Welcome to the first issue of Arrow’s Microsoft Partner Update. Each month, we will share the latest news, insight and practical guidance to help you stay close to the changes, opportunities and actions that matter most.
Microsoft Exam Changes and how partners can stay renewal ready
Microsoft is updating the exams that sit behind Partner Designations and Specialisations as the Frontier programme takes effect. On paper, it sounds like a programme change, but in practice it has a direct impact on how partners protect their status, plan skills development, and stay aligned to where Microsoft is taking the market.
The key is not to leave this until renewal
Designations and Specialisations depend on specific exams and wider requirements being in place at the right time. As Microsoft retires older exams and introduces new ones, partners need to make sure their current certifications still support the status they want to keep.
Modern Work is one of the clearest areas of change. MS-900 has now retired, although it will still count towards renewal during the transition. Going forward, it is being replaced by AB-900, Copilot and Agent Administration. MS-102 Administrator Expert consolidates the former MS-100 and MS-101 exams, while MS-721 Collaboration and Communications Associate is now part of the requirements partners need to consider.
The Teams Assessment is also being retired. Partners that have relied on it should check whether MS-721 or MS-102 is now needed instead.
The changes go beyond Modern Work, and partners should review requirements across Dynamics 365, Azure, AI, Power Platform and hybrid infrastructure. Exams that may affect renewals include Dynamics 365 CRM and ERP, Azure AI, Azure Developer, Azure Security Engineer, Windows Server Hybrid Administrator, Power Platform, RPA and solution architecture. There are also replacement exams to track, including AI-102 Azure AI Engineer being replaced by AI-103, and DP-100 Data Scientist being replaced by AI-300.
Specialisations are also changing
Adoption and Change Management is being retired and absorbed into aligned areas, while analytics on Microsoft Azure, App Modernisation on Microsoft Azure and the new Agentic Business Solutions Specialisation will bring several existing areas together. Security Specialisation is moving to a third-party audit-based model, while Identity and Access Management now includes Entra ID P2 workloads, with stronger alignment to Zero Trust and identity-first security.
The wider direction is clear, as Microsoft moves towards fewer, broader Specialisations, harder requirements, and AI and Copilot embedded across more areas. Usage metrics are also shifting towards workload depth, premium workloads, AI adoption and Copilot adoption, including a new Copilot MAU requirement of 1,000 plus MAU growth over a trailing 12-month period.
Partners should start by mapping every Designation and Specialisation they hold against the latest requirements, identifying any gaps, and booking replacement exams well before renewal deadlines create pressure. Those that need support should speak to their Arrow PDM to understand what has changed and what action is needed.
EA to CSP and what partners should review with Azure customers
For many customers, the way they buy and manage Azure is changing, creating a clear review point for partners. Some want more flexibility, others want closer support from a partner, or are approaching renewal and need to understand whether a Direct Enterprise Agreement is still the right fit.
That is why the move from Direct EA Azure to the Microsoft CSP programme is important. CSP can give customers a more adaptable way to buy and manage Azure, particularly where projects need flexible terms, partner-led support and ongoing optimisation. Customers can also purchase EA and CSP products within the same tenant, which gives them more choice when different workloads or projects have different requirements.
Commercially, CSP can also be compelling, although very large, high-commitment Azure estates may still find an EA more competitive. This underlines that there is not one route that fits every customer. The opportunity for partners is to help customers review what they have, what is coming up for renewal, and which model best fits the way they want to consume Azure.
The challenge has often been the move itself, as previously, customers wanting to move from Direct EA Azure to CSP had limited options. They could manually migrate resources, or work with one of a very small number of Azure Expert MSPs.
Arrow’s Frontier Designation status changes that conversation for partners. Arrow can now support partners with a simpler route for customers moving from Direct EA Azure into CSP. In practice, the move should be treated more like a billing transfer than a manual workload migration. Azure can move to CSP with no downtime, subject to the right checks, and there is no need to manually rebuild workloads.
Planning matters
Pre-migration checks are needed to confirm compatibility with the Microsoft CSP Azure offering and identify any unsupported scenarios before the move begins. Microsoft first-party resources are supported, and customers will also need to complete some steps as part of the process.
Timing is critical, as a Direct EA is a fixed-term commitment to Microsoft and can cover SaaS, IaaS, perpetual licences or a mix of all three. SaaS products are usually best moved to CSP at or near the end of term. Partners should also check whether the customer has an EA-MAC commitment, as there is no refund for unused credits.
MCA-E customers should also be reviewed as this is an evergreen agreement used to purchase and manage Azure directly from Microsoft, and supports MACC and pay-as-you-go. Moving from MCA-E to CSP follows a similar process to a mid-term transfer, with no special tooling required, although the same pre-migration checks still apply and must be completed by the reseller and customer.
A good starting point is to identify Direct EA and MCA-E customers, review their renewal dates and committed spend, and speak to your Arrow PDM about specific opportunities and transition timing.
Visit our news page to download the full monthly update and learn more Microsoft News
