What are the practical steps for moving your Microsoft Azure CSP?

How do Microsoft Azure CSP subscriptions work?

A Cloud Solution Provider, or CSP, is the company that provides businesses with cloud-based infrastructure, networks, and software applications. When you’re on an Azure CSP subscription, you should be able to manage your cloud customer lifecycle, including your own tools, products and services and combine all your usage into one monthly or annual bill.

In reality, CSP subscriptions are often a way for your provider to deliver their managed cloud services without providing you any insight into your monthly spending, meaning it could be costing you more than it needs to. You can find out more about how CSP agreements work and their pitfalls in our article 'If your Microsoft Azure infrastructure is provisioned on an Azure CSP Agreement, your business could be in trouble'.

How easy is it to move an Azure CSP subscription from one partner to another?

Microsoft is actually aware of the issues that arise from its Azure CSP model and have begun to make changes that make it easier for their customers to move between Microsoft partners. At IG CloudOps, we have worked with a number of clients to do just this and aim to make the process as quick and straightforward as possible for our clients.

Who is involved in the process?

• Microsoft (The Azure platform provider)
• Direct Azure reseller (Tier 1 partner who provides and manages the Azure CSP programme on behalf of Microsoft)
• Your existing Microsoft Azure partner (Indirect reseller)
• Your new Microsoft Azure partner (Indirect reseller)

How to move your CSP if you are on an Azure Plan

If you’re on a standard Azure Plan, moving your Azure CSP to us is relatively straightforward, and is a process that we have successfully carried out multiple times.

Step 1: You will need to request your current CSP providers Microsoft Tenant ID (Your existing partner)

Step 2: We will set you up as a tenant in the direct azure reseller's Portal and establish the new relationship. This establishes the new relationship (New Azure Partner)

Step 3: A transfer request is then completed which is sent over to you and your current provider to accept (This is managed by the direct Azure reseller)

Step 5: This will then go through to Microsoft who then approve and perform the subscription flip

Step 6: This should be completed within 48 hours of all parties accepting the transfer request

Step 7: Your new Microsoft Azure partner will then be able to manage your subscription through the direct Azure resellers Portal

How to move your CSP if you’re on Azure Legacy

If you're on an Azure Legacy Plan, the steps are very similar to the above. However, there is an additional form that will need to be completed by all parties and countersigned by the current provider.

This just adds an additional step that needs to be completed for Microsoft to verify the subscription move. 

Working with IG CloudOps

At IG CloudOps, we have a wealth of knowledge working with businesses in a range of different sectors to move their CSPs over to us. We've developed a bespoke CloudOps with the key aim of helping our customers to avoid the issues that can arise from the typical CSP approach, automating cloud management and saving you time and money. If you’d like to find out more about working with us, please do not hesitate to get in touch. 

For further information about moving to a new cloud service provider, please review our whitepaper 'A guide to choosing a new cloud service provider'.