Community Content

Pia, the leading AI-led help desk automation platform for managed service providers (MSPs), today announced that longtime executive James Allen has been appointed to the newly created role of chief community officer, unifying community strategy and strategic alliances as the company scales its partner ecosystem. He reports directly to David Schwartz, CEO of Pia. 

The chief community officer position represents a fundamental shift in how Pia is approaching growth. Allen will orchestrate community and partnerships as interconnected drivers of the company's expansion. He'll build scalable programs such as advisory boards, user groups, and certifications while managing technology partnerships, distributor relationships, and co-selling initiatives with vendors. 

The ASCII Group, North America’s original and vendor-neutral community for Managed Service Providers (MSPs), today announced the speaker lineup for ASCII Edge 2026, its multi-city conference series designed to support MSP business owners through peer-driven education and community engagement.

Taking place across eight cities in the United States and Canada, ASCII Edge 2026 brings MSPs together for in-person learning, candid discussion, and practical insight rooted in real-world experience. Built by and for MSPs, the series reflects ASCII’s decades long-standing commitment to peer-driven education and community.

Pia, the leading AI-led help desk automation platform for managed service providers (MSPs), today announced the launch of Automation Hub, a centralized marketplace that reflects a major shift in how MSPs adopt and apply automation.

Automation Hub (the Hub) provides MSPs, vendors, and technology partners with a shared space within the Pia platform to access, install, and exchange pre-built automations for common service desk and operational workloads. It consolidates Pia’s automations from Pia, partners, and leading marketplace vendors, including chatbot flows, SmartForms, extensions, and code samples, so MSPs can find what they need in one place and expand automation across clients without rebuilding workflows from scratch. 

The expanding cybersecurity market presents significant opportunities for IT service providers (ITSPs) and channel firms that can master complexity and position themselves as market leaders.

The Global Technology Industry Association (GTIA) today released the Channel Trends in Cybersecurity 2025 report. Based on a global survey of more than 1,100 ITSPs, the study highlights how channel partners can capitalize on cybersecurity opportunities and position themselves as leaders in this high-growth market.

GTIA conducted this research to help ITSPs navigate emerging challenges and seize growth opportunities in an era where cybersecurity is no longer optional—it’s essential.

 Delivers Smarter, Faster Security to Strengthen Cyber Resilience and Drive Productivity and ROI

 News highlights:

• Barracuda Assistant, powered by Barracuda AI, accelerates security operations by enabling customers and MSPs to quickly and easily navigate threats, troubleshoot issues, access actionable insights, and more.

• Now available within the AI-powered BarracudaONE cybersecurity platform, the assistant delivers real-time, data-driven guidance that strengthens cyber resilience and accelerates response.

 Barracuda Networks, Inc., a leading cybersecurity company providing complete protection against complex threats for all size business

Harry Brelsford of SMB Nation sits down with Liongard at the IT Nation 2022 Conference.  Liongard gives MSPs an operational advantage that delivers both higher profits and an exceptional customer experience.  The Liongard software has been built by MSP veterans with the focus to eliminate error and reduce manual labor, in order to help MSP’s increase their bottom line.  Through visibility management and 70+ integrations, Liongard retrieves data from every environment you manage,  and brings you the data to fuel your workforce.  Listen as Harry, Joe, and Matt discuss data management, and how to use it to increase your bottom line. 

Watch the Interview

San Diego, September 29^th, 2022 – ESET, a global leader in digital security, today announced the launch of new cloud and XDR solutions for Managed Service Providers (MSPs). By expanding the ESET PROTECT Platform to include ESET Inspect and ESET Inspect Cloud, MSPs and their business customers will now have access to dedicated XDR security solutions – available on prem or via the cloud. ESET also launched an all new ESET Direct Endpoint Management plugin for Kaseya VSA, as well as Native ARM Support for macOS. 

Winners to Be Announced at IT Nation Connect 2022 in November

Tampa, Fla., July 20, 2022 — ConnectWise, the world’s leading software company

dedicated to the success of IT solution providers (TSPs), today announced the launch of the WISE Awards, a new program to recognize solution Partners who are achieving their most ambitious vision of success through ConnectWise software, services and community while also striving to make a difference and empower others in the broader industry. Winners will be announced at the inaugural WISE Awards Ceremony, held at IT Nation Connect 2022, Nov. 9-11 in Orlando, Florida. 

July 27, 2022 11:00 AM in Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Hosts:

Harry Brelsford, CEO of SMB Nation
Josh Robbins, CEO of SimpleVoIP

Nearly every MSP has a client that still has a good old-fashioned POTS (copper phone line) installation. Think about the nearby automobile repair shop. There is a customer revenue opportunity!

Major phone companies are retiring copper infrastructure and have no obligation to support ancient wires after August 2, 2022. Companies are scrambling to keep their phone and internet service active, including lifeline service for alarms, fire panels, elevators, fax machines and pool phones.

Josh Robbins, CEO of SimpleVoIP, discusses various options and costs associated with this massive disruption going on right now and how companies can save money and add features at the same time as retiring old technology.

Purchase Strengthens Park Place’s Position as Global Leader of Third-Party Maintenance Services

CLEVELAND, OH, March 22, 2022 – Park Place Technologies, the leading global data center and networking optimization firm, has acquired Reliant Technology, a third-party maintenance, support and hardware provider based in Atlanta, Georgia. The acquisition will provide more products and services to Reliant Technology’s large client base.

Hagerstown, MD – Monday, April 11, 2022 – SOCSoter is now a 3^rd Party Assessor Organization (C3PAO) candidate awarded by the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Accreditation Body (CMMC-AB). The CMMC-AB operates under the US Department of Defense (DoD) to ensure all sufficient cyber security controls are in place to protect Federal Classified Information (FCI) and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) within the Defense Industrial Base (DIB). They are also the source for CMMC 2.0 certification and licensing within the DoD contractor community. 

April 26, 2022 12:00 PM in Pacific Time (US and Canada)

In this webinar learn about:

• Cybersecurity Liability insurance policies and compliance standards require businesses to follow best practices around asset lifecycle management. Let’s answer the 3 most pressing questions.
• What is asset lifecycle management?
• Why should small businesses care?
• What are the best practices around asset lifecycle management?