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What the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program is
The Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program is the umbrella under which Microsoft works with the firms that build on, sell and implement its products. It was previously called the Microsoft Partner Network. Joining the program is open to almost any business, so membership on its own tells a buyer very little.
What carries more weight are the designations and specializations inside the program. Microsoft awards these when a firm meets measured thresholds across performance, staff skilling and customer success in a solution area. They replaced the older Gold and Silver competencies, which Microsoft retired, so an old gold badge on a website describes a program that no longer exists.
The Solutions Partner areas at a glance
Designations, specializations and what they tell you
Solutions Partner designation
Shows a Microsoft partner has met the scoring threshold in one solution area. For an ERP buyer, the relevant one is Business Applications.
- ✓Scored on performance, skilling and customer success
- ✓Reviewed by Microsoft on a recurring basis
Specialization
A deeper validation in a specific workload inside a solution area, with its own requirements on top of the designation.
- ✓Fewer firms hold them
- ✓Worth asking about if a workload is central to your project
What neither proves
Neither badge tells you whether the consultants on your project know your industry, or whether the firm finishes projects on budget.
- ✓Ask for references in a sales conversation
- ✓Ask who will actually be on your calls
How to verify any partner in Microsoft's directory
- 1
Open Microsoft's partner finder
Go to Microsoft AppSource and choose the partners section, which lists firms registered in the program.
- 2
Search the firm's legal name
Search the company name, not a product name. Many firms trade under a brand that differs from their registered name, so try both.
- 3
Read the profile badges
The profile shows any Solutions Partner designations and specializations Microsoft has recorded for that firm. It also shows the products and industries the firm lists.
- 4
Compare with the sales pitch
If a proposal claims a designation the directory does not show, ask the firm to explain. Legitimate firms can point you to it.
- 5
Look beyond the badge
Use the directory as one input. References, a written scope and a conversation with the delivery team tell you more about fit.
AppSource and the add-on ecosystem
AppSource is Microsoft's marketplace for business applications. For Business Central, it is where independent software vendors, known as ISVs, list extensions that add capability Microsoft does not ship: advanced shipping, EDI, industry-specific features, document capture and many more. Apps listed for Business Central go through Microsoft's technical validation before they appear.
Validation checks that an app installs and behaves correctly alongside Business Central. It does not mean the app suits your processes, that its support is responsive or that its license terms fit your budget. Those are questions for a trial, a reference and the vendor's own documentation.
How we work with add-on vendors and license resellers
- ✓We check first whether standard Business Central already covers the need before recommending any paid add-on
- ✓When an ISV app is the right answer, we compare a shortlist on fit, support model and update history
- ✓Your contract and license for an ISV app are with that vendor, so you keep the relationship if partners change
- ✓If you already buy Microsoft licenses through a Cloud Solution Provider reseller, we work alongside them
- ✓If you need a reseller, we explain how CSP licensing works so you can choose one on clear terms
- ✓We set up and configure add-ons inside the project scope and test them with your real data before go-live
Which Microsoft sources back this page?
Microsoft, Solutions Partner designations: partner.microsoft.com/en-us/partnership/solutions-partner. Checked October 9, 2026.
Microsoft updates its documentation often, so confirm the current wording on the page itself before you act on it.
Partner program questions
Does a Solutions Partner designation mean a firm is good at Business Central?
It means the firm met Microsoft's measured Solutions Partner threshold in Business Applications, which is useful but broad. That area spans Dynamics 365 and the Power Platform, so a firm can qualify mostly on work outside Business Central. Ask which products drive their practice, and meet the consultants who would do your work. References from similar companies are the best evidence.
What is a CSP and do I need one?
A Cloud Solution Provider is a firm Microsoft authorizes to sell and bill its cloud licenses, including Business Central subscriptions. Most Business Central customers buy their licenses through a CSP, which handles billing and license changes. Your CSP and implementation consultant can be one firm or two. What matters is clear roles and support contacts.
Should I trust partner logos on a website?
Treat them as a claim to check, not as proof. Microsoft's directory shows the designations it has recorded for a firm, and a lookup takes a couple of minutes. Logos from the retired Gold and Silver program suggest nobody has updated the page in some time.
Are AppSource apps safe to install?
Business Central apps must pass Microsoft's technical validation before listing, which lowers the risk of breakage. Validation does not endorse the vendor's support or pricing. Try new apps in a sandbox with your own data first, and read the vendor's update and support terms.
Can we switch implementation partners later?
Yes, your Business Central tenant, data and licenses belong to your company, not the firm that set them up. Changing partners means updating admin access and, if relevant, your partner of record in Microsoft's systems. Your own notes on setups and extensions make a handover much easier.
Talk to us about your project.
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