Microsoft Security Solutions Software Advisor Program

Enrollment and Fee Claim Partner FAQ

Q: What is the location for signing up to become a Microsoft Security Solution Software
Advisor?
A: https://partners.microsoft.com/SecuritySoftwareAdvisor

Q: Who should sign up to become a Security Software Advisor?

A: Any partner who wishes to earn Software Advisor fees should sign up on the above URL. This
includes, but is not limited to: previous Sybari partner, partners currently selling Symantec, Trend
and McAfee security software products, existing Microsoft Partner Program Registered Members
who meet the requirements for the Security Solutions Competency, and Certified and Gold
Certified Partners in the Security Solutions Competency.

Q: What is involved in the Software Advisor sign-up process?

A: Partners must read the Security Software Advisor program guide, join the Microsoft Partner
Program at the Registered Member level or higher, sign the Security Software Advisor
addendum, and be prepared to provide additional bank and tax information necessary for the
processing of Security Software Advisor fee payments.

Q: Does our organization have to be in the Microsoft Partner Program before we sign the
Security Software Advisor addendum?
A: As the Security Software Advisor agreement is an addendum to the Microsoft Partner
Program, it is required that your organization joins the Microsoft Partner Program first. You must
be in the Partner Program and have signed the Security Software Advisor addendum to be
eligible to claim Software Advisor fees.

Q: I was a Sybari partner. How can I be a part of the Microsoft Security Software Advisor
program?
A: Until further notice, we have invited all previous Sybari partners to be a part of the Microsoft
Security Software Advisor program once they have completed their registration as a registered
Microsoft Partner Program partner.

Q: I currently sell a competing security product but would like to begin to sell Microsoft
Security products and be eligible for the Microsoft Security Software Advisor fee. How
does my company get involved?
A: To receive a Security Software Advisor fee, your company would need to influence the sale of
the security software and implement the Microsoft security software solution. So, you do not need
to sell the product to receive the Security Software Advisor fee.

You need to sign up to be a Microsoft Authorized Reseller to sell our security products.
To become a Microsoft Authorized Reseller, you will need to sign a Microsoft Authorized Reseller
agreement with your regional Microsoft Authorized Distributor. Once you become a reseller you
will receive product margin from the Microsoft Authorized Distributor.

To find a local Microsoft Authorized Distributor: https://partner.microsoft.com/global/40011581

If you have a services practice, sign up for the Microsoft Security Software Advisor program.
Influence security software sales of our security products and implement the security solution.
Then you can make a claim for a Security Software Advisor fee.

Q: I made a claim, when do I get paid?

A: Microsoft Security Software Advisors will get paid within 60 days of an approved claim.

Q: My Software Advisor agreement has expired. How can I continue to receive fees?
A: You should sign a Security Software Advisor Addendum to the Microsoft Partner Program
Agreement. You need to join the Microsoft Partner Program if you are not a member. Please refer
to the Microsoft Security Software Advisor website for eligibility requirements and more details:
https://partner.microsoft.com/40029032

Q: My customer will not provide me their customer ID or their volume license ID to make a
claim. Can you provide a website that explains the program to my customer?
A: For Open License, the Authorization and License numbers are required. For Open Value
and Select, the Enrollment number is needed. Finally for the Retail version you will need to
provide the 25 Product Identification keys. If you are not the reseller managing the software
transaction in question, you will need to obtain the above license information from the end-
customer. The Microsoft Security Software Advisor customer website is located at:
https://partner.microsoft.com/40029087

Q: Do I need to sign up as a Security Software Advisor before I can be a Microsoft Partner

Program Certified or Gold Security Solutions Competency partner?
A: No. Although the Security Software Advisor agreement requires you to meet the necessary
eligibility requirements prior to Software Advisor fees being paid, there are no requirements to
have signed the Security Software Advisor addendum prior to meeting requirements. We do
however recommend that you join the Microsoft Partner Program, and sign the Software Advisor
addendum at your earliest convenience in order to be prepared.

Q: Can Microsoft pay our Security Software Advisor fees via Electronic Fund Transfer
(EFT)?
A: At this stage, our ability to pay via EFT or wire transfers depends on the location of your
organization.

Q: Our partner organization consists of multiple locations; which location should sign the
Security Software Advisor addendum?
A: This depends on what corporate entity has the authority from a legal and policy perspective to
sign other entities up within your company structure (> 50% ownership is usually required). That
aside, we require no more than one Security Software Advisor addendum per partner
organization. However, we are not restricting sub-entities within your organization to sign their
own Security Software Advisor addenda. There are different advantages associated with either
approach. The key benefit of signing one Security Software Advisor addendum would be that all
payments for the organization would be sent to one location and the underlying revenue
associated with the transactions would be measured as one. Potential benefits of signing multiple
Security Software Advisor addenda would be that payments are sent to each Security Software
Advisor addendum holder.

Q: Is there a fee to sign the Security Software Advisor addendum?

A: There is no explicit cost associated with signing the Security Software Advisor addendum.
However, there may be partner investments associated with meeting the requirements of the
Microsoft Security Software Advisor program, such as acquiring industry or Microsoft
certifications. With regards to the Microsoft Partner Program, there is no fee to join at the
Registered Member level. There are fees associated with becoming a Certified or Gold Partner in
the Partner Program, but membership at these levels is not required to become a Microsoft
Security Software Advisor.

Q: What benefits are associated with signing up as a Security Software Advisor?

A: It provides your organization with an opportunity to apply for Software Advisor fees. Upon
signing the Software Advisor addendum, other benefits such as Not-For-Resale (NFR) internal
use licenses, are provided to partners depending on their status and level in the Microsoft Partner
Program.

Q: Where can I get further information about the Microsoft Security Software Advisor
program before signing up?
A: You can visit the Microsoft Security Software Advisor homepage on the Microsoft Partner
Program website: https://partner.microsoft.com/40029032

Q: What are the main differences and similarities between the MBS Software Advisor, the
Microsoft Software Advisor and the Microsoft Security Software Advisor fee addenda?
A: All initiatives under the Microsoft Partner Program and share the same Software Advisor
addendum. However, the focus and sign-up processes set them apart.
- The MBS version of the Software Advisor fee initiative is relevant to sales of Microsoft
CRM only, across several license programs, such as FPP, Open License, Open License
Value, Select, and Enterprise Agreements.
- The Microsoft Software Advisor (MSA) agreement covers all Microsoft products, but is
only applicable to the Open License Value program. For more information on MSA,
please visit: https://partner.microsoft.com/global/40010515
- The Microsoft Security Software Advisor program is relevant to the sales influence and
deployment of our security software products like:

o Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration Sever 2004

o Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration Sever 2006
o Microsoft Antigen for Exchange
o Microsoft Antigen for SharePoint
o Microsoft Antigen for SMTP Gateway
o Microsoft Antigen for Instant Messenger
o Microsoft Forefront Client Protection
o Microsoft Security Messaging Suite

- The sign-up processes are separated and the data resides in different back-end systems.
As such, even though the addendum is identical, partners who wish to claim fees for
Microsoft Security Products, CRM, and be a Software Advisor for solutions sold via Open
License Value, need to complete three separate sign-up processes.

Q: We are already signed-up as a Microsoft Software Advisor (MSA), does that qualify us
for the Microsoft Security Software Advisor program too?
A: No, you must sign the Security Software Advisor addenda separately. We recommend
however that you sign up to become an MSA for Open License Value as well since that
represents an additional revenue opportunity for any Microsoft Security Product orders placed in
the Open License Value program.

Q: In the Microsoft Security Software Advisor program guide, it states that fee eligibility
will require us being part of the Microsoft Partner Program. How should we prepare?
A: To join the Microsoft Partner Program at the Registered Member level, partners only need to
sign the Microsoft Partner Program agreement and complete an online business profile. For
further Microsoft Partner Program details please visit:
https://partner.microsoft.com/global/40009570

Q: What is the location where Microsoft Security Software Advisors claim their fees?
A: Please visit: https://partner.microsoft.com/40029957.

Q: Can end customers also claim the Security Software Advisor fee on our behalf?
A: No, only Microsoft partners who have signed the Security Software Advisor addendum can
claim the fee.

Q: Why do we need to associate our partner organization to the customer?

A: To become eligible to claim the Security Software Advisor fee for the deal in question.

Q: Do I need to associate my partner organization to the customer, even if we are not

going to claim a Security Software Advisor fee?
A: Yes. Even if you do not wish to claim a fee, Microsoft would like to track who the existing
services partner is, since this has proven beneficial to customer and partner satisfaction if
Microsoft can route customer questions back to the partner.

Q: How does Microsoft define “unfair manner” on the Security Software Advisor fee claims
page?
A: “By not acting in a manner that puts your interest in the advisor fee ahead of the customer’s
interest in an unfair manner, we mean that to the best of your knowledge and belief, in your
actions and communications with the customer leading to the order, you have not done or said
anything unfair to the customer or contrary to the customer’s interests. In addition, before the
customer submitted the order, you disclosed all facts that you believe would affect the customer’s
judgment about making the purchase that is the subject of the order.”

Q: How will I know if our fee claim was accepted or rejected?

A: If you provide a non-compliant answer during the fee claims process, you will instantaneously
be notified either by email or through the website. You can also track status of all your fee claims
by contacting SSAhlp@microsoft.com.

Q: Why would a Security Software Advisor fee claim be rejected?

A: There are a number of reasons why a fee claim could be rejected.
- If you sell to a government customer, there is a requirement for you to disclose to the
customer that you may receive a fee from Microsoft for pre-sales services. If you have not
disclosed this information, you will not be eligible for Security Software Advisor fees. The
claim site will notify you about this. The association between your organization and the
customer will still be registered though.
- If your own organization is acquiring Microsoft security software licenses, you cannot act as a
Microsoft Security Software Advisor and claim fees for yourself. Security Software Advisor
fees are only available when you work with organizations other than your own.
- If more than one partner claims a fee for the same transaction, the system would accept the
first claim and reject any subsequent claims by default. This does not mean that the first
claim is the qualifying claim in the end. You would be instantaneously notified of the rejected
claim via email. If you want to dispute the rejection, you should notify Microsoft at
SSAhlp@Microsoft.com

Q: In what currency denomination can I expect my software advisor fee be paid?

A: Currency will be the same denomination that your distributor paid Microsoft for the order.