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Why Partner with a Microsoft Cloud Service Provider (CSP)?

Mar 09, 2022

There are many benefits and advantages to partnering with a Microsoft CSP (Cloud Service Provider). To better understand the benefits, let’s review what makes a CSP partner.


What is a Microsoft Cloud Service Provider?



To qualify as a CSP, the partner must provide the following:

  • Value-Added Services

     a Microsoft CSP partner must do more than just resell Azure, such as providing Managed Azure services.

  • Reliable Support

    Partners must be ready and able to deal with first level Azure questions.

  • Customer Management

    CSPs need the technical expertise to provide managed services using Microsoft tools. 

  • Simplified Billing

    A Microsoft CSP partner must provide customers with a single, simplified bill for all their Cloud services.

These are all necessary requirements that a partner must fulfill in order to become a Microsoft Cloud Service Provider. However, it is important to understand that there are two different levels of Cloud Service Providers (CSP), Tier 1 and Tier 2. Your business needs will determine your choice between a Tier 1 or Tier 2 partner. 


So what’s the difference?

Simply put a Tier 1 Partner is a Direct partner and a Tier 2 Partner is an Indirect Partner. A Tier 1 Partner is a provider that works directly with Microsoft. This company has invested its time and resources to build expertise in Microsoft solutions and has direct access to Microsoft technical resources. A Tier 1 Partner has to maintain stricter standards to maintain their status. A Tier 2 Partner does not work directly with Microsoft and utilizes third-party distributors. This partner tier has lower technical requirements.


The Benefits

When you chose to work with a Tier 1 CSP, this means you are partnered with a company that has demonstrated it can provide the level of service that Microsoft demands of its partners. A Tier 1 partner has direct access to Microsoft, so any client issues are requests are handled immediately and you are not waiting on a distributor to pass the message along to another party.

By partnering with a CSP you are still gaining access to all Microsoft and Azure services while getting personalized support to help your team’s cloud initiatives succeed. 


A Tier 1 CSP can provide the following:


  • Help you reduce expenses and eliminate overlapping services by architecting a Public, Private or Hybrid Cloud solution, all on a single invoice
  • Improve efficiency with Public Cloud, Private Cloud and IT services coordinated from a single provider who understands your business’s needs
  • Increase productivity with solutions customized to your requirements and the rapid deployment and reduced learning curve that comes with Microsoft Azure
  • Allow you to retain control of what you want to control, and handoff administration aspects that are out of your scope, or that you simply don’t have time for
  • Offer superior support with proactive management and monitoring to minimize downtime and delays


At Akins IT we have years of expertise working with clients and their Microsoft Cloud solutions. Contact us today to find out if partnering with a CSP is right for your business.

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