• Microsoft Certified Solution Provider program was launched in 1992. • March 2000 – Ian Rogoff was named vice president of Microsoft's Worldwide Partner Group. • Microsoft Certified Partner program was launched in 2000. • November 2001 – Rosa Garcia replaces Ian Rogoff as head of Microsoft's Worldwide Partner Group. • In 2003, Microsoft invested heavily in the partner program. Microsoft signed up 5,000 new ISVs to the Microsoft's ISV Empower Program. Microsoft upped its number of technical specialists on staff to assist partners, from 700 to 2,400 in one year. Microsoft revamped its employee compensation incentive plans, tying 60 percent of bonuses in most cases to partner and
customer satisfaction. • 2004 – Microsoft invested $1.7 billion in the partner program. At that time, Microsoft investment in partners had grown to $5.2 billion. This includes $3.8 billion in channel incentives, $1 billion in partner marketing, $100 million in business investment fund, and $200 million in direct partner benefits through the Microsoft Partner Network. • Late 2010 – The Microsoft Partner Network officially launched and superseded the old Microsoft Partner Program. • 2013 – In response to slow sales of the new
Windows 8 line, Microsoft slashed Solutions
Incentive Program payments. • Coming August 2019 – On-premises product support will no longer be available for Action Pack and competencies. • October 2022 – The network was renamed the
Microsoft Cloud Partner Program, replacing "Silver" and "Gold" competencies with six Solutions Partner designations. • July 2023 – The program was again rebranded as the
Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program to focus on integrating artificial intelligence services. ==Current structure==