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AWS Launches Partner Competency for SaaS Experts
A new AWS Partner Network (APN) competency turns the spotlight on consulting firms with expertise in building software-as-a-service (SaaS) applications on the Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud.
The AWS SaaS Competency is for APN consulting partners that "have undergone rigorous technical validation by AWS Partner Solutions Architects and demonstrated proven customer success," AWS partner executives said in a blog post this week.
There are two types of partner categories within the AWS SaaS Competency. Consulting partners can qualify for one or both, depending on their focus area.
The Design Services category is for partners that have expertise in using AWS infrastructure to build SaaS applications. These partners "have the ability to design, implement, and integrate AWS infrastructure for SaaS application architectures," according to the announcement.
The second category, dubbed Builders, is for partners with expertise in software development. These partners "have the ability to develop multi-tenant software code for tier-1 SaaS applications, using object-oriented programming (OOP) and software development lifecycle (SDLC) agile methodologies."
APN consulting partners undergo an intensive "vetting process" to earn the AWS SaaS Competency, according to an AWS spokesperson, who described the process in an e-mail. The process broadly comprises three areas:
- During the vetting process, the APN Partner, AWS Solution Architects, and a 3rd Party auditor conduct a deep dive into multiple SaaS customer use-cases. This validation process determines if the architecture of a given project aligns to AWS Well Architected best practices for building the most secure, high-performing, resilient, and efficient cloud infrastructure for industry applications and alignment with the AWS SaaS best practices identified in the Technical Validation document specifically designed to maintain the high bar within the AWS SaaS Competency.
- AWS SaaS Competency Partners are also required to demonstrate thought leadership in this space, build and maintain easily discoverable web properties, to make it easier for customer to find information specific to SaaS on AWS.
- The AWS SaaS Competency Partners are also required to complete the APN SaaS Navigate track, which covers foundational business and architectural patterns for successfully building a SaaS practice on AWS. APN Advanced or Premier Consulting Partners with deep experience in designing and building SaaS solutions on AWS can review the AWS SaaS Competency Partner Validation Checklist.
A directory of partners that have already achieved the AWS SaaS Competency is available here. A panel discussion on the new competency hosted by the APN is also available on demand here.