Solbeg achieves Microsoft Solution Partner status: Insights from our experts
In the world of technology, being a partner with a major leader like Microsoft is both an honor and a great responsibility. Companies must put in significant effort to become part of this program, but in return, they gain unlimited opportunities for growth and development. We decided to speak with Solbeg’s experts — Evgeniy, CIO, and Alexander, Head of the IT Department — to hear firsthand what this status brings to the company, the challenges the Solbeg team has overcome, and what it means for the company's future. This is a story of how perseverance, expertise, and continuous improvement open new horizons for business.
So, tell us, what exactly does it mean to partner with Microsoft? How long have we had this status, and how has the partnership evolved over the years?
Evgeniy: That’s a great starting question! A partnership with Microsoft is a status that confirms our expertise in solutions based on their technologies, while also granting us access to the company’s resources, products, and technical support. We became partners in 2019, and much has changed since then. The requirements have tightened significantly. In the past, it was enough to simply register on their portal and involve a few certified specialists. Now, it’s a comprehensive program consisting of three main sections: Performance, Skilling, and Customer Success. Microsoft now demands not just knowledge but also real sales, internal growth, and proven client successes.
That sounds like quite a challenge! What does this partnership bring to Solbeg? What advantages does it offer?
Alexander: Our partnership with Microsoft opens up an enormous array of opportunities and benefits. This, of course, includes exclusive business development offers: opportunities to attract clients who turn to Microsoft for solutions, as well as support in promoting services using cloud platforms. One key aspect is early access to new Azure software and services, even before their public release, with extended support and the ability to directly influence product development. Moreover, it’s a significant reputational bonus — we can showcase our verified expertise to clients.
But the most important benefits for us come from the software we receive through the Microsoft partnership program. Today, much of the software used at Solbeg is provided under this program. This includes licenses for Microsoft 365, Windows, Visual Studio Enterprise, PowerApps, Azure credits, and much more. We are confident that participation in the Microsoft Partner program is fully justified and brings significant value.
That’s fascinating! But let's dive a little deeper into how Solbeg achieved this partnership. How many resources were invested in obtaining it?
Evgeniy: Oh, it was a long journey! Things used to be much simpler: register, involve a couple of certified employees — for instance, for Microsoft Silver Partner status, two specialists in the chosen field were enough, and for Gold, at least four; and that’s it — you’re a partner. But in 2022, Microsoft radically changed the rules, making it incredibly difficult to attain. We faced a real multi-stage challenge. In the first stage, the company had to demonstrate actual sales of MS services to clients; in the second, prove its expertise through exams (and yes, there are many more of them now); and finally, show progressive growth in the use of MS services within the company. For each section (Performance, Skilling, and Customer Success), a certain number of points were required, with a maximum total of 100. When we started, we thought it would be enough to earn points in Skilling and Customer Success, but it turned out that Performance played a key role as well. At one point, we urgently needed to organize service sales to get the missing points. That’s when our US-based partners stepped in, and we successfully met the requirements.
Great! What skills did you acquire or strengthen thanks to this partnership? What competencies on our part made this partnership possible?
Alexander: We really learned a lot! Microsoft made a strategic shift toward Cloud services more than 10 years ago, and most of its key products are now delivered via Azure and Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365). This forced us to reevaluate many approaches familiar to system engineers and learn a lot anew, as cloud solutions differ significantly from on-premises ones. Preparing for certification also helped us better grasp the capabilities and vast applications of Azure in IT infrastructure. As for our current status, it reflects expertise specifically in IT infrastructure, and we owe its achievement primarily to the IT Department specialists who worked hard to earn and validate these competencies through exams. Practically, this has also paid off in terms of the breadth of use of Microsoft services. A notable example is the implementation of information security policies using Microsoft Intune. And we have many more such examples. So, yes, it’s fair to say that the path to partnership has contributed to improving our professional skills.
At Solbeg, we always aim to achieve ambitious goals. Please tell us about our strategic priorities in partnership with Microsoft. What steps and initiatives are planned for further developing and strengthening this partnership?
Evgeniy: When we talk about strategic goals, especially in the long term, our primary priority is expanding our client base. The Microsoft partnership plays a key role here, offering access to exclusive opportunities and unique business chances. These opportunities, in turn, help us strengthen and develop our expertise in the chosen fields.
And as for plans: of course! By the end of the year, we are aiming for important achievements, including obtaining our next status. Regarding future initiatives, we'll only reveal a part of them for now: we have an exciting journey ahead, with new special statuses and specializations, such as the Azure Specialization in AI, in strategically important areas.
Impressive! What do you believe are the essential requirements for Microsoft partner companies?
Alexander: First and foremost, partner companies must be experts in their chosen field. Clients expect not just services but the highest level of support and solutions. There's no way to do this without in-depth expertise. We are constantly learning and evolving to meet these high standards.
How does Solbeg help clients implement Microsoft solutions?
Evgeniy: We always strive to offer clients the best solutions. For instance, Azure-based IT infrastructure is an excellent opportunity for many companies to optimize their processes. We help clients not only set it all up but also support them at every stage. As Microsoft partners, we can also offer favorable terms thanks to discounts on their services, allowing clients to enjoy additional benefits from working with us. Of course, every case is individual, and we have examples where transitioning to Azure has brought significant results for clients. But we’re flexible: if a client prefers another platform, we’re ready to work with it.
And finally, how do you ensure continuous learning and development of employees to stay ahead?
Alexander: We work in IT, where continuous learning and development are an integral part of the job. The CIO Office has a system in place where employees can use up to 25% of their work time for training in an agreed-upon direction. This process is overseen by CIO Office management: training requirements, with the necessary materials, are fixed in tasks, control points and deadlines are assigned.
I also advocate that training and development plans be included in the personal growth plans of employees and later discussed during PDDs. And most importantly: the knowledge gained is best solidified by applying it to real projects.
So, this brings our interview to an end. Thank you for an interesting and insightful conversation, and may your drive to succeed inspire and motivate others!
Conclusion
A partnership with Microsoft is not just a confirmation of status, it is an ongoing process of developing competencies and striving for excellence. For Solbeg, it has been an opportunity to broaden horizons and strengthen our market position. But as our company experts note, it’s also a challenge that requires continuous learning and improvement. We are confident that many new achievements and victories lie ahead for Solbeg!
