A Microsoft Certified Partner (MCP) is a business that provides Microsoft-related products or services or support for such.

They are authorized by Microsoft to be official, and that they work successfully, and help clients with a variety of information technology (IT) projects and specific products and services.

In the U.S., Microsoft “Partners” are technology companies that specialize in helping clients who use Microsoft technologies. They are typically IT experts with knowledge and often certifications in the use of specific Microsoft platforms and technologies. My apologies in advance, there’s no way to explain this adequately without it sounding like a bit of an ad. For about 24 years, I Partnered with Microsoft in the area that helps its clients implement Microsoft cloud-based systems and migrated firms from on-premises computing to cloud-based platforms. I specialize in Office 365, Skype for Business, Azure, Active Directory, Outlook, and other tools in the Microsoft Cloud “stack.”

Microsoft partners are separate companies that get advanced access to and specialized training on new products so they’ll better understand them for their customers. They also get advanced customer service access.