MSP technology news headlines for the week of Sept. 28, 2026
Auvik and Acronis are teaming up to bring native network management into Acronis RMM, while ESET is repackaging its Protect portfolio for channel-led security services and Wiz is launching a new MSP program for cloud and AI security. Elsewhere, new research highlights the operational gains MSPs can get from unified IT tools, while Huntress, LastPass, Commvault and Delinea spotlight growing risks around RMM abuse, identity attacks and AI governance.
If you’re ready for more of this week’s MSP news and partner program updates, scroll on down!
Auvik and Acronis bring native network management into Acronis RMM
Auvik and Acronis will embed its network management capabilities in Acronis RMM through an OEM partnership, with availability expected in January 2027.
Key quote from the press release:
“Tool sprawl is one of the most persistent pain points we hear about across IT operations. Every additional product adds complexity and takes technicians away from higher-value work. Through this partnership, we’re bringing leading capabilities across network and endpoint management together in a single solution, helping IT teams operate more efficiently and giving MSPs a stronger foundation to scale their services and deliver greater value to customers.” — Mark Ralls, president, Auvik
ESET repackages Protect for channel-led security services
ESET introduced three U.S.-first Protect tiers with lower seat minimums, AI security features and managed detection and response options for channel partners.
Key quote from the press release:
“We worked closely with our partners to create offerings that transform their businesses into trusted security advisors, driving recurring revenue, stronger customer relationships, and long-term growth. This launch empowers the channel to confidently guide customers in an AI era and defend against zero days with twenty-four-seven monitoring, automated threat containment, AI security features, and real experts behind it, all without the overhead.” — Ryan Grant, country manager, U.S. and Canada, ESET North America
Panasonic refreshes its rugged 2-in-1 line with TOUGHBOOK 34 and G3
Panasonic Connect introduced two modular rugged 2-in-1 computers with Intel Core Ultra processors, Wi-Fi 7 and optional 5G for mobile workforces.
Key quote from the press release:
“The TOUGHBOOK 34 and TOUGHBOOK G3 are engineered to meet those demands by delivering the performance, connectivity and reliability that frontline workers depend on every day. The result is a device that keeps individuals and teams connected, productive and focused on the task at hand, whether they’re in a vehicle, on a job site or responding to an emergency, all without compromising long-term reliability and security.” — Dominick Passanante, senior vice president and general manager, Mobility Business, Panasonic Connect North America
Expanded coverage from The ChannelPro Network
➡️ Panasonic revamps TOUGHBOOK 2-in-1s for rough jobs and long shifts
Wiz launches Partner Alliance Managed Service Provider Program
The new program gives MSPs centralized multi-tenant management, flexible billing and dedicated support to help them deliver cloud and AI security services at scale.
Key quote from the press release:
“Managing client environments across disconnected tools used to create operational drag for our analysts. The Wiz MSP Program replaces that friction with portfolio wide visibility, allowing our team to protect more client environments efficiently without burning out our engineers. The program’s model is clear, flexible and very closely aligned to our realities as a business.” — Paul Starr, CEO and co-founder, SEP2
DNSFilter adds three reseller tiers with protected renewals and higher margins
DNSFilter expanded its channel program with Select, Accelerator and Strategic tiers plus deal registration, market development funds and dedicated channel support.
Key quote from the press release:
“Our partners have been instrumental in getting protective DNS into the hands of organizations that need it, and demand is only growing. We want resellers to see protective DNS not as another line item, but as a category they can build a durable, profitable practice around. This program puts the margin structure and executive backing behind them to do exactly that.” — Ken Carnesi, CEO and co-founder, DNSFilter
TD SYNNEX adds the full CyberFOX security portfolio in North America
TD SYNNEX will distribute CyberFOX AutoElevate, Password Manager, DNS Filtering and Timus SASE to its North American partner network.
Key quote from the press release:
“TD SYNNEX gives us reach into the reseller community serving mid-market and small businesses across industries like automotive, manufacturing, SLED, construction, and financial services, and a distribution engine that gets our products into those customers’ hands faster. With Timus SASE in the portfolio, that’s privileged access, credentials, web filtering, and secure network access from one vendor, and all of it is something an internal IT team can stand up on its own, without adding headcount or a consulting bill.” — Os Haque, vice president of global channels, CyberFOX
Omdia study ties unified IT tools to six-figure MSP savings
A Kaseya-commissioned Omdia study reported lower operating costs, faster ticket handling and greater technician capacity among users of Datto RMM, Autotask PSA and IT Glue.
Key findings from the report:
- MSPs reported average savings of about $2,600 per technician per month, or more than $312,000 annually for a 10-person team.
- MSPs reported 33% lower IT operating costs and 12% higher contract margins.
- Technicians reportedly managed 27% more endpoints, handled 23% more tickets and supported 15% more clients.
- Ticket resolution was 32% faster and first-response time was 36% faster.
Huntress threat data shows RMM abuse and identity attacks converging
Huntress analyzed telemetry from more than 5 million endpoints, 15 million identities and nearly 300,000 organizations to map common attack paths.
Key findings from the report:
- RMM abuse appeared in 45% of endpoint incidents during the first quarter of 2026.
- Mailbox manipulation accounted for 24.6% of 2026 identity detection and response signals.
- Adversary-in-the-middle attacks accounted for 18.9% of identity threats in 2025.
- ClickFix represented 2.2% of 2026 endpoint detection signals and 99% were rated high severity.
LastPass expands Business Max with AI visibility, governance and web controls
Five new capabilities add shadow AI discovery, sensitive-data warnings and browser-level web controls without requiring additional software or infrastructure.
Key facts from the blog post include:
- AI Monitoring adds visibility into AI tools employees access through supported browsers, including tools adopted outside formal procurement processes.
- AI Protect will warn users in real time before detected sensitive information, such as passwords or API keys, is submitted to supported AI tools and will log those warnings for administrators.
- Website discovery, currently in beta, gives admins visibility into employee browsing activity, risk exposure and when sites were last accessed.
Keeper puts privileged access approvals inside Freshservice tickets
Keeper launched a Freshservice Workflow app that lets technicians search vault content and approve access without leaving the service ticket.
Key quote from the press release:
“The cryptographic boundary cannot move outside Keeper. This integration processes every approval through Commander ServiceMode on infrastructure owned and controlled by the customer, so the attack surface doesn’t expand when you wire Freshservice into your approval workflow. Freshservice is the interface for the request, never the place where secrets are stored.” — Craig Lurey, chief technology officer and co-founder, Keeper Security
Sophos CISO Advantage now generally available
The new offering helps organizations and MSPs assess cyber risk, prioritize security improvements and turn compliance and security posture data into board-ready reporting.
Key facts from the blog post include:
- Sophos CISO Advantage is now generally available as an annual term license for customers or a monthly subscription through Sophos MSP Flex.
- The offering provides framework-mapped evidence of control effectiveness, prioritized remediation roadmaps and reporting designed for technical teams, executives and boards.
- AI-enabled workflows are designed to accelerate assessments, reduce manual effort and surface deeper insights.
Commvault adds discovery and recovery for desktop AI workspaces
Commvault added discovery and protection for ChatGPT desktop data and outlined support for other agentic AI tools through its endpoint protection platform.
Key quote from the press release:
“Most organizations cannot tell you which AI agents are running on their employees’ machines, let alone recover the work inside them. We give IT and Security visibility into where these AI tools are installed, and a recovery path for the context employees have built inside them.” — Pranay Ahlawat, chief technology and AI officer, Commvault
Delinea survey finds AI policy enforcement lags formal adoption
Delinea reported that nearly every surveyed organization has an AI policy, but only about half perform real-time policy checks when AI tools access sensitive data.
Key findings from the report:
- Among more than 4,500 global respondents, 99.7% said their organization had an AI policy.
- Only 51% reported real-time policy checks when AI tools access sensitive data.
- 87% said an AI tool accessed sensitive data beyond its intended scope in the past year.
- 76% said employees bypassed approval processes to use AI tools and 36% could trace which human authorized an AI action.
As ChannelPro’s online director and tech editor for over a decade, Matt Whitlock has spent years blending sharp tech insight with digital know-how. He brings more than 25 years’ experience working in the technology industry to his reviews, analysis, and general musings about all things gadget and gear.
Images: Panasonic Connect; Wiz; Huntress; Sophos; Delinea
