Boston was buzzing August 11–12. A packed audience of IT service providers leaned forward, eager for cybersecurity insights at ChannelPro DEFEND Boston. The energy in the room made one thing clear: MSPs are hungry for strategies they can actually deploy.
After successful stops in Los Angeles and Dallas, ChannelPro DEFEND debuted in the New England area. For MSPs, MSSPs, VARs, and IT consultants in the region, that means two days of masterclasses in cybersecurity content, expert panels, connections with peers and vendors, and insights built specifically for the channel.
“The attention and focus from everyone who attended — including MSPs, VARs, vendors, etc. — was great,” said event panelist Sean Maguire, president of Synivate, a local MSP. “Seems that everyone was there to learn and think that’s what this is all about.”
What Made DEFEND Boston Different
This ChannelPro event focused specifically on security, which resulted in:
Hyper-relevant Content: Sessions addressed both universal cybersecurity risks as well as New England’s unique pain points.
Peer connections were a big part of the event’s value.
Tactical, Not Theoretical: Attendees left with replicable strategies, whether tackling CMMC readiness, selling security services, or automating internal processes.
Human Connection: Networking breaks turned into strategy sessions, with vendors and MSPs trading ideas over coffee and cocktails.
“DEFEND Boston brought together some of the most passionate and forward-thinking professionals in the channel,” said Michael Siggins, founder and publisher of ChannelPro. “The goal was to give MSPs and IT service providers real-world strategies they can put into action immediately—and the energy in the room told me we succeeded.”
A Flood of Real-world Strategy
Throughout the event, ethical hackers, compliance pros, and MSP leaders stepped beyond theory to offer firm, actionable guidance. Among the most-talked-about sessions:
- Q&A with an Ethical Hacker: Ian Thornton-Trump, CISO of Inversion6, opened the show by unveiling real-world attack methods, emerging threat patterns, and practical defense tactics. He also fielded candid questions and insights from attendees.
- CMMC: The Dire Implications for Your MSP: Panelists Mike Semel of Semel Consulting LLC, Fernando Machado of Cybersec Investments, and Victor Cich of RADICL explored what looming compliance changes could mean for MSP operations and revenue streams. The panel was moderated by ChannelPro’s Jonathan Browning.
- Stop Wasting Talent: Why Internal Automation is Your MSP’s First and Fastest ROI: Brett Jaffe, CEO of MSP+, revealed how automation can free staff for higher-value work and improve service delivery without increasing headcount.
“Regardless of whether you’re selling it or not, your clients assume you’re handling cybersecurity. It’s just the assumption. And then there’s also a large trend of MSP’s being sued because they’re not handling cybersecurity. So whether you want to or not, you have to be involved,” said event attendee Steve Zoberg, chief revenue officer of Forthright Technology Partners.
There was no fluff. Attendees walked away with plans, not pitch decks.
Peer Learning Met Local Context
Vendor panelists offered insights on how MSPs can unlock major profit.
Along with the more popular sessions, ChannelPro DEFEND featured several educational presentations and discussions focused on security. The lineup of panels — moderated by Browning — and presentations were:
- New Cybersecurity Services You Aren’t Offering (But Should!), featuring Michelle Drolet of Towerwall Inc. and Maguire
- The Good, Bad, and Ugly: The Biggest Issues Facing New England MSPs in 2025, featuring Thornton-Trump and Maguire
- vCISO Services: A Step-by-step Guide to Selling Security Leadership, featuring Jaffe and Semel
- Building the Perfect Security-powered MSP, featuring Machado and Nate Sheen of Astoria
- Partner to Build Strategic Resilience for Your Customers, featuring Manuel Lobao, director of cybersecurity & compliance services with Envision Technology Advisors
- The Key to Unlocking Big Profits: What Vendors Know That MSPs Often Don’t, featuring Chris McGinn of Beauceron Security, Vijay Akasapu of Cylerian, Itamar Jobani of PayEm, and Chandra Pandey of Seceon.
The latter, a panel featuring select vendors at the event, took things steps beyond the sales track. Rather, the panelists unpacked revenue-boosting tactics, from dealing with identity sprawl to unlocking big profits. That format sparked stronger engagement for vendors as well.
“It was fantastic for us,” Jobani told ChannelPro. “The fact that we were on a panel and then we also pitched today gave a good idea to participants of what we’re doing. They came to the booth ready for the conversation, ready to engage.”
Celebrating a Champion of the MSP Community
ChannelPro’s Michael Siggins (right) interviews Partner in Excellence honoree MJ Shoer.
At the close of Day 1, ChannelPro’s Siggins presented the Partner in Excellence Award to MJ Shoer, chief community officer of the Global Technology Industry Association (GTIA).
Shoer was honored for his leadership in uniting the IT channel, championing cybersecurity readiness, and fostering collaboration among MSPs, vendors, and industry groups.
Known for his decades-long commitment to strengthening the MSP community, Shoer has led initiatives that connect members with critical resources, elevate industry standards, and encourage peer-driven growth. His work has left a lasting mark on both the channel and the clients MSPs serve.
Recognizing Vendor Excellence
ChannelPro DEFEND Boston concluded with special recognition for the event’s sponsors. Awards were presented to the following vendors, as voted by the New England audience:
- Best Breakout Session: Kaseya
- Best Add-on Product: PayEm
- Best Cloud Solution: (tie) SaaSAssure and Timus
- Best Distributor: Pax8
- Best Expo Hall Presentation (Premium Sponsors): RYTHMz
- Best Expo Hall Presentation (Silver Sponsors): NUSO
- Best Hardware Solution: Alta Labs
- Best New Solution: Choice Cyber Solutions
- Best On-stage Presentation: SonicWall
- Best Product or Platform: Kaseya
- Best Revenue Booster: Galactic Advisors
- Best Security Solution: ThreatLocker
- Best Software Solution: Liongard
- Most Exciting Solution: Evo Security
- ROI Lightning Round Winner: Seceon
- Editor’s Choice: Excel Micro
- ChannelPro Community Award: Avast Business
- Best in Show: Kaseya
Sponsors Make It Happen
Many thanks to ChannelPro DEFEND Central’s world-class sponsors:
What’s Next for ChannelPro?
ChannelPro’s event series continues with virtual gatherings and regional in-person summits:
- ChannelPro Deep Dive: MSP 2.0 The New & Improved MSP Model, a virtual event on Aug. 19
- ChannelPro LIVE: Atlanta, on Sept. 9-10
- 2025 ChannelPro Product Round-Up: New Solutions Designed for MSP Success, a virtual event on Sept. 16
Plus, join us for vendor webinars for MSPs that you can attend without leaving your desk. ChannelPro events are designed to be highly interactive, solutions-focused, and full of insights you can leverage right away. Don’t miss your chance to join us!
2025 Event Award Winners
Anjali Fluker contributed to this article
ChannelPro Executive Director of Content & Engagement Jonathan Browning has been a leader in the IT channel for close to a decade. He’s an avid fan of technology, and believes the managed services industry is the most important driver of economic growth and human innovation on Earth.
