AWS Technology Partner Vs Consulting Partner
Share article
Table of Contents
AWS has a massive ecosystem of partners.
When you search for help or look at sales decks, two labels show up again and again. Technology partner and consulting partner.
People often mix these up. This confusion can lead companies to shortlist the wrong type of partner for their specific goals. You might end up looking at a software vendor when you actually need a team of engineers to build your infrastructure.
In this article, we will look at what each partner type usually delivers and how AWS has evolved the official structure. You will also learn when to pick one over the other and when a combined approach gets the best outcome.
At Renova Cloud, we help businesses navigate these choices every day. Whether you are looking for a specific tool or a full digital transformation, understanding these roles is the first step to success.
Definition of Each AWS Partner Type
Historically, the AWS Partner Network grouped partners into two primary types.
- Technology Partners were companies that build software, tools, or platforms. These products run on or integrate with AWS.
- Consulting Partners were companies that deliver professional services. This covers work like system integration, consulting, and managed services.
That older framing still reflects how most buyers experience the market. One side sells or licenses software. The other side designs, migrates, modernizes, and operates environments for customers.
If you buy a license to use a platform, you are likely dealing with a technology partner. If you hire a team of experts to design your cloud architecture or manage your migration, you are dealing with a consulting partner.
How AWS Official Language Is Changing
You might notice some new terms if you look at the official AWS website today. AWS has moved away from the strict “Technology” and “Consulting” labels in favor of Partner Paths.
The new model focuses on what the partner offers.
- Software Path: This replaces the old Technology Partner model.
- Services Path: This replaces the old Consulting Partner model.
There are also paths for Hardware, Training, and Distribution. But for most businesses, the choice is still between buying software or hiring a service provider. The underlying difference in value remains the same.
What Service Does An AWS Technology Partner Provide?
An AWS technology partner is usually an independent software vendor or a company that offers a productized solution. Their value is the software itself. You pay for licenses, consumption, or subscription access. Their product might be deployed in your AWS account, delivered as SaaS, or integrated through APIs.
Common technology partner categories include:
- Security platforms
- Observability, monitoring, and cost management tools
- Data and AI platforms
- Industry-specific SaaS products
- DevOps tooling and automation layers
Many of these partners list their products in the AWS Marketplace, which is designed to help customers find and buy software that runs on AWS.
A mature software partner may complete AWS reviews that validate their solution quality. The AWS Foundational Technical Review is a self-service qualification that checks alignment with a subset of AWS Well-Architected practices and is valid for three years. Passing it can unlock additional partner benefits and help customers identify qualified solutions.
Some technology partners also join AWS ISV Accelerate, a co-sell program for software partners selling through AWS Marketplace. This program makes it easier for AWS field teams to bring proven partner software into customer deals.
Technology partners are a strong fit when your challenge is best solved through a repeatable product rather than custom engineering.
What Service Does An AWS Consulting Partner Provide?
An AWS consulting partner delivers services. They bring architects, engineers, and delivery teams that help you plan, build, migrate, secure, and operate workloads on AWS. This aligns closely with the Services Path language AWS uses today.
Consulting partners often sit within AWS service tiers. AWS lists Select, Advanced, and Premier tiers for Services Partners, based on technical capabilities, certifications, and proven customer success. Advanced partners have strong certified teams and customer experience. Premier partners are recognized as leaders with broad validations and large-scale delivery records.
Many consulting partners also hold AWS Specializations that validate deep expertise in specific industries or workloads. This program requires technical assessment and customer success review.
Typical consulting partner services include:
- Cloud strategy and readiness assessment
- Landing zone design and governance
- Application and data migration
- Cloud-native modernization for containers or serverless architectures
- DevOps enablement
- Security and compliance implementation
- Managed services and continuous optimization
Your contract with a consulting partner usually looks like a statement of work or a managed service agreement rather than a software subscription.
What Are The Differences Between AWS Technology Partner Vs Consulting Partner?
The most useful way to compare these partner types is by looking at what you receive. You should also consider how the work is priced and how success is measured.
Here is a breakdown of how the two differ in practice.
| Area | AWS Technology Partner | AWS Consulting Partner |
| Primary value | A product that solves a defined problem | Expertise and delivery teams that execute your cloud goals |
| Output | Software, platform, SaaS, tooling | Architecture, migration, modernization, operations |
| Buying model | Subscription, license, usage based pricing | Project fees or ongoing managed services |
| Typical channel | AWS Marketplace listings are common | Direct SOW and delivery, often aligned with Services Partner tiers |
| Speed to value | Often fast for a narrow use case | Depends on scope, but can handle broad transformation |
| Best for | Repeatable needs across many teams | Complex environments, legacy systems, end-to-end change |
This comparison is not about which type is better. It is about which type matches the shape of your problem.
So Which Partner Is Right For You?
When an AWS Technology Partner is the Best Fit
You should look for a technology partner when your requirement is product-shaped.
You Need a Specialized Capability
Sometimes it makes no sense to build a tool yourself. If you need a complex security scanning tool, do not hire developers to write one. Buy a proven product from a technology partner. It will be cheaper and faster.
You Want Consistent Tooling
A software solution helps you standardize. If you have teams in Vietnam, Singapore, and Japan, a single software platform keeps everyone on the same page. It ensures everyone handles data and compliance in the same way.
You Want Predictable Features
Product vendors maintain roadmaps. They release new versions and features regularly. If you want a tool that gets better over time without your own effort, a technology partner is the way to go.
When an AWS Consulting Partner is the Best Fit
A consulting partner is the safer option when you need structured delivery and change management.
You Are Migrating Complex Workloads
Moving legacy systems is hard. Old servers often have complex dependencies. If you move them incorrectly, your business stops running. A consulting partner like Renova Cloud has migration specialists who plan every step. We manage the risks so you do not have to.
You Need a Strong Foundation
We call this a “Landing Zone.” It is the setup of your accounts, security rules, and networks. If you get this wrong at the start, you will have security holes later. A good service partner builds a foundation that keeps you safe as you grow.
You Want Long-Term Support
Many companies move to the cloud and then realize they do not know how to run it. They forget to patch servers or check backups. Managed services from a consulting partner cover all of this. We handle monitoring, incident response, and cost tuning. This is a common reason enterprises choose Advanced Consulting Partners.
The Strongest Results Come from Using Both
Many successful AWS programs pair both partner types.
A consulting partner designs the architecture, sets up governance, migrates workloads, and builds DevOps workflows. Then a technology partner’s product fills a specialized gap, such as security analytics, cost intelligence, data lake acceleration, or AI tooling.
This combined model is common in large transformations. AWS Marketplace also supports systems integrators and resellers working alongside ISVs, which reflects how partner ecosystems are designed to work together in real projects
Where Renova Cloud Fits in Your Journey
We are Renova Cloud. We are an AWS Advanced Consulting Partner based in Vietnam with operations across the region. Our focus is on cloud transformation, migration, DevOps, and data.
Our position in the ecosystem is clear.
We help organizations design and run AWS environments that are secure and scalable. We have a strong track record of delivery.
- Recognized by AWS: AWS has recognized our work in Vietnam through consecutive awards. We were named AWS Partner of the Year for Vietnam in 2024. We have also received recognition across 2023 and 2024. This validates that we deliver real results for our customers.
- Investing in the Future: We are not just looking at basic servers. We are looking ahead. We signed a strategic collaboration agreement with AWS on generative AI in 2025. This reflects our investment in modern AI and data capabilities for enterprises in Vietnam. We believe in a “One Team” approach. We work closely with your internal staff. We train them. We help them grow. And when a specialized product is the right answer, we help you select the right technology partner and integrate their tool cleanly into your system.
If you are planning an AWS migration, a modernization program, or need a long-term managed services model in Vietnam, we are ready to help.
At Renova Cloud, we are ready to help you shape your roadmap. We will help you select the right tools. Most importantly, we will deliver a cloud environment that your teams can trust.
Would you like to schedule a free discovery meeting with our architects to review your current AWS strategy?
