The Difference Between Microsoft Gold Partner and Advanced Specialization

Everyone in the Microsoft world is familiar with the Microsoft Gold Partner status. Although it is still a good measure of acquired knowledge and skills, of course, it has become commonplace. By now, every Microsoft Partner has at least one of these. To distinguish even further, Microsoft has created Advanced Specializations. Unlike Gold Partner status, Advanced Specializations are subject to thorough auditing by an independent agency. And we passed that external audit with flying colors at Realdolmen.

Only partners that meet stringent criteria around customer success and staff skilling, as well as pass a third-party audit of their web workload deployment and management practices, including their ability to implement Azure App Service, are able to earn the Modernization of Web Applications in Microsoft Azure advanced specialization.

As companies look to modernize their applications and take full advantage of the benefits that cloud computing can deliver, they are looking for a partner with advanced skills to migrate, optimize, and manage their existing web workloads to the cloud.

Our cloud approach

Cloud adoption is not a one-size-fits-all approach that simply happens overnight. Simply moving things to the Cloud in a ‘business as usual’ state of mind doesn’t automatically guarantee a successful Digital Transformation. To truly benefit from the Cloud, organizations need to change their way of working. It requires a buy-in from both business and IT. The first step is to acknowledge that moving to the Cloud is a journey, a transformational change, not a one-shot.

At Realdolmen, we understand that adopting the potential of Cloud always means something different to different companies. Some may be at the very start, while others may have already adopted a Cloud-native attitude. Nevertheless, it is important to know where you are and where you want to be.

Gavriella Schuster, Corporate Vice President, One Commercial Partner (OCP) at Microsoft Corp. added, “The Modernization of Web Applications in Azure advanced specialization highlights the partners who can be viewed as most capable when it comes to migrating, modernizing, and managing web applications in Microsoft Azure. Realdolmen clearly demonstrated that they have both the skills and the experience to offer clients a path to start enjoying the benefits of being in the cloud.”