Cloud Accelerate Factory expands

More partners can now use Cloud Accelerate Factory to deliver faster, more competitive customer engagements.

Impacted audience

Partners with eligible Azure specializations, plus partners participating in select Security and other specialization engagements.

Speed wins deals. And now, more partners have access to a faster way to deliver. Cloud Accelerate Factory is a benefit that provides partners with zero-cost, Microsoft-led deployment assistance across 30+ Azure services, helping accelerate delivery using proven best practices. This enables partners to reduce delivery costs and timelines while focusing their expertise on higher-value, differentiated solutions that drive greater customer impact.

Previously, Cloud Accelerate Factory was only available to partners through the Azure Migrate and Modernize and Azure Innovate offerings. Now, it’s available to a broader set of partners with Azure specializations (a few of which also align to Business Applications or Security designations). That means you can move from proposal to execution faster—without stretching your delivery teams.

The following specializations contain the Cloud Accelerate Factory benefit. All are aligned to Solutions Partner designations for Azure, but some can be attained through other designations as well.

• Agentic DevOps with Microsoft Azure and GitHub
• AI Apps on Microsoft Azure
• AI Platform on Microsoft Azure
• Analytics on Microsoft Azure
• Business Intelligence (also attainable through Business Applications designation)
• Data Warehouse Migration to Microsoft Azure
• Digital Sovereignty (also attainable through the Security designation)
• Hybrid Cloud Infrastructure with Microsoft Azure Stack HCI
• Infra and Database Migration to Microsoft Azure
• Intelligent Automation
• Kubernetes on Microsoft Azure
• Low Code Application Development (also attainable through Business Applications designation)
• Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop
• Microsoft Azure VMware Solution
• Migrate Enterprise Applications to Microsoft Azure
• Networking Services in Microsoft Azure
• SAP on Microsoft Azure

For select workload types, you may be able to access Cloud Accelerate Factory through the Microsoft 365 Copilot specialization or specializations aligned to other solution areas.

Just as important, the engagement model is changing:

• Partner-nominated engagements: You can now use existing incentives and Cloud Accelerate Factory together in the same engagement.
• End Customer Investment Funds (ECIF) or field-nominated engagements: Partners must complete a one-time activation via this form, then submit eligible engagements directly going forward.

This update isn't just broader access; it's a more flexible way to deliver. Use Cloud Accelerate Factory to shift how—and how fast—you operate:

• Move faster in competitive deals: Accelerate delivery timelines and get customers to outcomes sooner
• Focus on high-value work: Offload repeatable, standardized tasks so your team can prioritize differentiated services
• Improve win rates and customer confidence: Embed a faster, more structured delivery model into your proposals
• Scale without increasing delivery burden: Take on more opportunities without adding proportional resource strain
• Bring incentives and delivery together: Combine Cloud Accelerate Factory with existing incentives in partner-nominated engagements

Bottom line: Cloud Accelerate Factory is built so you can deliver faster, compete more effectively, and focus your business where it creates the most value.

Next steps

• Review the Cloud Accelerate Factory resources to understand where it fits into your engagements
• When using ECIF or field-nominated engagements, complete the one-time activation to get started
• Identify upcoming eligible engagements where you can apply Cloud Accelerate Factory to improve speed and delivery outcomes