Category: Announcements

Recognizing that AWS maintains customers across the world, we have launched the Global Security and Compliance Acceleration (GSCA) initiative under the Authority to Operate (ATO) on AWS Program banner. The purpose of this new initiative is to add a global focus to our existing ATO on AWS support mechanisms, with an emphasis on recruiting qualified international AWS Partners to operate and support customers in differing regions.

VMworld 2021 is taking place online October 5-7 and includes more sessions than ever. From CEO discussions to fireside chats, product demos, and chances to meet with Amazon Web Services (AWS) experts, VMworld 2021 is a great way to learn how to migrate and modernize your VMware workloads on the AWS Cloud. To make the most of your virtual experience, please see our Know Before You Go (Virtually) Guide.

We are excited to introduce two new permissions features for AWS Partner Central: the Alliance Team and ACE Manager roles. These roles provide AWS Partners the ability to grant multiple team members access to the data and features they need to help manage their APN account. With these permissions features, multiple users from an AWS Partner organization can access the data and features they need in Partner Central without relying on the Alliance Lead.

We are excited to highlight 74 AWS Partners that received new designations in August for our global AWS Competency, AWS Managed Service Provider (MSP), AWS Service Delivery, and AWS Service Ready programs. These designations span workload, solution, and industry, and help AWS customers identify top AWS Partners that can deliver on core business objectives. AWS Partners are focused on your success, helping customers take full advantage of the business benefits AWS has to offer.

Today, we are excited to announce two new incentives to further recognize and support the growth, investment, and innovation of our evolving AWS Partner community. Effective October 1, 2021, the Partner Growth Rebate and Partner Originated Discount incentives will recognize AWS Solution Providers for growing their existing AWS Program Accounts and originating new end-customer opportunities. With these financial incentives, AWS Solution Providers can accelerate their business through new rebates and discounts.

We are excited to highlight 82 AWS Partners that received new designations in July for our global AWS Competency, AWS Managed Service Provider (MSP), AWS Service Delivery, and AWS Service Ready programs. These designations span workload, solution, and industry, and help AWS customers identify top AWS Partners that can deliver on core business objectives. AWS Partners are focused on your success, helping customers take full advantage of the business benefits AWS has to offer.

The VMware Cloud on AWS Try & Buy Program offers multiple ways for AWS Partners to grow their business. First, there is a huge market for VMware Cloud on AWS. In a 2019 report, IDC put the partner addressable market opportunity for VMware Cloud on AWS at $3.1 billion. In addition to the sizeable market opportunity, trial engagements give AWS Partners an opportunity to earn customer trust, help them validate use cases before jumping into a production environment, and speed up customer migrations.

A Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) can integrate, join forces with, and work alongside in-house security teams, or provide full outsourcing for AWS security operations. To help customers looking for support from MSSPs, we created a new baseline standard of quality called Level 1 Managed Security Services. The new AWS Level 1 MSSP Competency designation features AWS Partners that have had their technical and operational capabilities successfully validated against this baseline.

The APN Ambassador Program is a vibrant worldwide community of technical experts from AWS Partner Network (APN) Consulting and ISV Partners. Local AWS communities are a vital resource for cloud professionals around the world, and many of these are hosted by APN Ambassadors. Members of local communities look to their leaders to provide guidance and mentorship on how to build AWS skills, solve technical problems, and grow their careers.

To receive program validations in the AWS Partner Network (APN), organizations must undergo rigorous technical validation and are assessed on the security, performance, and reliability of their AWS solutions. To help AWS Partners better understand this process and our validation requirements, we are releasing new versions of validation checklists for the AWS Competency, AWS Service Delivery, and AWS Service Ready programs.