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AWS Announces Changes to Partner Program Benefits
Amazon Web Services (AWS) Inc. last week rolled out some changes to the AWS Partner Network (APN), including an expansion of partner resources and the addition of programs aimed at managed services providers (MSPs) and Software as a Service (SaaS)-focused partners.
The program changes, announced at the re:Invent conference in Las Vegas, were touted as a mark of AWS' continued commitment to its partner ecosystem, which it said has grown by over 75 percent this past year.
AWS is also developing seven new competencies for 2015: Security, Internet of Things, Cloud Migration, Mobile, Digital Media, Financial Services and Health Care.
In a statement, Terry Wise, AWS director of Worldwide Partner Ecosystem, said that AWS intends to "more than double" its APN investment over the coming year, adding "the most significant set of updates, enhancements and new benefits to the APN since its inception." A list of APN partner benefits slated for 2015 is available here.
Among the changes announced at re:Invent are the launches of the AWS Managed Service Program and the AWS SaaS Partner Program. The former is aimed at MSPs that are registered as APN Consulting Partners; have proficiency in application migration and cloud infrastructure; and offer automation, monitoring and management services to their customers. Program benefits include eligibility for marketing and other funding, as well as training and certification discounts.
The AWS SaaS Partner Program is designed for APN Technology Partners that develop SaaS solutions on the AWS platform. Benefits include eligibility for lead-generation campaigns, go-to-market funding and more.
New Program Benefits
In addition to the two new partner programs, AWS announced several new benefits and resources for partners:
- For qualifying Advanced and Premier APN members, AWS is offering to fund as much as 50 percent of their professional services fees, and up to 100 percent of their usage fees related to customer proofs-of-concepts.
- Qualifying partners will have access to free AWS usage credits for solution development projects.
- Three new bootcamps: Windows on AWS, AWS Professional Services and AWS Certification Prep.
- New Web-based training on the topic of cloud economics and calculating total cost of ownership on AWS.
More from AWS re:Invent 2014: