ConnectWise CEO On $100M Push To Complete AI-Powered Asio Platform, 2026 Plans And Thoma Bravo’s ‘Value Creation’ Role
‘Asio isn’t a collection of bolted-on tools, it’s a brand-new platform built from the ground up. At its core, it includes four main service areas: RMM, PSA, security and data backup,’ says ConnectWise CEO Manny Rivelo.
Over the past decade, ConnectWise has built its “all-in-one” Asio platform for MSPs by building its own tools as well as acquiring a series of companies that strengthen everything from security and automation to documentation and customer experience. Each deal reflected a clear strategy, giving partners the tools to run smarter, safer and more profitable businesses.
“We’re moving from Industry 4.0 to 5.0, where AI evolves into self-improving, human-aware systems,” ConnectWise CEO Manny Rivelo told CRN. “That’s going to reshape how MSPs operate, how services are delivered and how end customers engage with technology.”
The Tampa, Fla.-based vendor acquired remote-control and access solution ScreenConnect in 2015; NOC (network operations center), SOC (security operations center) and RMM (remote monitoring and management) vendor Continuum and documentation platform ITBoost in 2019; SIEM (security information and event management) and threat-detection platform Perch Security and automation and data analysis vendor StratoZen in 2020; benchmarking platform Service Leadership Inc. and customer experience tool SmileBack in 2021; payments and invoicing platform Wise-Sync in 2022; and Microsoft cloud backup and security solutions vendor SkyKick and BCDR (business continuity and disaster recovery) powerhouse Axcient in 2024.
Each acquisition has helped ConnectWise move closer to a unified platform vision integrating PSA, RMM, security, documentation, payments and customer feedback under a single pane of glass. And as AI and automation continue to reshape the MSP landscape, ConnectWise’s buy-and-build approach hopes to deliver what partners need most: simplicity, security and scale.
“We’ll continue to build, buy and partner strategically,” Rivelo said. “Acquisitions will be selective, only when they accelerate our roadmap or strengthen core competencies.”
CRN spoke further to Rivelo about the Asio platform, ConnectWise’s 2026 roadmap and acquisitions they can expect in the future.
When I talk to partners, many say the Asio platform feels complex and bolted together. How do you respond to that perception?
There’s definitely been some confusion, and that’s something we’re addressing directly last week. Asio isn’t a collection of bolted-on tools, it’s a brand-new platform built from the ground up. At its core, it includes four main service areas: RMM, PSA, security and data backup. On top of that, we’re wrapping in AI and RPA capabilities along with a centralized data warehouse and shared services.
Where some of the confusion comes in is that the new Asio modules aren’t always feature-for-feature with the older products yet. For example, when RMM first launched, it didn’t have full parity with Automate, but it does now and actually exceeds it in capability. We’re upgrading partners from older instances to new Asio modules as those features mature.
By mid-next year, we expect parity across all products, and from there, we can really accelerate innovation. This is a $100 million investment and we’re now in the final innings of building a fully integrated, AI-enabled platform.
You’ve mentioned a number of new modules being added. What should partners expect next?
We’re continuing to roll more functionality directly into the Asio platform. For example, SmileBack and ITBoost, once standalone products, are becoming integrated modules, offered at no additional charge as part of Asio bundle pricing. We’ve also embedded our next-generation SIEM, which originated from the Perch [Security] acquisition, into the platform. That means a single agent now powers both RMM and SIEM, simplifying deployment and unifying endpoint data. The goal is to consolidate tools and eliminate complexity with fewer agents, fewer interfaces and a seamless experience across the stack.
How does this integration support ConnectWise’s broader vision of autonomous service delivery?
Data is the oxygen of AI, and centralizing that data within Asio gives us the context we need for autonomous delivery. One of the things we’ll demo this week is our SOC (security operations center) agent, which automatically analyzes alerts, filters false positives, categorizes risk and generates documentation and remediation steps. We’ve tested it internally and seen dramatic efficiency gains, hundreds of technician hours saved. Agents don’t need breaks, don’t take vacations and don’t call in sick. They work 24/7, providing consistency, speed and reduced operational cost. The idea is to help MSPs lower their cost of goods sold—where 80 percent of costs are people—by augmenting human effort with intelligent automation. That’s where the autonomous MSP model begins to take shape.
Speaking of the autonomous MSP, what role does ConnectWise play in that future?
We’re the enabler. Every major shift in the channel, from the move to remote work to cloud to security, has required MSPs to jump a curve. Now it’s AI’s turn.
There are two opportunities for MSPs: first, helping SMB customers adopt AI safely and strategically, and second, using AI themselves to deliver services more efficiently. In the near future, you could see MSPs with five employees running thousands of AI agents delivering the same scale of service as today’s largest providers, but with radically different economics. Scale is being redefined.
So how are you positioning ConnectWise to stay ahead of both legacy competitors and new upstarts?
Legacy players are still largely modular and disconnected. We have a head start in building a unified platform, and we’re adding features at an accelerating pace. We’ve retooled our delivery organization and now publish a six-month public roadmap through our [ConnectWise] University portal so partners can plan around it and hold us accountable.
As for newer players, many started with a single module and now aspire to be platforms. But integrating AI, data and automation at scale takes time and investment. We’ve already laid that foundation.
You’ll see more integration, feature parity across all modules and AI everywhere. We’re embedding agentic AI into every workflow so the platform becomes smarter, more predictive and more autonomous over time. We’ll continue to build, buy and partner strategically.
Acquisitions will be selective, only when they accelerate our roadmap or strengthen core competencies. We’re also expanding integrations with leading third-party vendors, 14 security and six backup vendors so far, to give partners flexibility with consistency.
How many acquisitions are we going to see in 2026?
Hopefully a few. Thoma Bravo is very supportive. There’s often this assumption that private equity is only looking for an exit, but that’s not the full picture. Of course they want to create outcomes, but they’re also happy to leverage their balance sheet and cash to help us grow. Over the course of 2026, we’re looking aggressively at the market but our focus will be on acquisitions that accelerate our roadmap and allow us to go to market broadly, not small, niche technologies. We’re targeting disruptive solutions that create value across the industry.
So Thoma Bravo is keeping a hold of ConnectWise a little longer?
Yes, absolutely. There’s a perception about private equity that I don’t completely agree with. I’ve worked with PE for almost a decade, and fundamentally, they want to create value. If there’s value to be created, they want to hold onto the assets because they’re worth it. TB is not in a hurry to sell or transact anything. They want to participate in value creation.
You’ve been in your role for a year now. What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned about the channel?
Honestly, it’s the culture, the community. The ConnectWise ecosystem, and the broader Evolve community, is unique. It’s not just about building businesses, it’s a go-giver culture where MSPs help each other stand up and succeed. That sense of collaboration is rare in business, and it’s what makes this industry so special. It’s been an incredible first year, and we’re just getting started.
Final thought, where’s the biggest opportunity for MSPs right now?
It’s twofold: helping SMBs become AI-ready and becoming AI-enabled themselves. That means offering services around AI readiness, security, compliance and strategy while also using automation to improve their own operations. The next generation of MSPs will manage not just devices and users, but AI agents, and that opens up a massive new frontier.