Amazon is overhauling its partner program.

It's starting a public beta of a new global AWS Partner Network (APN) that'll provide members of its ecosystem with technical information as well as sales and marketing support to accelerate their Amazon cloud business.

Membership is divided into technology-based partners (ISVs, SaaS, tools providers and platform providers) and consulting-based partners (SIs, agencies, consultancies and MSPs). And there are tiers in each (Advanced, Standard and Registered) based on a set of requirements.

Partners that qualify for the Standard and Advanced tiers will get a logo, a listing in a new directory, $1,000 in AWS Services credits and $1,000 in AWS Premium Support credits. The credits are good for a year.

Technology partners will need a product hosted on Amazon to qualify. Consultants will need two-five employees trained on AWS. And there are billing requirements of between $1,000 and $25,000 a month for technology partners and $1,000-$10,000 for consultants as well as two-four minimum customer references a month.

APN won't be fully activated until later this year, but Amazon wants existing AWS partners to pre-qualify for the Standard and Advanced tiers and is urging them to fill out an APN Upgrade Form.