FastTrack Ready Partner "Heads Up" March 7, 2022: FRP Knowledge Badge, Register for Monthly Partner Calls, Windows 365 Partner Portal

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FRP Knowledge Badge

Are you ready? It’s Here!

We’ve launched FRP Knowledge Badges with early registration in Expert Zone. Microsoft’s interactive learning platform for exams will test the most proficient, most knowledgeable, and most prepared FastTrack Ready Partner and provide an opportunity to earn an array of badges. FRP Knowledge Badges displayed on LinkedIn and email signature will get partners recognized and perceived a cut above others before customer engagements begin or as they’re occurring.

Register for Expert Zone immediately to assure that you have access to exams and can begin earning badges on the official launch day, March 9, 2022. Once you’ve gained access, familiarize yourself with the Expert Zone experience on any device.

Have you considered what an FRP Knowledge Badge can do for your FastTrack practice? Talk with your FPM and the Partner Experience team to learn more! Are you ready? We are!

Tony Curry, PM FRP Academy

Program news

FRP Performance Requirements

The FRP Performance Requirements report shows the performance of all the tenants:

1. To which the partner was attached for the last 12 months (MAU Growth), even if the tenant has since been dissociated (please see graphic below); and
2. Only for the tenants located in the subsidiary in which FRP Partner is listed/approved.

Therefore, partners may not be able to see the tenant details for dissociated tenants, but they will still receive credit for the MAU Growth for the time that they were attached to that dissociated tenant in the last 12 months.

EDU tenants are excluded, per the current Terms and Conditions.

For almost all partners, the implication of this is that partners who work across geographies can be recognized in additional markets beyond their current locations listed as FRP.

Note: Expansion to new Areas (A14) requires subsidiary PMM approval.

FRP Virtual Connections event resources

Thank you FRPs for joining the FY22 Virtual Connections Event. We had over thirty partners share their learnings and success stories, among other important FRP updates and resources.

To review the decks presented during the Connection events:

• Americas and EMEA: Day 1, Day 2
• Asia: Day 1, Day 2

Note: Recorded presentations will be made available in the coming weeks. Stay tuned into FRP Yammer for more information.

Events and training

Security Digest

From the Microsoft Tech Community Blogs

• Microsoft 365 Defender (M365D)
  • The Splunk Add-on for Microsoft Security is now available - Microsoft Tech Community
  • CloudAppEvents in advanced hunting now includes non-Microsoft apps and new data columns - Microsoft Tech Community
• Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (MDE)
  • Announcing general availability of vulnerability management support for Android and iOS - Microsoft Tech Community
  • Microsoft threat & vulnerability management integrates with Vulcan Cyber - Microsoft Tech Community
  • Deprecating the legacy SIEM API - Microsoft Tech Community
  • The Splunk Add-on for Microsoft Security is now available - Microsoft Tech Community
• Microsoft Defender for Office 365 (MDO)
  • Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Ninja Training: January 2022 Update - Microsoft Tech Community
  • Streamlining the submissions experience in Microsoft Defender for Office 365 - Microsoft Tech Community
  • Attack Simulation Training: User tags based targeting in simulations - now live! - Microsoft Tech Community
• Microsoft Defender for Identity (MDI)
  • All Microsoft Defender for Identity features now available in the Microsoft 365 Defender portal - Microsoft Tech Community

From the Microsoft Security Blog

• Microsoft Defender for Office 365 (MDO)
  • Microsoft Defender for Office 365 trial playbook - Office 365 | Microsoft Docs

Note: Some of these services are not yet covered in the FastTrack Benefit Services.

• March 17, 2022 Technical Training: Checklist for Managing Hybrid Work with Defender for Business, Lighthouse, and the Security Features in Business Premium
• March 17, 2022, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM PT: IT Checklist for Managing Hybrid Work with Defender for Business, Lighthouse, and the Security Features in Business Premium

Upcoming events calendar

Register for the March and April FastTrack Ready Partner Community Calls

Register for the upcoming monthly FastTrack Ready Partner Community Calls using the links below. We will share key program updates as well as provide an opportunity for partner Q&A.

• March 15, 2022, 11:00 AM PT: FY22 March FastTrack Ready Partner Community Call [Americas]
• March 15, 2022, 7:00 PM PT: FY22 March FastTrack Ready Partner Community Call [Asia]
• March 16, 2022, 6:00 AM PT: FY22 March FastTrack Ready Partner Community Call [EMEA]
• April 19, 2022, 11:00 AM PT: FY22 April FastTrack Ready Partner Community Call [Americas]
• April 19, 2022, 7:00 PM PT: FY22 April FastTrack Ready Partner Community Call [Asia]
• April 20, 2022, 6:00 AM PT: FY22 April FastTrack Ready Partner Community Call [EMEA]

Event pages

• FastTrack Ready Partner: FRP Webinars
• Microsoft 365 Partner Readiness Calendar

Click on the links below to register for upcoming events.

Available on-demand

Click on the links below to view content on-demand.

FRP-specific events

FY22 Q3 Migrations Office Hours

Windows 11 Deployment Incentive Webinar

Other recommended events

Selling Microsoft Viva: How to Engage Decision Makers

Feedback focus

Feedback items awaiting your votes

We’re highlighting ideas submitted recently which need your votes. Take time to upvote and/or comment on items important to you. This helps prioritize our work.

OSU/CPOR - Online Services Usage/Claim Partner of Record

• Incentive Opportunity export
• Add the name of the person that made the OSU-M365 claim in that export of Claim Data
• Partner Center Enhancements - show which partner has claimed workloads

Product Workloads - features, asks, suggestions

• Automatically send an alert to sender's Manager

FastTrack Program and FT Benefit

• Deployment Voucher - Customer Eligibility

FRP Program Tools and Reporting

• Including Forecast Dates in Service Usage Reports
• Show the date when incentive milestone was reached for any particular workload
• Ability to reopen closed FRP tickets
• FRP Help Support emails are too vauge

Referrals

• About the destination of the first referral email

Workload news

New: Windows 365 Partner Portal

With Windows 365, partners have access to a brand-new category designed for the future of work – the Cloud PC. Early-access partners have helped us address unique challenges our customers face in today’s hybrid work environment. Today, we’re pleased to deliver new resources partners need to build upon this early success.

The new Windows 365 Partner Portal provides a collection of resources to help our partners build their Cloud PC businesses:

• Overview decks
• Partner FAQ
• Interactive demos

Registration links for:

• March 31, 2022 and April 5, 2022 - Sales training
• April 7, 2022 and April 12, 2022 - Technical training and technical documentation

We’re also pleased to announce the upcoming availability of the Windows 365 Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) Trial program starting March 9.

Next steps

• Access the portal
• Read Ryan Argall’s blog post to learn more

Modernize Endpoints advanced specialization

We’re excited to announce the availability of the Modernize Endpoints advanced specialization. This specialization is designed for partners who demonstrate deep knowledge, extensive experience, and proven success in providing holistic endpoint management solutions in the hybrid workplace.

Partners who earn an advanced specialization will have a customer-facing label displayed on their business profile, gain access to specific go-to-market programs, and be prioritized in customer searches in Microsoft AppSource.

Next steps

• Learn more about the Modernize Endpoints advanced specialization
• Enroll through the Partner Center dashboard

Windows 365 Business Webinars

Enable Hybrid Work with Windows 365 Business

Learn how Windows 365 Business combines the power and security of the cloud with the versatility and simplicity of the PC. Easily set up and scale Cloud PCs to fit your customers’ needs and securely support their hybrid workforce. In this session, we will identify common use cases and compare small and medium business (SMB) and enterprise plans to serve different customers’ business needs.

• March 31, 2022: EMEA and Americas time zones
• April 5, 2022: APAC time zones

Note: The April 5, 2022 session will be a replay of the March 31, 2022 webinar with facilitated live chat Q&A where moderators will respond live to questions from attendees during the replay.

Set up and Manage Windows 365 Business Cloud PC

This session will provide step-by-step instructions about how to plan, buy subscriptions, size Cloud PCs, and add users and apps, along with multiple ways of managing Cloud PCs. We will also review Windows 365 Business Cloud PC common troubleshooting scenarios and how to fix them.

• April 7, 2022: EMEA and Americas time zones
• April 12, 2022: APAC time zones

Note: The April 12, 2022 session will be a replay of April 7, 2022 webinar with facilitated live chat Q&A where moderators will respond live to questions from attendees during the replay.

Audio Conferencing select dial-out delayed in new CSP

The scheduled March 1 launch of Audio Conferencing select dial-out has been delayed by one week in the new commerce experience for Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) due to unforeseen technical issues. The new $0 SKU is expected to be available to transact mid-next week for new commerce CSP customers.

Impacted new CSP SKU details

• Offer name: Microsoft Teams Audio Conferencing select dial-out
• Offer ID: 6d8988d8-a017-4fc1-ba06-8007c8d34a3b

Please note that this delay does not affect other purchasing channels, including current CSP, EA/EAS, or Web Direct.

Resources

• Public Announcement (August 19, 2021)
• Microsoft 365 Pricing and Audio-Conferencing partner FAQ

New: Webinars added to the SMB Partner Webinar Series

We're excited about the addition of three new live webinars to the SMB Partner Webinar Series! Register today to learn how Microsoft Defender for Business and Microsoft 365 Business Premium can help you provide security for your customers and grow your business.

• March 17, 2022, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM, PT: Technical Training: IT Checklist for Managing Hybrid Work with Defender for Business, Lighthouse, and the Security Features in Business Premium
• April 7, 2022, 9:00 AM – 9:45 AM, PT: Sales Training: Understanding the Business Opportunity for Partners with Microsoft Defender for Business
• May 5, 2022, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM, PT: Technical Training: Unboxing Defender for Business – a Deeper Look at Capabilities
• Also, watch the recording, Technical Training: A Deeper Look at Microsoft Defender for Business
• Visit the series page to watch recent webinars on demand

Microsoft 365 IT PRO Series

In the changing world of work, employee, customer, and business partner experiences have become paramount for every organization. Businesses that can adapt to the new demands are able to build stronger customer and partner connections, develop new business and operational models, attract and retain workers, save on office space, and increase overall satisfaction for stakeholders across their value chain.

Explore this series of informative, IT professional-focused sessions to learn how you can help your customers identify required licensing, understand how to deploy and solutions, and ensure compliance requirements are met.

Upcoming Defender For Business Partner Series Events

• March 17, 2022 Technical Training: Checklist for Managing Hybrid Work with Defender for Business, Lighthouse, and the Security Features in Business Premium
• April 7, 2022 Sales Training: Understanding the Business Opportunity for Partners with Microsoft Defender for Business
• May 5, 2022 Technical Training: Unboxing Defender for Business – a Deeper Look at Capabilities, with Demo and Q&A

New date announced for Microsoft Viva Webinar

March 14, 2022 Selling Microsoft Viva: How to Accelerate Sales Opportunities

Readiness training on demand

If you missed or want to revisit a recent partner readiness event, you can find it on the Microsoft 365 Partner Portal Events page in the On-demand webinars tab. Filter by practice area

Terms and Conditions

Update to Windows 11 Deployment Incentive Offer, Program Performance Requirements.

Download the Terms and Conditions for current program details.

FastTrack Playbook

Visit the Playbook Change Log for a complete list of updates.

Service Description

App Assure Service Description Updates

Windows 11 x64 emulation

App Assure BVD.

Data Migration Scope Expansion

This is a net new offering to include (A1) Students along with Faculty/Staff for Exchange and Gmail migrations only.

The change will allow customers to request migration in cases where they have more than 500 seats (in total) of combinations of A1/A3/A5 licenses and the customer is eligible for onboarding (A3/A5 over 150 seats).

https://aka.ms/ftmigration

Eligibility criteria

Eligibility criteria has been changed to allow any customer access to the App Assure benefit regardless of their seat count.

FT services description for App Assure has been updated to remove minimum seat requirement.

Seat count for App Assure service on FT On-Demand page removed

Access the FastTrack Service Description.