---
title: "Azure Analytics Specialization: 2021 Announcement"
canonical: "https://data-driven.com/blog/data-driven-recognized-with-advanced-specialization-analytics-on-microsoft-azure/"
pubDate: "2021-12-21T00:00:00.000Z"
updatedDate: "2026-08-25T00:00:00.000Z"
description: "An archived 2021 announcement covering Data-Driven's Microsoft Azure analytics specialization, audit process, and original partner resources."
tags: [microsoft-content, microsoft-gold-partner]
categories: [company]
---

Data-Driven announced an Advanced Specialization in Analytics on Microsoft Azure in December 2021. This page preserves what the company and Microsoft sources said at that time.

It is not proof of current partner status. Microsoft programs, offer names, and directory entries change, so buyers should check the maintained [partner page](/our-story/our-partners/) and Microsoft's current records before making a decision.

## What the assessment covered

The 2021 announcement described an audit of delivery methods, customer evidence, technical capability, and the people involved in Azure analytics work. It linked the specialization to projects that moved from discovery and design into production.

Microsoft's contemporary explanation described advanced specializations as an additional signal of partner experience. Read the <a href="https://news.microsoft.com/en-cee/2021/02/17/advanced-specialization-a-label-for-expertise-success-and-partnership/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2021 Microsoft announcement</a> for the terminology used at the time.

The original post also named two Marketplace consulting offers:

- <a href="https://azuremarketplace.microsoft.com/en-us/marketplace/consulting-services/data-drivenai1581501556049.caf-azure-foundation-assessment?tab=Overview" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Azure Infrastructure Review</a>
- <a href="https://azuremarketplace.microsoft.com/en-us/marketplace/consulting-services/data-drivenai1581501556049.modern-data-platform-data-foundation?tab=Overview" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Data Platform Implementation</a>

Those links are retained as source records. Availability and scope should be confirmed on the Marketplace page.

## What Data-Driven leaders said

> “Being one of the few Microsoft Partners who has achieved the Advanced Specialization in Analytics on Azure, gives our customers confidence that we have the people, processes, and tools required to deliver advanced analytics that allows them to extract more value out of their data and meet their business needs.”
>
> — Rodney Joyce, Managing Director, Data-Driven, as quoted in 2021

The original announcement also recorded this statement:

> “We are delighted and very proud to provide our customers with the best cloud experience to achieve their business objectives, we can do this with confidence knowing we have passed a rigorous audit process and obtained the Microsoft Advanced Specialization.”
>
> — Deon Jacobs, Head of Data and Analytics, Data-Driven, as quoted in 2021

These quotations are preserved as historical attribution. Job titles may have changed.

## The service context in 2021

At the time, Data-Driven described work across modern data platforms, Azure Synapse, Databricks, Azure Data Factory, machine learning, and analytics. The announcement also referred to CloudMonitor as a cloud cost and governance product.

Those statements describe the 2021 offer set. For current services, use the [service directory](/our-services/). For current partner evidence, use the [partner page](/our-story/our-partners/).