AI arms race heats up: ConnectWise, kaseya, and check point redefine MSP automation and security
The gist
The AI arms race in the MSP world is red-hot as ConnectWise, Kaseya, and Check Point unleash groundbreaking platforms that promise fully autonomous IT and security management before 2027.
What to know
- ConnectWise’s $100M investment and acquisition of zofiQ fueled a deeply AI-native platform boasting 60% faster ticket resolution and 100% zero-touch automation.
- Kaseya debuted the first agentic IT management platform in 2026, enabling AI to autonomously handle IT and cybersecurity operations across unified data for MSPs.
- Check Point’s new AI security bundles and multi-tenant platform now centralize security for over 100,000 organizations, while its Workforce AI Security tools tackle the AI governance gap.
ConnectWise’s AI-First Overhaul
By acquiring zofiQ and replacing Asio, ConnectWise is pivoting to a fully AI-native platform—shifting the entire MSP operating model from reactive to predictive and aiming for autonomous IT by year’s end.
ConnectWise’s strategic acquisition of AI service desk automation startup zofiQ in January 2026 marked a pivotal leap in embedding intelligent automation within MSP platforms, effectively leapfrogging competitors. This move laid the foundation for the June 2026 launch of the new ConnectWise Platform, which integrates zofiQ’s AI capabilities to evolve and replace the earlier Asio platform, signaling a deliberate shift toward a deeply AI-native core rather than a bolt-on solution, as emphasized by CEO Manny Rivelo.
The $100 million investment unveiled alongside the new platform in June 2026 underscores ConnectWise’s commitment to accelerating AI-driven operational efficiencies, promising up to 60% faster MSP ticket resolution and 100% zero-touch automation. Early partner data validates these claims with nearly halved resolution times, an 86% reduction in L1-to-L2 escalations, and a 30% or greater boost in technician productivity, addressing critical industry pain points such as staffing shortages and margin pressures.
ConnectWise’s AI integration strategy follows a phased roadmap toward fully autonomous predictive intelligence, currently in phase two where AI-accelerated workflows operate under human supervision, with ambitions to reach phase three—where AI handles most tasks independently—by the end of 2026. This evolution represents a fundamental shift in MSP operating models from reactive to predictive IT operations, unifying automation across PSA, RMM, cybersecurity, and workflows, as articulated by CEO Manny Rivelo.
Kaseya Unleashes Autonomous IT
Kaseya’s agentic platform leapfrogs traditional automation by letting AI execute IT and cybersecurity tasks end-to-end, driving major productivity gains and profit boosts for MSPs.
Kaseya's 2026 launch of the first agentic IT management platform marked a pivotal shift for MSPs by moving beyond AI-driven recommendations to fully autonomous execution of IT operations and cybersecurity tasks. Powered by Kaseya Intelligence, the platform integrates unified data across endpoints, help desks, security operations, and backup infrastructures, enabling precise autonomous actions without manual intervention. Innovations like AI-powered Digital Specialists for automated ticket triage and a Unified Cyber Resilience Portal further enhance MSP productivity and scalability by simplifying complex security operations.
ConnectWise's $100 million AI-native platform, unveiled mid-2026 as an evolution of its Asio system, exemplifies a deep integration of AI that transforms MSP operations from reactive to predictive and autonomous models. CEO Manny Rivelo highlighted the platform’s unification of PSA, RMM, cybersecurity, and workflow automation into a single intelligent system capable of '100% zero-touch automation,' addressing critical industry challenges like staffing shortages and cost pressures through AI-driven operational shifts.
Early results from ConnectWise’s AI platform demonstrate substantial efficiency gains, including up to 60% faster ticket throughput, nearly halved resolution times, and an 86% reduction in L1-to-L2 escalations, which collectively boost technician productivity by over 30%. These improvements translate into meaningful business impacts, with MSPs achieving up to 45% lower ticket handling times and a 5–12 point margin uplift, underscoring AI’s transformative role in operational scalability and profitability.
ConnectWise envisions a progressive five-phase generative AI journey for its platform, beginning with AI-assisted routine task automation and advancing toward fully autonomous, predictive intelligence that anticipates and remediates issues before they occur. This roadmap, articulated by Rivelo, reflects a strategic evolution from the initial SideKick copilot in late 2023 to near five-nines uptime through autonomous predictive maintenance, illustrating a forward-looking vision for MSPs to achieve unprecedented operational resilience and efficiency.
Check Point Centralizes AI Security
With multi-tenant AI security bundles and governance tools, Check Point is streamlining security management for MSPs while tackling the growing challenge of monitoring workforce AI usage.
By mid-2026, Check Point revolutionized managed security services with its AI security bundles and a multi-tenant management platform designed specifically for MSPs. This platform centralizes the management of diverse customer environments and AI usage through a single interface, significantly simplifying security operations and reducing tool sprawl. Delivered via a Microsoft-aligned licensing model, these bundled services—including email, endpoint, browser, mobile security, SASE, security awareness training, and DMARC—are already supporting over 100,000 organizations worldwide, showcasing Check Point’s commitment to operational efficiency and scalability.
Addressing a critical industry gap between AI security strategies and enforcement capabilities, Check Point’s Workforce AI Security tools empower MSPs to monitor and govern employee interactions with AI applications, a growing governance challenge as AI adoption accelerates. This innovation not only enhances oversight but also aligns with the broader need for scalable, centralized AI security solutions, enabling MSPs to confidently guide their customers through the complexities of AI-driven transformation while maintaining robust security postures.
PitchIT Fuels AI Startup Surge
ConnectWise’s PitchIT accelerator has become an industry launchpad, equipping AI-focused MSP startups with funding, mentorship, and high-profile exposure that drive real market impact.
ConnectWise’s PitchIT cohort serves as a pivotal accelerator in the MSP ecosystem, nurturing 20 startups through a rigorous 16-week program focused on AI-enabled operations, automation-first workflows, and security-driven service delivery. By providing mentorship, go-to-market guidance, and vital ecosystem access, PitchIT not only fuels innovation but also strategically positions these startups to address pressing MSP challenges with cutting-edge AI solutions. This journey culminates at the high-profile IT Nation Connect™ Global event each November, where finalists gain invaluable visibility by showcasing their AI-driven innovations directly to MSP stakeholders, amplifying industry momentum around transformative technologies.
Over its eight-year history, the PitchIT program has proven to be a catalyst for industry acceleration, with alumni collectively raising over $10 million in funding—a testament to the program’s effectiveness in scaling AI and automation ventures within the MSP market. Startups like Strategy Overview have credited PitchIT as a major inflection point for growth, underscoring how the program’s blend of mentorship and ecosystem integration propels emerging companies from promising concepts to influential market players. This track record highlights the broader ecosystem support driving AI-focused innovation and signals a robust pipeline of transformative solutions reshaping managed IT services.
