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Unifying Cybersecurity: Combating the $10.5 Trillion Threat with Simplified Platform Solutions by Channel Futures

After 160 episodes, it's the final episode of the popular Channel Futures podcast, Coffee with Craig and James. The guys share their favorite memories from the past nine years of the Coffee cast and welcome in some of their favorite guests and loyal "casties" to share some thoughts about the impact the podcast has had on the channel. You'll laugh, you'll cry ... but you'll mostly laugh. Thank you, channel, for watching and listening since our debut in 2016.

It's the penultimate episode of Coffee with Craig and James before the Channel Futures podcast wraps up its nine-year run next week. In this edition, the guys catch up with IntelePeer's Aqeel Shahid. The channel leader talks about AI, the evolution of communications platform as a service to agentic AI platforms, and how his company's approach to channel routes-to-market is changing.

Host Ken Presti sits down with channel vet and newly appointed Coro CEO Joe Sykora for a frank discussion about elevating the conversation from traditional program-centric thinking to a broader, more strategic ecosystem approach. It's something that resonates with partners who are seeking community, enablement and long-term alignment. It also reinforces Coro’s partner-first identity.

Bana Qashu Young brings a perspective few can, having worked on all sides of the channel triangle: for a vendor, a tech services distributor and a channel partner. Now she is branching off on her own, starting her own consulting business. Qashu Young sat down with Craig and James on the popular Channel Futures podcast to offer what she has learned and how all sides can cohesively work together.

One of the fastest-growing events in the channel, the Telarus Partner Summit has grown from its roots as a small conference at a Utah resort to one that fills convention centers. James was in southern California last week for TPS and caught up with channel veteran Tim Basa, the company's senior VP of sales, for a discussion about the role of today's technology advisor and the various opportunities that await.

Craig and James sit down with the always engaging Dave Dyson, founder of Chicago-based tech advisory firm Eclipse. The conversation revolves around the changing tech landscape, what's top of mind for industry CIOs and Dyson's take on the future of tech services distributors.

AppDirect, the subscription commerce marketplace and tech services distributor, has been busy acquiring companies to create a platform for technology management. Craig and James welcome AppDirect's Emanuel "Bert" Bertolin to the podcast to discuss the company's approach in this area; plus ,why it's targeting energy as the next great opportunity for partners.

Low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite connectivity has improved dramatically in just the last nine months since the guys last addressed the topic on this podcast with MetTel. In this episode, Craig and James sit down with the team from tech services distributor Avant Communications to discuss some real-life use cases and the growing opportunity for channel partners; plus, the evolution of wireless security.

Most channel partners at this point have weaved some sort of cybersecurity offering into their portfolios. We caught up with Brian Kane, senior director, MSP and channel, Malwarebytes, to talk about threats to SMBs, AI horror stories, the role of regulatory compliance in today's channel, and more.

Just promoted to executive director of Salesforce AppExchange, the online marketplace, Brian Landsman joins Craig and James to talk about the various partner opportunities with the CRM giant. We get the latest on Agentforce, how Salesforce navigates its hyperscaler relationships and why it significantly values it partnerships with CX vendors.

The guys sit down with customer experience expert Jamaal Savwoir of Nextiva to discuss the state of the unified communications and CX market; plus, we reveal the top 10 IT service providers on this year's Channel Partners MSP 501 a day before you see them on the Channel Futures website.

Craig and James sit down with New Charter Technologies' Peter Melby. Another of our Channel Influencers for 2025, Melby describes what goes into being an MSP "portfolio" company and what he thinks the future holds for the IT service provider community.

D&H Distributing's Marty Bauerlein, one of Channel Futures' Channel Influencers for 2025, discusses the evolution of distribution in his 30 years in the business. Plus, the impact of cloud marketplaces, AI and security and how channel partners are taking advantage.

Our Channel Futures Channel Influencer series continues with Vonage channel leader Kristy Thomas. She talks to Craig and James about the state of CX, the alignment of different sales motions at Vonage and how partners can approach the market as technology and business continue to evolve rapidly. Plus, the importance of a little self-reflection.

ScanSource chairman and CEO Mike Baur, Channel Futures' 2025 Channel Influencer of the Year, joins Coffee with Craig & James, the Channel Futures podcast, to talk about trends in distribution and to update us on the technology advisor business it launched last year when it bought Resourcive.

In this episode of the Channel Futures podcast, Craig and James catch up with a pair of technology advisors (agents) who are breaking the mold. David Goodwin of ATC of Ohio and Keith Hatley of Cloud Communications Group share success stories, dig in on industry trends and offer advice to fellow tech advisors to thrive in an ever-evolving channel.

Coro's Joe Sykora discusses the ways channel partners can tackle the evolving cybersecurity market.

ThreatLocker VP of support Oliver Plante discusses the changes in cybersecurity go-to-market strategies for partners.

Piers Morgan, senior vice president and general manager, EMEA, Coro, describes new growth opportunities and how channel partners can stay ahead of shifts in the cybersecurity market.