AWS partner-central documentation change
Summary
Comprehensive restructuring of subsidiary account management documentation, including new sections on connection levels (Level 1/2), M&A use cases, qualification sharing implications, step-by-step connection workflows, and post-association changes.
Security assessment
The changes focus on operational processes for account linking and revenue attribution without addressing vulnerabilities, security controls, or incident response. Updates clarify ownership requirements ('Only connect accounts that you own') but don't introduce security-specific content or mitigate documented threats.
Diff
diff --git a/partner-central/latest/getting-started/manage-subsidiary.md b/partner-central/latest/getting-started/manage-subsidiary.md index 7c2cbe232..6e6c70d1b 100644 --- a//partner-central/latest/getting-started/manage-subsidiary.md +++ b//partner-central/latest/getting-started/manage-subsidiary.md @@ -7 +7 @@ -Key ConceptsAccessing Account ConnectionsSending Connection Requests to Your Own Seller Accounts That You Want To Connect With Your Partner AccountAccepting Connection RequestsView and Manage Connected AccountsGetting Help +Key conceptsWhen to use a subsidiary connectionHow the primary account is determinedSending a connection requestAccepting a connection requestAssociating qualificationsWhat changes after associating qualificationsView and manage connected accounts @@ -11 +11 @@ Key ConceptsAccessing Account ConnectionsSending Connection Requests to Your Own -From Account Connections, you can manage connections between your own partner or seller accounts. For example, you have multiple AWS Marketplace Seller Accounts, you want to connect with your Partner Account. +From **Account Connections** in AWS Partner Central, you can connect your subsidiary seller accounts to your primary partner account. Connecting accounts improves PRM attribution accuracy. You can also optionally consolidate qualifications across your organization. @@ -13 +13 @@ From Account Connections, you can manage connections between your own partner or -## Key Concepts +## Key concepts @@ -15 +15 @@ From Account Connections, you can manage connections between your own partner or -### Primary Account +### Primary account @@ -17 +17 @@ From Account Connections, you can manage connections between your own partner or -The primary account is an account where you're registered as both a partner and seller. Use this account for administration purposes and to send connection requests. +The primary account is the account that initiates connection requests and owns the subsidiary relationship. This is typically the acquiring company's account for M&A scenarios, or the central partner account for organizations with multiple seller accounts. You must be signed in to your primary account to send connection requests. @@ -19 +19 @@ The primary account is an account where you're registered as both a partner and -### Connected Accounts +### Subsidiary account @@ -21 +21 @@ The primary account is an account where you're registered as both a partner and -Seller accounts that you own and want to connect with or have connected to your primary account. +A subsidiary account is an account that you own and connect to your primary account. This might be an AWS Marketplace seller account that you operate in a different Region or business unit, or an account that belongs to a company your organization has acquired. @@ -23 +23 @@ Seller accounts that you own and want to connect with or have connected to your -## Accessing Account Connections +### Connection levels @@ -25 +25 @@ Seller accounts that you own and want to connect with or have connected to your -To access Account Connections: +Subsidiary connections work in two levels: @@ -27 +27,4 @@ To access Account Connections: - 1. Sign into [AWS Partner Central](https://us-east-1.console.aws.amazon.com/partnercentral). +Level | How to activate | What it does +---|---|--- +**Level 1 — Connection** | Primary sends a request; subsidiary accepts | PRM considers the subsidiary's revenue when calculating the primary's attribution. The primary account gains a consolidated Attributed Revenue report across all connected subsidiaries. No profile, scorecard, or display name changes occur. +**Level 2 — Associate qualifications** | Subsidiary chooses **Associate qualifications** | Subsidiary's display name updates to "[Subsidiary Name] by [Primary Name]". All connected accounts receive a consolidated scorecard. Tier eligibility is recalculated based on the consolidated scorecard. Specializations, certifications, and select eligible programs are shared across connected accounts. @@ -29 +32 @@ To access Account Connections: - 2. From the left navigation panel, select click on the left side panel and then select Subsidiary Account Connections. +Level 2 is optional and subsidiary-initiated. A partner can connect accounts and remain at Level 1 indefinitely, benefiting from PRM accuracy without making any profile or qualifications changes. @@ -30,0 +34 @@ To access Account Connections: +## When to use a subsidiary connection @@ -31,0 +36 @@ To access Account Connections: +### Multi-account consolidation @@ -32,0 +38 @@ To access Account Connections: +If you operate multiple AWS Marketplace seller accounts — for example, separate accounts by Region or business unit — connect them to your primary partner account. This ensures PRM accurately attributes revenue across all your accounts. Without connections, revenue from your seller accounts might not count toward your partner attribution, which directly affects your funding eligibility and Solution Consulting Agreement compliance. Your primary account also receives a consolidated Attributed Revenue report across all connected subsidiaries. @@ -34 +40 @@ To access Account Connections: -###### Note +### Mergers and acquisitions @@ -36 +42 @@ To access Account Connections: -In order to send connection requests to any new account, you need to be logged into your primary account. +If your organization has acquired another AWS partner, you can use a subsidiary connection to: @@ -38 +44 @@ In order to send connection requests to any new account, you need to be logged i -## Sending Connection Requests to Your Own Seller Accounts That You Want To Connect With Your Partner Account + * Ensure PRM accurately attributes combined revenue across both organizations immediately upon connection @@ -40 +46 @@ In order to send connection requests to any new account, you need to be logged i -Once you are in Primary account and in the Subsidiary Account Connections page, you can view all the accounts that you own and are already connected. To connect new accounts: + * Optionally, through **Associate qualifications** , consolidate qualifications and scorecards, recalculate tier eligibility based on combined metrics, and update the acquired partner's display name to reflect the relationship. Associating qualifications also updates the subsidiary account to carry the brand of the primary account, so the acquired partner is presented as an affiliate of the primary brand (for example, "Northstar Cloud by Apex Technologies") @@ -42 +47,0 @@ Once you are in Primary account and in the Subsidiary Account Connections page, - 1. Click on **Send connection request**. @@ -44 +48,0 @@ Once you are in Primary account and in the Subsidiary Account Connections page, - 2. Fill out the connection request form with: @@ -46 +49,0 @@ Once you are in Primary account and in the Subsidiary Account Connections page, - * Your full name @@ -48 +51,39 @@ Once you are in Primary account and in the Subsidiary Account Connections page, - * Your email address +###### Important + +The primary account's brand is used for all connected accounts. When a subsidiary associates qualifications, the subsidiary is branded as an affiliate of the primary account. + +**What gets shared when a subsidiary associates qualifications:** + +Qualification | What changes +---|--- +**Specializations** | Both accounts display the combined set of specializations from all connected accounts on their public profiles, in Partner Discovery, and in Partner Solution Finder (PSF) +**Certifications** | Both accounts display the combined set of certifications across connected accounts +**Select eligible programs** | Program enrollments are shared across connected accounts for visibility and eligibility purposes +**Tier** | Scorecard is consolidated from combined metrics; tier eligibility is recalculated based on the consolidated scorecard + +###### Important + +Although select program enrollments are shared across connected accounts, only the account that originally enrolled in a program can apply for related funding. Wallets are not shared — each account retains its own wallet and can only draw funding against its own balance. + +**Examples:** + + * A global technology company acquires a cloud-native managed services partner. The acquiring company connects the acquired partner as a subsidiary. PRM immediately attributes the acquired partner's revenue. After the acquired partner chooses **Associate qualifications** , both accounts display the combined specializations and certifications, the consolidated scorecard determines tier eligibility, and the acquired partner's display name updates to reflect the parent company's brand. + + * A large systems integrator acquires a boutique cloud consultancy. The connection at Level 1 fixes PRM attribution. The acquired company can later choose **Associate qualifications** when the organizations are ready to consolidate their public-facing presence. + + * Two companies merge while maintaining fully separate brands. The subsidiary connection records the corporate relationship and ensures combined PRM attribution. Neither company chooses **Associate qualifications** , so no display name, scorecard, or qualifications changes occur. + + + + +## How the primary account is determined + +For multi-account consolidation, the primary account is typically the account where both Partner and Seller registrations exist. For M&A, the acquiring company designates their account as primary by initiating the connection request — whichever account sends the request becomes the primary. + +If you are unsure which account should be primary, contact your Partner Development Manager (PDM) or [AWS Partner Support](https://partnercentral.awspartner.com/partnercentral2/s/support). + +## Sending a connection request + + 1. Sign in to [AWS Partner Central](https://us-east-1.console.aws.amazon.com/partnercentral) using your **primary account**. + + 2. In the left navigation pane, choose **Account Connections**. @@ -50 +91 @@ Once you are in Primary account and in the Subsidiary Account Connections page, - * 12-digit AWS account IDs of the accounts that you own and want to connect with + 3. Choose **Send connection request**. @@ -52 +93 @@ Once you are in Primary account and in the Subsidiary Account Connections page, - 3. Review your selections. + 4. Fill out the connection request form with: @@ -54 +95,3 @@ Once you are in Primary account and in the Subsidiary Account Connections page, - 4. Confirm all accounts added in the selected account table. + * Your full name + + * Your email address @@ -56 +99 @@ Once you are in Primary account and in the Subsidiary Account Connections page, - 5. Click on **Send connection request**. + * The 12-digit AWS Account ID(s) of the accounts you want to connect (up to 10 per submission) @@ -57,0 +101 @@ Once you are in Primary account and in the Subsidiary Account Connections page, + 5. Review your selections and choose **Send connection request**. @@ -61 +104,0 @@ Once you are in Primary account and in the Subsidiary Account Connections page, -A connection request is sent to each account in the table. @@ -65 +108 @@ A connection request is sent to each account in the table. -If you need help to know your AWS Account ID, refer to <https://docs.aws.amazon.com/accounts/latest/reference/manage-acct-identifiers.html>. +If you need to find an AWS Account ID, see [Finding your AWS account ID](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/accounts/latest/reference/manage-acct-identifiers.html). @@ -69 +112,16 @@ If you need help to know your AWS Account ID, refer to <https://docs.aws.amazon. -Only connect accounts that you own (for example, AWS Marketplace seller accounts). Do not add accounts owned by other partners. +Only connect accounts that you own or that belong to an organization you have acquired. + +## Accepting a connection request + + 1. Sign in to [AWS Partner Central](https://us-east-1.console.aws.amazon.com/partnercentral) using the subsidiary account that received the request. + + 2. In the left navigation pane, choose **Account Connections**. + + 3. Choose the **Connection Requests** tab. + + 4. Select the connection request from the primary account. + + 5. Choose **Accept** to activate the connection, or **Reject** to decline. + + + @@ -71 +129 @@ Only connect accounts that you own (for example, AWS Marketplace seller accounts -## Accepting Connection Requests +After the subsidiary accepts the request, the connection is active at Level 1. PRM attribution and consolidated reporting are now active. No display name, scorecard, or qualifications changes occur at this point. @@ -73 +131 @@ Only connect accounts that you own (for example, AWS Marketplace seller accounts -To accept connection requests, you need to log into your subsidiary accounts that you sent the connection request to. For each account: +## Associating qualifications @@ -75 +133 @@ To accept connection requests, you need to log into your subsidiary accounts tha - 1. Sign in to [AWS Partner Central](https://us-east-1.console.aws.amazon.com/partnercentral). +After you establish a connection, the subsidiary account can choose **Associate qualifications** to consolidate qualifications across connected accounts. This is Level 2 of the connection. Choosing this option: @@ -77 +135 @@ To accept connection requests, you need to log into your subsidiary accounts tha - 2. In the left navigation pane, choose Subsidiary Account Connections. + * Updates the subsidiary's display name to "[Subsidiary Name] by [Primary Name]" across Partner Discovery, PSF, and the public partner profile @@ -79 +137 @@ To accept connection requests, you need to log into your subsidiary accounts tha - 3. Choose the Connection Requests tab and navigate to Connection Requests. + * Replaces individual scorecards with a consolidated scorecard combining metrics from all connected accounts @@ -81 +139 @@ To accept connection requests, you need to log into your subsidiary accounts tha - 4. Select the connection request from your primary account. + * Triggers tier recalculation based on the consolidated scorecard @@ -83 +141 @@ To accept connection requests, you need to log into your subsidiary accounts tha - 5. Click **Accept** to connect with your primary account. + * Shares specializations, certifications, and select eligible program enrollments across connected accounts @@ -88 +146,18 @@ To accept connection requests, you need to log into your subsidiary accounts tha -To decline: Choose **Reject** instead of **Accept**. + 1. Sign in to [AWS Partner Central](https://us-east-1.console.aws.amazon.com/partnercentral) using the **subsidiary account**. + + 2. In the left navigation pane, choose **Account Connections** , and then open the active connection. + + 3. Choose **Associate qualifications**. + + 4. Review the preview of how your display name and profile will appear. + + 5. Confirm to activate. + + + + +###### Note + +This action updates your display name and public profile. Review the preview carefully before confirming. + +### Disassociating qualifications @@ -90 +165 @@ To decline: Choose **Reject** instead of **Accept**. -## View and Manage Connected Accounts +A subsidiary account can disassociate qualifications at any time. In the left navigation pane, choose **Account Connections** , open the active connection, and then choose **Disassociate qualifications**. After disassociation: @@ -92 +167 @@ To decline: Choose **Reject** instead of **Accept**. -To view and manage all your connected Accounts: + * The subsidiary's scorecard reverts to what it was prior to qualification association @@ -94 +169 @@ To view and manage all your connected Accounts: - 1. Sign in to your primary account [AWS Partner Central](https://us-east-1.console.aws.amazon.com/partnercentral). + * Shared specializations, certifications, and program enrollments are removed from the connected accounts' profiles @@ -96 +171 @@ To view and manage all your connected Accounts: - 2. Navigate to the Subsidiary Account Connections page. + * Tier eligibility is recalculated independently for each account @@ -98 +172,0 @@ To view and manage all your connected Accounts: - 3. View the Account Connections tab to see all accounts connected with your primary account. @@ -101,0 +176 @@ To view and manage all your connected Accounts: