Author Archives: Megan Carnes

MSP 501 executives expect 2026 will be a pivotal year for AI adoption, cybersecurity, resiliency and acquisitions. In some cases, these topics are intertwined. The 2026 predictions also make it clear that earning customers’ trust will be more important this year than ever before.

“For 2026 I see continued consolidation with M&A activity, AI adoption is going to continue to accelerate in the MSP and SMB space, and vCISO and compliance services will continue to be a growth area,” is how Tim Guim, CEO of PCH Technologies, summed up his 2026 predictions.

The Tech Elite 250 includes solution providers in the U.S. and Canada that have the highest partner levels and certifications from the IT industry’s leading vendors including AWS, Cisco, Dell, HPE, IBM, Intel, Nutanix and Nvidia.

New Features Aid Organizations in Secure AI Adoption and Deployment at Scale

Boston, MA, March 10, 2026 – Thrive, a global technology outsourcing provider for AI, cybersecurity, cloud, and IT managed services, today announced the expansion of its Managed AI Services with the introduction of its AI Adoption Model and the launch of the Thrive Managed AI Workspace, a secure AI platform providing organizations with access to all 50+ major AI models within a single governed environment.

While AI innovation continues at a rapid pace, Gartner research shows the market moving beyond peak hype and into a phase of practical reassessment. This reflects what Thrive is seeing across the mid-market: organizations aren’t struggling with advanced use cases; they’re struggling with adoption.

While many companies are already experimenting with AI, these efforts are often informal and siloed, creating risks such as shadow AI, data exposure, and inconsistent outcomes. These informal rollouts also lack a structured path to move from experimentation to measurable business impact.

“AI isn’t a flip-the-switch initiative,” said Mike Gray, CTO of Thrive. “The market is full of tools that assume adoption will ‘just happen’ once a license is assigned. Thrive’s Managed AI Services meet customers where they are, setting guardrails first, proving value quickly, and scaling into production-grade workflows. Affective AI adoption isn’t a sprint, but rather a crawl, walk, run.”

From Model Access to Meaningful Adoption

Thrive’s Managed AI Services provide clients with flexible deployment options across two secure platforms, which can be implemented independently or combined:

• Managed AI Workspace with access to 50 + large language models, multi-model comparison, and secure centralized management
• Managed Microsoft 365 Copilot with controlled rollout, permissions hygiene guidance, and operational support embedded within Microsoft applications

Thrive’s new Managed AI Workspace provides secure access to all 58 major AI models in a single managed environment, allowing organizations to gain flexibility without sacrificing governance. Instead of locking into one ecosystem or managing multiple vendors independently, teams can select the models that best align to their workflows. When combined with centralized oversight and guardrails, that flexibility drives higher confidence, smoother adoption, and long-term, sustainable AI usage.

A Modified Framework for Today’s Mid-Market

Thrive’s AI Adoption Model combines advisory-led alignment, guardrails, training, and managed delivery to move organizations from AI curiosity to secure, scalable, production-ready workflows without overwhelming internal teams.

A crawl, walk, run approach ensures AI adoption happens in a way that aligns technology with human behavior, governance, and measurable outcomes. Rather than overwhelming organizations with broad deployments that often lead to low usage or security risk, this phased model begins with controlled, low-risk use cases that build trust and establish guardrails.

“As users gain confidence, AI expands into everyday workflows where teams begin realizing productivity gains and operational efficiencies. With that foundation in place, organizations can then scale AI across the business with standardized processes and automation, creating a clear path from experimentation to sustainable adoption and measurable ROI. We believe this is the best path forward to becoming an AI-first organization,” said Bill McLaughlin, CEO at Thrive.

By combining secure, model-agnostic platform access with a structured adoption methodology, Thrive transforms AI from a license into a long-term business capability.

About Thrive

Thrive is a NextGen 3.0 global technology outsourcing provider that empowers small and mid-market organizations to transform their technology into a strategic advantage. Offering a breadth of services from AI and cybersecurity to cloud, compliance, and traditional MSP/MSSP solutions, Thrive’s team of seasoned experts develop strategies that standardize, scale, and automate technology to achieve outsized ROI. From advisory services to a 24×7×365 SOC and NOC, Thrive provides end-to-end IT and cybersecurity management so clients can focus on innovation and growth. With Thrive, your business is always supported and always secure. Learn more at www.thrivenextgen.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

Rhone is a performance apparel brand made by and for those in the pursuit of progress. They’re built for momentum, with teams moving fast and staying focused on customer experience. Like many growing organizations, the company’s pace eventually outgrew the way technology had been handled. When Sean Duffy joined Rhone as Director of Infrastructure and Security, he was stepping into a role that many scaling SMBs will recognize, he was “the first technology person in the business.”

Early on, the environment reflected speed and simplicity. “A new employee came in, they got a laptop, they got an e-mail account, they logged in, they went on their way,” Sean observed as he took over. Over time, leadership recognized that the company needed a more intentional approach. It was not about reacting to a crisis. It was about being responsible as the organization matured. They wanted a reliable, repeatable way to protect the organization and support employees without putting everything on one person’s shoulders.

A focused partnership and a drama-free onboarding experience

Rhone approached the search for a technology partner thoughtfully. “Part of the process was going through an RFP,” Sean says. The initial scope was broad, but the
team made a deliberate choice to focus where it mattered most: “We reset ourselves and focused on the security space to make sure that we had a robust security
platform in place.”

Thrive rose to the top because it matched Rhone’s priorities and operating reality. Sean emphasizes that the goal was not just buying tools but gaining depth and coverage that would be difficult to build internally at the same speed. “Thrive really stood out as having the most robust platform,” he says, and the partnership became “that force multiplier of having someone like Thrive come in to be able to help.”

The way the solution was delivered is just as important as the solution itself. Sean highlights the predictability and professionalism of the onboarding experience. “We knew what we were going to be getting into as we started the project. We knew the timelines for everything,” he says. “Everything was up front; there were no gotchas.”

As Rhone’s needs evolved, the relationship expanded naturally into managed infrastructure. Thrive helped modernize the office network with an approach that
balanced speed, reliability, and future growth. Sean’s takeaway is simple, “It’s been great working with the team. They listened to our requirements, and together we built out a robust platform that will grow with the business.”

Clear results without noise, plus trust you can feel

Rhone’s results show up in the places leaders and employees notice most: fewer distractions, fewer worries, and a cleaner, calmer environment. For Sean, one of
the most visible improvements came from email security. Before, he heard familiar complaints about spam and phishing. After implementation, the change was
unmistakable, “Almost all the noise that people were getting in their inboxes has just gone away. It’s disappeared.”

That day-to-day impact also made it easier to communicate progress at the executive level. “It gives a good metric and a KPI to give to the executive leadership to demonstrate this is actually working,” Sean explains, reinforcing that the program is not just “set it and forget it,” but something he can stand behind with confidence.

Beyond the technology outcomes, Sean reflects on what decision makers care about when choosing a long-term partner – responsiveness and trust. He appreciates that Thrive’s team does not leave people waiting and wondering. “They acknowledge messages as they come in to make sure that you’re not just sitting there in limbo,” he says. That consistency and other details are why he characterizes the relationship as a true partnership, and one that feels personal rather than transactional.

“Rhone wanted to build out a security program to secure the business, secure the data, really, to secure everything we have in the organization. Thrive is the partner we needed to make that happen.”- Sean Duffy, Senior Director of Technology at Rhone

About Thrive

Thrive is a NextGen global technology outsourcing provider that empowers small and mid-market organizations to transform their technology into a strategic advantage. Offering a breadth of services from AI and cybersecurity to cloud, compliance, and traditional MSP/MSSP solutions, Thrive’s team of seasoned experts develop strategies that standardize, scale, and automate technology to achieve outsized ROI. From advisory services to a 24×7×365 SOC and NOC, Thrive provides end-to-end IT and cybersecurity management so clients can focus on innovation and growth. With Thrive, your business is always supported and always secure. Learn more at www.thrivenextgen.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

Chris Gunner, vCSO at Thrive – a leading NextGen MSP/MSSP, delivering global AI, cybersecurity, cloud, compliance, and digital transformation managed services – on how CISOs can position their cyber strategy to to become part of how a business navigates uncertainty

Welcome back to another installment of our “Thrive Spotlight” blog series.

Our featured employee is Angela Capen. As the Strategic Communications Manager, her responsibilities and impact are far and wide. Within Thrive she ensures employees have clear, consistent, and timely information that helps them stay aligned, engaged, and connected to Thrive’s brand, mission, and goals. A big part of Angela’s work involves developing and executing communication strategies that support small, medium, and large company initiatives.  Always considering the listener or reader’s experience, she partners with leaders across the business to understand team needs, determine what channel would be best to deliver the message, and ensure complex or technical information is conveyed in a clear and easily digestible format. Her external work includes collaborating with departments such as Sales and Operations to communicate important client-impacting information. From new product launches to upcoming maintenance windows, and everything in between, Angela’s dedication to excellence and attention to detail is critical in keeping all informed!

Since communications aren’t always a 9-5 responsibility, downtime isn’t Angela’s strong suit – though she does recognize the importance of taking a break. If she’s not working from home or spending a day in the Foxboro office, Angela loves to go camping with her family. They have a seasonal site at a local campground where they thoroughly enjoy being able to shut off from the world for a bit and get outside into nature. She perfectly describes camping as providing the relaxation that revitalizes and recharges, keeping minds fresh and prepared for the week ahead. When they aren’t camping, Angela loves to get out on the links with her husband and young daughter who has recently fallen in love with the game of golf!

Hi Angela!  Can you tell us about your background and how you came to Thrive?

I’ve spent the majority of my professional life in Communications, building experience in internal, leadership and crisis communications. In 2010, I started my career at Wayfair, where I spent much of the almost 14 years there building process and procedures from the ground up.

Joining Thrive was an easy choice for me, as I was presented with an incredible opportunity to help build and expand internal communications as a whole, connecting employees and keeping them informed from all over the globe.

Where did you go to school or get training?

I attended Framingham State University, where I graduated with a major in Sociology and a minor in Psychology.

While I don’t have formal training in Communications, my background in psychology has been incredibly valuable in my role because it gave me a strong foundation in understanding how people think, process information, and respond to different kinds of messaging. It also helped me develop strong listening and analytical skills, allowing me to consider different perspectives and anticipate how people will handle change.

These skills, along with my passion for writing and ability to simplify complex information into easily digestible pieces, have contributed to my growth as a Communications professional.

What do you most enjoy about working for Thrive?

The people are what make working at Thrive so great! In the last 2 years, I have met some of the most talented, smart, and kind people here. They make waking up and logging on each morning exponentially easier as every team member here at Thrive is a “hands in” kind of person, always willing to hop on a call for a quick brainstorm session, offer feedback or suggestions, and always celebrating big wins together.

Are there any recent exciting projects at Thrive you can tell us about?

I have had the incredible opportunity to be part of many exciting projects at Thrive. One in particular was launching our internal company intranet. While it’s common to feel the need to “get it right” immediately, the team at Thrive is exceptionally supportive and understanding that these things can often take time to go from Beta to a fully launched product.

Thanks to the collaborative efforts of numerous teams and departments, we now have an internal intranet with capabilities. Every day, we move closer to having a fully functioning website that delivers information and resources directly into our employees’ hands. It has been such a fun project to work on, and we are just getting started!

Are you interested in learning more about Thrive? Click here! 

Don’t forget to follow us on LinkedIn for the latest news, and continue checking our blog for more in our “Thrive Employee Spotlight” series. Until next time… 

Encrypted traffic is doing its job. More data in transit is being protected, which is essential for business privacy and resilience. The problem is that bad actors are now benefitting from the same cover, and they’re getting very good at hiding. Commonly used protocols such as HTTPS, web browsing traffic or DNS requests are camouflaging malicious activities, making them hard to detect as illegitimate. It therefore takes deep cyber-security expertise and technology innovation to distinguish hackers and ransomware gangs from the harmless patterns of use.

The UK’s cyber security agency has warned that critical national infrastructure (CNI) operators and smaller businesses face a growing threat from disruptive cyber attacks, as industry voices question whether organisations are keeping pace with risk.

Jonathan Ellison, Director for National Resilience at the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), cited recent incidents in Europe and urged UK operators to strengthen resilience ahead of any escalation in hostile activity.

“Cyber attacks disrupting everyday essential services may sound far-fetched, but we know it’s not. Our Polish partners recently reported that some of the country’s critical infrastructure was targeted by coordinated attacks just after Christmas, including a heat and power plant and several renewable energy generators. They likened the attempted disruption to arson.”

Government has launched a new campaign to provide practical ways for businesses to protect themselves against common online threats.

Appearing across social media, podcasts, radio and business networks, the campaign aims to reach busy small- and medium-sized businesses . It will encourage them to engage with government’s Cyber Essentials scheme, which sets out clear practical steps they can take to protect themselves from the most common cyber attacks. This includes keeping software up to date and controlling who has access to accounts and data to immediately improve their cyber resilience. Many cyber incidents exploit these basic weaknesses, which Cyber Essentials is designed to protect against.

It comes as new figures show the scale of threat facing businesses. Significant cyber incidents cost an average of £195,000 and half of all small businesses have suffered a cyber breach or attack in the last 12 months.

CRN’s Managed Service Provider 500 list recognizes the top technology providers and consultants whose forward-thinking approach to providing managed services is changing the landscape of the IT channel.