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Have you seen the term Microsoft Certified Partner or MCP and not known what it meant? An MCP is an independent company that offers its clients Microsoft related products and services. While they are independent firms, they work under the Microsoft label worldwide. The services and products might include anything from technical support, to education, to specialist software to original equipment manufacturer software.

The benefits for partners are earlier access to information from Microsoft, a higher level of technical support and much cheaper access to Microsoft software licenses. The primary benefits for Microsoft is a dedicated band of knowledgeable, able and modern businesses, always ready to help them serve their customers needs.

Microsoft’s Certified Partner certification program is meant for businesses that are successful in applying Microsoft’s technologies and platforms. Microsoft offers two different types of MCPs. They are the Microsoft Certified Partner and the Microsoft Gold Certified Partner. The Microsoft Gold Certified Partner must pass a much more difficult test to be awarded the “gold” certification. Once they gain that coveted certification they, in turn, have many more services available to them than those that don’t have the gold certification.

Every Microsoft Certified Partner must have been trading for at least 5 years, plus they must have passed several tests in accordance with Microsoft’s stringent guidelines, they will also have proven skills in the company’s particular field of work. These partners are rewarded by Microsoft with discounts on tools for their particular field.

Staff that work for Microsoft Gold Certified Partners need to be able to design, plan, implement and manage specialized computer solutions and environments that are based on Microsoft technology. Services that are offered by those holding the Gold Certification include business intelligence, collaborative solutions, hosting, application services, learning solutions and security solutions.

To continue as Microsoft Certified Partners, members of the program are obligated to pay a membership fee annually. In return for this fee they gain access to software licenses, early access to Microsoft beta software and all sorts of technical and development information that they can then use in their own businesses and with their own clients. They also get access to up to ten copies of Office XP Developer Edition, twenty copies of Windows XP Professional Operating System and between ten and twenty Client Access License Seats for server access.

Microsoft require its partners to upgrade their partner certifications when new platforms or software are released, thereby ensuring certification is kept up-to-date with Microsoft releases. Microsoft certified partners are also able to access Microsoft Support 24 hours a day enabling them to give improved customer relations and support to each and every customer.

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