Cybersecurity Archives - Telecom Reseller / Technology Reseller News

By Doug Green “Cybersecurity has to be part of every conversation now.” At MSP Summit in Orlando, I sat down with Rick Mancinelli of C3 Complete to discuss two issues that were everywhere at the event: cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. Mancinelli’s message went beyond treating cybersecurity as simply another requirement MSPs and their customers have to meet. He sees cybersecurity as a business opportunity. C3 Complete is a hybrid technology consulting group offering cloud, telecom, cybersecurity and managed services. Mancinelli says the company’s goal with partners is straightforward: “We aim to complete your portfolio, but not compete with it.” For MSPs and technology advisors, that means creating opportunities to capture more of a customer’s technology spend while adding services that customers increasingly need. Cybersecurity moves from requirement to opportunity Mancinelli says the security environment has changed dramatically. “We’ve gone from just strict regulatory and compliance-related issues and basic defense to literally a 24/7 state of vigilance.” MSPs themselves are increasingly attractive targets because they are custodians of their customers’ data and systems. “As a fellow MSP, I know,” Mancinelli said. “We are the custodians of our clients’ data. And so if we’re the soft spot, we’re not really doing our clients any favors.” That creates a dual responsibility for MSPs. They have to secure their own operations while also helping customers build the layers of protection needed to address hacking, data leakage, privacy concerns and other threats. But Mancinelli argues that security should not be approached simply as another burden. “We actually counsel our clients to think of it as a selling tool.” Organizations bidding on government contracts or working with financial institutions and other regulated industries increasingly have to demonstrate that they meet specific cybersecurity requirements. Mancinelli pointed to frameworks and standards including CSF, SOC 2, ISO 27001 and CMMC. The result, he says, is a shift in the cybersecurity conversation from something organizations simply have to do to “a true opportunity both for fellow MSPs and for their clients.” AI creates opportunity — and new exposure The same combination of opportunity and risk is emerging around artificial intelligence. Mancinelli expects organizations of every size to increasingly use AI tools, whether as part of a company-wide initiative or through individual employees adopting tools such as ChatGPT and other generative AI platforms. He compared the trend to the earlier era of shadow IT, when employees adopted their own applications and services outside the traditional IT organization. “That’s happening today with AI,” he said. That makes governance increasingly important. Mancinelli says companies need established frameworks, guardrails and policies defining how AI can be used safely and responsibly, particularly when employees may be working with customer information, proprietary material or other sensitive data. Without those safeguards, AI can create potential privacy problems, data leakage and other forms of exposure. The opportunity for MSPs is therefore broader than simply helping customers deploy AI. It includes helping customers build the security and governance framework around that deployment. An MSP working with MSPs One of the differentiators Mancinelli emphasized is that C3 Complete understands the MSP market from direct experience. “We’ve been in their shoes,” he said. “We have a small MSP practice ourselves. So we understand the challenges, the ups and downs, the evolving landscape that we’re all faced with today.” That experience shapes how C3 Complete works with partners. “We’re happy to share what we’ve learned. We’re happy to learn from them as well. And we really do look to form true partnerships.” For MSPs, the convergence of cybersecurity and AI presents both new responsibilities and new sources of opportunity. Customers need help protecting themselves, navigating compliance requirements, adopting AI safely and creating policies around technologies employees may already be using. Companies that can help customers manage those issues may find that cybersecurity and AI are no longer simply technology conversations. They are increasingly business conversations. Learn more about C3 Complete at c3-complete.com. The post C3 Complete at MSP Summit: Cybersecurity, AI and the Opportunity for MSPs, Podcast appeared first on Telecom Reseller / Technology Reseller News.

By Doug Green “We help keep the bad guys out all day, every day, 24/7.” In this Technology Reseller News podcast recorded at MSP Summit, Josh Bergen of CallTek is joined by Jason S., “The Beekeeper,” for a lighthearted conversation about a serious subject: helping MSPs protect customers, support users and keep critical systems running. CallTek provides white-label IT support for MSPs, with teams in Kenya and the Philippines supporting customers in the U.S. The company offers Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 technical support, along with NOC and SOC capabilities. The “Beekeeper” theme is a tongue-in-cheek reference to dealing with cyber criminals when everything else fails. The real work, Bergen says, is about making sure things never reach that point. CallTek works behind the scenes for MSPs, using many of the cybersecurity, endpoint and monitoring tools already familiar to the channel. That can include EDR, SIEM, antivirus, web filtering and other technologies selected by the MSP. “We don’t resell the software,” Bergen says. “We help operate and support it.” That model allows MSPs to expand their technical capabilities without having to build every layer of support internally. CallTek says it currently works with roughly 100 MSP customers in the U.S. and has a significant presence in hospitality, including support for hotel Wi-Fi environments. The company also works in verticals including nursing homes, multifamily housing, senior living and healthcare. Those environments raise the stakes considerably. Keeping a hotel network running is important, but in healthcare and senior living, Bergen notes that technology can also connect to systems supporting patient monitoring and other critical functions. For MSPs, the value proposition is straightforward: add operational depth, extend support coverage and strengthen security without losing the customer-facing relationship. And if all else fails? That is where “Tier 6 support” and the Beekeeper joke come in. Visit CallTekInc.com to learn more. The post CallTek Brings White-Label IT Support—and a Little Beekeeper Humor—to MSP Summit, Podcast appeared first on Telecom Reseller / Technology Reseller News.

“The biggest misconception is that SMBs are not using AI or benefiting from it.” In this Technology Reseller News podcast, Sharon Florentine, Manager Research Analyst at GTIA, discusses new research showing that small and midsized businesses are already seeing meaningful benefits from AI—and creating a growing advisory opportunity for MSPs and IT service providers. GTIA, the Global Technology Industry Association, is a nonprofit membership organization serving IT service providers around the world. Its new research, End-User AI Adoption: How ITSP Customers Are Really Using AI, is based on responses from 520 SMB and microbusiness decision-makers. Florentine says the research challenges the idea that AI adoption is primarily an enterprise phenomenon. “The majority of SMBs are using AI, and they are seeing a lot of positive benefits from it,” she says. According to the study, 84 percent of respondents reported positive outcomes from AI. Businesses are using AI to improve productivity, move faster and support areas including marketing, sales, IT and security. Many are starting with tools already embedded in platforms such as Microsoft and Google, along with standalone services such as ChatGPT. Governance becomes the next priority As AI use expands, however, governance and cybersecurity are becoming increasingly important. Florentine says security risks were among the biggest concerns identified by respondents. Attackers are using AI to improve phishing and other threats, while defenders are using it for threat intelligence, vulnerability management and other security functions. “You cannot have AI without governance and cybersecurity,” Florentine says. That creates a significant opportunity for MSPs and ITSPs. Respondents specifically identified AI advisory services as something they would like from their technology providers. Those services could include identifying AI opportunities, evaluating risk, creating acceptable-use policies and helping customers expand successful AI projects. Florentine says the organizations seeing the greatest value tend to take a deliberate approach. They assign responsibility for AI to an executive, team or council, establish guidelines, monitor results and proactively address risks. For MSPs, one of the best places to begin may be their own AI journey. “Take your own experience and use that as an example for guidance,” Florentine says. “Show customers how you have solved problems using AI and help them do the same.” The broader message is that SMBs do not necessarily need to be convinced to use AI. Many are already there. What they increasingly need is trusted guidance on how to use it safely, strategically and at scale. GTIA members can access the full End-User AI Adoption research at GTIA.org. The post GTIA: SMBs Are Taking a Slow-and-Steady Approach to AI Adoption, Podcast appeared first on Telecom Reseller / Technology Reseller News.

“Let your engineers get back to doing what makes you money.” In this Technology Reseller News podcast recorded at ChannelCon 2026, Heather Harlos, Demetrios “Deme” Georgiou and Benjamin Morrell, of Coro Cybersecurity discuss how consolidating security tools can help MSPs reduce complexity, improve margins and serve more customers. Coro brings email security, endpoint protection, EDR, data loss prevention, VPN, secure web gateway, security awareness training, cloud protection and backup into a single platform. It is designed primarily for SMBs and midsized organizations with limited internal IT and security resources. Many MSPs recognize that they have a tool-sprawl problem but hesitate to replace products and vendor relationships they have relied on for years. “Consolidation is a very big objective for channel partners,” the Coro team says. “The challenge is making that change their new normal.” For MSPs, the value extends beyond lowering software costs. A unified platform reduces the time engineers spend moving between consoles, investigating alerts and managing separate systems. That additional capacity can be used to onboard customers, develop new services and increase revenue. Coro uses AI to filter security noise and surface the information that requires attention. The platform is also designed to scale easily across customers of different sizes. The team says smaller businesses are increasingly being targeted by phishing, ransomware and automated attacks. Although these organizations may lack enterprise security budgets, they still expect their MSPs to deliver effective protection. At the same time, MSPs must differentiate themselves through service rather than simply reselling a collection of tools. “Customers should buy from the channel partner because of the partner—not just because of the software being sold,” the team says. By simplifying security operations, Coro aims to help MSPs support more customers without continually adding personnel. Time and resources can then be redirected toward higher-value services, including new AI projects and business growth. Visit Coro.net to learn more. The post Coro Helps MSPs Consolidate Security and Reclaim Valuable Time, Podcast appeared first on Telecom Reseller / Technology Reseller News.

“It really is about what the customer wants us to do. We’re there to help them in any way they need.” In this Technology Reseller News podcast recorded at ChannelCon 2026, Jae Han and Chris Young of OmniNet Plus discuss how the company helps small and midsized businesses identify cybersecurity risks, strengthen internal IT teams and meet growing compliance requirements. OmniNet Plus is a security-focused MSP serving organizations across the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. Its customers typically range from 20 to 250 users and often have internal IT staff but lack dedicated cybersecurity expertise. “The IT staff aren’t always cybersecurity experts,” Han says. “They may have certain protections in place, but not others.” OmniNet Plus begins with an assessment and gap analysis to identify vulnerabilities, unsupported systems and weaknesses tied to security frameworks or cyber-liability insurance requirements. Young says the team then helps customers close or mitigate those risks. “If something can’t be fully resolved, we look at how to reduce the severity of the risk,” Young says. The company also provides co-managed services, giving internal IT teams access to security tools, alerts and guidance while allowing the customer to decide how responsibilities are divided. OmniNet Plus works with associations, construction companies, homebuilders and other organizations with regulatory and security requirements. The company also partners with MSPs that need additional cybersecurity expertise without replacing the customer’s existing provider. “We’ll come in and work alongside that MSP,” Han says. “It’s a partnership.” Visit OmniNetPlus.com to learn more. The post OmniNet Plus Helps Businesses Close Cybersecurity Gaps, Podcast appeared first on Telecom Reseller / Technology Reseller News.