In this Channel Insider Q4 and 2025 and Annual IT Channel Roundup, host Katie Bavoso joins the Channel Insider editorial team (Victoria Durgin, Jordan Smith, and Luis Millares) to break down the biggest IT channel stories, trends, and tipping points for 2025 and beyond, as well as provide early predictions for what's to come in 2026.
From partner refreshes at VMware and Broadcom to AI maturity, governance, security, key technology layoffs, CMMC 2.0 enforcement, and the evolution of the MSP role, this episode provides a comprehensive look at how the channel is changing and what partners need to prepare for the new year.
Whether you're an MSP, vendor, distributor, or channel strategist, this episode features insights that shaped 2025 and will influence your decisions in the year ahead.
Topic and timecode
00:00 – Welcome and Channel Overview for Q4 2025
01:25 – Introducing Channel Insider writer Luis Millares
04:50 – Executive changes and vendor changes
06:34 – Impact on VMware and Broadcom Partner Programs
11:51 – Trends in collaboration between partners
12:13 – Veeam + ServiceNow partnership explained
13:36 – AI in the channel: From hype to execution
14:24 – Generative AI, agents, and enterprise adoption
16:20 – Concerns about AI governance, trust, and compliance
18:28 – Does an AI bubble or “AI balloon” exist?
21:57 – Security, AI threats, and regulatory pressures
24:00 – CMMC 2.0 Enforcement Timeline and Opportunities
26:26 – AI-powered cyber threats and zero trust
29:31 – Data sovereignty and cloud compliance trends
31:06 – Massive Tech Layoffs: Causes and Channel Impact
37:09 – How will partners choose vendors in 2025?
38:59 – The evolution of MSPs and the rise of advisory services
44:12 – Channel Insider Highlights and Proudest Moments
48:36 – Favorite stories and standout interviews of 2025
55:20 – Predictions for 2026: AI, security, compliance, and more
59:01 – The growing role of channels in the IT ecosystem
