CyberRisk Alliance has acquired ChannelPro Network, a move that strengthens its position as a leading provider of business intelligence for the cybersecurity sector. The acquisition will enhance CyberRisk Alliance’s offerings to Managed Service Providers, particularly in the small and midsize business market, which is projected to grow to approximately $361 billion by 2033, according to industry estimates. Doug Manoni, Chief Executive of CyberRisk Alliance, emphasized the complementary nature of ChannelPro’s expertise in cybersecurity with their existing resources, aiming to create powerful synergies that will benefit their clients. Kelly Kocher, President of ChannelPro Network, noted that this partnership will solidify their leadership role in delivering cybersecurity-focused business intelligence, aiming to serve the evolving needs of the Managed Services community effectively.
Why do we care?
This acquisition matters because it shifts who shapes the conversation MSPs hear every day.
Let me be transparent up front — I operate in this media space too. I know the ChannelPro team and the CyberRisk Alliance team well, dating back to my own MSP operation and my time as a vendor.
Note their framing – all about cybersecurity. So here’s the thing: this move tightens the grip of security-centric media on the MSP conversation. And look, security is critical — nobody disputes that. But when every research report, event, and “insight” is framed through security, it starts to distort how the industry thinks about value. It’s easy to forget that customers care just as much about workflow, data, automation, and actual business outcomes.
And there’s a bigger story under this acquisition: media consolidation changes the credibility landscape for MSPs. When one organization controls more research, more events, and more news channels — and when those channels are heavily funded by cybersecurity vendors — the industry’s conversation tilts in one direction. Not dishonestly, but predictably. Security becomes the dominant frame, not because customers demand it, but because sponsor dollars reward it. MSPs absorb that bias without realizing it, and suddenly the market feels like it’s “all security, all the time”. Security is essential — but it’s not sufficient.
Strategy should come from customer outcomes, not just from the narratives amplified by the biggest media buyers.
For MSPs, that means being intentional about where you get your strategy guidance. Don’t assume that just because the biggest media players are leaning into security, that’s where your differentiation lives. It’s one pillar — not the whole building.
So the question becomes: how do you stay grounded? First, widen your inputs. Second, sanity-check growth projections and market claims against what your customers are actually asking for. And finally, pull the focus back to outcomes. Security matters, but it doesn’t replace automation, governance, client experience, or your role as a strategic partner. And your media sources need to include all of that.
That’s why we care — consolidation shapes the narrative, and you need to make sure the narrative doesn’t shape your business more than it should.
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