MSP Technology News Headlines
ASCII’s appointment of Jerry Koutavas as CEO leads this week’s headlines, but there’s also a lot of other interesting technology news from all over the industry. From acquisitions to product enhancements to telling industry reports, you’ll want to stay in the know. Ready for a quick rundown of this week’s MSP news and partner program updates? Scroll on down!
The ASCII Group Appoints Jerry Koutavas as CEO
Jerry Koutavas
Channel community powerhouse ASCII announces a new leadership chapter as veteran channel executive Jerry Koutavas takes over as CEO from founder Alan Weinberger.
Key quote from the press release:
“Building The ASCII Group from the ground up and watching it evolve into a true community has been one of the most meaningful journeys of my life. This organization has always stood for trust, collaboration, and independence. Jerry has been a steward of that mission for many years, and I have full confidence in his leadership as ASCII moves into its next chapter.” — Alan Weinberger, founder and chairman, The ASCII Group
More ChannelPro Coverage
Bitdefender to Acquire Mesh Security, Expanding Its Email Security Capabilities
Bitdefender will integrate Mesh’s dual-layer email protection, enhancing threat visibility and response for enterprise and MSP customers.
Key quote from the press release:
“We are pleased to announce our intent to acquire Mesh, a strategic move that will complement our GravityZone XDR platform and power our MDR service to help businesses combat email‑borne threats as they continue to evolve. Mesh brings leading‑edge innovation from a deeply experienced team that shares our commitment to effective, real‑world security. Together, we will further strengthen our ability to provide proven and trusted email protection to our global customer base.” — Andrei Florescu, president and general manager, Bitdefender Business Solutions Group
Barracuda Report: Half the Spam in Your Inbox Is Generated by AI
New analysis of emails from February 2022 to April 2025 signals a major shift in cyberattack tactics.
Key highlights from the study:
- AI in the Majority of Spam: By April 2025, 51% of spam emails were created using AI tools, compared to just 14% in business email compromise (BEC) attacks. This demonstrates rapid AI adoption in spam campaigns.
- Detection via AI: Researchers trained detectors using pre‑ChatGPT emails. The tools identified a steady climb in AI‑generated spam following ChatGPT’s release in November 2022.
- Formality and Fluency: AI-crafted emails featured more formal, grammatically polished content. This allows them to bypass filters and sound more credible — even when written by non-native English speakers.
- A/B Testing Tactics: Attackers used AI to generate variations in wording, seeking the most effective approach. Urgency remains a common tactic across AI and human‑written emails.
- Defense Implications: Multilayered AI/ML email defenses and ongoing user education are essential to counter increasingly sophisticated AI‑generated phishing and spam.
Fresh Phish: How to Stay a Step Ahead of the Latest QR‑Code Phishing Scam
Malicious QR‑code phishing — known as “quishing” — is evolving fast, bypassing text-based filters and delivering embedded attack payloads directly in the code.
Key takeaways from the INKY report:
- Quishing Threats Rise: QR codes embed malicious links or even raw HTML/JavaScript (via data URIs), making detection and response more complex.
- Image-based Phishing Bypasses Security: Embedding text inside images allows QR‑code phishing emails to slip past secure email gateways that scan only text.
- Embedded Payloads Escalate Risk: Modern QR codes directly deliver browser-executed HTML/JS — no link-click required. This signals a new level of quishing sophistication.
- OCR + Visual Analysis Are Critical Defenses: INKY’s behavioral email security platform uses OCR and DOM-level checks to detect and block these evolved QR‑code attacks.
Vicarius and Atera Partner to Provide Instant Vulnerability Remediation to MSPs
The partnership integrates Vicarius’ vRx autonomous remediation platform into Atera’s App Center, enabling MSPs to resolve vulnerabilities up to 80% faster with minimal manual effort.
Key quote from the press release:
“There’s been a massive and much-needed shift in the industry from simply detecting vulnerabilities to actually resolving them. Our partnership with Atera brings together two powerful platforms to help MSPs not only identify risks but fix them fast, with minimal manual effort. This integration will help managed service providers scale their remediation offerings while also boosting business efficiency.” — Tanya Alfonso, vice president channel sales, Vicarius
CyberPower Launches PFC Sinewave 1U Rackmount UPS Systems
Compact 1U rackmount UPS units with sine wave output and remote management support high-density server, networking, A/V, and edge environments.
Key quote from the press release:
“We’ve expanded our award‑winning line of UPS systems to address a need for compact rackmount units with sine wave output. Another feature we’ve added is remote management capabilities, making these economical systems unique in their class. The full‑color, easy‑to‑read LCD panel features a large read‑out for convenient power monitoring and management.” — Mike Dresen, lead product manager, CyberPower
Additional Headlines from CybperPower
➡️ CyberPower Expands Smart App Sinewave UPS Series to Include Lithium-Iron Models
Cyolo Expands Secure Remote Access Coverage for OT and Cyber-physical Systems
New capabilities — including Third‑Party VPN Control, instant collaboration links, secure remote assistance, and an Asset Access Hub — close security blind spots in critical OT environments.
Key quote from the press release:
“In today’s virtual environments, third-party vendors are essential for the unbroken continuity of industrial operations and critical infrastructure — both vital for the economy and national security. However, third-party access methods too often introduce unacceptable risks. This latest advance represents the next step in the transformation of OT and CPS access, making it more agile, secure, and seamless for administrators and end users, without forcing vendors to change the tools they rely upon.” — Almog Apirion, CEO and co‑founder, Cyolo
Skyhawk Security Launches Partner Program to Drive Growth and Deliver Preemptive AI‑driven Cloud Security at Scale
New global initiative empowers VARs, MSSPs, and consultants with tailored tracks, enablement, and tools for proactive cloud threat detection using AI-driven Autonomous Purple Team technology.
Key quote from the press release:
“Cloud attacks are doubling year‑over‑year, and today’s security teams are struggling to juggle hundreds of alerts with reactive tools and siloed point solutions. Our partners want to deliver a trusted, innovative product that prevents breaches and prioritizes the cloud threats that really matter. With Skyhawk, they gain access to our battle‑tested Synthesis Security Platform that detects threats before they happen. … We’re making it simple for partners to drive new revenue streams and create lasting value for their customers.” — Jennifer Duman, channel director, Skyhawk Security
AvePoint Launches New Advanced Security and Optimization Features to Elements Platform
The AvePoint Elements Platform now offers seamless marketplace integration, deep risk-user insights, license optimization, and storage tuning to help MSPs improve efficiency, profitability, and client security.
Key quote from the press release:
“In today’s market, MSPs must balance robust security measures with resource optimization and operational efficiency. These new features demonstrate the evolution of AvePoint Elements to empower MSPs to navigate challenges with confidence and create sustainable competitive advantage in today’s rapidly changing business landscape.” — Scott Sacket, senior vice president of partner strategy, AvePoint
Deepgram Launches Voice Agent API to Power Context-aware Conversational Agents
The unified Voice Agent API combines Nova‑3 speech‑to‑text, Aura‑2 text‑to‑speech, LLM orchestration, and contextual logic into a single streaming interface—enabling real-time, natural voice conversations with low latency and full deployment control.
Key quote from the press release:
“The future of customer engagement is voice‑first. But most voice systems today are rigid, fragmented or too slow. With our Voice Agent API, we’re giving developers a powerful yet simple interface to build conversational agents that feel natural, respond instantly and scale across use cases without compromise.” — Scott Stephenson, CEO, Deepgram
HackerOne Launches Technology Alliance Program to Advance AI‑powered Security Ecosystem and Customer Innovation
The PartnerOne Technology Alliance Program connects leading tech providers with HackerOne’s AI‑powered platform to automate vulnerability remediation and accelerate secure innovation.
Key quote from the press release:
“At HackerOne, we believe the strength of our ecosystem is measured by the collective impact we make for our customers and partners. This program goes beyond integration; it’s about collaboration. By joining forces with leading technology providers, we’re building a connected ecosystem that simplifies and scales workflows using AI, expands market reach, and delivers stronger security outcomes.” — John Addeo, vice president, partner ecosystems, HackerOne
How Fraudsters Are Poisoning Search Results to Promote Phishing Sites
Cybercriminals are using SEO poisoning and compromised domains to manipulate search rankings, driving victims to phishing sites disguised as trustworthy results.
Key highlights from the Netcraft analysis:
- SEO Poisoning at Scale: Attackers exploit compromised websites and hidden links to boost phishing sites in search results.
- Black‑market Tactics: Platforms like “Hacklink” sell access to compromised domains. Government, educational, and high‑authority sites are prime targets.
- Invisible Exploitation: Malicious JavaScript/HTML links are hidden from users but seen by search engines, deceiving algorithms without altering the visible site content.
- Widespread Impact: Cybercriminals target various sectors — gambling, pharmaceuticals, adult services — to maximize reach, leveraging high‑trust domains in SERPs .
- Defense Strategy: Netcraft recommends strengthened threat intelligence, external domain monitoring, and rapid takedown methods to disrupt SEO poisoning campaigns.
NTT DATA Research Reveals C‑suite Misalignment Over GenAI Adoption
The report highlights a significant disconnect: CEOs are fully on board with GenAI investments, but CISOs are raising red flags over security gaps, infrastructure challenges, and unclear governance.
Key highlights from the report:
- Near-universal Interest, Uneven Execution: 99% of C‑Suite leaders plan increased GenAI investment, with 67% of CEOs committed to major spend, while 45% of CISOs express negative sentiments.
- Security-policy Mismatch: 54% of CISOs say internal GenAI policies are unclear versus just 20% of CEOs — a stark misalignment.
- Operational Readiness Gap: While 97% of CISOs see themselves as decision-makers, 69% lack team skill alignment. Only 38% say strategies align compared to 51% of CEOs.
- Policy and Framework Shortfalls: 72% of organizations lack formal GenAI usage policies and only 24% of CISOs agree they have a robust risk-value framework.
- Legacy Tech Barrier: 88% of security teams cite outdated infrastructure as hindering GenAI readiness. Modernization is essential.
- Partnered Solutions over Standalone Tools: 64% of CISOs prefer co‑innovation with IT partners, with end‑to‑end GenAI service capabilities considered key.
Fortinet Strengthens Code-to-cloud Security with CNAPP Enhancements and AWS Marketplace Expansion
New Lacework FortiCNAPP features boost real-time detection and response, while key cloud security services are now available through AWS Marketplace.
Key quote from the press release:
“Fortinet is committed to accelerating secure cloud transformation for our customers. By making more of our services available in AWS Marketplace and enhancing leading cloud-native solutions like Lacework FortiCNAPP and FortiAppSec Cloud, we’re making it easier than ever for organizations to protect every cloud workload, application, and network edge.” — Nirav Shah, senior vice president, products and solutions, Fortinet
Hornetsecurity Debuts AI Cyber Assistant to Enhance Microsoft 365 Security
The new AI-powered feature integrates directly into Hornetsecurity’s M365 security suite, using machine learning and automation to detect and respond to threats across email and collaboration tools.
Key quote from the press release:
“To continue enhancing the next-gen security we provide, our new AI-powered Email Security Analyst automates responses to user queries about potential threats, alleviating the workload on SOC and service desk teams, while educating end users on the nature of attacks. IT security personnel benefit by gaining more time to focus on other pressing issues, while end users receive instant feedback, which also encourages them to continue reporting suspicious emails and contribute to the organization’s overall security.” — Daniel Hofmann, CEO, Hornetsecurity
Dashlane Unveils AI-powered Alerts as Last Line of Defense Against Phishing Attacks
Part of the Dashlane Omnix platform, the new AI phishing alerts automatically notify employees in real-time when they visit suspicious domains — even before credentials are entered.
Key quote from the press release:
“Defenders have to match the speed of attackers if they’re going to be successful in this AI era. The strength of our AI phishing model lies in its capability to proactively and dynamically catch threats, both known and unknown, helping enterprises to build phishing resistance.” — Christophe Frenet, chief product officer, Dashlane
Pulse of Work in 2025: Most Employees Say AI Is Overhyped Yet Aren’t Maximizing Its Potential
GoTo’s global survey of 2,500 employees and IT leaders highlights a paradox: widespread AI hype coupled with low practical adoption and significant unrealized productivity gains.
Key highlights from the report:
- 62% say AI is overhyped, yet 86% admit they’re not using it to its full potential.
- 82% feel they lack understanding of AI’s practical workplace applications, though only about half of IT leaders recognize this gap.
- Employees estimate 2.6 lost hours/day. About 13 hours/week are spent on tasks AI could handle, translating to a potential $2.9 trillion in U.S. productivity gains.
- Many are misusing AI for high‑stakes actions — like safety, ethics, and emotional decisions — even when policies advise otherwise.
- Training and Governance Gaps: Only 45% of IT leaders report their company has formal AI policies, while 81% of employees say better guidance is needed.
Pure Storage Unveils Next‑generation Storage Products to Handle High‑performance Workloads
At Pure//Accelerate 2025, Pure launched the FlashArray//XL R5, FlashArray//ST, and FlashBlade//S R2—designed to boost IOPS, capacity, and unified data management across on-prem, cloud, and hybrid environments.
Key highlights from the press release:
- FlashArray//XL R5: Delivers double the IOPS per rack unit and up to 50% more raw capacity versus the prior generation
- FlashArray//ST: Handles over 10 million IOPS in five rack units — tailored for low-latency needs like in-memory databases and OLTP
- FlashBlade//S R2: Boosts performance by up to 30% for data-intensive workloads, ideal for AI pipelines, genome sequencing, and EDA
- Enterprise Data Cloud: Fusion-powered intelligent control plane that delivers unified management, governance, and automation across all storage environments
- Single Data Architecture: Now supports block, file, and object storage under one platform, simplifying data operations
Slide Raises $25M Series A Led by Base10 Partners to Accelerate Market Growth, Expands to Canada
The next-gen BCDR platform for MSPs will scale product development, expand its partner network, and launch a Canadian data center to support global growth.
Key quote from the press release:
“MSPs know that in today’s daunting cybersecurity landscape, BCDR is the last and best line of defense for data protection. We built Slide because MSPs deserve not only a modern, faster, more secure BCDR to replace their current, outdated solutions, but also a service culture that’s engrained into our DNA. Our partnership with Base10, Outsiders Fund, and Top Down Ventures will accelerate our long‑term investments in our modern BCDR products and infrastructure, our outstanding staff, and to expand internationally.” — Michael Fass, co‑founder and CEO, Slide
Images: ASCII, CyberPower, Netcraft, Hornetsecurity, GoTo, Pure Storage
