Tag: APN Launches

As customer needs grow and new capabilities emerge over time, we’re constantly evaluating and evolving what it means to be an AWS-designated Managed Service Provider (MSP). We want to ensure we continue to raise the bar on what it takes to become and maintain the AWS MSP designation. As such, we periodically publish updates to the Validation Checklist which define the criteria and requirements for the AWS MSP Partner Program. We are pleased to share the latest updates in version 4.2.1 of the MSP checklist.

The AWS Foundational Technical Review (FTR) helps identify and mitigate technical risks in solutions built by AWS ISV Partners. The FTR focuses on a subset of AWS Well-Architected best practices and defines objective criteria for each requirement. In October 2021, we updated the FTR process for Partner Hosted solutions to make it faster, easier, and more accurate than before. In this post, learn how the updated FTR process works, benefits of the new process, and how you can get started.

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.

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.

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.

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.

With the new Amazon RDS Ready for Business Applications category, part of the AWS Service Ready Program, customers can now find business application products that follow AWS security, availability, reliability, performance, and other architecture best practices while integrating with Amazon RDS. Amazon RDS Ready business applications are deployed within a customer’s account or provided as SaaS deployed in AWS Partners’ accounts. Learn more about Amazon RDS Ready Ready Partners!

Recognizing the complexity of a mainframe migration, AWS customers seek proven methodologies, tools, and best practices to empower successful migrations. The AWS Partner Network (APN) plays a critical role in these efforts by providing validated technology products and services for customers’ mainframe migrations. We are excited to announce the launch of the AWS Mainframe Modernization Competency which gives customers confidence in choosing AWS Partner to team up with.

We are pleased to share the latest updates to our AWS Managed Services Provider (MSP) Partner Program in version 4.2 of the Validation Checklist. This version reflects our most recent program criteria and requirements, with improvements focused on raising the bar for both MSP Partners and AWS customers. The changes in version 4.2 primarily focus on clarifying requirements and removing ambiguity based on feedback and questions we’ve received from our MSP Partner community.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are maturing rapidly. According to Gartner, 75% of enterprises will shift from piloting to operationalizing AI by 2024. That’s why we are expanding the AWS Machine Learning Competency to help customers identify and engage qualified AWS Partners that have deep technical expertise and proven customer success in the areas of Applied AI and Machine Learning Operations (MLOps).