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. All links are current as of March 16.
First Take: Gartner’s Key Actions for Executives Amid the Iran War
Gartner experts analyzed the Iran War’s emerging impacts and identified the most urgent moves for major C‑suite functions. Gartner is making its full First Take -- usually reserved exclusively for Gartner clients -- available as a free download. You can get it here.
Zoom Expands Enterprise Agentic AI Platform
Zoom Communications has broadened the reach of its enterprise agentic artificial intelligence (AI) platform, introducing new workflow orchestration capabilities across Zoom Workplace, Zoom Phone and Zoom CX. Read the Computer Weekly story.
Anthropic Report Says AI not Taking Jobs so Far
With many companies blaming AI technology for slashing their workforce, Anthropic has introduced a new metric for enterprises to determine where AI is making an impact. In a report released March 5, Anthropic claimed AI technology has not yet reached its full potential in the workplace. In the report, the vendor used an "Observed Exposure" metric to look at whether a large language model (LLM) such as the vendor's Claude model can perform a task twice as fast as a human; how Claude is being used in work-related settings, and how job descriptions show AI’s use in specific roles. Using the specific role metric, Anthropic found that actual AI use in the workplace is lower than thought. Read the AI Business story.
Microsoft 365 E7 adds AI Governance; Prices Draw Critique
As AI governance worries stall enterprise adoption, Microsoft is preparing to integrate its Agent 365 agentic control plane with its next-generation Microsoft 365 suite. Microsoft set a shipping date of May 1 for Agent 365, along with a $15-per-user-per-month standalone price, and disclosed new features it plans to put into public preview on that date. Read the TechTarget story.
Perplexity Aims for Enterprise with AI-Enabled Browser, Tools
Perplexity launched new tools for its business customers, including AI-native browser Comet Enterprise and Computer for Enterprise, which harnesses 20 frontier models and connects to existing applications. Read the CIO Dive story.
Anthropic Dives into the Channel
Anthropic launched the Claude Partner Network, seeded with an initial $100 million to provide training and other resources to channel firms helping enterprises adopt Anthropic’s Claude model. Partners gain immediate access to a certification program and will be eligible for direct marketing and co-marketing funding as the effort scales. Anthropic will also add solutions engineers and technical architects to work with partner teams aiming to expand its partner-facing operations fivefold, per the announcement. Read the Channel Dive story.
MSP Ponders the Maddening Magic of OpenClaw
As open-source agentic AI tool OpenClaw spreads through the enterprise, MSPs are reconsidering their approach to internal AI adoption. One MSP, Mann Consulting, has blocked the tool in its own operations and recommended that its clients do the same. “The build-versus-buy decision is now one that I am reckoning with literally dozens of times a day,” Mann Consulting President Harold Mann told Channel Dive.
HPE Raises Earnings Outlook, Expects Memory Shortage to Persist
HPE has taken several measures to secure enough memory to keep up with customer demand, as a supply shortage is sending prices soaring. Demand is stemming from customers’ artificial-intelligence deployment, infrastructure modernization and “pooling” of resources amid commodity shortages and price increases, CEO Antonio Neri said during HPE’s earnings call with analysts. Read the Wall Street Journal story.
Zenarmor Launches SASE Partner Program for MSPs and Channel Providers
As the need for Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) protections rises for enterprises, cybersecurity vendor Zenarmor has created a new channel partner program to help MSPs, MSSPs, ISPs, VARs, and other partners provide targeted SASE services for business customers. Read the ChannelE2E story.