How to Become an AWS Partner | AWS Partner Company

Amazon Web Services (AWS): A Brief Overview

AWS (Amazon Web Services) is the world’s leading cloud infrastructure service, with a market share of over 30% as of 2024, which accounts for a significant portion of Amazon’s overall revenue.

It incorporates a comprehensive suite of cloud services (including computing, storage, networking, databases, analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence), enabling businesses across the globe to develop and run their applications on AWS without physical infrastructure. 

What is AWS Partner Network?

The AWS partner network, or APN, is a global community of businesses that make use of AWS resources and expertise to solve technical problems and develop products on the AWS platform to market and sell products (or services); the network has over 1,30,000 services partners from 200 countries across the globe.

As an APN partner, you can get several benefits as you progress through the tiers. We’ll discuss the tiers in more detail later, but for now, let’s take a look at some of the common benefits that you’ll get by becoming an AWS partner, including access to tools like AWS Partner Central, a key platform for managing your partnership.

If you are interested in becoming an AWS Partner, there are a few things you need to know. First, you must meet the AWS Partner Program requirements. What are these requirements? Let’s look at the requirements for becoming an AWS partner. 

Requirements to become an AWS Partner

These requirements include having a certain level of technical expertise and experience and a “commitment to providing excellent customer service.” Once you have met the requirements, you can apply to become an AWS Partner. 

1. Annual Fee

The annual fee for enrolling in this program costs $2500, regardless of partner tier, against which the service partners will receive $3,500 worth of AWS Promotional Credits upon payment of the Annual APN Program Fee. 

2. Monthly Recurring Revenue

You generate monthly recurring revenue of at least $1500 or fulfill necessary launched opportunities criteria for a specific tier. 

Launched opportunities refer to projects or deals with customers that have officially begun and are generating revenue. 

There are three different tiers within the APN program, which we will discuss in this article later, each with its own set of criteria.

3. Valid Reviews & Customer Satisfaction Responses

You must have customer reviews — at least two reviews for Advanced and six reviews to be eligible for the Premier tier (we will discuss AWS partner tiers later in this article). In addition, it requires at least twenty and thirty customer satisfaction (CSAT) responses for the Advanced and Premier tiers, respectively. 

4. AWS Certification

AWS certification is a must-have to show your team has the required AWS skills for customers. The certification will demonstrate to your customers that you have the expertise to meet their needs.

You’re good to go if you fulfill all the abovementioned requirements (including AWS certification, monthly recurring revenue, fee payment, and valid reviews). And now you’ll be able to figure out which tier category you fall into.

AWS offers different levels of recognition: Select, Advanced, and Premier. These levels acknowledge companies that excel in AWS technology and customer service. As you progress, AWS provides more resources to support your business growth. AWS offers three tiers of partner programs, each with its own set of benefits.

1. AWS Select Tier

To apply for this tier, you must have at least a team of two AWS Foundational Certified and two AWS Technical Certified Individuals. You must have launched three opportunities with a total MRR (Monthly Recurring Revenue) of at least $1,500.

2. AWS Advanced Tier

For the advanced partner program, you must have at least a team of four AWS Foundational Certified and six AWS Technical Certified Individuals, with at least three of those being professional or specialty certificate holders.

Furthermore, you must have launched 20 opportunities with a total MRR of at least $10,000. In addition, you have at least two satisfied customer reviews and feedback.

In addition to this, you must have two valid reviews in a public forum or 20 Customer Satisfaction (CSAT) Responses and must have a partner business plan.

3. AWS Premier Tier

To become an AWS Premier Partner, you must meet several criteria. This includes having at least 10 AWS Foundational Certified Individuals and 25 AWS Technical Certified Individuals, with at least 10 of those holding Professional or Specialty certifications.

Additionally, you must have launched at least 50 opportunities with a total MRR (Monthly Recurring Revenue) of at least $50,000.  

Furthermore, Premier Partners need to have six valid reviews in a public forum or 30 Customer Satisfaction (CSAT) Responses and possess a partner business plan.

Finally, Premier Tier applicants must hold at least 3 AWS competencies, with one being either the MSP (Managed Service Provider) or DevOps competency.

Benefits of AWS Partner

When you become an AWS partner, there are several benefits you will get by obtaining a partner status. Below are some of the perks of becoming an AWS  partner.

1. AWS Promotional Credits

You’ll get AWS credits to use AWS services, depending on your tier. Select partners get $3,500, Advanced partners get $5,000, and Premier partners get $10,000.

2. Additional AWS Promotional Credit for AWS Certification Attainment

You’ll get more AWS credits if you or your team members get AWS certifications. You’ll get $300 for up to two Associate certifications and $500 for each Professional or Specialty certification.

3. Discounted AWS Training

You can get heavily discounted training packages through select APN Training Partners.

4. Access to AWS Solutions Training for Partners (STP)

You can attend one-day training sessions on how to deliver various workloads and AWS solutions.

5. Access to Partner Development Resources

You’ll get access to resources to help you develop your AWS skills and expertise.  It is a platform designed to help APN members grow their business. You will find various programs, including training programs, marketing and sales tools, program-specific support, and more.

6. Access to Partner Solutions Resources

You can get help directly from Partner Solutions Architects (PSAs) with solution-level questions. PSAs are expert advisers who help companies design and implement solutions on AWS.  

7. AWS Partner Solutions Finder Listing

Your company will be listed in the AWS Partner Solutions Finder so that AWS customers can find you.

8. Access to APN Marketing Central

APN Marketing Central, where you can find pre-made marketing materials, like social media posts and emails. You can even connect with marketing agencies or get help from a virtual marketing expert through APN Marketing Central.  Many partners rely on AWS Partner central to access tailored tools and insights that further enhance their marketing strategies.

9. Market Development Funds (MDF)

Advanced and Premier partners can get MDF to help them market their AWS solutions. You can learn more about the benefits of the MDF program here if you fall into this category.

10. Highlighted Case Studies

Advanced and Premier partners can have their case studies highlighted on the AWS website. 

Why Did We Become an AWS Partner?

We are a tech-first software development company developing innovative solutions to empower businesses to improve efficiency and productivity. We are now a part of the Amazon partner network, which means we have assurance to our clients that we have the required knowledge and experience to serve them with the help of the AWS team.

Furthermore, it gives us a number of benefits, including:

• Access to AWS representatives who can help us scale our AWS cloud services.

• New marketing channel for us, as we can now promote our AWS expertise to potential clients.

• Better services, as we can now leverage AWS’s vast resources and expertise.

• More channels, as we can now partner with AWS to reach a wider range of clients.Furthermore, our team continuously engages with AWS Partner central to stay at the forefront of AWS innovations and partnership opportunities.

At Brilworks, we have empowered over 50 businesses to thrive and scale through Amazon Web Services (AWS). As an AWS Partner company, we specialize in driving transformation and efficiency by leveraging cutting-edge cloud development solutions. Our unique approach combines advanced technologies with human expertise to ensure your business not only grows but also transforms to meet the demands of the digital age.

What Becoming an AWS Partner Can Do for You

One of the best ways to understand the value of joining the AWS Partner Network (APN) is to see it in action. Take a look at what some partners have achieved—real results that show why this path might be worth considering.

Case #1

For example, YugabyteDB, a database company, partnered with AWS to boost the platform's performance. Through connecting to the AWS Time Sync Service on EC2 instances, they reduced latency by up to 3x and doubled customer throughput. The result wasn't just a technical win, but faster, more dependable data access for fintech and retail clients, proving their value to those clients who needed speed without sacrificing other things. Joining the APN gave them access to AWS's expertise and tools, turning a good idea into a major advancement.

Case #2

A financial services company like Fortiro uses AWS services like SageMaker and Lambda to solve the problem of document fraud. This is a huge pain point for banks and insurance companies. This solution cuts verification times and catches more fraud, winning over clients who are used to slow, outdated processes. The AWS Partner Network (APN) didn’t just hand them technology; it gave them a framework to build trust and stand out in a crowded market.

Case #3

A great example of a partner leveraging AWS’s ecosystem to create a solid solution and help businesses move smoothly into the future is Workato, a company that makes a low-code platform to help businesses connect apps and automate workflows. The platform is reliable, and the support it provides to customers is second to none. This is a good example of how working with AWS can have a positive impact on your business.

These aren't just one-off wins, either. Many partners across industries like cybersecurity (CrowdStrike), telecom (Juniper), even content management (Contentful), have used AWS's ecosystem to grow their reach, solve real problems, and boost their bottom line. Whether it's cutting costs for clients, speeding up innovation, or landing bigger deals, the pattern is clear: the APN offers a playbook for turning expertise into impact.

There are many things you can do to promote your business. First, you need to get certified, so customers know you know what you are doing. Second, you want to increase your knowledge and skills so you’re ready for whatever comes your way. Next, once you’ve made an impression, get more clients. Once you’ve got those three things taken care of, you will be at the top in no time.