What is ISV Certification?

<p /> <table border="1"><tr><td> Specializations </td><td> Infrastructure, middleware, virtualization, solutions</td></tr> <tr><td> Courses Offered </td><td> Business productivity, cloud performance, core infrastructure, data platform solutions, digital advertising via MS partnership</td></tr> <tr><td> Online Availability </td><td> Sales, technical training, operating systems and middleware when partnered with Red Hat</td></tr> <tr><td> Requirements </td><td> Application submission, business verifications, terms acceptance, dependent upon the respective program</td></tr> </table><h3 id="section---MicrosoftISVCertification">Microsoft ISV Certification</h3> <p>Microsoft has a Silver and a Gold Independent Software Vendor competency that they offer for ISVs. Microsoft bases their certification and the requirements on customer needs. To earn the silver competency, you will have to demonstrate that your application or solution can pass one of seven Microsoft application tests. Such tests include Microsoft's Windows 7 Platform Ready test or Microsoft's Windows 7 Logo test. </p> <p>In addition to passing one of Microsoft's tests, you also have to provide three references from your customers who have used and tested the application or solution; these need to be a business application used by at least five people. Your references must indicate that the project was completed within the last year. </p> <p>Microsoft's gold competency is similar to the silver, but will show your clients that the application or software passed 'rigorous' testing, based on Microsoft's standards. Your application must pass one of four tests. Instead of providing three references, you must provide five and participate in the CSAT (customer satisfaction) index. With both competencies, there are membership fees involved, in addition to revenue requirements that must be met with the gold standard. </p> <h3 id="section---PartnershipPrograms">Partnership Programs</h3> <p>Dell offers the Independent Software Vendor Partner Program, which is designed to make application and solution management easier for you or your organization. By partnering with Dell, you could better provide applications and solutions that meet your clients' needs, increase your credibility and improve sales. You could be a registered or certified member. </p> <p>To be a registered partner, you need to verify your business, apply with an application form, and agree with their terms and conditions, including Dell's ISV partner program logo. To become a certified partner which increased level of benefits, the registered partner requirements must first be met, then Dell's product certification can be met leading to their full OpenManage software integration. </p> <p>A second partner program to consider is the Red Hat Partner Program, which includes the ready, advanced and premier levels of partnership. Red Hat's program is designed to help ISVs who want to resell or certify applications on Red Hat platforms. You can specialize in platform infrastructure or JBoss Middleware. Depending on the level of partnership, benefits include using the Red Hat logo, having subscriptions to applications, access to online information, attending events and receiving discounts on training and materials. To obtain a membership level, you must apply to Red Hat, be in good standing every year and self-certify your applications.</p>