By: Bronwen Clayfield-Jewett, Senior Technical Partner Manager
Why D2L Partners exist
D2L Partners extend the value of Brightspace by providing specialized capabilities, functionalities, and expertise that complement the core platform. Through these partnerships, D2L can accelerate innovation, deliver customer value more quickly, and support differentiated use cases without building every capability internally.
As the partner ecosystem has grown, so has the need for clear definitions of what it means to be a D2L Partner. The partnership tier framework defines how D2L Partners are categorized, how they are represented to customers, and the expectations associated with each tier, including review expectations.
To learn more about the D2L Partner program or apply to become a partner, refer to the D2L Partner Program page.
Partner tier definitions
Overview
Summary of our Partner tiers:
| Transformational | Strategic | Validated | Ecosystem | Non-Partner |
|---|
Commercial relationship | Yes | Yes | None | None | None |
|---|
Security review | Annual | Annual | Initial only | None | None |
|---|
Accessibility review | Annual | Annual | Initial only | None | None |
|---|
Technical validation | Full | Full | Initial only | Basic | None |
|---|
Customer support | Joint | Coordinated | Partner | Partner | Partner |
|---|
Transformational Partners
Transformational Partners represent D2L's highest level of partnership and alignment. These solutions are deeply embedded into the D2L experience and may be delivered under D2L branding, offered as semi or fully white-labeled capabilities, or positioned as a seamless extension of the Brightspace portfolio. Transformational partnerships are reserved for solutions that significantly advance D2L's long-term product strategy and customer outcomes.
What this means for customers
- Customers may primarily interact with D2L rather than the underlying technology provider.
- D2L maintains a strategic commercial relationship with these partners.
- D2L and the partner maintain deep alignment across product, commercial, operational, and customer success functions.
- D2L conducts recurring security, privacy, accessibility, and technical integration reviews.
- D2L coordinates customer-facing support and escalation activities with the partner.
- Customers can expect a documented integration experience.
Strategic Partners
Strategic Partners are organizations with whom D2L maintains an active commercial and go-to-market relationship to deliver meaningful customer outcomes. D2L and the partner collaborate closely across product, sales, marketing, customer success, and operations to provide customers with a well-integrated, well-supported solution while the partner continues to own and operate its technology.
What this means for customers
- D2L has an active commercial relationship with these partners.
- D2L and the partner actively collaborate to support customer success.
- Solutions are commonly and easily deployed alongside Brightspace.
- The partner continues to own and operate its technology and services.
- D2L facilitates collaboration but does not assume full ownership of delivery, performance, or outcomes.
- D2L conducts recurring security and privacy reviews.
- D2L may act as the initial customer-facing support contact and coordinate with the partner on issue resolution.
- Customers can expect a documented integration experience.
Validated Partners
Validated Partners are organizations whose solutions have successfully met D2L's defined interoperability and certification requirements, demonstrating compatibility with Brightspace at the time of validation.
What this means for customers
- The solution has been validated for compatibility with Brightspace.
- Validation confirms interoperability and technical compatibility at the time of review.
- The partner remains responsible for product performance, support, security, privacy, accessibility, and ongoing compliance.
- Customers can expect a documented integration experience.
Ecosystem Partners
Ecosystem Partners are organizations that participate in the broader Brightspace ecosystem through a recognized integration, workflow connection, content offering, or complementary service.
What this means for customers
- D2L has validated that the solution can connect to Brightspace.
- The partner independently owns and supports its product and services.
- The solution is designed to work alongside Brightspace.
- Customers should perform their own evaluation to determine whether the solution meets their organizational requirements.
- D2L does not provide ongoing support, troubleshooting, or operational ownership for these integrations.
Non-Partner Integrators
Non-Partner Integrators are third-party organizations that connect their solutions to Brightspace using open standards such as APIs, LTI, or other interoperability methods, without a formal partnership relationship with D2L.
What this means for customers
- The solution may connect to Brightspace using supported interoperability standards, but D2L has not validated the integration.
- D2L does not certify, endorse, or represent the solution.
- D2L acts solely as a platform provider enabling technical connectivity.
- Customers are responsible for evaluating the provider's functionality, security, privacy, accessibility, and suitability.
- D2L does not provide ongoing support, troubleshooting, or operational ownership for these integrations.