Vendor Categories

Best Managed Security Services Offering

This category is for all cybersecurity vendors that sell a managed security service through the channel. This category will award vendors that offer best-in-class managed security services to their MSP and solution provider partners.

This category is now closed

Your entry should be based around the following criteria, which is what the judges will be using as a basis to score each entry. Please do not address each point separately and just base the entry on these points alone - try to add some colour/personality and incorporate them into your entry as you see fit. Also bear in mind that the judges are accepting PDF or multi-media entries, but at the very least please make sure your entries that are easy to read and digest if in plain text format. Outline why you are entering this category and your relevancy to the category. Outline your managed security offering: What services does it include? How much does it cost? What level of support have you promised your partners and customers? Then tell us exactly why it is best in class. How does it benefit your customers and partners? How and why is it better than what your competitors are offering? Has your managed security services offering met or exceeded expectations? What has the feedback been from partners? Please include any case studies or testimonials from partners if possible. Outline how your managed security services offering changed/evolved over the last 12 months? Entries are actively encouraged to include hard facts and figures - all of which will be kept strictly confidential and used for judging purposes only. Vendors are actively encouraged to enter for more than one award if they so wish, and if the category is relevant to their business. But every entry MUST be different.

Best COVID-19 Responder

This category is for all vendors that sell through the channel. This category will award vendors that have provided outstanding support to their channel partners throughout the COVID-19 crisis.

This category is now closed

Your entry should be based around the following criteria, which is what the judges will be using as a basis to score each entry. Please do not address each point separately and just base the entry on these points alone - try to add some colour/personality and incorporate them into your entry as you see fit.

Also bear in mind that the judges are accepting PDF or multi-media entries, but at the very least please make sure your entries that are easy to read and digest if in plain text format.

Outline why you are entering this category and your relevancy to the category.

Tell us how you have supported your channel partners and/or distributors throughout the COVID-19 crisis. Have you offered them financial support? Tell us how you have gone above and beyond to support your channel partners. What special measures have you put in place to ensure their success and survival during the COVID-19 crisis? Have you offered your partners financial support? How have you helped them to succeed?

Then tell in as much detail as possible how you responded to the COVID-19 crisis Did you offer free trials on some of your products and services, or change the way you incentivise partners? Entries are actively encouraged to include hard facts and figures - all of which will be kept strictly confidential and used for judging purposes only.

Vendors are actively encouraged to enter for more than one award if they so wish, and if the category is relevant to their business. But every entry MUST be different.

Partner Program of the Year

Eligibility - Is this the Award for you?

The vendor awards will recognize the overall contribution that the vendor is making to business development in the U.S. channel in terms of its product range and development, channel and marketing programs, and service and support. This category is open to any firm that is defined as a vendor and operates a US channel strategy. These can be vendors of hardware, networking, software and services in all vertical markets, but the business must have a significant channel presence in the US market, and a channel program that has been in place for a minimum of two years. This can be a single or two-tier channel program. The period covered for the awards is August 2020 to August 2021 so bear in mind when talking about additions/changes to programs. The entry MUST be U.S. centric.

This category is now closed

Your entry should be based around the following criteria, which is what the judges will be using as a basis to score each entry.

Please do not address each point separately and just base the entry on these points alone - try to add some color/personality and just incorporate them into your entry as you see fit. Also bear in mind that the judges are accepting PDF or multi-media entries, but at the very least please make sure your entries are easy to read and digest if in plain text format.

Briefly describe your partner program - i.e. length of time in operation, how it works, size of partner base, how rebates work, how partners get involved, what it offers partners that differs from the competition and is new and exciting Do you have a partner portal? If so, please give some details of the benefits it provides partners. How user friendly is it? Why do partners want to work with you? How much time/money do you invest in your partner program each year?

Pick a particularly successful partner (VAR/MSP/integrator) case study from the past year (i.e. a partner that has seen their business grow as a result of the benefits of your program) and explain to the judges why it was such a success, how your partner program helped that partner succeed and ensure partner comments back up the case study.

Company ethos - how important is the channel throughout your company, how do you encourage staff to ‘think channel' and get the best out of your indirect strategy?

Entries are actively encouraged to include hard facts and figures - all of which will be kept strictly confidential and used for judging purposes only.

All programs and initiatives must have been new or further developed in 2021 to qualify.

Vendors are actively encouraged to enter for more than one award if they so wish and if the category is relevant to their business. But every entry MUST be different.

Maximum word count: 800. Please read the criteria before submitting your entry. Relevant partner testimonials and supporting materials are welcome but must not exceed the 800 maximum word count.

Security Partner Program of the Year

Eligibility - Is this the Award for you?

The vendor awards will recognize the overall contribution that the vendor is making to business development in the U.S. channel, in terms of its product range and development, channel and marketing programs, and service and support.

This category is open to any firm that is defined as a security vendor and operates a U.S. channel strategy. These can be vendors of security hardware, software and services in all vertical markets, but the business must have a significant channel presence in the U.S., and a channel program that has been in place for a minimum of two years. This can be a single or two-tier channel program. The period covered for the awards is August 2020 to August 2021 so bear in mind when talking about additions/changes to programs. The entry MUST be U.S. centric.

This category is now closed

Your entry should be based around the following criteria, which is what the judges will be using as a basis to score each entry.

Please do not address each point separately and just base the entry on these points alone - try to add some color/personality and just incorporate them into your entry as you see fit. Also bear in mind that the judges are accepting PDF or multi-media entries, but at the very least please make sure your entries are easy to read and digest if in plain text format.

Briefly describe your security credentials (what makes you a security vendor) and the basics of your security-based partner program - i.e. how do you monitor the latest threats and communicate those to partners, how long has it been in operation, how it stands out in a crowded market, size of partner base, how rebates work, how partners get involved, what it offers partners that is new and exciting.

Please give some details of the benefits your program provides to partners.

Why do partners want to work with you? How much time/money do you invest in your partner program each year?

Pick a particularly successful partner (VAR/MSP/integrator) case study from the past year (i.e. a partner that has seen their security business grow as a result of the benefits of your program) and explain to the judges why it was such a success, how your security partner program helped that partner succeed and ensure partner comments back up the case study.

Company ethos - how important is the channel throughout your company, how do you encourage staff to ‘think channel' and get the best out of your indirect strategy?

Entries are actively encouraged to include hard facts and figures - all of which will be kept strictly confidential and used for judging purposes only.

All programs and initiatives must have been new or further developed in 2021 to qualify.

Vendors are actively encouraged to enter for more than one award if they so wish and if the category is relevant to their business. But every entry MUST be different.

Maximum word count: 800. Please read the criteria before submitting your entry. Relevant partner testimonials and supporting materials are welcome but must not exceed the 800 maximum word count.

Cloud Innovation Award

Eligibility - Is this the Award for you?

The vendor awards will recognize the overall contribution that the vendor is making to business development in the U.S. channel, in terms of its product range and development, channel and marketing programs, and service and support.

As the march towards a cloud-based world continues, have you as a vendor launched a particular innovative cloud technology or strategy that has reaped amazing results? Are you knocking out the competition left, right and center with your most recent cloud innovation? Are you helping your partners win bigger deals/steal market share as a result? The vendors entering this category must be able to show that they have helped their channel partners to build and grow their cloud revenues in 2019/2020.

This category is now closed

Your entry should be based around the following criteria, which is what the judges will be using as a basis to score each entry.

Please do not address each point separately and just base the entry on these points alone -try to add some color/personality and incorporate them into your entry as you see fit. Also bear in mind that the judges are accepting PDF or multi-media entries, but at the very least please make sure your entries that are easy to read and digest if in plain text format.

Outline why you are entering this category, your relevancy to the category, describe in detail what exactly your cloud innovation is. Is it a product or specific service? How has your particular cloud innovation benefited your channel partners and their respective customers?

Back up your claims with numbers and stats to demonstrate the success of your innovation and ensure the entry is relevant to the U.S. market.

Pick a particularly successful partner (VAR/MSP/integrator) case study from the past year (i.e. a partner that has seen their cloud business grow as a result of your partnership) and explain to the judges why it was such a success, how you helped that partner succeed and ensure partner comments back up the case study.

Company ethos - how important is the channel throughout your company, how do you encourage staff to ‘think channel' and get the best out of your indirect strategy?

Entries are actively encouraged to include hard facts and figures - all of which will be kept strictly confidential and used for judging purposes only.

All programs and initiatives must fall into the qualifying timeframe - August 2020 - August 2021.

Vendors are actively encouraged to enter for more than one award if they so wish, and if the category is relevant to their business. But every entry MUST be different.

Maximum word count: 800

Please read the criteria before submitting your entry. Relevant partner testimonials and supporting materials are welcome but must not exceed the 800 maximum word count.

Cloud Partner Program of the Year

Eligibility - Is this the Award for you?

The vendor awards will recognize the overall contribution that the vendor is making to business development in the U.S. channel, in terms of its product range and development, channel and marketing programs, and service and support.

This category is open to any firm that is defined as a cloud vendor and operates a U.S. channel strategy. These can be vendors of cloud technologies and services in all vertical markets, but the business must have a significant channel presence in the U.S., and a channel program that has been in place for a minimum of two years. This can be a single or two-tier channel program. The period covered for the awards is August 2020 to August 2021 so bear in mind when talking about additions/changes to programs. The entry MUST be U.S. centric.

This category is now closed

Your entry should be based around the following criteria, which is what the judges will be using as a basis to score each entry.

Please do not address each point separately and just base the entry on these points alone - try to add some color/personality and just incorporate them into your entry as you see fit. Also bear in mind that the judges are accepting PDF or multi-media entries, but at the very least please make sure your entries are easy to read and digest if in plain text format.

Briefly describe your cloud credentials (what makes you a cloud vendor) and the basics of your cloud-based partner program - i.e. Does it help partners that are new to the cloud, how long has it been in operation, how it stands out in a crowded market, size of partner base, how rebates work, how partners get involved, what it offers partners that is new and exciting.

Please give some details of the benefits your program provides to partners? Why do partners want to work with you? How much time/money do you invest in your partner program each year?

Pick a particularly successful partner (VAR/MSP/integrator) case study from the past year (i.e. a partner that has seen their cloud business grow as a result of the benefits of your program) and explain to the judges why it was such a success, how your cloud partner program helped that partner succeed and ensure partner comments back up the case study.

Company ethos - how important is the channel throughout your company, how do you encourage staff to ‘think channel' and get the best out of your indirect strategy?

Entries are actively encouraged to include hard facts and figures - all of which will be kept strictly confidential and used for judging purposes only.

All programs and initiatives must have been new or further developed in 2021 to qualify.

Vendors are actively encouraged to enter for more than one award if they so wish and if the category is relevant to their business. But every entry MUST be different.

Maximum word count: 800.

Please read the criteria before submitting your entry. Relevant partner testimonials and supporting materials are welcome but must not exceed the 800 maximum word count.

Vendor Innovation Award

Eligibility - Is this the Award for you?

The vendor awards will recognize the overall contribution that the vendor is making to business development in the U.S. channel, in terms of its product range and development, channel and marketing programs, and service and support.

Have you as a vendor launched a particular technology or channel initiative that has reaped amazing results? Are you knocking out the competition left, right and center with your most recent innovation? Are you helping your partners win bigger deals/steal market share as a result? The vendors entering this category must be able to show that their innovation has helped their channel partners to build and grow a profitable business in 2020/21.

This category is now closed

Your entry should be based around the following criteria, which is what the judges will be using as a basis to score each entry.

Please do not address each point separately and just base the entry on these points alone -try to add some color/personality and incorporate them into your entry as you see fit. Also bear in mind that the judges are accepting PDF or multi-media entries, but at the very least please make sure your entries that are easy to read and digest if in plain text format.

Outline why you are entering this category, your relevancy to the category, describe in detail what exactly your innovation actually is. Is it a product or particular channel scheme? How has your particular innovation benefited your channel partners and their respective customers?

Back up your claims with numbers and stats to demonstrate the success of your innovation and ensure the entry is relevant to the U.S. market.

Pick a particularly successful partner (VAR/MSP/integrator) case study from the past year (i.e. a partner that has seen their business grow as a result of your partnership) and explain to the judges why it was such a success, how you helped that partner succeed and ensure partner comments back up the case study.

Company ethos - how important is the channel throughout your company, how do you encourage staff to ‘think channel' and get the best out of your indirect strategy?

Entries are actively encouraged to include hard facts and figures - all of which will be kept strictly confidential and used for judging purposes only.

All programs and initiatives must fall into the qualifying timeframe - August 2020 - August 2021.

Vendors are actively encouraged to enter for more than one award if they so wish, and if the category is relevant to their business. But every entry MUST be different.

Maximum word count: 800

Please read the criteria before submitting your entry. Relevant partner testimonials and supporting materials are welcome but must not exceed the 800 maximum word count.

PSA/RMM Vendor of the Year

Eligibility - Is this the Award for you?

This vendor award will recognize the overall contribution that the vendor is making to business development in the U.S. channel, in terms of its RMM product, its channel and marketing programs, and service and support.

This category will award vendors that offer best-in-class PSA and RMM solutions to their MSP and solution provider partners.

This category is now closed

Your entry should be based around the following criteria, which is what the judges will be using as a basis to score each entry. Please do not address each point separately and just base the entry on these points alone - try to add some colour/personality and incorporate them into your entry as you see fit.

Also bear in mind that the judges are accepting PDF or multi-media entries, but at the very least please make sure your entries that are easy to read and digest if in plain text format.

Outline why you are entering this category and your relevancy to the category.

Outline your PSA and RMM offerings: How is it better than what else is on offer on the market? How much does it cost? What level of support have you promised your partners and customers? Then tell us exactly why it is best in class.

How does it benefit your customers and partners? How and why is it better than what your competitors are offering? Has your offering met or exceeded expectations? What has the feedback been from partners?

Please include any case studies or testimonials from partners if possible.

Outline how your offering changed/evolved over the last 12 months.

Entries are actively encouraged to include hard facts and figures - all of which will be kept strictly confidential and used for judging purposes only.

Vendors are actively encouraged to enter for more than one award if they so wish, and if the category is relevant to their business. But every entry MUST be different.

Security Innovation Award

Eligibility - Is this Award for you?

This vendor award will recognize the innovation that the vendor is bringing to the market in terms of its product range and development.

This category is for all vendors that manufacture software, hardware, systems or peripherals within the security arena. The manufacturers must be able to show that they have brought innovation to their product range over the last year to make them better, more efficient or cost effective. This category will especially award vendors that have become pioneers in their space through harnessing disruptive technologies, adopting new consumption models or doing something radically different from the competition.

This category is now closed

Your entry should be based around the following criteria, which is what the judges will be using as a basis to score each entry.

Please do not address each point separately and just base the entry on these points alone - try to add some colour/personality and incorporate them into your entry as you see fit.

Also bear in mind that the judges are accepting PDF or multi-media entries, but at the very least please make sure your entries that are easy to read and digest if in plain text format.

Outline why you are entering this category and your relevancy to the category. Then tell us how you have brought innovation to your products and services over the last 12-month period.

Are you winning against your competitors through taking an entirely new approach to security? How have you achieved this? What prompted you to make this shift? How have you innovated your product from a security stand point? Are you utilising new technologies such as AI, machine learning or the cloud? How has this made your product more effective, efficient or cost effective for the customer?

Tell us exactly how this is innovative. What exactly is unique about your product and exactly how is it breaking new ground in the security space? And what are the outcomes and positive results of your innovation? How does it benefit the customer?

Give us hard evidence and facts to back up this point. Entries are actively encouraged to include hard facts and figures - all of which will be kept strictly confidential and used for judging purposes only.

Vendors are actively encouraged to enter for more than one award if they so wish, and if the category is relevant to their business. But every entry MUST be different.

Security Vendor of the Year

Eligibility - Is this the Award for you?

The vendor award will recognize the overall contribution that the vendor is making to business development in the U.S. channel, in terms of its product range and development, channel and marketing programs, and service and support.

This category is for all vendors that manufacture software, hardware, systems or peripherals within the security arena. The manufacturers must be able to show that they have helped their channel partners to build and grow a profitable business in 2020/21.

This category is now closed

Your entry should be based around the following criteria, which is what the judges will be using as a basis to score each entry.

Please do not address each point separately and just base the entry on these points alone - try to add some colour/personality and incorporate them into your entry as you see fit.

Also bear in mind that the judges are accepting PDF or multi-media entries, but at the very least please make sure your entries that are easy to read and digest if in plain text format.

Outline why you are entering this category, your relevancy to the category, what the channel means to your business - back up with numbers and stats to show channel growth and the actual percentage of your business that is through partners - and ensure the entry is relevant to the U.S. market.

What changes/enhancements have been made to your channel program (can be in the form of products, new services and support) in the last 12 months? Provide evidence of the impact those changes have had on your partners (stats, figures) and describe why your program stands out from the competition. Describe how you have assisted your channel partners to actively increase their business over the past year - this can be through additional investment, headcount and training - please use facts and figures relevant to the U.S. market.

Pick a particularly successful partner (VAR/MSP/integrator) case study from the past year (i.e. a partner that has seen their business grow as a result of your partnership) and explain to the judges why it was such a success, how you helped that partner succeed and ensure partner comments back up the case study.

Company ethos - how important is the channel throughout your company, how do you encourage staff to ‘think channel' and get the best out of your indirect strategy?

Entries are actively encouraged to include hard facts and figures - all of which will be kept strictly confidential and used for judging purposes only.

All programs and initiatives must have been new or further developed in 2021 to qualify.

Vendors are actively encouraged to enter for more than one award if they so wish, and if the category is relevant to their business. But every entry MUST be different.

Maximum word count: 800

Please read the criteria before submitting your entry. Relevant partner testimonials and supporting materials are welcome but must not exceed the 800 maximum word count

Vendor of the Year

This category is open to all vendors that feel they have done a particularly outstanding job in the U.S. channel over the past 12 months. Any vendor, regardless of size, specialization or focus is eligible to enter this award.

This category is now closed

Your entry should be based around the following criteria, which is what the judges will be using as a basis to score each entry.

Please do not address each point separately and just base the entry on these points alone - really sell your company and try to add some color/personality and incorporate them into your entry as you see fit.

Also bear in mind that the judges are accepting PDF or multi-media entries, but at the very least please make sure your entries that are easy to read and digest if in plain text format.

Demonstrate why you feel you qualify for the Vendor of the Year award - use stats and examples to show channel business growth, partner acquisition (both reseller and distributor), support and investment made into your channel strategy over the past year. What has your channel-facing business achieved in the past 12 months that makes it stand out from the competition?

Use facts, stats and figures to back this up and strengthen your entry. What has been your company's biggest achievement over the past year in relation to the channel? What part has your channel-facing team played in this and how is their relationship generally with the channel?

Pick a particularly successful case study (can be either solution provider or distributor partnership) from the past year and explain to the judges why it was such a success and why you think it will help you win this award. A solution provider/distributor testimonial MUST be used to back up the case study.

Entries are actively encouraged to include hard facts and figures - all of which will be kept strictly confidential and used for judging purposes only.

All programs and initiatives must have been new or further developed in 2021 to qualify. Vendors are actively encouraged to enter for more than one award if they so wish and if the category is relevant to their business.

Maximum word count: 800.

Please read the criteria before submitting your entry. Relevant partner testimonials and supporting materials are welcome but must not exceed the 800 maximum word count.

Mobile Device Innovation Award

In a world of remote, and now hybrid working, enabling devices in multiple infrastructures has become the norm. And for partners securing each and every one of them is both a challenge and a huge opportunity.

This category is now closed

This category is for all cybersecurity vendors that help partners manage devices through the channel.

The Edge IT Innovation Award

The global edge computing market is expected to grow to approximately $250bn in 2024. CPI is looking to highlight a vendor who is helping partners monopolize on the lucrative opportunities in this fast-growing segment.

This category is now closed

This category is for all cybersecurity vendors that help partners implement edge IT solutions through the channel.

The IoT Innovator Award

CPI journalists are increasingly hearing that IoT is finally starting to enable tangible use cases for end users. Many now believe IoT solutions are going to play a pivotal role in helping organisations manage hybrid workplaces moving forwards.

This category is now closed

This category is for all cybersecurity vendors that help partners sell IoT hardware and solutions to end users through the channel.

Cybersecurity Rising Star Award

With a deep industry knowledge and market-leading solutions, this award is for an early-stage vendor that is offering a fresh, innovative approach to solving customers’ existing challenges.

This category is now closed

This category is for smaller cybersecurity vendors who are challenging larger, legacy vendors. Whether it’s in providing emerging technologies or new ways of helping partners go to market, CPI is looking to celebrate a true rising star in the channel.

MSP Categories

Customer Satisfaction Award

Is this the award for you?

This award will recognise excellence in the delivery of service and support to end user customers, taking into consideration the solution provider's ability to deliver real benefits to the end user and to meet customer objectives in terms of improved efficiency, cost reduction, ROI and investment protection. Aimed at MSPs and solution providers that can demonstrate very high levels of customer retention and customer satisfaction, this award is ONLY open to companies that can truly call themselves an MSP or solution provider. Vendors or support companies DO NOT qualify for this award and if entered will be removed from the category. Evidence of customer retention and satisfaction must be provided in the entry. Entries can cover services to enterprise, mid-market or SMB level customers.

This category is now closed

Your entry should be based around the following criteria, which is what the judges will be using as a basis to score each entry.

Please do not address each point separately and just base the entry on these points alone - try to add some color/personality and just incorporate them into your entry as you see fit.

Also bear in mind that the judges are accepting PDF or multi-media entries. At the very least, please make sure your entries are easy to read and digest if in plain text format.

Outline why you are entering this category and convince the judges why your entry should be considered in this category - explain how you measure customer satisfaction and what your company ethos regarding customer satisfaction actually is.

Provide evidence of the value provided to your customers over the past year through your services - use stats and growth figures to back up points. Include any investment in new systems/vendor accreditations/services for example. Or if you have made an acquisition to further bolster your offerings, please elaborate. Why do you stand out from the competition in this category?

Pick a particularly successful corporate customer case study from the past year and provide the judges with customer testimonials that show what a valued partner you really are to them. Explain why you picked it and what you did for the customer that made you particularly proud.

People - how have you invested in your people to ensure they provide the best possible services to your customers? Do you invest in training? If so, what type and how often?

Entries must include hard facts and figures - all of which will be kept strictly confidential and used for judging purposes only.

All campaigns and initiatives must have been new or further developed between 2020 and 2021 to qualify.

MSPs are actively encouraged to enter for more than one award if they so wish and if the category is relevant to their business. But every entry MUST be different.

Maximum word count: 800.

Security Innovation Award

Is this the award for you?

This award will recognise excellence in the delivery of innovative security solutions, service and support to end user customers, taking into consideration the solution provider's ability to deliver real benefits to the user organisation, and to meet customer objectives in terms of improved efficiency, cost reduction, ROI and investment protection.

Companies that demonstrate innovation in developing and bringing-to-market new security-based concepts and solutions will also be candidates for these awards.

This category is open to MSPs and solution providers with a specific focus on providing cybersecurity solutions and the relevant services to their end-user customers. This can cover any vertical sector and is open to companies of all sizes, supplying to SMBs, mid-market firms, or enterprises, or a mixture of all three

This category is now closed

Your entry should be based around the following criteria, which is what the judges will be using as a basis to score each entry.

Please do not address each point separately and just base the entry on these points alone - try to add some colour/personality and just incorporate them into your entry as you see fit.

Also bear in mind that the judges are accepting PDF or multi-media entries. At the very least, please make sure your entries that are easy to read and digest if in plain text format.

Outline why you are entering this category and convince the judges why your entry should be considered in this category. Explain how your business is implementing or developing an innovative security solution.

Please include stats and figures to help set the scene and ensure you meet the criteria for cut-off point for entry. What makes it innovative? What customer need is it addressing? Tell us the process of how you brought it to market, from inception all the way to delivery.

Pick a particularly successful customer case study from the past year and explain to the judges why it was such a success, how your security solutions helped that customer. A customer testimonial can be used to back up the study and again use stats.

People - how have you invested in your people to ensure they provide the best possible service to your customers? Do you invest in training to ensure your teams are always up to date with the latest security technology?

Entries must include hard facts and figures - all of which will be kept strictly confidential and used for judging purposes only.

All initiatives must have been new or further developed between January 2020 and January 2021 to qualify.

MSPs are actively encouraged to enter for more than one award if they so wish, and if the category is relevant to their business. But every entry MUST be different.

Best Place to Work

This category is open to any MSP or solution provider. We are looking for the best employer, or best place to work in the MSP community.

This category is now closed

Successful entries will demonstrate a track record of attracting and retaining top talent in their companies. MSPs should outline the culture of their business, and detail their methods to create a happy and fulfilling workplace for their employees.

In an industry facing a dire skills shortage, what employee benefits do you offer to hold on to your skilled staff? What is the key to a happy culture and workplace at your business? What specific benefits/perks have you introduced to your workforce? How have you aligned the management structure of your business to encourage growth from within your company? How successfully does your company invest in training programmes to ensure your employees continue to develop their skills?

Give relevant stats/figures for staff retention or satisfaction in your company, plus any evidence you can think of to support that your business is a good place to work. All entries will be kept strictly confidential and used for judging purposes only.

We welcome and encourage PDF or multi-media entries – we want to get a sense of your business’ creativity and individual flair! Plain text entries are also accepted, but please make sure they’re easy to read and digest.

Including relevant customer case studies from the past year in your entry will go a long way to help us understand why you deserve to win this category.

You are encouraged to enter for more than one award if they wish, and if the category is relevant to their business. But each entry MUST be different.

Cloud Services Provider of the Year

Eligibility - Is this the award for you?

MSP/Solution Provider awards will recognize excellence in the delivery of solutions, service and support to end user customers, taking into consideration the solution provider's ability to deliver real benefits to the user organization, and to meet customer objectives in terms of improved efficiency, cost reduction, ROI and investment protection. Companies that demonstrate innovation in developing and bringing-to-market new concepts and solutions will also be candidates for these awards.

This category is open to solution providers/VARs/MSPs/integrators with a specific focus on providing cloud computing and the relevant services to their end-user customers. This can be in any vertical sector with any relevant cloud technology set, whether it is security, storage, infrastructure, datacenter services or a mix of the above and others.

NOTE: Solution providers entered for this category should derive at least 50 percent of their business from the provision of cloud products and services.

This category is now closed

Your entry should be based around the following criteria, which is what the judges will be using as a basis to score each entry.

Please do not address each point separately and just base the entry on these points alone -try to add some color/personality and just incorporate them into your entry as you see fit.

Also bear in mind that the judges are accepting PDF or multi-media entries. At the very least, please make sure your entries that are easy to read and digest if in plain text format.

Outline why you are entering this category and convince the judges why your entry should be considered in this category. If you have been on a journey to the cloud, or are a born-in-the-cloud player, please explain in your entry.

Explain your cloud business - the services and products you offer and what customer demographic you serve with your offerings.

Please include stats and figures to help set the scene and ensure you meet the criteria for cut-off point for entry. Provide evidence of the value your cloud offerings have provided to your clients over the past year- use stats and growth figures to back up points. Include any investment in new systems/vendor accreditations/services for example. Or if you have made an acquisition to further bolster your offerings, please elaborate.

Why do you stand out from the competition in this category? Why are you a valuable partner for vendors in this space?

Pick a particularly successful customer case study from the past year and explain to the judges why it was such a success, how your cloud solutions helped that customer save money/streamline their business/improve their service. A customer testimonial can be used to back up the study and again use stats.

People - how have you invested in your people to ensure they provide the best possible service to your customers? Do you invest in training to ensure your teams are always up to date with the latest cloud technology?

Entries are actively encouraged to include hard facts and figures - all of which will be kept strictly confidential and used for judging purposes only.

All campaigns and initiatives must have been new or further developed in 2021 to qualify.

Solution providers are actively encouraged to enter for more than one award if they so wish, and if the category is relevant to their business. But every entry MUST be different.

Maximum word count: 800.

MSP of the Year

Eligibility - Is this the award for you?

This award will recognize excellence in the delivery of service and support to end user customers, taking into consideration the MSP’s ability to deliver real benefits to the end user and to meet customer objectives in terms of improved efficiency, cost reduction, ROI and investment protection. Companies that demonstrate innovation in developing and bringing- new service offerings to market will also be candidates for these awards. 

This award is ONLY open to companies that can truly call themselves an MSP. Vendors or support companies DO NOT qualify for this award and if entered will be removed from the category. Business has to consist primarily of managed services TO END USER CUSTOMERS. Managed services can come in many forms - although bear in mind there is a separate cloud services provider category, so non-cloud entries will be given priority and cloud entries could be moved by the judges. Entries can cover managed services to enterprise, mid-market or SMB level customers. At least 40 percent of your business must be through managed services to qualify for entry.

This category is now closed

Your entry should be based around the following criteria, which is what the judges will be using as a basis to score each entry.

Please do not address each point separately and just base the entry on these points alone - try to add some color/personality and just incorporate them into your entry as you see fit.

Also bear in mind that the judges are accepting PDF or multi-media entries. At the very least, please make sure your entries are easy to read and digest if in plain text format.

Outline why you are entering this category and convince the judges why your entry should be considered in this category -explain the MSP part of your business, using figures and stats to demonstrate the size of that business, and ensure it meets the criteria requirements.

Provide evidence of the value provided to your customers over the past year through your services - use stats and growth figures to back up points. Include any investment in new systems, services or technologies for example. Or if you have made an acquisition to further bolster your offerings, please elaborate. Why do you stand out from the competition in this category? Why are you a valuable partner for vendors in this space?

Pick a particularly successful corporate customer case study from the past year and explain to the judges why it was such a success, how you helped that customer save money/streamline their business/improve their service to their own customers. A customer testimonial can be used to back up the study – and, again, use stats and data.

People - how have you invested in your people to ensure they provide the best possible service to your customers? Do you invest in training? If so what type and how often?

Entries are actively encouraged to include hard facts and figures - all of which will be kept strictly confidential and used for judging purposes only.

All campaigns and initiatives must have been new or further developed in 2021 to qualify.

Partners are actively encouraged to enter for more than one award if they so wish, and if the category is relevant to their business. But every entry MUST be different.

Maximum word count: 800.

Please read the criteria before submitting your entry. Relevant partner testimonials and supporting materials are welcome but must be part of the 800 maximum word count.

MSSP of the Year

Eligibility - Is this the award for you?

This award will recognize excellence in the delivery of service and support to end user customers, taking into consideration the MSP’s ability to deliver real benefits to the end user and to meet customer objectives in terms of improved efficiency, cost reduction, ROI and investment protection. Companies that demonstrate innovation in developing and bringing- new service offerings to market will also be candidates for these awards.

This award is ONLY open to companies that can truly call themselves an MSP. Vendors or support companies DO NOT qualify for this award and if entered will be removed from the category. Business has to consist primarily of managed services TO END USER CUSTOMERS. Managed services can come in many forms - although bear in mind there is a separate cloud services provider category, so non-cloud entries will be given priority and cloud entries could be moved by the judges. Entries can cover managed services to enterprise, mid-market or SMB level customers. At least 40 percent of your business must be through managed services to qualify for entry.

This category is now closed

Your entry should be based around the following criteria, which is what the judges will be using as a basis to score each entry.

Please do not address each point separately and just base the entry on these points alone - try to add some color/personality and just incorporate them into your entry as you see fit.

Also bear in mind that the judges are accepting PDF or multi-media entries. At the very least, please make sure your entries are easy to read and digest if in plain text format.

Outline why you are entering this category and convince the judges why your entry should be considered in this category -explain the MSP part of your business, using figures and stats to demonstrate the size of that business, and ensure it meets the criteria requirements. Provide evidence of the value provided to your customers over the past year through your services - use stats and growth figures to back up points. Include any investment in new systems, services or technologies for example. Or if you have made an acquisition to further bolster your offerings, please elaborate.

Why do you stand out from the competition in this category? Why are you a valuable partner for vendors in this space?

Pick a particularly successful corporate customer case study from the past year and explain to the judges why it was such a success, how you helped that customer save money/streamline their business/improve their service to their own customers. A customer testimonial can be used to back up the study – and, again, use stats and data.

People - how have you invested in your people to ensure they provide the best possible service to your customers? Do you invest in training? If so what type and how often?

Entries are actively encouraged to include hard facts and figures - all of which will be kept strictly confidential and used for judging purposes only.

All campaigns and initiatives must have been new or further developed in 2021 to qualify.

Partners are actively encouraged to enter for more than one award if they so wish, and if the category is relevant to their business. But every entry MUST be different.

Maximum word count: 800. Please read the criteria before submitting your entry. Relevant partner testimonials and supporting materials are welcome but must be part of the 800 maximum word count.

Best COVID-19 Related Initiative of the Year

This category is for all MSPs and solution providers that sell through the channel. This category will award partners that have carried out a COVID-19 related project to support their customers throughout the crisis.

This category is now closed

Your entry should be based around the following criteria, which is what the judges will be using as a basis to score each entry.

Please do not address each point separately and just base the entry on these points alone - try to add some colour/personality and incorporate them into your entry as you see fit.

Also bear in mind that the judges are accepting PDF or multi-media entries, but at the very least please make sure your entries that are easy to read and digest if in plain text format.

Outline why you are entering this category and your relevancy to the category. Tell us more about the project, what it involved, how long it took, and what difference it made to your customer. What problem did it solve? What was the scale of the project? How many people were invovled? What resources did it require? Tell us how you have gone above and beyond to support your customers during the pandemic.

Entries are actively encouraged to include hard facts and figures - all of which will be kept strictly confidential and used for judging purposes only.

MSPs and solution providers are actively encouraged to enter for more than one award if they so wish, and if the category is relevant to their business. But every entry MUST be different.

Industry Specialist Award

Eligibility - Is this the award for you?

This award will recognise those partners that can actively demonstrate how they have become a partner of choice in a specific vertical market and are the go-to partner for both vendors and end user customers alike. This category is open to MSPs or solution providers that have a laser focus on a specific vertical market such as finance, retail, public sector or manufacturing and can offer a range of solutions/services that cover all the bases for their customers. This can cover any vertical sector and is open to companies of all sizes, supplying to SMBs, mid-market firms, or enterprises, or a mixture of all three. MSPs entering this category should derive at least 50 percent of their business from their chosen vertical.

Please note that there is also a cyber security category, so firms submitting entries that focus on security may be moved.

This category is now closed

Your entry should be based around the following criteria, which is what the judges will be using as a basis to score each entry.

Please do not address each point separately and just base the entry on these points alone -try to add some colour/personality and just incorporate them into your entry as you see fit.

Also bear in mind that the judges are accepting PDF or multi-media entries. At the very least, please make sure your entries that are easy to read and digest if in plain text format.

Outline why you are entering this category and convince the judges why your entry should be considered in this category. Explain your vertical focus - the services and products you offer around that vertical market and what customer demographic you serve with your offerings.

Please include stats and figures to help set the scene and ensure you meet the criteria for cut-off point for entry. Provide evidence of the value your specific offerings have provided to your clients over the past year- use stats and growth figures to back up points. Include any investment in new systems/vendor accreditations/services for example. Or if you have made an acquisition to further bolster your offerings, please elaborate.

Why do you stand out from the competition in this category? Why are you a valuable partner for vendors in this space?

Pick a particularly successful customer case study from the past year and explain to the judges why it was such a success, how your services and solutions helped that customer. A customer testimonial needs to back up the study, and again use stats. People - how have you invested in your people to ensure they provide the best possible service to your customers? Do you invest in training to ensure your teams are always up to date with the latest technology additions to your chosen vertical?

Entries must include hard facts and figures - all of which will be kept strictly confidential and used for judging purposes only. All initiatives must have been new or further developed between August 2020 and August 2021 to qualify.

MSPs are actively encouraged to enter for more than one award if they so wish, and if the category is relevant to their business. But every entry MUST be different.

Maximum word count: 800.

Innovative Project Award

This award will recognise MSPs that can demonstrate how a particular project they have delivered in the last 12 months has helped a customer save money, expand or innovate. This category is open to any MSP that has completed an outstanding project or installation for a customer over the past 12 months. This can be from creating bespoke services to help that customer achieve their goals, or implementing a solution or combination of solutions from vendor partners that have really made an impact on that customer's business and delivered exactly what they needed.

This category is now closed

Your entry should be based around the following criteria, which is what the judges will be using as a basis to score each entry.

Please do not address each point separately and just base the entry on these points alone - try to add some colour/personality and just incorporate them into your entry as you see fit.

Also bear in mind that the judges are accepting PDF or multi-media entries. At the very least, please make sure your entries are easy to read and digest if in plain text format.

Why have you entered? Describe the project you worked on and how you won the contract with the customer. Please describe the project in detail and how it benefitted your customer's business. Is this the first of its kind of project for your company? Have you developed a whole new revenue stream as a result? Are you offering it to other companies? Why do you think this particular project makes you stand out from the competition? Did it use any up and coming technology such as artificial intelligence for example?

Customer testimonial - how has the project helped them in their words? Did they feel you went above and beyond your duty as their supplier? What were they particularly pleased with and why?

Entries must include hard facts and figures - all of which will be kept strictly confidential and used for judging purposes only.

All initiatives must have been new or further developed between August 2020 and August 2021 to qualify.

MSPs are actively encouraged to enter for more than one award if they so wish, and if the category is relevant to their business. But every entry MUST be different.

Cloud Services Provider of the Year

Eligibility - Is this the award for you?

MSP/Solution Provider awards will recognize excellence in the delivery of solutions, service and support to end user customers, taking into consideration the solution provider's ability to deliver real benefits to the user organization, and to meet customer objectives in terms of improved efficiency, cost reduction, ROI and investment protection. Companies that demonstrate innovation in developing and bringing-to-market new concepts and solutions will also be candidates for these awards.

This category is open to solution providers/VARs/MSPs/integrators with a specific focus on providing cloud computing and the relevant services to their end-user customers. This can be in any vertical sector with any relevant cloud technology set, whether it is security, storage, infrastructure, datacenter services or a mix of the above and others. NOTE: Solution providers entered for this category should derive at least 50 percent of their business from the provision of cloud products and services.

This category is now closed

Your entry should be based around the following criteria, which is what the judges will be using as a basis to score each entry.

Please do not address each point separately and just base the entry on these points alone -try to add some color/personality and just incorporate them into your entry as you see fit.

Also bear in mind that the judges are accepting PDF or multi-media entries. At the very least, please make sure your entries that are easy to read and digest if in plain text format.

Outline why you are entering this category and convince the judges why your entry should be considered in this category. If you have been on a journey to the cloud, or are a born-in-the-cloud player, please explain in your entry.

Explain your cloud business - the services and products you offer and what customer demographic you serve with your offerings. Please include stats and figures to help set the scene and ensure you meet the criteria for cut-off point for entry.

Provide evidence of the value your cloud offerings have provided to your clients over the past year- use stats and growth figures to back up points. Include any investment in new systems/vendor accreditations/services for example. Or if you have made an acquisition to further bolster your offerings, please elaborate.

Why do you stand out from the competition in this category? Why are you a valuable partner for vendors in this space?

Pick a particularly successful customer case study from the past year and explain to the judges why it was such a success, how your cloud solutions helped that customer save money/streamline their business/improve their service. A customer testimonial can be used to back up the study and again use stats.

People - how have you invested in your people to ensure they provide the best possible service to your customers? Do you invest in training to ensure your teams are always up to date with the latest cloud technology?

Entries are actively encouraged to include hard facts and figures - all of which will be kept strictly confidential and used for judging purposes only.

All campaigns and initiatives must have been new or further developed in 2021 to qualify.

Solution providers are actively encouraged to enter for more than one award if they so wish, and if the category is relevant to their business. But every entry MUST be different.

Maximum word count: 800.

Channel Chief of the Year

Security Channel Chief of the Year

PLEASE NOTE: If you are shortlisted for this award, it will go forward to an online industry vote as well as being looked at by the judging panel. We will need a paragraph (no more than 150 words) that the audience can read about you/your company and why you think you deserve their vote.

This entry is designed to reward a channel chief that has made a particular impact in the security industry, whether this is getting new partners on board, or developing a strategy that has paid real dividends for partners and made a difference to their customers.

This category is now closed

Your entry should be based around the following criteria, which is what the judges will be using as a basis to score each entry. Please do not address each point separately and just base your entry on these points alone - make sure it is relevant, and try to add some color/personality and incorporate them into your entry as you see fit. Also bear in mind that the judges are accepting PDF or multi-media entries, but at the very least please make sure your entries that are easy to read and digest if in plain text format.

Demonstrate why you have entered yourself/this person for the Security Channel Chief of the Year award (ie what is your/their relevance to the security market/channel) and why you think you (or the person you are nominating) should win this award. What have you/this person done in the security space to really make a difference for your channel partners? Have you/they introduced new schemes, initiatives that have had a positive impact on their business, for example? Have you worked with partners to combat particular threats to their customers? Use facts, stats and figures to back this up and strengthen your entry.

What has been your/their biggest personal achievement over the past year in relation to the security channel? Pick a particularly successful case study (can be either solution provider or distributor partnership) from the past year and explain to the judges why it was such a success and why you think it will help you win this award. A solution provider/distributor testimonial MUST be used to back up the case study.

Entries are actively encouraged to include hard facts and figures - all of which will be kept strictly confidential and used for judging purposes only.

All programs and initiatives must have been new or further developed in 2021 to qualify.

Vendors are actively encouraged to enter for more than one award if they so wish, and if the category is relevant to their business.

Maximum word count: 800.

Channel Chief of the Year

PLEASE NOTE: If you are shortlisted for this award, it will go forward to an online industry vote as well as being looked at by the judging panel. We will need a paragraph (no more than 150 words) that the audience can read about you/your company and why you think you deserve their vote.

This entry is aimed at any channel chief in any technology vendor that is making a real impact on partners and has shown an exceptional understanding of the value of an indirect strategy.

This category is now closed

Your entry should be based around the following criteria, which is what the judges will be using as a basis to score each entry. Please do not address each point separately and just base your entry on these points alone - try to add some color/personality and incorporate them into your entry as you see fit. Also bear in mind that the judges are accepting PDF or multi-media entries, but at the very least please make sure your entries that are easy to read and digest if in plain text format.

Demonstrate why you have entered yourself/this person for the Channel Chief of the Year award and why you think you (or the person you are nominating) should win this award. What have you/this person done to really make a difference for your channel partners? Have you/they introduced new schemes, initiatives that have had a positive impact on their business, for example? Use facts, stats and figures to back this up and strengthen your entry.

What has been your/their biggest personal achievement over the past year in relation to the channel? Pick a particularly successful case study (can be either solution provider or distributor partnership) from the past year and explain to the judges why it was such a success and why you think it will help you win this award. A solution provider/distributor testimonial MUST be used to back up the case study.

Entries are actively encouraged to include hard facts and figures - all of which will be kept strictly confidential and used for judging purposes only.

All programs and initiatives must have been new or further developed in 2021 to qualify.

Vendors are actively encouraged to enter for more than one award if they so wish, and if the category is relevant to their business.

Maximum word count: 800.

New Channel Chief of the Year

PLEASE NOTE: If you are shortlisted for this award, it will go forward to an online industry vote as well as being looked at by the judging panel. We will need a paragraph (no more than 150 words) that the audience can read about you/your company and why you think you deserve their vote. 

This category is now closed

This award is aimed at a singling out a channel chief that is new to their role and who has made a real difference in a short time. They need to have been in the role for 12 months or less to qualify.

Your entry should be based around the below criteria, which is what the judges will be using as a basis to score each entry. Please do not address each point separately and just base your entry on these points alone - try to add some color/personality and incorporate them into your entry as you see fit. Also bear in mind that the judges are accepting PDF or multi-media entries, but at the very least please make sure your entries that are easy to read and digest if in plain text format.

Demonstrate why you have entered yourself/this person for the New Channel Chief of the Year award - ie - state how long they have been in the role and the impact they have made so far, and why you think you (or the person you are nominating) should win this award. What have you/this person done during their brief time in the role to really make a difference for your channel partners? Have you/they introduced new schemes, initiatives that have had a positive impact on their business, for example? Have they hit the ground running in their new job? Use facts, stats and figures to back this up and strengthen your entry.

What has been your/their biggest personal achievement so far in the role? Pick a particularly successful case study (can be either solution provider or distributor partnership) from the past year and explain to the judges why it was such a success and why you think it will help you win this award. A solution provider/distributor testimonial MUST be used to back up the case study.

Entries are actively encouraged to include hard facts and figures - all of which will be kept strictly confidential and used for judging purposes only.

To reiterate, the nominee for this award must have been in the role for a maximum one-year period.

Vendors are actively encouraged to enter for more than one award if they so wish, and if the category is relevant to their business.

Maximum word count: 800.