AI is reshaping managed services. So far, there have been few concerted efforts to ensure that an AI workforce is ready for this new era. Until now.
The Global Technology Industry Association (GTIA) and Pax8 recently revealed several new efforts. These programs, certifications, standards and community resources are designed to help MSPs develop the skills needed for the industry’s next phase.
The urgency stems from the speed of change. As MSPs rush to help customers navigate AI adoption, traditional education and certification programs are struggling to keep pace. That has created demand for more resources and a need for new training resources, peer-learning opportunities and industry standards that can help providers adapt in real time.
Here are four efforts MSPs should watch.
1. Establishing AI workforce standards for managed intelligence
Nick Heddy announces the new Global Accreditation Initiative.
One of the biggest challenges facing the industry is the lack of formal standards around AI-driven services. At Beyond 2026, Pax8 President Nick Heddy announced a new global accreditation initiative being developed through a partnership between the company, GTIA and the Texas A&M Global Cyber Research Institute. This would be targeted to MSPs, MSSPs and managed intelligence providers (MIPs). The Managed Intelligence Alliance is working to establish industrywide systems and protocols, certifications and research.
The effort could help define what it means to be a MIP and create a structured path for providers adopting AI-focused services.
“Right now, there are no globally recognized standards for what it means to be a managed service provider, let alone a managed intelligence provider,” Heddy said during the conference’s Community Keynote on June 8. “If we don’t define what good looks like, somebody else will, and it probably won’t be built for us.”
2. Expanding AI education and certifications
GTIA is also investing in AI-focused training resources for members. According to Chief Channel Officer Nancy Hammervik, GTIA members now have access to CompTIA’s AI Essentials learning library. The organization is also introducing Agentic AI Essentials training that can lead to an industry credential.
“Every GTIA member will have access to the AI essentials library in the member portal now,” Hammervik told ChannelPro.
The goal is to provide practical training that members can immediately apply to their businesses. They can also get credentials to demonstrate their expertise to customers.
3. Building community-based learning
GTIA leaders argued that traditional education alone cannot keep pace with the speed of AI innovation.
“The best way for the MSPs, managed intelligence providers and all to move forward now is to learn from each other,” Hammervik said. “It’s nearly impossible to keep up with the education or the academic kind of training. Curriculums can never keep up with it fast enough.”
To address that challenge, GTIA is expanding its PeerTrust Circles, advisory groups and other member-driven programs that allow providers to share best practices and lessons learned. “With how fast AI is evolving, you have to rely on those that are already doing it,” Hammervik said.
The organization is also developing an AI and Cyber Resource Center that will provide tools and guidance around both AI adoption and cybersecurity.
Pax8’s John Street discusses the need for a human workforce in the AI era.
4. Preparing for the human side of AI
While many industry initiatives focus on technology skills, Pax8 Founder and Chairman of the Board John Street is delving into the growing need for human-focused AI skills. Through a new initiative called WREN, Street has partnered with University of Colorado to explore how workers can create value in an AI-driven economy.
“We’re looking at going from the knowledge worker to the discovery worker,” Street said during the Beyond conference. “The knowledge worker is ‘How do I work with power and speed to generate value?’ We’re transitioning now to, ‘How do I use my expertise plus my human creative advantage to generate value beyond machines?’ We need to make sure humans stay in charge.”
Together, the initiatives suggest a growing recognition across the channel that success in the AI era will depend on more than technology adoption alone. MSPs will also need new skills, new credentials and new ways to learn from one another as the industry evolves.
Anjali Fluker is managing editor of The ChannelPro Network, where she covers news, trends, and best practices for the MSP community. She specializes in telling the stories that matter to IT providers serving the SMB market. When she’s not reporting on the latest in managed services, she’s connecting with channel pros at industry events across the country.
Images: Alexandr Peers — stock.adobe.com, Anjali Fluker/ChannelPro
