Every Microsoft AOS-G partner is authorized. What separates them is how they support you after the agreement is signed. These are the questions worth asking before you decide.
The strategy session is where that gets sorted out.
Authorization gets a partner in the door. These are the things that determine what working together feels like.
The Question
Others
Question
01
How do you receive support when you contact Microsoft?
The level of service varies among AOS-G partners. It’s important to understand what you’re signing up for. The ideal experience? Having a support team that’s familiar with your environment & able to quickly access the information you need.
Has a dedicated Account Manager familiar with your environment and licensing, streamlining support experiences.
Uses either a distributor with a Level 1 help desk support or maintains an EA Agreement with access only to the generic 800# support available to all clients.
Question
02
Does the provider offer a Service Level Agreement for their support desk?
Understanding how your AOS-G partner defines success in responding to tickets is crucial. AOS-G partners typically offer either a Service Level Agreement (SLA) or best effort. An SLA specifies a response time, while best effort means they’ll address it as soon as possible. This often involves opening a ticket with Microsoft and waiting up to 72 hours. Quick feedback is essential when you need immediate support and open a ticket.
Has a Service Level Agreement (SLA) in place, committing to responses within a specified timeframe to keep us on the same page.
Operate on a “Best Effort” basis and do not guarantee when your issue will be addressed.
Question
03
How do you obtain advice on Microsoft licensing to ensure correct and efficient licensing?
Your AOS-G partner should provide a licensing expert to navigate the complexities of Microsoft licensing and optimize your Microsoft spending. Make sure you’re getting maximum value and not overpaying for unnecessary or inefficient licenses.
Employs certified licensing specialists and can bring in knowledgeable technical resources to design solutions with a focus on minimizing licensing costs.
No specialist, which can mean they’re searching online and hoping for the best.
Question
04
Where can you turn when you have a billing question?
Identify who to contact for billing questions. If you have direct access to your AOS-G partner’s accounting department, you’ll get quick and complete answers. However, if your local partner needs to go through a distributor and then Microsoft, response times may be slow.
Immediate access to your provider’s accounting team and experts in Microsoft billing practices.
Provider who needs to contact a distributor, who then must reach out to Microsoft.
Question
05
Does Microsoft officially endorse your provider for the services you’re buying?
Quick answer: look to see if your AOS-G partner certified by Microsoft. If they’re not, they’re probably self-proclaimed experts.
Important note: Silver or Gold Partner titles USED to signify Microsoft expertise, but these titles are outdated.
Microsoft now only endorses partners through Solutions Partner Designations.
As a four-time Microsoft Cloud Partner of the Year and one of the original six authorized AOS-G partners, Agile IT has the designations that matter for the services you need.
If they refer to themselves as a Microsoft Silver or Gold Partner, they’re using outdated designations and potentially not up to date.
The strategy session is a working conversation about your environment and what the right AOS-G partner relationship looks like for your situation. You come in with what you know. We figure out the rest together.
Tell us where you are and what you’re working toward.
The strategy session is where that conversation happens.
