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
Take Control Of Your Business — With A Little Help, Business Solutions Magazine, March 5, 2010, by Gennifer Biggs
If you have the technical aspects of your business under control, but are still struggling with those operational challenges such as a five-year business plan or a thorough marketing timeline, there is help out there. Two IT industry organizations, ASCII and CompTIA, are offering regional events focused on those business-planning tasks.
Read More….
http://bsminfo.com/article.mvc/Take-Control-Of-Your-Business-0001
Kaseya Launches SaaS-Based Partner Program, Channel Insider, February 26, 2010, by Carolyn April
The Kaseya SaaS Partner Program is targeted at select partners, including distributors and channel industry associations, that will promote Kaseya’s SaaS-based IT management offerings to MSPs.
Read More…
http://www.channelinsider.com/c/a/Managed-Services/Kaseya-Launches-SaaSBased-Partner-Program-507411/
Kaseya Partners With ASCII, Lenovo and others to offer SaaS Partner Program, Business Solutions Magazine, February 25, 2010, by Gennifer Biggs
With so many VARs still tentative about jumping over the fence and adopting the managed services recurring revenue business model, some well-recognized names in the IT industry have joined forces with a managed services vendor to give those business owners a push. Kaseya, an IT systems management software provider, has unveiled its SaaS Partner Program (KSP), which it will offer through industry partners such as the ASCII Group, Cloud Services Depot, Ingram Micro (Australia/New Zealand), Jamcracker, Lenovo, and the Virtual Administrator division of Network Depot. KSP includes hosted applications (starting with IT Toolkit and two other offerings coming quickly), access to experts, customized landing pages for branding, a customer portal for billing and support, and training.
Read More….
http://bsminfo.com/article.mvc/kaseya-Rolls-Out-SaaS-Partner-Program-0001
GFI Software Joins ASCII Group's Solution Alliance Network And Becomes Platinum Sponsor Of ASCII Success Summit, Business Solutions Magazine, February 15, 2010
GFI Software, a leading infrastructure provider for small and medium-sized businesses, has announced ASCII Group Solution Alliance Membership and Platinum Sponsorship of the ASCII Reseller Success Summits. The alliance between GFI and ASCII will provide additional benefits and education for ASCII members in the growing IT Support, VAR and Managed Services market. GFI has been welcomed by The ASCII Group – the nation’s oldest and most established community of independent managed service providers, system integrators and solution providers.
Read More….
http://bsminfo.com/article.mvc/GFI-Software-Joins-ASCII-Groups-Solution-0001
Bulls Eye Award 2009 Contender, Channel Insider, January 4, 2010, by Channel Insder Staff
It seems as though every vendor, distributor and association is in the “channel community” business. The term “community” is being thrown around liberally, but only these groups have built true communities of solution providers. See whose community you should belong to.
Bull`s Eye Awards: Channel Community of the Year – CONTENDER
Read More….
http://www.channelinsider.com/c/a/Spotlight/Bulls-Eye-Awards-Channel-Community-of-the-Year-583214/2/
ASCII, Cetrom Partnership Addresses Cloud Interoperability, Channel Insider, October 10, 2009, by Lawernce Walsh
ASCII members will gain access to Cetrom’s integration and customization services to build cloud computing portfolios tailored for specific customers and verticals.
Read More….
http://www.channelinsider.com/c/a/Cloud-Computing/ASCII-Cetrom-Partnership-Addresses-Cloud-Interoperability-197177/
ASCII Group Inks Recurring Revenue Opportunity with Cloud Integrator, Business Solution Magazine, October 5, 2009
The ASCII Group, the largest community of independent computer resellers in the world, has selected Cetrom Information Technology to provide custom cloud integration for its solution provider community. The partnership provides the ASCII Group community access to hundreds of applications in a cloud based delivery model.
Read More….
http://bsminfo.com/article.mvc/ASCII-Group-Inks-Recurring-Revenue-Opportunit-0001
Passing the Channel Cup of Success, Channel Insider, August 9, 2009, by Lawrence Walsh
Channel legend (all of two year’s old) holds that those that drink from The ASCII Group ‘Cup of Success’ shall enjoy wealth and prosperity. The cup passed last week from Kaseya to Reflexion, which shared the magic with all in attendance at the ceremony. Here’s a look at the festivities.
Read More….
http://www.channelinsider.com/c/a/News/Passing-the-Channel-Cup-of-Success-533728/
Kaseya-Powered ASCII MSP Fuel Helps VARS Jump into Managed Services, Channel Insider, August 5, 2009, by Jessica Davis
While most resellers agree that managed services make sense as part of a future business plan, it’s often hard to make the leap. Now the ASCII Group is offering a way for VARs to get started with its ASCII MSP Fuel offering, based on Kaseya.
Read More….
http://www.channelinsider.com/c/a/Managed-Services/KaseyaPowered-ASCII-MSP-Fuel-Helps-VARS-Jump-Into-Managed-Services-245275/
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