CyberRisk Alliance’s acquisition of ChannelPro Network is a big step forward in how we serve the IT and managed services channel. ChannelPro’s smart analysis, loyal audience, and strong event and digital platforms make it a natural fit that strengthens our entire ecosystem.
The acquisition makes sense on multiple levels. CRA’s reach and cybersecurity expertise will complement ChannelPro’s already strong cyber coverage while opening the door to new products, services, and growth. Just as important, we’re committed to maintaining ChannelPro’s coverage of executive and operational topics beyond cybersecurity. Our audiences need balanced, practical insight to run and grow their businesses. Together, we’ll deliver broader value and a stronger voice across the entire channel community.
With the SMB IT market projected to hit $361 billion by 2033, channel leaders need sharper insights, stronger community, and faster intelligence. By uniting ChannelPro with CRA’s channel powerhouses—MSSP Alert, MSSP Alert Live, and ChannelE2E—we’re creating a more influential platform with deeper expertise and greater reach across the MSP and IT services landscape.
What’s Ahead for 2026
So, what can we look forward to in 2026? What themes and priorities will shape the managed services channel in the year ahead? Looking into our crystal ball, the outline is already becoming clear: 2026 will be defined by smarter execution, sharper automation, and a renewed focus on business fundamentals.
Profitable growth will remain front and center as MSPs refine their operating models, improve margins, and expand their advisory capabilities. AI-driven productivity will move from experimentation to everyday use, automating service delivery, ticketing, threat monitoring, customer experience, and sales operations.
Platform consolidation will continue to accelerate as MSPs and vendors push toward integrated ecosystems and unified data. And importantly, cybersecurity will fuel a major share of industry growth, driven by escalating threats, evolving regulations, and increasing customer expectations.
At the same time, business leadership topics—pricing, talent, customer success, vertical specialization, and M&A readiness—will remain essential as MSPs aim to differentiate and scale.
Looking Further Ahead
As we move into 2026, our commitment is clear: we will track these trends closely, deliver the practical insights our community relies on, and continue to champion the needs of MSPs and channel leaders. With the combined strength of CRA and ChannelPro’s portfolios, we’re better positioned than ever to inform, support, and empower the entire channel ecosystem.
That mission feels especially important in light of what we’re hearing from ChannelPro Network Founder & Publisher Michael Siggins, who has a front-row view into the realities and pressures shaping MSPs today.
As Siggins notes, economic uncertainty continues—but it’s paired with real optimism about the IT needs of the companies MSPs serve. IT modernization, cloud expansion, cyber threats, compliance, and AI adoption are all driving demand in the channel—positioning MSPs as key strategic partners for their customers.
Beyond these insights, several additional forces are shaping what MSPs will need to navigate in 2026. AI is transforming the channel from every direction—pushing MSPs to modernize operations through automation and AI-enhanced service delivery, while requiring them to help customers adopt AI safely and productively with proper governance. At the same time, AI is intensifying both malicious activity and the defensive tools required to counter it.
Meanwhile, MSPs and MSSPs continue to face mounting pressures: talent shortages, tool sprawl, margin compression, and rapid technology shifts have created one of the most demanding operating environments in decades. Growth is absolutely achievable, but not with yesterday’s playbook. MSPs must differentiate, adopt a security-first mindset, embrace co-managed IT and vCISO models, develop deep compliance expertise, and evolve from service providers into outcome providers.
All of this reinforces why this moment—and this acquisition—matters. It’s a powerful time to offer the events, content, and communities the channel relies on to prepare, adapt, and succeed, and to connect sponsors with the audiences who need them most.
Together, CRA and ChannelPro are committed to building that ecosystem—one that elevates the entire channel and helps it move forward with confidence.
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