What sets the world's top MSPs apart?

The MSP 501 is widely regarded as one of the most comprehensive rankings in the managed IT services industry. Making the list is no small feat, requiring real operational discipline, consistent client delivery and a business built for sustainable growth. 

The organizations on the 2026 MSP 501 list generated aggregate revenue of more than $32 billion, with average growth of 10.1%. Accounts grew 13.4% and staffing increased by 7%.  

At Kaseya, we are thrilled that so many of our partners made the list, as we’ve seen firsthand all the hard work, innovation and strategic client focus that went into earning this recognition.  

“Congratulations to all of this year’s MSP 501 honorees, especially the more than 300 Kaseya partners — including 10 of the top 20,” said Dan Tomaszewski, EVP, Channel, Kaseya. “This recognition is very well deserved.”  

What separates the MSPs that make this list from those that don’t? To find out, we talked with Christopher Miller, CRO of ATB Technologies, which has made the list six years in a row. Here’s what he and other top-ranked MSPs are doing differently. 

The best MSPs aren’t chasing the rankings,” said Miller. “They chase client success, and the recognition becomes a byproduct of that focus.” 

The best MSPs aren’t chasing the rankings,” said Miller. “They chase client success, and the recognition becomes a byproduct of that focus.”  

1. They treat AI and cybersecurity as growth engines 

Three quarters of the 2026 MSP 501 listed managed security as a top revenue producer. Security and AI were the top two expected growth areas heading into 2026. The MSPs that made the list have moved well beyond talking about these trends. They’re building services around them. 

According to PartnerOptimizer’s DNA of MSP Growth report, MSP 501 winners emphasized AI 3.8 times more than the broader MSP sector. This focus reflects the depth of their AI capabilities and how deliberately they’re integrating AI into client services. 

But Miller is quick to draw a line between selling AI tools and delivering AI outcomes. “The reality is that software itself isn’t going to make AI work in an organization,” he said. “It’s a tool. It’s about how we provide outcomes. That takes knowledge-based workers, thought leadership and taking a tool and making it create an outcome.” 

That distinction between deploying technology and driving outcomes is one of the clearest markers of the MSPs that consistently rank at the top. 

2. They’ve evolved from IT support into strategic business advisors  

The MSP industry has undergone a fundamental shift over the past two decades, from remote monitoring and cloud to AI. MSP 501 winners have been on the forefront of those seismic shifts. 

Miller, who has been in the industry for 20 years, describes the transformation. 

“We’ve evolved from providing IT support to really becoming more of a strategic business advisor,” he said. “Today, our clients expect guidance around cybersecurity, compliance, cloud transformation and AI adoption.” 

Rather than leading with technology, Miller and his team approach every client AI conversation by leading with the question: “What outcome are you trying to achieve?” Then they determine whether AI is the right path to get there. It’s a simple reframe, but it’s the difference between being a vendor and being a trusted advisor. 

“Technology has become a boardroom conversation,” said Miller. “MSPs that can connect technology decisions to business outcomes are really going to define the next decade of the MSP space.”  

3. They practice what they preach by testing AI internally 

Top MSPs don’t just recommend AI to clients; they use it in their own businesses. ATB uses AI across ticket intake, new user onboarding, recruiting, HR and marketing.  

“We test emerging technologies internally because we believe we need to try it and test it before we bring it to our clients,” said Miller. “It gives us real scenarios and real solutions.” 

The ROI case is direct. Miller puts it simply: A well-crafted prompt can produce 90% of what you need in minutes, leaving an hour of refinement instead of a full day of work. Across a team, that kind of efficiency compounds quickly and frees people up for higher-value work.  

4. They invest in their people and use AI to help them, not replace them 

The MSPs who make the 501 list consistently cite an investment in people as a core differentiator. But in 2026, that conversation is inseparable from AI. 

Miller offers a concrete example from his client base: engineering firms that can’t hire qualified staff fast enough, leaving teams running at 125% capacity. ATB’s approach is to use AI to absorb that 25–35% overload — the repetitive, low-judgment tasks people don’t want to do — so staff can focus on the work that drives business value. 

“If you truly care about your people, it’s not about putting them out of work,” said Miller. “It’s about helping them enjoy work more.” 

It’s a people-first philosophy that runs through the best MSPs on the list, and it resonates with their clients who are wrestling with the same workforce pressures. 

5. They chase client success, not rankings 

Perhaps the most consistent theme across MSP 501 honorees is one that’s easy to overlook. The best-performing MSPs obsess over client outcomes first, and the recognition follows. 

“The best MSPs aren’t chasing the rankings,” said Miller. “They chase client success, and the recognition becomes a byproduct of that focus.” 

ATB’s success, by Miller’s account, comes down to three things: staying obsessed with client outcomes, investing in people and embracing innovation without losing sight of the business value it needs to deliver.  

How Kaseya helped ATB and other MSPs  

For many of the 300+ Kaseya partners who made this year’s list, Kaseya has been essential to their growth. Miller has worked within the Kaseya ecosystem across multiple platforms, from Autotask and Datto to Kaseya today.  

“Kaseya has really helped us scale efficiently,” said Miller. “They provide the tools, the automation, the security and the monitoring — the overall operational consistency we need as an MSP.”  

Just as important, Miller says, Kaseya has been a strong partner to ATB. 
 
“Kaseya provides us with industry insights and access to a community of other successful MSPs,” he said. “That combination of technology and partnership is really what helps us deliver a more consistent, secure and ultimately strategic experience for our clients.” 

At Kaseya, we’re committed to helping our partners scale and succeed. 

“We want to be the partner that’s genuinely invested in your success,” said Tomaszewski. “The best partnerships are built on shared ambition, and this community has it in abundance.” 

The future belongs to MSPs that lead with relationships 

The MSPs at the top are building businesses with genuine depth: in their security practices, their AI capabilities, their operational discipline and their client relationships. 

“The future really belongs to MSPs that can combine automation, cybersecurity and AI with what technology can’t replace, and that’s trusted relationships,” said Miller. 

Congratulations again to all 2026 MSP 501 honorees and to the Kaseya partners who earned their place on the list. The work you’re doing for your clients, your teams and the broader industry is what makes this community exceptional.