Channel Brief: The 20 MSP, CompTIA, SoftwareOne

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. Triple-play acquisition - Managed IT services provider, The 20 MSP, has acquired 3 more MSPs, the most recent round of deals in an ongoing M&A growth plan aimed at consolidating the company’s national footprint and enhancing its service offerings. The three MSPs joining The 20 are Drivetech, Accurate Computer Solutions, and Blue Cactus Consulting. These deals are 56, 57 and 58 that ChannelE2E has covered in 2024. that ChannelE2E and MSSP Alert have covered so far in 2023. See more than 2,000 technology M&A deals for 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, and 2020 listed here.

2. AI certification and training - IT certification and training organization CompTIA, the world’s leading information technology certification and training body is accelerating creation of new products and programs for the growing artificial intelligence (AI) jobs market. The organization said it would create a range of certifcations and training offerings that focus on AI. 

3. Deal off - SoftwareOne has ended an agreement with U.S. private equity firm Bain Capital to buy the Swiss IT services company. Three shareholders, who together hold 29% of SoftwareOne, last month tried to oust the board to revive an effort to delist the firm through a sale to Bain, but the shareholders "have decided to dissolve the group acting in concert between them and Bain Capital and terminate their underlying agreement." (Reuters)

4. AI a top priority among CIOs - Global technology service provider Logicalis says that AI, digital transformation and cybersecurity are the top priorities for tech leaders. That’s based on a new survey of over 1,000 CIOs globally. Most (85%) organizations are investing in AI technologies with transformative potential in 2024, despite economic uncertainty.

5. Returning executive - Mike Flanagan will rejoin Compucom as its Chief Information Officer (CIO). Computom is a technology sourcing, managed IT and professional services provider. Flanagan previously spent more than two decades at Compucom managing customer accounts, professional services, and product strategy as a critical leader during much of the company’s growth in the early 2000s.

B. In-Person MSP and Channel Partner Events