Join ChannelNEXT26: “Channel-First” for our 24th year. AI and Cybersecurity: The New Strategic Imperative for Managed Services Leaders
In today’s AI-driven digital landscape—made more complex by evolving cybersecurity and compliance demands—this event provides a critical opportunity to stay ahead. Collaborate with peers and industry experts to explore the latest solutions and services that help you better support and protect your clients.
We kick off this event with a candid on-stage discussion with four of the top leaders in the channel business today.
Julian Lee and Paolo Del Nibletto will interview this A-Team. It’s not every day you get such a powerhouse of channel leaders in one room to share their insights and answer your questions. From this panel discussion, we go right into the MSP Town Hall where the audience gets to ask questions! It’s going to be epic. What do all of these speakers have in common?
90% of our content are NOT vendor-sponsored so you can expect unbiased insights to help you make informed decisions.
Dive into digital transformation, cybersecurity, AI, and sustainability to build a more robust, efficient, and innovative business.
Why Attend?
Grow Your Business: Learn and discover the latest solutions. Build your network and collaborate with your peers. Attendees report up to 30% growth.
Support Canada and Independent Canadian News media: Encourage vendors to invest in and support Canadian channel partners while supporting Canadian independent news eChannelNEWS.
Our Mastermind Peer-Group sessions and MSP Town Hall will connect everything you have learned over the two days so you can leave with a clear action plan.
We are coming to you to help save both time and money. By meeting you where you are, we reduce the need for additional travel, planning, and resource allocation—allowing you to focus on what matters most.
The Managed Services Landscape Is Shifting—Fast
Your clients expect better outcomes, not just better tools. Many channel partners are responding by embedding AI into their offerings to drive greater efficiency, insight, and measurable value.
If you are not leading the AI conversation with your customers, someone else will. The competitive edge now belongs to those who can translate AI from hype into practical business advantage.
At the same time, cybersecurity pressures are intensifying. Compliance requirements are expanding. Cyber insurance standards are tightening. Data privacy expectations are rising. And AI-driven attacks are becoming more sophisticated.
AI is both an opportunity and a risk multiplier. While customers are eager to use AI to improve productivity and performance, rapid adoption introduces new exposure—security vulnerabilities, privacy concerns, intellectual property risks, and governance challenges.
According to research firm Omdia, cybersecurity is being reshaped in ways that are more consequential than the past decade and partners are at an inflection point. “Platform consolidation, geopolitical, ecosystem realignment, AI-driven transformation and long-term workforce disruption are converging all at once”. We agree as we see this in the vendors we interview and what’s happening on the frontlines of the channel. With the top 20 vendors out of 6,000 already accounting for 66% of the global cybersecurity spend, you have to ensure you are rolling with the right partners. Keep in mind that these top 20 are still plagued with attacks and breaches. The remaining thousands are busy developing solutions to fill the gaps. Everyone has an important role to play, but cost (and skill) is the achilles heel. Today, data sovereignty, compliance and other regulations are also forcing everyone to rethink cybersecurity.
MSPs also face significant challenges: high operating costs (around 30%), low margins (below 20%), about 200 operational tools to navigate, difficulty with customer and employee retention, new customer acquisition and scarce qualified human resources.
The leaders in this next phase of managed services will be those who can:
- Drive better AI-enabled outcomes
- Strengthen cybersecurity and compliance posture
- Implement operational efficiencies and best practices
This is no longer optional. It is a strategic imperative!
Join 200 leading local channel partners to learn, network, and gain actionable insights. Hear “secrets” from successful MSPs and industry veterans. Connect with outstanding, sometimes exclusive, vendors who can drive revenue. Learn about our year-round effort to combat cybercrime: The Cybersecurity Defense Ecosystem The Cybersecurity Defense Ecosystem.
The Value of Peer-to-Peer Connection
While educational content and solutions are valuable, the peer-to-peer social networking, including the pre-day Mastermind sessions and the MSP Town Hall, often provides the MOST value. In-person networking builds meaningful relationships.
Updates
VIDEO PREVIEWS are coming soon. We continuously update content based on feedback. Check the agenda often. Tell us if you need something specific; our deep IT industry reach through independent news media, eChannelNEWS, allows us to find it—a major factor that makes ChannelNEXT unique. ChannelNEXT Events Nourish the Mind, Body, and Soul!
Registration:
- Early Bird: $195 (Up to 30 days prior)
- Standard: $349 (Within 30 days)
Your ticket includes full access to both days, including food, drinks, and entertainment. Hotel accommodation is not included, but registration provides details on accommodation options and special group rates.
The agenda is updated regularly—check back often for the latest details on keynote speakers, workshops, and sponsors. When you register, you can also submit your suggestions for topics or sessions you’d like to see included!
ChannelNEXT’s Mission, content, format and vibe are all shaped and driven by our 2026 Board of Advisors of leading MSP and channel experts!
