The AWS services and managed services programs you can use
This page maps 14 AWS programs for companies that deliver services: managed services and delivery designations, funded migration and new-customer programs, and ways to sell services. AWS cut the professional services listing fee, effective Sep 1, 2026 and announced Sep 22, 2026. Check which programs your customer projects qualify you for, and when Service Delivery ends.
As of
Managed services and delivery designations
| Path | What it gives you | Role it needs | Works with others? |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWS Managed Services Provider (MSP) Program | What it gives youAn MSP badge after a third-party audit, plus funding AWS names as Marketing Development Funds, migration incentives and tooling credits; three benefits added January 1, 2026 for customer management, strategic services and government. | Role it needsServices. | Works with others?Sequence: join the AWS Partner Network, discuss the model with your Partner Development Manager, apply, then pass technical validation. |
| AWS Well-Architected Partner Program | What it gives youAn AWS Partner badge with the Well-Architected designation; AWS says partners can reach funding and marketing resources. | Role it needsServices, Software. | Works with others?Check with AWS: requirements sit in a Partner Central guide. |
| AWS Service Delivery and Service Ready Specializations | What it gives youValidated skills in one AWS service, or a validated software product; both end June 1, 2027. | Role it needsServices, Software. | Works with others?Check with AWS: new applications are closed. |
| Global Security and Compliance Acceleration on AWS Program | What it gives youA badge with the program designation, case studies with AWS, events and a security partner strategist; AWS says approved partners also get funding and marketing resources. | Role it needsServices, Software. | Works with others?Sequence: the services path needs AWS Partner Select Tier; the software path needs the Foundational Technical Review. |
| Governance Enabling Agentic Readiness (GEAR) | What it gives youAWS amplification of partner-built data and AI governance accelerators, announced October 27, 2026. | Role it needsServices, Software. | Works with others?Sequence: your Partner Development Manager nominates you; AWS says partners span Premier and Advanced tier. |
Which of these fit depends on the services you deliver, the customers and regulations you serve, and the validation work your team can take on.
Funded migration and new-customer programs
| Path | What it gives you | Role it needs | Works with others? |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWS Migration Acceleration Program (MAP) | What it gives youTools, training, expertise from Migration Competency Partners and financial investments to offset migration costs; AWS says it now covers complete digital transformation, including generative AI. | Role it needsServices. | Works with others?Sequence: AWS says the Migration and Modernization Competency unlocks enhanced MAP benefits. |
| Partner Greenfield Program | What it gives youAWS-funded resources, go-to-market funding and performance-based incentives for a dedicated practice that wins new AWS customers. | Role it needsServices, Software. | Works with others?Sequence: needs executive sponsorship, Differentiated status, a dedicated team, and for services the Migration Competency plus Security or Generative AI Competency. |
| AWS Partner Transformation Program | What it gives youUp to $25,000 in AWS Promotional Credits or cash for eligible transformation activities, plus an assessment and a transformation plan. | Role it needsServices. | Works with others?Check with AWS: no prerequisite is stated; contact your Partner Development Manager. |
| AWS Business Outcomes Xcelerator (BOX) | What it gives youCash and credits as you finish milestones, AWS-funded lead generation and sales training; AWS says industry-specific funding reaches up to $50K. | Role it needsServices, Software. | Works with others?Sequence: needs Validated or Differentiated status, ACE eligibility (yours or your partner's) and a Partner Connections link; AWS allows multi-partner solutions. |
| Customer Engagement Incentive | What it gives youAWS lists it under services programs; its terms are published in Partner Central. | Role it needsServices. | Works with others?Check with AWS: terms aren't published on the pages read. |
| Marketing Development Funds and Partner Opportunity Acceleration funds | What it gives youCash or AWS Promotional Credits for pipeline, proofs of concept and migration projects. | Role it needsServices, Software, Resell. | Works with others?Sequence: requests need an Amazon Payee Central account. |
| AWS Marketplace Private Offer Promotion Program | What it gives youAWS describes AWS Promotional Credits offered to customers on AWS Marketplace private offers. | Role it needsServices, Software. | Works with others?Check with AWS: eligibility isn't stated. |
Which ones fit depends on your credentials, the size of the customer project, and whether the customer is new to AWS.
Ways to sell and prove delivery
| Path | What it gives you | Role it needs | Works with others? |
|---|---|---|---|
| APN Customer Engagements (ACE) Program | What it gives youDiscounts for originating new customer opportunities, access to Marketing Development Funds and Partner Opportunity Acceleration funds, and AWS referrals. | Role it needsServices, Software, Resell. | Works with others?Sequence: accept the ACE terms, share opportunities, then become ACE eligible; BOX requires ACE eligibility. |
| Professional services listing on AWS Marketplace | What it gives youListing fee of 0.5% on private offers, down from 2.5%; 0% in a multi-product solution. | Role it needsServices. | Works with others?Check with AWS: no combination rule is stated. |
Whether a selling route pays off depends on how your customers buy and whether they already buy through AWS Marketplace.
How do these programs combine?
Sequences. The MSP Program runs from joining the AWS Partner Network to an application and a third-party audit. The Partner Greenfield Program asks for Differentiated status and, for services, the Migration Competency plus Security or Generative AI Competency. Business Outcomes Xcelerator asks for ACE eligibility, which ACE itself grants. The security and compliance program's services path asks for Select Tier.
Stacks. AWS states no pairs of these programs that can be held together or funded together, so this page labels no pair as a stack. AWS does allow Business Outcomes Xcelerator solutions built with other partners.
Conflicts. AWS's promotional credit terms say credit can't be used with any other promotional or incentive offer unless AWS authorizes it. New applications for Service Delivery and Service Ready are closed.
How do you claim or earn each one?
Apply to the MSP Program
- 1Join the AWS Partner Network through Partner Central.
- 2Discuss your managed services model with your Partner Development Manager, review the validation checklist and prepare a self-assessment.
- 3Apply in Partner Central; AWS's MSP team reviews your application and documents.
- 4Pass technical validation, including the third-party audit, to receive the badge.
Apply to the Partner Greenfield Program
- 1Join the AWS Partner Network and review the requirements.
- 2Confirm your executive sponsor, Differentiated status, dedicated team and competencies.
- 3Submit AWS's application form.
- 4On acceptance, receive an onboarding package.
Become ACE eligible
- 1Join the AWS Partner Network at no cost.
- 2Accept the ACE terms under the Sell tab in Partner Central.
- 3Share opportunities in the ACE Pipeline Manager.
- 4Become ACE eligible to receive AWS referrals.
AWS's public pages don't list reasons applications get rejected.
Why do two similar companies choose differently?
Company A: a 40-person migration consultancy
Company A holds the Migration Competency and wins new customers. Its paths are MAP, the Partner Greenfield Program, ACE and a professional services listing.
Company B: a 40-person managed services company serving regulated customers
Company B's paths are the MSP Program, the security and compliance program, and Well-Architected.
The same AWS services programs lead to two different sets of paths. Neither set is a recommendation for you.
What changed recently?
- 27 Oct 2026Governance Enabling Agentic Readiness announced for partners with data and AI governance accelerators.
- 1 Oct 2026Forward Deployed Engineering pathways let partner builders earn credentials in AWS Skill Builder.
- 22 Sep 2026Professional services listing fee cut to 0.5% for private offers.
- 1 Jan 2026Three new MSP benefits took effect, for customer management, strategic services and government.
- 1 Jun 2027Service Delivery and Service Ready end; new applications are closed.
No Playmaker change page covers AWS services yet. Every AWS change is on the AWS partner page.
AWS has the paths. Playmaker finds yours.
You’ve just seen how much AWS offers: programs, funding, listings, specialists and the many ways they combine. All of it is real, and much of it can run at the same time. Which of it fits your company depends on your tier, your roles and your deals.
Playmaker does that work for you:
- Ranked by revenue. It looks at your company and orders the AWS plays by revenue expectancy, so you spend your time on the plays that matter most.
- A recipe for each play. Every play comes with the steps to run it. You know what to do next, not just what exists.
- Built for your mix. Reseller and services, a Marketplace listing and ISV Accelerate, several funding programs at once. Playmaker works out how they fit together for your company, not for a generic partner.
- Ready in 3 minutes. Generate your playbook in 3 minutes, then refresh it as your deals change.
What does your playbook show?
Frequently
asked questions
The short answers for AWS services. Playmaker shows you the rest in 3 minutes.
AWS lists executive sponsorship, Differentiated status, a dedicated team with proven Greenfield customer success, and for services partners the Migration Competency plus Security or Generative AI Competency.
AWS's pages state no limit on holding both roles. The Partner Greenfield Program and the security and compliance program each have separate services and software paths, so check with AWS before planning around both.
AWS says Service Delivery and Service Ready will be deprecated on June 1, 2027, and new applications are closed.
AWS's public pages give few amounts: up to $25,000 in credits or cash for the Partner Transformation Program, and industry-specific funding of up to $50K in Business Outcomes Xcelerator. MAP, Marketing Development Funds and the other programs state no amounts publicly.
AWS's MSP page states no tier or other program requirement; it asks you to join the AWS Partner Network, apply and pass a third-party audit.
Sources
Primary sources for this page, all accessed Nov 1, 2026. Program names and terms belong to AWS.
- AWS Partner Programs
- AWS Managed Services Provider Program
- New benefits for AWS Managed Services Partners
- AWS Well-Architected Partner Program
- AWS Specializations
- Global Security and Compliance Acceleration on AWS
- Building trusted AI with data and AI governance partners on AWS
- AWS Migration Acceleration Program
- Partner Greenfield Program
- AWS Partner Transformation Program
- Business Outcomes Xcelerator Program
- Funding Benefits for AWS Partners
- APN Customer Engagements Program
- AWS Promotional Credit terms
- Grow your services business through AWS Marketplace
- New FDE pathways for AWS Partners
Where can you read more?
- AWS partner programs: every path across seven areasThe front door for every AWS program area.
- AWS tiers, competencies and certificationsTiers, competencies and the Foundational Technical Review.
- AWS Marketplace listings and private offersHow to list and sell through AWS Marketplace.
- AWS funding programs you can use, and how to claim themHow to claim AWS funding, program by program.
What’s your next play?
Get your ranked plays for up to 3 partners in 3 minutes. Plus, get 30 free days to execute your plays.