Glossary of Terms

Term Description
1-Tier (1T) or 1T Direct A business motion where a 1T Direct Billed Partner is selling straight to a customer.
2-Tier (2T) or 2T Indirect

A Direct Billed Partner is selling to a network of value-adding Microsoft Partners who in turn sell to customers.

  • 2T Indirect Provider Partner is a Microsoft Direct Billed Partner that sells to a network of value-adding Partners.

  • 2T Indirect Reseller is a Microsoft Partner that is billed and invoiced by 2T Indirect Providers and in turn sells to customers.

Control Panel Vendor (CPV) CloudBlue is an example of a Microsoft Control Panel Vendor, providing value-added services through self-service ordering on partner branded Cloud Marketplaces, as an alternative to manually entering sales orders into the Microsoft Partner Center portal.
Customer The Microsoft customer that acquires service licensing through one or several licensing motions, from one or several Microsoft Partners Multi-Partner of Record (PoR), and/or from Microsoft directly.
Direct Billed Provider Partner A registered Microsoft Partner that receives a bill and invoice from Microsoft. Also a CloudBlue partner that operates CloudBlue CPV technology.
End-User A named associate of a Microsoft customer that consumes services which are licensed to them by their administrator.
Indirect Reseller Partner A registered Microsoft Partner that receives a bill and invoice from a Microsoft Direct Billed Partner. Indirect Reseller Partners may be using a Direct Billed Partner's Cloud Marketplace that is powered by CloudBlue CPV technology.
Connect Processor

The Processor inspects and fetches fulfillment requests from the Connect platform via Connect Python Open API Client. Then, it provides a Vendor system (specified API endpoint) with pending fulfillment requests. Finally, the Processor receives approved requests and automatically switches the required requests to the corresponding state on the Connect platform. In the case that additional configuration (e.g., tier configuration or parameter specification) is required, the Processor also helps Vendor systems transfer the requests to the relevant states.

For additional information, refer to the CloudBlue Connect Community.

Syndication Provider Partner A Microsoft Partner that receives a bill and invoice from another Microsoft Direct Billed Partner. Also a CloudBlue Partner that operates CloudBlue CPV technology.
Transacting Partner

This describes the partner that Microsoft expects to be placing sales orders for offers.

  • In the 1T Direct motion, this is a 1T Direct Provider Partner ordering on behalf of and for a customer.

  • In the 2T Indirect motion powered by CloudBlue CPV technology, this is a 2T Indirect Reseller Partner ordering on behalf of and for a customer, from a 2T Indirect Provider Partner who is operating CloudBlue technology.