Can ASPs Afford Microsoft Certification?
By David Ostroff November 11, 2000 The ASP model always sounds like a great value proposition, but potential customers routinely wonder whether a given ASP has the wherewithal to manage their mission critical applications. They also wonder if a given ASP is going to be around next year. Microsoft’s new ASP Certification program is designed to help businesses determine which ASPs are truly qualified to do the job. Since the criteria for winning certification are clearly stated, the idea of such a program is a good one for ASPs and businesses alike. Yet the criteria are stringent and costly enough that many ASPs, even some ASP enablers, are not going to make the cut. Measuring up To become a Microsoft-certified ASP, a provider must meet certain criteria: • Be actively enrolled in the Microsoft Certified Partner program • Offer a service based on Microsoft’s latest technologies • Participate in Microsoft’s new commercial licensing program • Have a contract with Microsoft or one of Microso
