MSP Evolution: Page


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    AI hype vs. hard reality: How channel partners can thrive in 2026

    The 2026 channel partner playbook: Survive vendor consolidation, dodge the AI hype trap, and figure out how to actually make money from all this automation.

    By • Jan. 29, 2026
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    Thrive puts ServiceNow agents to work in AI push

    The IT services provider has poured money and headcount into its security and AI practices in the last two years.

    By • Jan. 28, 2026
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    3 forces redirecting the flow of channel business in 2026

    IDC analysts say build-based platform strategies are gaining traction as vendors and partners increasingly overlap in their sales approaches and value propositions.

    By • Jan. 27, 2026
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    Channel sales to top $4 trillion this year

    Partner-driven deals will account for two-thirds of global IT spend in 2026, according to analyst firm Omdia.

    By • Jan. 26, 2026
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    Cisco 360 is here, and partners are ready for it

    The company's biggest channel overhaul in two decades went live Monday. The transition has been remarkably smooth.

    By • Jan. 26, 2026
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    Confusion clouds Microsoft partners’ path on discount changes

    Microsoft wants its partners to drive Copilot adoption and expand Microsoft 365 usage in their clients. That’s easier said than done.

    By • Jan. 21, 2026
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    Microsoft 365 licensing revamp ripples across channel

    Partners are reshaping their Microsoft practices as the hyperscaler pushes its software customers toward third-party providers

    By • Jan. 21, 2026
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    MSPs keep calm after Pax8 security snafu

     “It could have happened to anyone.”

    By • Jan. 20, 2026
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    AI productivity pitfalls open a pathway for partners

    Most organizations have seen efficiency gains eaten away by the need to verify, fix and rework AI outputs, according to Workday.

    By • Jan. 20, 2026
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    Blue Mantis maintains reseller roots amid managed services push

    The company has shifted 60% of its revenue to recurring managed services while still growing its data center hardware and software sales.

    By • Jan. 16, 2026
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    Managed services market poised to rebound: ISG

    Enterprise MSP contract revenue fell for the second consecutive quarter despite record cloud spending.

    By • Jan. 16, 2026
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    Rogue AI agents threaten MSPs

    Autonomous systems represent an attack surface existing cybersecurity services models aren't designed to protect.

    By • Jan. 15, 2026
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    11:11’s timely VMware partner landgrab

    The cloud infrastructure provider is growing its VCF services portfolio as Broadcom whittles away at the virtualization software vendor’s channel ecosystem.

    By • Jan. 13, 2026
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    Forrester: Businesses are ‘AI-washing’ layoffs

    The research firm said AI-driven job replacement will be “meaningful” but “not apocalyptic” over the next four years.

    By • Updated Jan. 14, 2026
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    Dynatrace overhauls partner enablement and sales strategy

    “We’re listening to our partners,” says Dynatrace’s Jay Snyder, as the company unveils a sales and training push designed to support the channel.

    By • Jan. 12, 2026
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    11:11 Systems expands VMware services with Ntirety deal

    The move marks the company’s sixth VMware-focused acquisition in three years as Broadcom continues to shrink the VCSP ecosystem.

    By • Jan. 9, 2026
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    BCM One rebrand steers partners toward UC integration, cost management

    The service provider resurrected a previously acquired brand to represent its enterprise business.

    By • Jan. 8, 2026
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    5 channel trends for 2026

    Vendor programs are changing, and not everyone’s going to make it.

    By • Jan. 8, 2026
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    NinjaOne trains sights on Kaseya, ConnectWise in MSP platform push

    The software provider is balancing technical innovation with simplicity as it lures MSP customers from legacy management platforms.

    By • Jan. 6, 2026
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    Unisys aims to align AI results with expectations

    The MSP poured more than $10 million into a field services modernization initiative to assist technicians and speed up call scheduling.

    By • Jan. 5, 2026
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    Ransomware playbook for MSPs: Key lessons for effective recovery

    Backups alone won’t save your clients. However, they are the foundation of every effective recovery. For MSPs, that means adopting a strategy built on proven architecture like Datto’s.

    Jan. 5, 2026
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    Inside the AI execution gap

    Enterprises need channel partners to help guide adoption, according to DXC Technology research.

    By • Dec. 22, 2025
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    OpenText: MSPs need to think like business consultants

    The MSP model is evolving as AI, cybersecurity threats and regulation reshape the channel.

    By • Dec. 19, 2025
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    Managed services to add $608B to B2B tech and telco growth: Omdia

    Omdia Chief Analyst Jay McBain said 'the timing is pretty much perfect' for the MSP market, whose growth outpaces that of the larger economy.

    By • Dec. 18, 2025
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    AWS leans on partners to spin up mainframe modernization agents

    The hyperscaler launched a platform called AWS Transform Composability aimed at speeding migrations with AI automation.

    By • Dec. 17, 2025