The content team at the MSP Summit site tracks stories of interest to the managed services provider community. Anyone selling managed services or partnering with MSPs will want to know about these developing stories or catch up on stories they have missed. With the help of ChatGPT, Claude, and AI tools developed by our parent company Informa, we're tracking top stories based on web traffic, mentions, impressions, reposts, and social media engagement. All links are current as of Jan. 26.
Cisco Launches 360 Partner Program for AI era
Cisco's long-awaited overhaul of its go-to-market partner program has arrived. The Cisco 360 Partner Program comes after a 15-month consultation with partners, with a view toward delivering customer outcomes in the areas of "AI-ready data centers, future-proofed workplaces, and digital resilience." The new program reduces Cisco partner evaluation from 22 specializations across 15 business units down to six focused portfolios: networking, security, cloud and AI infrastructure, Splunk, collaboration, and services. See the SDxCentral story.
Microsoft 365 Licensing Revamp Causes Channel Ripples
Microsoft is pushing customers toward partners and partners toward distributors. Customers and partners have felt the ripples of Microsoft 365 licensing changes implemented in the last half of 2025. The computing giant in November standardized its prices for enterprise agreements traditionally geared toward customers of 500 users or more. The move eliminated the 6% and 12% discounts that enterprises enjoyed by purchasing from Microsoft directly. Read the Channel Dive story.
Extreme Networks Rebuilds Its Partner Program
Extreme Networks launched Extreme Partner First with the intent of reducing variables by using a single global rebate model, one deal registration framework, and automation designed to move deals from opportunity to revenue faster. Read about it on ChannelE2E.
Microsoft’s New AI Chip Competes with Google, Amazon, and Nvidia
Microsoft is taking aim at cloud rivals Amazon and Google with the debut of its next-generation custom AI chip. Called Maia 200, the chip will run in Microsoft’s own data centers before the company eventually makes it available to its wider customer base. Like Google’s TPUs and Amazon’s Trainium processors, Microsoft’s second AI chip is meant to give the Windows maker more flexibility when powering its AI services. See the Yahoo Finance story.
ConnectWise Acquires zofiQ: What Agentic Automation Inside PSA Means for MSP Operations
ConnectWise has acquired zofiQ, bringing agentic AI deeper into the core workflows MSPs already use every day. ConnectWise is betting on agentic AI that runs directly inside the PSA to take on routine operational tasks, so people can focus on decisions, customer context, and higher-value services that actually differentiate their business. See the ChannelE2E story.
Assured Data Protection Promotes Giannini to Lead Americas Channel Strategy
Assured Data Protection, No. 4 on the 2025 MSP 501 list, promoted Tony Giannini to global VP of innovation and VP of channels in the Americas. Giannini previously served as VP of global innovation. In his expanded role, he will now also lead Assured’s channel organization across North America and Latin America, bringing innovation, product strategy, and partner engagement under a unified leadership structure. Read the Assured DP press release.
CyberFox Hires Haque to Head Global Channels
Cybersecurity software vendor CyberFox hired Os Haque as VP of global channels. Haque will lead CyberFox's expansion into the enterprise market through strategic channel partnerships. Haque will focus on accelerating CyberFox's presence in the mid-market segments and on building stronger connections with IT decision-makers through channel partners. The vendor’s cybersecurity portfolio includes CyberFox AutoElevate for privileged access management, CyberFox Password Manager, and the recently launched CyberFox DNS Filtering solution. Read the CyberFox press release.