Microsoft's small biz competency will be rolled out in June – almost two years after the revamped Microsoft Partner Network (MPN) hit the channel.

The scheme will replace the Small Business Specialist Competency (SBSC) in a bid to underpin sales of software delivered via both on- and off-premise models.

Julie Bennani, general manager for MPN, said it recognised that SMEs constituted the vast majority of organisations worldwide and that "the growing maturity of cloud computing represents a major revenue opportunity for partners in this market segment".

SME dealers will need to jump the usual hurdles of sales, marketing and technical certifications before they are authorised to slap a gold or silver small biz competency logo on engineers' shirts.

In addition to this, small biz resellers will be able to access a "broad set of internal usage rights for cloud services" as well as on-premise products and priority listing in the Pinpoint marketplace.

The small biz accreditation had initially been due to be released when Microsoft revamped the Partner Network in November 2010. ®