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We picked the most impactful MSP gatherings for 2024, focusing on events that deliver networking, technical content, and partner opportunities. Whether you lead a small MSP or run a larger managed services organization, these conferences help you find vendors, learn best practices, and build go-to-market momentum.
Start with MSP Expo — it’s one of the largest MSP-focused shows and a great place to find new tools and partners. The event mixes strategic keynotes, product showcases, and practical sessions, making it useful for sales, ops, and technical staff. Expect startup showcases where early-stage vendors pitch new ideas and plenty of networking time. If budget is limited, pick the sessions that match your immediate goals: sales, automation, or cybersecurity. Book early for better travel rates and to reserve sessions that fill up quickly.
ASCII Edge focuses on practical MSP strategies and creative thinking — it’s ideal for operational leaders and business owners. The program often highlights growth tactics, automation, and real-world case studies from experienced MSPs. Attendees get actionable takeaways they can test quickly back at the office. The event’s smaller, focused format makes it easier to meet peers and form follow-up relationships. Plan dedicated time for roundtables and vendor demos to squeeze more value from the schedule.
XChange is a high-value gathering for IT channel executives who want peer-driven insight and vendor partnerships. It’s designed for senior leaders and offers candid conversations about pricing, managed services packaging, and vendor selection. You’ll find sessions and peer roundtables that cut straight to what’s working in the market today. Use the time to validate strategy with peers and identify partners for co-selling or joint solutions. Follow up quickly after the conference to convert connections into pilots or deals.
Pink24 delivers IT service management and process-focused training — it’s best for operations and service delivery teams. The conference includes frameworks, ITIL-related content, and sessions on scaling service desks and automation. If you’re standardizing processes or building an NOC/SOC, bring your ops leads and technical architects. Workshops and certification prep tracks make it easy to convert learning into internal upskilling. Bring a list of internal challenges to match sessions to practical solutions.
Yes — IT Nation Secure specializes in MSP security operations, threat response, and compliance topics. It brings vendors, consultants, and MSPs together around real-world cyber defense strategies and business models. The content is tactical and ROI-focused, covering managed detection, incident response, and partner programs. Security-focused MSPs should prioritize sessions that map directly to service offerings you want to launch or improve. Use vendor expos to compare tools side-by-side and plan pilots after the show.
Pax8 Beyond centers on cloud marketplaces, distribution models, and go-to-market partnerships — great for sales and channel teams. The event offers deep dives into marketplace listings, cloud billing, and vendor programs that help MSPs scale recurring revenue. Sales leaders can learn new packaging strategies and meet distribution partners that simplify billing. Look for content that aligns to your ideal customer and current product stack. Bring your pricing models and ask for marketplace onboarding tips during sessions.
CloudFest is a broad cloud industry show that’s useful if your MSP is expanding cloud services or reseller programs. It attracts hosting, cloud platform, and infrastructure vendors — a good place to discover emerging platform partners. Technical leaders can evaluate platforms and hosting partners while commercial teams scout reseller opportunities. If accelerating cloud-native services is a priority, this event reveals trends and vendor roadmaps to help you plan. Prioritize sessions that directly map to migration, security, and managed cloud offerings.
Yes — vendor user conferences like Kaseya or dattoCon are invaluable for product deep dives and networking with peers using the same stack. These gatherings include feature roadmaps, product training, and user-led best practices that help optimize toolchains. Attend breakout sessions focused on automation, backup, and remote monitoring to improve operations and reduce toil. Vendor meetups are a fast way to influence product direction and discover integration partners. Take home operational playbooks and action items for immediate improvement.
MSSP Alert Live concentrates on managed security provider challenges — it’s ideal if security is a core or growing offering. The event highlights incident response playbooks, service packaging, and trust-building with customers. Sessions often include vendor comparisons and case studies showing profitable security services. Use the event to benchmark pricing and packaging against peer MSSPs and to gather compliance guidance. Post-event, test one or two vendor tools in a controlled pilot before full rollout.
Choose events based on your strategic goals: regional shows are great for local partnerships and hiring, while global conferences expose you to broader trends and big vendors. If your objective is new local clients or hiring, prioritize regional gatherings with strong local attendance. For product strategy, tech roadmaps, and large partner selection, pick global events with vendor ecosystems. Balance budget and expected ROI; it’s often better to send multiple team members to nearby shows than one person to a distant conference. Build a post-conference plan to convert contacts into pilots or leads.
Plan objectives in advance and map sessions to measurable outcomes — that yields the best return on time and budget. Assign team roles: who meets vendors, who attends technical sessions, and who networks for partnerships. Schedule meetings in advance and leave time for unplanned encounters that often lead to the best opportunities. Capture notes and a three-step follow-up plan for each important connection to turn conversations into outcomes. Finally, share learnings internally and run short workshops to implement what was learned quickly.
Attend a small number of high-impact shows — typically 3–6 — depending on budget and team size. Mix one large global conference with a couple of regional or vendor-specific events to cover strategy and execution. Ensure each trip has clear goals and a follow-up plan to maximize ROI. Rotate attendees so different team members build vendor and peer networks over time. Track outcomes like pilot starts, qualified leads, and process improvements to measure value.
Virtual events are useful for cost-effective access to content and for catching sessions you missed in person. They’re not as strong for networking, but they let more team members attend sessions that map to their roles. Use virtual sessions for training and follow-up when travel isn’t feasible. Combine virtual attendance with selective in-person events for best results. Recordings and session materials are also valuable for internal training after the event.
Budget for registration, travel, lodging, and meals, plus a buffer for stakeholder meetings and sponsorships if needed. Early-bird pricing and group discounts can reduce costs significantly. Track ROI by counting leads, pilots, and partnerships started within six months after the event. Consider swapping one big conference for multiple regional events if your aim is local growth or hiring. Factor in the staff time cost for follow-up and implementation when calculating total ROI.
Follow up within 48–72 hours with personalized messages and a clear next step, such as a demo, pilot, or call. Prioritize contacts by fit and potential deal size or strategic value. Share notes and assign internal owners for follow-up activities to ensure nothing slips. Use CRM tags to track event source and follow-up outcomes for reporting. Schedule follow-up meetings promptly to capitalize on momentum.
Use industry publications, vendor newsletters, and MSP community sites for curated event calendars — and check Palisade for related resources and guides. Bookmark conference pages early and subscribe for announcements on speakers and agendas. Ask peers in forums and community groups for firsthand impressions before you commit to travel. Keep a rolling conference plan for the year and update it as priorities evolve.
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