The best conferences for MSPs to discover new technologies and strategies
Staying at the cutting edge of emerging tech for MSPs means rubbing elbows with big names in the industry. Conferences are one of the best opportunities for MSPs of any size to try out the new technology from big names and discover what some smaller, agile companies are working on.
Thing is, there are a lot of conferences, and depending on your team size and availability, you may only want to attend a few a year. Don’t worry; this list will help identify which conferences are worth your time.
The best big conference - MSP Expo
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Focus: MSPs, VARs, and channel vendors
Why it’s great: MSP Expo is a big conference in a nice place where you can expect to see all the big industry names alongside newer vendors and MSPs. Whether you’re comparing industry-leaders solutions or looking to get in at the ground level with a disruptor, MSP Expo is ideal for learning about solutions to expand your service stack.
There are plenty of speakers and workshops to keep you entertained if you’re looking for a break from walking the floor. They also have top-of-their-industry speakers from big-name companies like Google and zoom.
Also check out - AWS re:Invent
The best conference for business leaders - IT Nation Connect
Location: Orlando, FL
Focus: Providing company stakeholders with information, strategies, and leadership tactics to accelerate growth.
Why it’s great: IT Nation Connect is one of several popular channel conferences hosted by ConnectWise. Connect focuses on helping stakeholders navigate business leadership and growth within the MSP space. This goes beyond identifying high-ROI solutions; speakers also cover deeper business strategies like personnel, client retention, scalable growth.
If you’re a ConnectWise user, it’s even better as you can get some facetime with your vendor, but don’t worry about ConnectWise making the conference all about them. This event has been happening for years, and it’s a go-to for MSPs from small to large. It’s known for some of the better conference hotel parties in the industry.
Also check out - Best of Breed
The best small conference - MSPWorld
Location: Orlando, FL
Focus: Tech, solutions and business strategy
Why it’s great: As a vendor-agnostic event, MSPWorld offers a great opportunity to mingle with many channel vendors for each technology you are assessing. As a small event, there is less focus on flash and panache and more on valuable speakers and breakout sessions that still leave you time to explore the vendor floor.
The best cybersecurity conference - Black Hat USA
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Focus: Cybersecurity
Why it’s great: Black Hat USA is one of the largest cybersecurity-focused events. While the event itself isn’t exclusively tailored to MSPs, speakers and breakout sessions will cover a wide breadth of topics and industries, helping your cybersecurity professionals keep a pulse on emerging threats and develop new risk management and resolution strategies.
Also check out - DEF CON
The best conference for IT professionals - SpiceWorld
Location: Austin, TX
Focus: All things IT
Why it’s great: Where other conferences can be very business-focused, SpiceWorld sets itself apart by focusing on creating a fun, casual environment where IT professionals can come together and share knowledge and information.
It’s a three-day event that has transitioned to hybrid, allowing in-person and virtual attendance, so it’s easier than ever to participate.
Also check out - The Service Desk & IT Support Show
