Transferring Microsoft licenses from one Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) partner to another necessitates the use of the source partner's Partner Tenant ID. This unique identifier is essential for initiating and completing the transfer process.
Role of the Partner Tenant ID in License Transfers
The Partner Tenant ID, also known as the Microsoft ID, is a globally unique identifier (GUID) assigned to a partner's dedicated instance within Microsoft's cloud ecosystem. It is s formatted as a GUID, which is a 128-bit value typically represented as a 36-character string, including hyphens. The standard format is: xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx. Each 'x' represents a hexadecimal digit (0-9, a-f). For example, a Tenant ID might look like 72f988bf-86f1-41af-91ab-2d7cd011db47 and distinguishes one partner's environment from another, ensuring secure and isolated management of resources, user accounts, and settings.
During a license transfer, the target partner (the partner receiving the licenses) must provide the source partner's Tenant ID when creating the transfer request. This requirement ensures that the transfer is accurately directed and processed between the correct entities.
Process of License Transfer Between Partners
The transfer of licenses between CSP partners involves several key steps:
Establishing a Reseller Relationship: The target partner must establish a reseller relationship with the customer. This involves sending a relationship request to the customer, which the customer must accept.
Initiating the Transfer Request: Once the reseller relationship is established, the target partner initiates the transfer request through the Partner Center. This process requires the source partner's Tenant ID to ensure the request is correctly directed.
Approval by the Source Partner: The source partner receives the transfer request and must review and approve it. This step is crucial, as the source partner has the authority to accept or decline the transfer.
Completion of the Transfer: Upon approval, the transfer is processed, and the target partner assumes billing ownership of the subscriptions. The source partner remains financially responsible for the subscription up to the point of transfer.
Obligations of Partners in License Transfers
Both the source and target partners have specific obligations during the license transfer process:
Source Partner: The source partner is responsible for reviewing and approving the transfer request.
Target Partner: The target partner must ensure that all prerequisites are met, including establishing a reseller relationship with the customer and obtaining the source partner's Tenant ID.
Note! Partner Tenant ID is not visible to Customers
The Partner Tenant ID of a Tier-1 Partner or Distributor is not visible to their customers. Therefore, customers should request this information directly from their partner or distributor when needed, particularly during processes such as license transfers.