eligible for upgrade to the Advanced tier based on performance.

For more information on program benefits and requirements for Standard and Advanced Partners, please visit the APN Program Overview page.

Q: What other Partner designations does APN offer?

In addition to APN Standard and Advanced tiers, Partners can also attain additional designations based on the nature of their work on AWS and their overall business model. These additional partner designations include: Marketplace Seller, Direct Connect Partner, Channel Reseller Partner, and Authorized Government Partner. For more information on these partner designations, please contact the APN Team.

Q: Tell me more about the Premier Consulting Partner designation.

AWS’ Premier Consulting Partner designation highlights the top APN Consulting Partners globally that have distinguished themselves by investing significantly in their AWS practice, providing exceptional customer service, helping a large number of significant customers run their applications on top of AWS, and building a healthy revenue generating consulting business on AWS.

To be eligible for this designation, partners must first have achieved the status of Advanced Consulting Partner under APN, and must also meet additional qualitative and quantitative requirements. Premier Consulting Partners are selected annually and next year’s selection process will start in summer 2013. Click here for a list of 2012 – 2013 Premier Consulting Partners.

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APN Benefits

Q: How does APN benefit Partners?

APN has been designed to create value for partners at all level of engagement with AWS. Early stage Registered tier partners can access a wide range of valuable technical, marketing, and sales materials via the APN Portal focused on helping them to successfully launch their business on AWS. Standard tier partners are provided with additional benefits such as AWS general services credits, AWS Support credits, and promotional support that enable them to gain hands-on experience with AWS services. AWS’ high performing Advanced tier partners receive added benefits including increased directory prominence, an Advanced tier logo, a named account manager and selective eligibility for go-to-market activities. For a summary of specific APN benefits checkout the overview pages for Technology Partners and Consulting Partners.

Q: Tell me about the $2,000 in Credits provided under APN.

Under APN all partners that qualify for the Standard and Advanced tiers will receive $2,000 in AWS Credits in their APN Welcome Letter. These include $1,000 in general AWS Service Credits applicable to any AWS service listed on the AWS products page, plus $1,000 in Credits toward the AWS Support required under the program. Any unused portion of these credits will expire 1 year after their grant date.

Q: What do APN Partner logos look like?

All Standard and Advanced tier partners receive an APN Partner logo as a benefit of achieving these tiers under the program. APN partner logos include the general AWS logo and the partner’s primary APN designation based on partner type and tier (e.g. Advanced Consulting Partner), as well as any additional APN designations (e.g. Channel Reseller) that the partner may have achieve. Only partners that qualify for the Standard and Advanced tiers will be eligible to use the new APN logos.

Sample APN logos are included below:

Example of an Advanced tier
“Technology Partner”

Example of a Standard tier
“Consulting Partner”

Standard and Advanced Partners can access their APN logos at any time by logging into APN Portal and clicking on the "Content" tab in the top navigation.

Q: How are Partners presented in the AWS Partner Directory?

All Standard and Advanced tier partners receive listings in the global AWS Partner Directory. This directory lists partners based on their partner type (i.e. Technology Partner vs. Consulting Partner), and other partner attributes as captured in the directory facets along the directory’s left navigation. Only Advanced and Standard tier partners are included in the AWS Partner Directory and Advanced tier partners are listed above Standard tier partners on all results. In addition, the AWS Partner Directory provides partners with prominent placement for featured AWS Solutions and AWS Case Studies.

Standard and Advanced APN Partners can update their Directory Listing on a self-serve, 24x7 basis. If your firm is listed in the Directory and would like to make updates, simply login to your AWS Account and click on the “Manage Your Submissions” tab.

Q: What are some of the benefits of APN at the Registered tier?

APN offers a strong and growing list of benefits for partners at the Registered tier. Specifically, Registered tier partners have access to: a) the new APN Portal, a partner-only section of the AWS site, b) access to free, on-demand online Partner Training, c) access to our turn-key multi-touch demand generation service, AWS Grid, d) the monthly AWS Partner Newsletter, which provides valuable and timely information on a wide range of partner-focused topics, and e) weekly partner-focused Hot Topic and Office Hours webinars covering critical technical and non-technical subjects.

Q: Tell me more about Partner Webinars.

All APN Partners, regardless of tier, have access to weekly partner-oriented webinars focused on educating and enabling partners in key areas. These webinars are provided in two formats: Hot Topic Webinars and Office Hour Webinars. The Hot Topics format spotlights important new subjects that are trending in the marketplace, and the Office Hours format provides recurring high-level technical support for partners seeking assistance on customer engagements. To register for any of these valuable upcoming partner webinars, visit the Partner Webinar page.

Q: Tell me more about APN Partner Training.

All APN Partners, regardless of tier, can access both online and live AWS training through the APN Portal. Online Partner Training and Accreditation is free and includes two training tracks: AWS Business Professional and AWS Technical Professional. Each track includes 5 training modules and 5 short assessment quizzes. Candidates that have passed all 5 online assessment quizzes for a given track will receive formal accreditation as an AWS Business Professional and/or AWS Technical Professional. APN Partners also receive special access to live AWS-led training. See the details below for the specific courses applicable toward the Technical and Non-technical Training requirements for Standard and Advanced tier Consulting Partners.

Q: Tell me more about the APN Marketing Toolkit.

The APN Marketing Toolkit is available to partners to provide options in integrated joint marketing between their organization and AWS. The offerings can build partner's understanding of the AWS Cloud, accelerate the sales process through new demand generation activities, and ultimately assist in the delivery of their products or services.

To access the APN Marketing Toolkit, login to the APN Portal and click on "Marketing Toolkit" in the top navigation.

Q: Tell me more about the AWS Partner Newsletter.

The AWS Partner Network Newsletter provides a wide range of partner-focused content including: upcoming Partner events, important Partner announcements, AWS product and feature launches, AWS Training, Partner case studies, and more. To sign up for the monthly AWS Partner Network Newsletter, fill out the form here. For more frequent APN updates, follow us on Twitter (@AWS_Partners).

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APN Requirements

Q: What are APN requirements?

APN has a standard global set of requirements that help to create a path of success for all partners to follow. For Standard and Advanced partners under APN, the requirements vary by partner type and tier.

APN Technology Partner requirements are built around three general areas of qualification. Specifically, Technology Partners must: a) demonstrate past success on AWS, as measured by AWS Customer References (2 and 4 for Standard and Advanced, respectively), b) have a strong overall AWS practice, as measured by total AWS billings ($1,000/month and $25,000/month for Standard and Advanced, respectively), and c) have a product hosted on AWS, as measured by product launch status (1 public beta and 1 GA for Standard and Advanced, respectively). Visit the Technology Partner Overview page for more information on these requirements.

APN Consulting Partner requirements are built around three general areas of qualification. Specifically, Consulting Partners must: a) demonstrate past success on AWS, as measured by AWS Customer References (2 and 4 for Standard and Advanced, respectively), b) have a strong overall AWS practice, as measured by total AWS billings ($1,000/month and $10,000/month for Standard and Advanced, respectively), and c) experience with AWS, as measured by number of staff technically and non-technically trained on AWS (2 and 5 for Standard and Advanced, respectively). Visit the Consulting Partner Overview page for more information on these requirements.

Q: Tell me more about the Technical Training requirements for Consulting Partners under APN.

Consulting Partners that wish to qualify for the Standard or Advanced tiers under APN are required to have a minimum number of AWS-trained technical staff (2 and 5 staff for Standard and Advanced, respectively). For partner technical staff to receive credit for AWS Technical Training, they must have completed one of the following Partner Training options: 1) completed the in-person AWS training offerings, “Architecting with AWS" course or the "AWS 200" course (offered selectively by the AWS Alliances team), 2) received AWS Technical Professional Accreditation (available for free in the APN Portal), or 3) have earned the AWS Certified Solution Architect designation through the AWS Certification Program.

Q: Tell me more about the Non-Technical Training requirements for Consulting Partners under APN.

Consulting Partners that wish to qualify for the Standard or Advanced tiers under APN are required to have a minimum number of staff that have completed AWS Non-Technical Training (2 and 5 staff for Standard and Advanced, respectively). For partner staff to receive credit for Non-Technical Training, they must have received AWS Business Professional Accreditation (available for free in the APN Portal).

Q: Tell me more about the Product Launch Requirements for Technology Partners under APN.

Technology Partners that wish to qualify for the Standard or Advanced tiers under APN must have at least one product hosted on AWS. Specifically, to qualify for the Standard tier, Technology Partners must have at least 1 product in Public Beta on AWS (i.e. the product still includes a Beta tag but customers are actively using it on either a paid or unpaid basis). Likewise, to qualify for the Advanced tier, Technology Partners must have at least 1 product in General Availability on AWS (i.e. the product does not include a Beta tag, and customers are actively using it in production on a paid basis).

Q: Tell me more about the AWS Billings requirements for partners under APN.

All Partners at the Standard and Advanced tiers are required to drive a minimal level of billings on AWS. These AWS billings can either be direct (i.e. AWS bills the partner and the partner bills the end customer), or indirect (i.e. AWS bills the customer directly, but the customer’s project is influenced by the partner). AWS Billings are calculated based on a trailing 3 mo. average of all AWS Billings (direct and indirect) attributable to each partner. Specifically, Technology Partners must have a 3 month average of at least $1,000/mo. or $25,000/mo. in AWS Billings for Standard or Advanced, respectively. Likewise, Consulting Partners must have a 3 month average of at least $1,000/mo. or $10,000/mo. in AWS Billings for Standard or Advanced, respectively.

Q: Tell me more about the Customer References requirements for all partners under APN.

All partners at the Standard and Advanced tiers are required to have a minimum number of AWS Customer References (2 and 4 Customer References for Standard and Advanced, respectively). These Customer References can either be public (such as a case study, whitepaper or customer quote) or nonpublic (a contact within the customer organization who can confirm that a given project happened and attest to the quality of the partner’s work).

Q: Is there a fee to join APN?

There is no fee to join APN at the Registered tier. For Partners that wish to Upgrade to either the Standard and Advanced tiers under APN, there is a $2,000/year APN Program fee. Standard and Advanced tier APN Partners receive a number of valuable benefits (highlighted above), including $2,000 in AWS Credits which effectively make the $2,000 annual program fee cost-neutral for partners spending more than $2,000 on AWS per year.

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Getting Started in APN

Q: How can I get started if I'm not yet Registered as a Partner?

If your firm is new to AWS and has not yet registered with the program, please register your firm as either an APN Technology Partner or APN Consulting Partner based on your firm’s primary business type.

If your firm is primary a product company such as an ISV, tools provider, platform provider, etc. then you should register via the APN Technology Partner Registration Form. Alternatively, if your firm is primarily a professional services firm such as an SI, agency, consultancy, MSP, etc. then you should register via the APN Consulting Partner Registration Form. If your firm is currently listed in the AWS Partner Directory, then your firm has already completed the partner registration process and it’s not necessary to re-register.

Q: I’m currently a Registered tier Partner, how do I Upgrade to Standard or Advanced tier?

Registered tier APN Partners that wish to Upgrade to the Standard or Advanced tiers can do so by submitting their program compliance details via their Partner Scorecard. To access your firm’s Partner Scorecard and submit your APN Upgrade, login to the APN Portal and click on “View Partner Scorecard” in the left navigation.

Proceed with your firm’s Upgrade by adding program compliance details (AWS Billings, AWS Customer References, etc.) into your Partner Scorecard. Program compliance requirements are based on your firm’s partner type (Technology or Consulting) and the tier you wish to Upgrade to (Standard or Advanced). Click here for an overview of Technology Partner requirements and here for Consulting Partner requirements.

Once your Partner Scorecard is complete, click “Apply to Upgrade” found at the top of the page. A member of the APN Team will be notified of your submission and will be in touch with next steps. If your firm has any questions regarding the APN Upgrade process, please contact the APN Team.

Q: What if I'm an existing APN Partner that wants to become a Standard tier Partner, but I don't yet meet all Standard tier requirements?

Existing AWS partners that wish to become Standard tier partners, but don’t fully meet the requirements for that tier, may be eligible for “provisional” status under APN. Partners that are granted this provisional status will receive all the benefits associated with the Standard tier on a temporary basis, while they work toward full compliance.

Existing partners may be eligible to become provisional Standard Partners if they: a) are currently compliant with at least one Standard tier requirement (other than the program fee), b) pay the $2,000 program fee, and c) have a plan in place with the AWS Alliances team to achieve full compliance within 3 months. Only Standard tier partners are eligible for “provisional” status under APN. Advanced partners must fully comply with APN requirements in order to join the Advanced tier. If you wish to wish to apply for provisional status under APN, simply enter your current compliance as a Standard tier applicant via the Partner Scorecard and a member of the APN team will contact you to discuss next steps.

Q: I just submitted my APN Upgrade, what are the next steps?

Once your firm has completed the APN Upgrade application, a member of the APN Team will review the application and will notify of next steps. If your firm’s APN Upgrade is accepted, the APN Team will proceed with billing for the APN Program fee. Your firm will be charged $2,000 USD for the yearly Program fee via the AWS Account and Payment Billing Method submitted in the APN Upgrade.

Upon payment of the APN Program fee, a member of the APN Team will reach out directly confirming your firm’s APN status in the APN Welcome Letter. The APN Welcome Letter will also include your firms AWS Credits, APN Logos for marketing use, and Partner Directory invitation.

Q: My firm was accepted into the Standard / Advanced tier, when do I receive my APN benefits?

Partners who are accepted into APN at the Standard or Advanced tiers will receive their APN benefits upon payment of the APN Program fee. Once the fee has been collected, a member of the APN Team will notify your firm of your new APN status, as well as send the APN Welcome Letter complete with your firm’s $2,000 in AWS Credits, APN Logos for marketing use, and Partner Directory invitation.

Q: When can I start to publicly position my firm as a Standard or Advanced partner?

We ask that all partners refrain from publicly positioning themselves as a Standard or Advanced Partner (via press releases, public announcements, etc.) until they have received a formal confirmation email form the APN Team. This confirmation email will formally notify each partner that they have been accepted into either the Standard or Advanced tiers and will provide guidance on PR best practices when using the APN brand. Importantly, submitting your firm's Upgrade through the Portal does not imply acceptance to either the Standard or Advanced tiers.

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APN Portal

Q: Tell me more about the APN Portal.

APN Portal is a partner-only section of the AWS site, that provides all APN Partners (regardless of tier) with the tools and content they need to grow their business on AWS. Through the APN Portal, partners can access AWS technical and non-technical staff, request marketing and sales support, download partner-focused content, and connect with other AWS Partners around the world.

To access the APN Portal, partners can login here where they will be prompted to submit their Portal login credentials. For more information regarding the APN Portal, please see the APN Portal Overview Page.

Q: I can't locate my APN Portal credentials, how do I login to the Portal?

Upon registration, Partners will receive an email with their Portal login credentials from apn-portal-support@amazon.com, titled “Welcome to the APN Portal.” If your firm did not receive this email (check spam filter), please contact apn-portal-support@amazon.com and a member of the APN Team will reach out with next steps.

Q: How can others in my firm access the APN Portal?

To grant APN Portal access to others within your firm, simply send them to the APN Portal Self-Registration page. Once contact details have been submitted, an email will be sent with access instructions and login credentials to the contact.

Q: Tell me more about my firms Partner Scorecard.

The Partner Scorecard is a self-reporting tool in the APN Portal that allows APN Partners to share and track their success with AWS. Partners can submit program compliance details (AWS Customer References, AWS Trainings, etc.) and upon meeting program success thresholds, can Apply to Upgrade to the Standard and Advanced tiers under APN.

To access your firm’s Partner Scorecard, simply login to the APN Portal and click on “View Partner Scorecard” found in the left navigation.

Q: What are the sections of the Partner Scorecard and how do I know which ones to fill out?

The Partner Scorecard is broken into 5 main sections which collect specific program compliance details from APN partners. These sections include: 1) AWS Revenue, for direct or indirect (influenced revenue) AWS billings, 2) AWS Customer References, for details around customer projects (public or nonpublic), 3) AWS-Trained Staff, for technically trained staff, 4) AWS-Trained Non-Technical Staff, for sales trained staff, and 5) AWS Solutions, for product launch details.

For partners that are interested in upgrading to the Standard or Advanced tiers under APN, they will need to complete the details of these sections based off their partner type (Technology or Consulting) and the tier they wish to apply to (Standard or Advanced).

Q: I’m an APN Technology Partner that wishes to Upgrade to the Standard / Advanced tier, what details do I need to submit in my Partner Scorecard?

APN Technology Partners that wish to Apply to Upgrade will need to complete the following sections in the Partner Scorecard: AWS Revenue ($1,000/mo. and $25,000/mo. for Standard or Advanced, respectively), AWS Customer References (2 and 4 for Standard and Advanced, respectively), and Solutions on AWS (1 product in public beta or 1 product in GA for Standard and Advanced, respectively).

Once the above sections are complete, click “Apply to Upgrade” found at the top of the Partner Scorecard. A member of the APN Team will be notified of your submission and will be in touch with next steps.

Q: I’m an APN Consulting Partner that wishes to Upgrade to the Standard / Advanced tier, what details do I need to submit in my Partner Scorecard?

APN Consulting Partners that wish to Apply to Upgrade will need to complete the following sections in the Partner Scorecard: AWS Revenue ($1,000/mo. and $10,000/mo. for Standard and Advanced, respectively), AWS Customer References (2 and 4 for Standard and Advanced, respectively), AWS-Trained Staff (2 and 5 staff for Standard and Advanced, respectively), and AWS-Trained Non-Technical Staff (2 and 5 staff for Standard and Advanced, respectively).

Once the above sections are complete, click “Apply to Upgrade” found at the top of the Partner Scorecard. A member of the APN Team will be notified of your submission and will be in touch with next steps.

Q: Who can see the details I submit in my Partner Scorecard?

All information submitted via the Scorecard is used for APN compliance reasons and is not intended for public use. AWS does not externally publish or share details of the Partner Scorecard, including AWS Revenues and AWS Customer References.

Q: Why can’t I access my firm’s Partner Scorecard?

Due to the sensitivity of the information submitted in the Partner Scorecard, all APN Partners have a single employee who has been designated as the “Alliance Lead” from their firm. Only Alliance Leads have the ability to submit information in the Partner Scorecard on behalf of their firm. If you have questions about accessing the Partner Scorecard or the Alliance Lead from your firm, please contact the APN Portal Support team and we will work to connect you with your firm’s Alliance Lead.

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APN Competencies

Q: What are APN Competencies?

APN Competencies are granted to APN Consulting Partners who have attained proficiency in a specific specialization or use case. Attaining a Competency allows APN members to differentiate themselves to customers by showing expertise in a specific solution area. Partners can qualify for one or more APN Competency by having a strong overall AWS practice, showcasing customer success, and demonstrating technical readiness within the Competency.

Q: Which APN Competencies can I currently apply for?

Currently, APN Partners can apply for qualification to two APN Competencies: Big Data and Managed Service Provider (MSP). Big Data Competency recipients help their customers evaluate and use the tools, techniques, and technologies of working with data productively, at any scale. Managed Service Provider (MSP) Competency recipients fully manage their customers’ AWS-based infrastructure, associated databases, and applications deployed on AWS.

Q: How do I apply for APN Competency?

APN Standard and Advanced Consulting Partners can apply for APN Competencies by following the five simple steps outlined below:

• Step 1: Login to the APN Portal
• Step 2: Click on "View Partner Scorecard" found in the left navigation
• Step 3: Update your firm's Partner Scorecard with APN Competency requirements (AWS Billings & AWS Customer References)
• Step 4: Click on "Apply for APN Competencies" found at the top of your firm's Partner Scorecard
• Step 5: Complete the APN Competency application and click “Finish”

Q: Can I apply for more than one APN Competency?

Partners can apply for multiple APN Competencies. For Partners that wish to apply for multiple APN Competencies, simply follow the steps outlined above and select the Competencies you wish to apply for in Step #5 of the application.

Q: What are the benefits of APN Competencies?

Partners that qualify for APN Competencies will receive a number of valuable marketing, sales, and technical benefits. These benefits include: public designation on the AWS Site, APN Competency Logo for marketing and sales use, preferred access to GTM funding, AWS Private Betas, Roadmap Briefings, etc. APN Competency Partners may also be eligible for inclusion in Partner spotlights (quotes, testimonials, etc.), webinars, and future AWS announcements regarding APN Competencies.

Q: What are the requirements to apply for an APN Competency?

In order to be eligible to apply for APN Competencies, Partners must be confirmed as a Standard or Advanced tier APN Consulting Partner. In addition, partners must: a) demonstrate past success on AWS in the Competency area, as measured by ≥3 AWS Customer References (public or non-public), and one public endorsement (public case study, white paper, press release, etc. ) in the Competency area, b) have a strong overall AWS practice, as measured by ≥$5,000 in monthly AWS billings (direct or indirect), and c) have demonstrated technical readiness within the Competency area, as documented during the Competency application process.

Q: How will I know when my firm has received an APN Competency?

After your firm has submitted the APN Competency application, a member of the APN Team will review and contact you about your application. Once your APN Competency application has been accepted, your firm will receive notification directly from the APN Team.

Q: When can I start to publicly position my firm as an APN Competency Partner?

We ask that all partners refrain from publicly positioning themselves as a APN Competency recipient (via press releases, public announcements, etc.) until they have received a formal confirmation email from the APN Team. This confirmation email will formally notify each partner that their Competency application has been accepted and will provide guidance on PR best practices when using the APN brand. Importantly, submitting your firm's APN Competency application through the Portal does not imply acceptance as an APN Competency Partner.

Q: Can AWS remove Partners from APN Competencies?

Yes. AWS reserves the right to revoke APN Competencies at any time. Partners must be in good standing with AWS to receive an APN Competency.

Q: Will AWS be launching new APN Competencies in the future?

Yes. APN will be launching multiple Competencies throughout the year. Please continue to check the APN Competencies Overview Page for new Competency launch announcements.

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Partner Training

Q: What is Partner Training and Accreditation?

APN offers online Partner Training courses to enable technical and non-technical individuals to deepen their knowledge of AWS services. APN Partner individuals can earn AWS Business Professional and AWS Technical Professional Accreditations to demonstrate they can effectively leverage AWS solutions to customers. Partner Training is available online and free of charge via the APN Portal. In order to receive an Accreditation, you must complete the series of training modules and quizzes within an Accreditation course. The following Accreditation courses are available to APN Partners: AWS Business Professional and AWS Technical Professional.

To learn more about APN Partner Training, check out the Overview Page.

Q: What is AWS Business Professional Training and Accreditation?

AWS Business Professional Training and Accreditation is geared toward individuals responsible for articulating the business benefits of AWS services. Training provides an overview of key AWS services, overall business value proposition, and best practices for implementing AWS in the field with customers. Partners should allow four hours to complete the 4 learning modules and 4 assessments contained in the Business Professional Training. For more detailed information on AWS Business Professional Training and Accreditation, please visit APN Partner Training and Accreditation Overview Page.

Q: What is AWS Technical Professional Training and Accreditation?

AWS Technical Professional Training and Accreditation is designed for individuals responsible for making informed decisions about IT solutions based on customer business requirements. Training is designed to provide technical knowledge of AWS products, services, and common solutions. Partners should allow five hours to complete the 5 learning modules and 5 assessments contained in the Technical Professional Training. For more detailed information on AWS Technical Professional Training and Accreditation, please visit APN Partner Training and Accreditation Overview Page.

Q: Are there any requirements to take a Partner Training course?

Partners must be registered as an APN Partner to access online Partner Training. If your firm is new to AWS and has not yet registered with the program, please register your firm as either an APN Technology Partner or APN Consulting Partner based on your firm’s primary business type.

Q: How do I access Partner Training?

Partner Training can be accessed through the APN Portal by clicking on the "Training" tab found in the top navigation. For more information on accessing the APN Portal, see above or visit the APN Portal Overview page.

Q: Can others from my firm access Partner Training?

Yes. All APN Partners have unlimited access to Partner Training. To provide Partner Training access to others within your firm, please have them complete the APN Portal Self-Registration. Once contact details have been submitted, an email will be sent with APN Portal login credentials and access instructions.

Q: How do I become an Accredited AWS Professional?

Partners will need to receive at least an 80% or higher on each assessment to receive formal Accreditation. Once you have received 80%, your Accreditation will be reflected in your firm’s Partner Scorecard within one business week of completion.

Q: How will I know if I passed the AWS Business / AWS Technical Professional Accreditation?

Individuals that have scored at least 80% on each assessment will receive a certificate of Accreditation within 30 days of completion. The Accreditation will also appear on your firm’s Partner Scorecard in the APN Portal within one business week. Partners will not need to self-report Partner Training in the Partner Scorecard.

Q: If I fail the course assessments, can I retake them?

Partners can retake the online assessments as many times as they wish. In order to receive formal Accreditation, Partners will need to score 80% or higher on each assessment.

Q: What is AWS Certification?

AWS Certifications designate individuals who demonstrate knowledge, skills and proficiency with AWS services. The AWS Certification Program is built around the three primary roles for engineering teams delivering cloud-based solutions: Solutions Architect, SysOps Administrator, and Developer. These role-based certification credentials can be earned on three proficiency levels: Associate, Professional and Master.

To learn more about the AWS Certification Program, visit AWS Certification.

Q: Does AWS Certification count towards my APN Consulting Partner Technical Training requirements?

Yes. APN will count partner staff that earn the AWS Certified Solution Architect designation toward the Technical Training requirements for APN Consulting Partners. For more information, please see Technical Training requirements for APN Consulting Partners.

Q: I have a question regarding AWS Training and AWS Certification that’s not answered here. Where can I go for additional information?

For more information on AWS Certification, please visit the AWS Certification Overview Page or the AWS Certification FAQ.

For more information on AWS Training, please visit the AWS Training Overview Page or the AWS Training FAQ.

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AWS Grid

Q: What is the AWS Grid?

AWS Grid is our new turn-key multi-touch demand generation service that allows Partners to quickly create a jointly branded landing page with AWS and execute a turn-key email demand generation campaign in minutes. Utilize professionally designed campaigns and access deep reporting on how your customers and prospects interact with your campaign. With this reporting, you can automatically surface the highest quality leads and learn what interests a potential client. To learn more about the AWS Grid, please visit the AWS Grid Overview page.

Q: Are there any requirements to access AWS Grid?

Partners must be registered as an APN partner to access AWS Grid. If your firm is new to AWS and has not yet registered with the program, please register your firm as either an APN Technology Partner or APN Consulting Partner based on your firm's primary business type.

Q: How do I access AWS Grid?

AWS Grid can be accessed through the APN Portal by clicking on the "Marketing" tab found in the top navigation. From there, select "Multi-Touch Demand Generation," where you will be prompted to sign up for your AWS Grid account.

For more information on accessing the APN Portal, see above or visit the APN Portal Overview page.

Q: How long does it take to set up an AWS Grid account?

Please allow 24 business hours after registering for an AWS Grid account to verify your Partner status. Once confirmed, you will receive an email from an AWS Grid Admin with your login credentials. Please login to AWS Grid using these credentials to select and register the campaign you wish to run. Within one business day, your campaign registration will be verified by the Grid Team, which will allow you to run your campaign.

Q: Will AWS have access to my leads?

No. A partner's contact database is theirs and theirs alone. AWS Grid is powered by Elastic Digital. Elastic Digital will not access your data (except to service your account), nor will they provide this data to Amazon Web Services, or any other party. The data is secured under your username/password, so you control access using your personal login information. Because of this security, you can easily re-use your secure lists for use on future campaigns.

Q: How long do I have access to a campaign?

Once registering for an AWS Grid account, a partner will have access to the Grid for up to 6 months. During this time, your firm may run the campaign as many times as you like.

Q: Who should I contact if I need help?

For more information on AWS Grid, please visit the AWS Grid Overview page. If you have additional questions, please feel free to contact us via email.

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