Channel Brief: MSP 2024 Forecast, Pax8, SoftwareOne, More

Grab a cup of your favorite morning beverage and check out the return of our regular market briefing for managed services providers (MSPs), IT service providers (ITSPs), technology service providers (TSPs), cloud service providers (CSPs) cybersecurity consultants, systems integrators, VARs, independent software vendors (ISVs), and distributors.

Scroll down for a quick view of upcoming in-person channel and MSP events at the bottom of this post (while we spiff up our industry calendar behind the scenes. It will return!)

And please send your news tips, information, and industry chatter to editorial director [email protected].

Sip up.

A. Today’s Tech, Channel and MSP News

1. MSPs headed for growth - Total managed services revenue in the channel will grow 12% in 2024 – double digits in a tough macro environment. That’s according to a new forecast for the year from Canalys MSP analyst Robin Ody. And it’s nearly double Gartner’s prediction of overall global IT spending for the year of 6.8%. More on Canalys’ forecast at ChannelE2E soon. 

2. Pax8 chief honored - Cloud commerce marketplace for MSPs, Pax8’s CEO John Street, has received the 2023 Colorado Governor’s Citizenship Medal for Growth and Innovation, presented by the state’s Governor Jared Polis in partnership with CiviCO at a January 25 ceremony.

3. Shareholder revolt for SoftwareOne - SoftwareOne founding shareholders are moving to replace the Swiss IT services provider’s board of directors after a failed effort to delist the company last year through a sale to private equity firm, Bain Capital. They are also working to remove president Adam Warby. SoftwareOne listed on the Swiss stock exchange in 2019, but its stock has suffered losses since then. (Reuters)

4. Ivanti competitors offer alternatives - Cyber resilience solutions provider Absolute Software, says it is available to assist organizations impacted by Ivanti Connect Secure and Ivanti Policy Secure Zero Days and other vulnerabilities. CISA had told all federal agencies to disconnect Ivanti VPNs by Feb 3. Absolute is providing free Absolute Secure Endpoint and Absolute Secure Access product licenses and support for 90 days, along with the expertise needed to deploy and scale replacement solutions across all endpoints.

5. MITRE ATT&CK Evaluations - MITRE Engenuity opened its call for participation in ATT&CK Evaluations, an independent and objective assessment of enterprise cybersecurity solutions. This sixth round of evaluations will examine common behaviors that are prevalent across prolific ransomware campaigns and feature an introduction into macOS, specifically focusing on macOS targeting by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). Participants must sign up for the evaluations by April 30, 2024. Results of the evaluations will be posted in the fourth quarter of 2024. Results of previous evaluations are here, including one for MSSPs.

B. In-Person MSP and Channel Partner Events