Our Celerium team recently had the opportunity to attend the GTIA (Global Technology Industry Association) North America Community & Councils Forum in Chicago. In this recap, Celerium’s Customer Success Manager, Jenna Williams, shares her biggest takeaways from the event.
I just got back from the GTIA North America Community & Councils Forum in Chicago, and if I had to sum it up in one sentence, it would be this:
The cybersecurity space is changing fast — and everyone is trying to keep up.
This wasn’t one of those events where you walk away with just product pitches or surface-level conversations. It felt like a real mix of people trying to figure out what’s next, especially when it comes to AI, compliance, and how to actually make security manageable for MSPs.
Here’s what really stood out to me.
AI Is Everywhere Right Now
I don’t think I had a single conversation where AI (Artificial Intelligence) didn’t come up in some way.
Whether it was being talked about as a tool for better threat detection or as something attackers are already using to get more sophisticated, it’s clear that AI isn’t “coming soon” — it’s already here.
And honestly, it feels like we’re at that point where everyone knows it’s important, but a lot of people are still figuring out how to actually use it in a way that makes sense for their business.
MSPs Are Feeling the Pressure
One thing that really stood out in my conversations was how much MSPs are juggling right now.
They’re being asked to improve security, meet compliance requirements, support more clients, and do it all without adding a ton of complexity.
That’s not a small ask.
It made it really clear that the solutions that are going to stand out aren’t necessarily the ones with the most features — they’re the ones that are easy to understand, easy to deploy, and actually solve a problem without adding more work.
The Best Part? The People
For me, the most valuable part of the event wasn’t just the informative sessions — it was the conversations.
I had the chance to make some great new connections, but also reconnect with people I first met at my very first GTIA/ChannelCon event back in 2024 — which was honestly really cool to see how those relationships have come full circle.
I even had the chance to meet up in person with one of my current MSP Partners, Forward Edge, who was also attending the event. Being able to connect face-to-face after working together is always a different experience, and it really reinforces the relationship in a meaningful way.
That’s something you just can’t replicate over email or Zoom.
There’s something about being in the same room, having real conversations, and getting a feel for what people are actually dealing with day to day that makes a huge difference.
The Awards Ceremony Was a Highlight
The last evening ended with an awards ceremony, and I’ll be honest — it was one of my favorite parts of the whole event.
It wasn’t just about recognition, it was about seeing the level of innovation and impact people in this space are having.
It was one of those moments where you step back and think, “This is a really cool industry to be a part of.”
Definitely left me feeling motivated and inspired going into the rest of the year.
So, What Does This All Mean?
If I had to boil it down, here’s where my head is at coming out of the GTIA North America Community & Councils Forum:
- AI is going to play a huge role in what we do next
- Simplicity is becoming just as important as security itself
- MSPs need support—not just tools
- And relationships still matter more than anything
From my perspective, that’s where the real opportunity is — showing up not just as a vendor, but as someone who actually understands what partners are dealing with and can help make things easier for them.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the GTIA North America Community & Councils Forum was a really solid reminder of why staying connected to the community matters.
The technology is evolving quickly, but at the end of the day, it still comes down to people — how we support each other, how we solve problems, and how we move forward together.
And if this event was any indication, there’s a lot of momentum heading into the rest of the year.
Celerium's automated cyber defense solutions help fortify organizations against modern cyber threats. Learn more by visiting Celerium.com.
