Microsoft Refreshes SAP on Azure Specialization: Lower Barriers and Streamlined Paths for Partners

Microsoft has announced significant updates to its SAP on Microsoft Azure specialization, a credential that validates partner expertise in planning, migrating, and operating SAP workloads on Azure. The changes, effective for applications starting in January 2026, are designed to expand opportunity by making the specialization more accessible while maintaining its high standard of technical capability.

What Changed: Lowering the Barrier to Entry

The most substantial change is the reduction in the Azure consumed revenue (ACR) requirement. Previously, partners needed to demonstrate $30,000 in ACR over a three-month period. The updated requirement lowers this threshold to $7,500, a significant reduction that lowers the barrier to entry for smaller partners and those in the early stages of building their Azure SAP practice.

This change is strategic. By reducing the financial threshold, Microsoft is acknowledging that deep technical expertise in SAP on Azure is not solely the domain of large-scale partners. Smaller, specialized consultancies can now more easily earn the credential, which in turn provides customers with a broader pool of vetted experts to choose from. The $7,500 ACR requirement is still meaningful—it ensures partners have real, paid Azure consumption—but it is now within reach for a wider range of organizations.

Streamlined Skilling Validation

The second major update simplifies how partners validate their technical skills. Previously, partners had to complete their skilling requirements through a third-party audit for this specialization. The new process allows partners to validate required Microsoft learning coursework directly within Partner Center, removing the external audit step for skilling.

Partners can now meet the skilling requirement through one of two paths:

1. Azure for SAP Workloads Specialty certification: This is a focused certification that tests knowledge specific to running SAP on Azure.
2. Run SAP on the Microsoft Cloud learning path: This is a structured learning path that covers the necessary concepts and best practices.

This change accelerates the path to earning the specialization by consolidating the validation process. Partners can now complete their skilling and have it recognized in a single platform (Partner Center), rather than navigating multiple systems and external audits. This reduces administrative overhead and speeds up the time to credential attainment.

Business Impact and Partner Opportunities

These updates are not just administrative tweaks; they are strategic moves to strengthen the Azure partner ecosystem for SAP. For partners, the specialization is a key differentiator. It signals to customers that the partner has proven, Microsoft-validated expertise in a complex and critical area of enterprise IT.

With the lowered ACR threshold, more partners can now achieve this credential. This creates a more competitive market for SAP on Azure services, but it also expands the overall opportunity. Customers gain access to a larger pool of certified experts, which can drive down costs and increase innovation. For partners, earning the specialization unlocks exclusive go-to-market advantages, including enhanced visibility in the Microsoft ecosystem and access to specialized resources and support.

The streamlined skilling process also means partners can focus more on delivering value to customers and less on navigating certification bureaucracy. This is particularly important for consultancies that may have deep SAP or Azure expertise but lack the scale to meet the previous ACR requirement.

Strategic Context: The Multi-Cloud and SAP Ecosystem

SAP is a cornerstone of many enterprise IT environments, and the move to the cloud is a major strategic initiative for these organizations. Microsoft Azure is a leading platform for SAP workloads, offering specific optimizations and services tailored for SAP applications, such as Azure Large Instances for SAP HANA and dedicated SAP support teams.

The specialization update aligns with broader trends in cloud strategy. Organizations are increasingly adopting multi-cloud approaches, but they still require deep, specialized expertise for their most critical workloads. By making the SAP on Azure specialization more accessible, Microsoft is ensuring that its partner ecosystem is equipped to meet this demand. This is not about lowering standards, but about recognizing that expertise can exist at different scales and making it easier for those experts to get recognized.

For partners considering their next steps, the message is clear: the path to demonstrating SAP on Azure expertise is now more straightforward. The updated requirements are available in Partner Center, and the timeline for the new ACR threshold begins in January 2026. Partners should review the updated requirements, assess their current ACR and skilling status, and plan their application or renewal accordingly.

Next Steps for Partners

1. Review the Updated Requirements: Visit the Microsoft Partner Center to see the detailed, updated requirements for the SAP on Microsoft Azure specialization.
2. Assess Your Position: Check your current Azure consumed revenue over the past three months and verify your skilling status against the new paths (Azure for SAP Workloads Specialty or the Run SAP on the Microsoft Cloud learning path).
3. Plan Your Application: If you meet the new criteria, you can apply or renew starting with the new requirements. If not, use the time until January 2026 to build your ACR and complete the required skilling.
4. Stay Informed: Follow the Specialization Updates blog to stay up to date on all future announcements and changes to partner specializations.

By refreshing the SAP on Microsoft Azure specialization, Microsoft is not just changing a credential—it is investing in the partner ecosystem that supports one of its most critical enterprise workloads. The updates create a more inclusive path to expertise, which ultimately benefits the entire Azure SAP community.