Recent News & Press Coverage
Stay informed with official news and updates from The ASCII Group. This section features company announcements, strategic initiatives, and industry coverage that reflect our continued commitment to the MSP community and the broader IT channel. Press inquiries: Contact alysia@ascii.com
2025 ASCII Cup Celebrates Innovation and Excellence in the Channel
RYTHMz Named Vendor of the Year by the MSP Community Washington, D.C.
- October 31, 2025 -
Washington, D.C. – October 31, 2025 – The ASCII Group, the original and premier community of Managed Service Providers (MSPs) across North America, is pleased to announce the winners of the 2025 ASCII Cup. This annual award honors technology companies that have made a lasting impact in the MSP channel through innovation, commitment, and engagement.
The 2025 ASCII Cup was presented in Philadelphia, PA, on October 30, following the final stop of the year for the ASCII Edge conference series. Inspired by Philadelphia’s iconic Rocky legacy, the evening highlighted the strength and perseverance that define the IT channel.
Throughout 2025, ASCII members voted at eight regional ASCII Edge events across the U.S. and Canada, evaluating technology vendors across 12 categories such as innovation, partner program excellence, and overall value. This peer-driven process ensures the companies recognized are those making the greatest impact on MSPs.
The 2025ASCII Cup award recipients are:
- 2025 ASCII Cup Vendor of the Year – RYTHMz
- First Runner-Up – Pax8
- Third Place – SonicWall
- Fourth Place – BLOKWORX
- Fifth Place – Microsoft
- Sixth Place – Kaseya
- Seventh Place – Monjur
- Eighth Place – DefensX
- Ninth Place – FutureSafe
- Tenth Place – SuperOps
“The ASCII Cup reflects the voice of MSPs,” said Jerry Koutavas, CEO of The ASCII Group. “Recognizing RYTHMz as Vendor of the Year, along with the other companies honored, underscores the vital role our industry partners play in helping MSPs succeed.”
“It is with sincere gratitude that we accept this recognition from The ASCII Group and its members. As a former member myself, I understand the profound impact this community has on an MSP’s journey,” said Steve Copeland, CEO and Founder, RYTHMz. “Our industry is at a pivotal moment—evolving from ‘Managed Services’ to ‘Managed Solutions.’ Through this shift, one truth remains: connectivity is your brand. RYTHMz is proud to help lead this evolution alongside our partners in the ASCII community, and we’re truly honored by this recognition.”
The celebration also honored the late Alan D. Weinberger, founder of The ASCII Group, whose vision for a vendor-neutral community of IT professionals continues to guide the organization today. For more than 40 years, ASCII has connected IT business owners with resources, programs, and a trusted peer network to help them grow stronger companies. The 2025 ASCII Cup reflects this spirit of collaboration and the vital role technology partners play in MSP success.
For photos and highlights from the 2025 ASCII Cup, please visit The ASCII Group’s Facebook page.
About The ASCII Group, Inc.
The ASCII Group is the premier community of North American MSPs, MSSPs and Solution Providers. The Group has members located throughout the U.S. and Canada, and membership encompasses everyone from credentialed MSPs serving the SMB community to multi-location solution providers with a national and international reach. Founded in 1984, ASCII provides services to members including leveraged purchasing programs, education and training, marketing assistance, extensive peer interaction and more. ASCII works with a vibrant ecosystem of leading and major technology vendors that complement the ASCII community and support the mission of helping MSPs to grow their businesses. For more information, please visit www.ascii.com.
Press Contact
Alysia Vetter
Chief Marketing Officer
Tel: 800-394-2724
Email: alysia@ascii.com
Web: www.ascii.com
Bradford.Cloud Named Best New Product at the ASCII Group Summit, Bradford Networks, March 6, 2012
Managed Service Providers Select Bradford for Delivering Network Security and Control over BYOD via the Cloud
CAMBRIDGE, MA – March 6, 2012 — Bradford Networks, the best choice to enable secure network access for corporate issued and personal mobile devices, today announced that Bradford.cloud, the industry’s only pure Network Access Control (NAC) Security-as-a-Service offering (SaaS), was named the Best New Product at the ASCII Success Summit Orlando. Bradford.cloud was selected by the Managed Service Providers (MSP) attending the conference for its ability to deliver network security via the cloud.
Read More….
http://www.bradfordnetworks.com/bradford-cloud-named-best-new-product-at-the-ascii-group-summit
ASCII Success Summit 2012: Orlando
ASCII‘s first Success Summit of 2012 was a huge success for the community of IT solution providers. The one-day event took place from February 29 to March 1 in Orlando. ASCII‘s Success Summits aim to provide busy business practices for channel partners and educate IT pros on new technologies.
ChannelPro-SMB, Elaine Hom, March 6, 2012
Read more….http://www.channelprosmb.com/blog/entry/28833/ASCII-Success-Summit-2012-Orlando/?highlight=the+ascii+group
Datto Inc.’s SIRIS Wins ‘Best Cloud Solution’ Award at the ASCII Orlando Success Summit 2012
www.dattobackup.com, March 6, 2012
The ASCII Group, Inc., the world’s largest IT Solution Provider community, announced on March 1, 2012 that Datto Inc. won the ASCII Orlando Success Summit ‘Best Cloud Solution’ award for their business continuity solution, SIRIS.
Read more….
http://www.dattobackup.com/news/datto-incs-siris-wins-best-cloud-solution-award-ascii-orlando-success-summit-2012
How to Choose an IT Contractor
The Business Journals, January 25, 2012, by Robert Celaschi
Information technology budgets are growing at a fast clip. In 2010, small- and medium-sized businesses in the United States spent $125 billion on technology, and should grow by an average rate of 5.5 percent by 2014, according to Research firm International Data Corp.
Read More….
http://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/how-to/technology/2012/01/how-to-choose-an-it-contractor.html
EMRapproved 4Med Program, EMRapproved.com, February 2012
ASCII has partnered with EMR approved to create ascii4med. This will be a focused network of healthcare technology resellers who will get positioned to reach the nationwide medical community.
Read More….
http://www.emrapproved.com/ascii-program.php
ASCII Group Offers E-Newsletter, Social Marketing Service to Members, Channel Insider, January 4, 2012, by Alison Diana
Most VARs and MSPs know they need to do marketing, but can’t find the time. The ASCII Group’s new e-newsletter service lets IT solution providers outsource their email newsletter marketing efforts with a customizable solution tailored to their own markets.
Read More….http://www.channelinsider.com/c/a/Business-and-Finance/ASCII-Group-Offers-ENewsletter-Service-to-Members-557735/
ASCII Group Offers New E-Newsletter Services to Members, January 4, 2012, by Channelpro-SMB
The ASCII Group, a community of solution providers, is now offering an e-newsletter service that provides members the ability to personalize and brand a newsletter with relevant content.
Read More….http://www.channelprosmb.com/article/28018/ASCII-Group-Offers-New-E-Newsletter-Service-to-Members/?highlight=ascii
Tech Data Set for Windfall after ASCII Deal
Channel Insider, November 11, 2011, by Sara Driscoll
Distribution giant see’s coffers boosted following partnership with VAR community group.
Read More….
http://www.channelinsider.com/c/a/News/Tech-Data-Set-for-Windfall-after-ASCII-Deal/
GreatAmerica Leasing, ASCII Group Partener to help Partners with Capital Crunch
Channel Insider, November 11, 2011 by Ericka Chickowski
ASCII Group is looking to give its members another option for financing in today’s tight credit market through a new partnership with GreatAmerica Leasing.
Read More….
http://www.channelinsider.com/c/a/Business-and-Finance/GreatAmerica-Leasing-ASCII-Group-Partner-to-Help-Partners-with-Capital-Crunch-209548/
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