Partner Network · Prerequisites

Partner Center Prep

Self-tracked checklist for Microsoft Cloud Partner + AWS Partner Network applications. Tick as you complete; progress persists in this browser.

Overall progress

Foundation (do these first — free or near-free)

Required for both Microsoft Cloud Partner Program and AWS Partner Network. Issued by Dun & Bradstreet. Processing: ~30 days.

Applied at dnb.com/duns-number/get-a-duns D-U-N-S number received (record below)

Why: most partner programs auto-verify your business with this. Without it = manual review queue = weeks added.

Make sure your IIS CRA Business Number (BN) is current. Partner verifications cross-check against CRA records.

BN confirmed active

Create the master Microsoft account that owns your partner relationship. Use a business email, NOT personal Gmail.

Account created at partner.microsoft.com MPN ID assigned

Root AWS account with payment method on file (required even for free tier). Register at AWS Partner Central.

AWS account exists w/ payment on file APN registered at aws.amazon.com/partners/registration

Microsoft 365 Fundamentals exam. Optional but boosts Solutions Partner self-assessment score significantly.

Spend approved by Ahmad Exam scheduled Passed

Prep: Free Microsoft Learn path. Study: 8–12 hours.

AWS foundational cert. Required-by-some-AWS-programs entry-level proof of platform familiarity.

Spend approved by Ahmad Passed

Submit the actual partner application. Draft in /outputs/ms-cloud-partner-application-draft-2026-06-18.md.

Draft reviewed end-to-end by Ahmad Submitted

Submit the actual partner application. Draft in /outputs/aws-partner-application-draft-2026-06-18.md.

Draft reviewed end-to-end by Ahmad Submitted

Map current state to Solutions Partner designations (Modern Work, Security, Infrastructure). Reveals exact gap.

Self-assessment complete

Required for AWS Marketplace SaaS listing. We submit ARIA's architecture for AWS technical review.

FTR submitted FTR passed