Deep Dive

Industry insights from our journalists


  • Telarus Partner Summer in Texas on Aug. 10, 2026.
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    Retrieved from Telarus on August 13, 2026
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    Tech advisors grapple with AI malaise, budget puzzles

    Partners at Telarus' annual conference say they are charging for their advice and time as customers rethink AI projects.

    James Anderson • Aug. 13, 2026
  • Jeetu Patel, president and chief product officer, Cisco, Anthony Grieco, SVP, chief security and trust officer and Cisco and Drew Hinz, product security lead, OpenAI discuss frontier AI and other security issues during a fireside chat at the Cisco Live conference in Las Vegas.
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    Courtesy of Cisco
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    Sophisticated threat campaign pushes Cisco to the very edge

    A monthslong exploitation wave against Cisco SD-WAN systems raises larger questions about trust and the insecurity of network infrastructure.

    David Jones • July 9, 2026
  • Six men stand on a stage. Three men hold an oversized $4 million check made out to "Team Atlanta," while two of the other men flank this trio and pose for a photo with them. The sixth person stands off to the side and applauds.
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    Eric Geller/Channel Dive
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    How a government contest launched a revolution in AI-based bug hunting

    Security researchers have spent months honing AI systems that can find and fix serious vulnerabilities. Critical infrastructure everywhere could benefit.

    Eric Geller • May 22, 2026
  • Electrical transmission towers and their power lines loom over trees at dusk
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    New cybersecurity industry coalition aims to lead US critical infrastructure protection

    The new Alliance for Critical Infrastructure’s biggest goal: changing how the nation plans for a major cybersecurity crisis.

    Eric Geller • May 14, 2026
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    James Anderson/Channel Dive
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    The math CFOs are using to dismiss tech advisors doesn’t add up

    Finance leaders object to residual commissions. A new study argues they’re benchmarking costs too narrowly.

    James Anderson • April 20, 2026
  • At sunset, a human hand holds a lightbulb with a transparent brain inside and a digital webbed grid emanating outward
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    Getty Images
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    Why resellers want in on the agent business

    World Wide Technology, High Point Networks, Presidio and Technologent are four VAR heavyweights that have quietly built broker practices.

    James Anderson • April 2, 2026
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    Partners are flooded with cybersecurity vendor tools

    “At some point, you just throw your hands in the air and you say, ‘I think it's time for me to compete,’” 360 SOC CEO Chris Ichelson said.

    James Anderson • March 30, 2026
  • Blue threads moving from silver marbles to colored marbles
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    Getty Images
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    MSPs face an AI choice: build, buy or wait for PSAs to catch up

    Vibe coding, OpenClaw and other open source tools have given service providers the option of bringing app development in house, if they dare.

    James Anderson • March 17, 2026
  • demo of Salesforce Agentforce Contact Center
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    Courtesy of Salesforce
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    Salesforce makes fast frenemies with its CCaaS partners

    The software giant introduced Agentforce Contact Center, a solution that integrates directly with its CRM, threatening third-party add-ons.

    James Anderson • Updated March 23, 2026
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    Getty Images
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    Investors see insurance brokerages as a model for tech advisor consolidation

    A wave of private equity is flowing into the asset-light, recurring-revenue segment of the channel, which is ripe for scale.

    James Anderson • March 3, 2026
  • Microsoft building with logo
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    Getty Images
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    How Microsoft, partners are tackling ‘huge, huge task’ of making security software safer

    The technology giant and third-party security vendors are plotting an ambitious overhaul of how their products interoperate.

    Eric Geller • March 2, 2026
  • A holographic image of a glass cloud with an object resembling a laptop inside set against a black backdrop.
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    Getty Images
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    6 trends shaping the channel ecosystem

    Services providers, systems integrators and resellers are seizing cross-selling opportunities as generative AI and quantum encryption use cases ramp up.

    Matt Ashare, James Anderson and John Moore • Nov. 3, 2025
  • A Workday billboard says "People, money and agents. One powerful AI platform. Moving business forever forward."
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    Justin Sullivan / Staff via Getty Images
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    Workday widens its channel, opens new doors for partners

    The SaaS company’s expansion into ERP and AI has paved the way for revenue growth for IT service providers.

    John Moore • Oct. 24, 2025