In March, three members of the CS Group team travelled to ConnectWise IT Nation, the annual conference for managed service providers. It’s one of the most important events in the MSP calendar and a chance to hear directly from the people shaping where the industry is heading.
Here’s what happened, what we learned, and why it matters for our clients.
What Is IT Nation?
IT Nation is ConnectWise’s flagship annual conference, bringing together thousands of MSPs, technology vendors, and industry leaders from across the world. This year’s event focused heavily on one central theme: the shift from reactive IT to an automation-first model.
The headline message from the conference was clear. The MSPs delivering the best results right now are the ones moving away from “fix it when it breaks” and towards tools that prevent problems before they happen, respond faster, and automate the repetitive stuff.
A few of the big talking points:
- AI is no longer a future concept. It’s already being used in ticketing, patching, threat detection, and service delivery right now.
- Ransomware attacks jumped 62% in 2024, with EMEA accounting for around 30% of all incidents globally. Cyber security has become a boardroom conversation, not just an IT one.
- The best MSPs are consolidating tools onto unified platforms rather than managing a patchwork of disconnected products.
- ConnectWise announced major updates to its Asio platform, including expanded automated patching now covering over 7,000 applications, AI-assisted service desk workflows, and tighter integration across RMM, PSA, and cybersecurity tools.
Why ConnectWise Matters to Sentinel
ConnectWise is the platform that powers Sentinel’s day-to-day operations. It’s what our engineers use to monitor, manage, protect, and support our clients. Rather than juggling separate tools from separate suppliers, everything runs through one integrated system.
What that means in practice:
- Remote Monitoring and Management — we watch your systems 24/7 and fix issues before they reach you
- Ticketing and Service Management — every request is logged, tracked, and owned so nothing gets missed
- Remote Support — instant, secure access to your devices means faster fixes and less disruption
- Cyber security — threat monitoring, endpoint protection, and SIEM all running through the same platform
- Backup and Recovery — your data is protected and, crucially, actually recoverable when you need it
The updates announced at IT Nation mean all of this gets sharper. More automation, better AI-assisted tools, and deeper integration across the whole stack.
What This Means for Our Clients
Attending IT Nation isn’t just about keeping up with industry news. It directly shapes how we develop our services and where we invest.
The takeaways that are feeding straight into how we work:
- Proactive beats reactive. Automated patching, AI-assisted monitoring, and smarter alerting means we catch more problems earlier, with less manual effort and less downtime for clients.
- Security has to be layered. A firewall and an antivirus isn’t enough anymore. The cyber threat landscape has changed and clients need monitoring, endpoint protection, email security, and a proper incident response plan working together.
- One partner is better than five. Fragmented IT creates gaps, slower response times, and nobody taking full responsibility. Sentinel’s model is built around being the single accountable partner for everything.
About Sentinel Data Solutions
Sentinel Data Solutions provides managed IT support and cyber security services to businesses across Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire, London, and beyond. As part of CS Group alongside Collate Business Systems and Loose Connections, we cover everything from day-to-day IT support and Microsoft 365 management to 24/7 threat monitoring and Cyber Essentials certification.
If you’d like to talk about how we can support your business, get in touch.
