The managed services arms race just added another badge of honor.

Netrio, a global MSP focused on AI-driven IT and cybersecurity for mid-market enterprises, has been named to the 2026 MSP 500 list in the Elite 150 category by CRN, a brand of The Channel Company.

In the crowded MSP landscape, where differentiation increasingly hinges on automation and security depth, placement in the Elite 150 signals that Netrio is competing beyond traditional help desk and infrastructure support.

What the Elite 150 Recognition Means

CRN’s annual MSP 500 list is divided into three tiers:

• Pioneer 250 for MSPs focused on SMBs

• Elite 150 for providers delivering a blend of on- and off-premises services to midmarket and enterprise clients

• Security MSP 100 for cloud-first security specialists

The Elite 150 category is arguably the most competitive. It recognizes MSPs that operate in hybrid environments—where legacy infrastructure, cloud platforms, and modern security frameworks must coexist.

For mid-market enterprises navigating digital transformation, that hybrid complexity is the norm.

AI and Automation Take Center Stage

Netrio’s recognition comes as MSPs face mounting pressure to evolve from reactive IT support shops into proactive, AI-enabled strategic partners.

Over the past year, Netrio expanded operations across the U.S., U.K., and India while strengthening its customer experience organization. But the bigger strategic move is the launch of NetrioNow®, its unified AI-powered service delivery platform.

According to the company, NetrioNow centralizes service transparency, accelerates ticket resolution, and enables proactive cybersecurity governance. In practical terms, that means fewer black-box service processes and more data-driven visibility into performance, response times, and risk posture.

This aligns with a broader industry trend: MSPs embedding AI into operations to shift from break-fix models to predictive IT management. Automation-driven monitoring, AI-assisted remediation, and governance dashboards are quickly becoming table stakes.

The Mid-Market Battleground

The mid-market segment is increasingly attractive—and competitive. Enterprises want 24x7 support, scalable infrastructure management, and cybersecurity depth, but without the overhead of building in-house teams at scale.

Netrio’s positioning centers on end-to-end managed IT infrastructure, cloud services, connectivity, cybersecurity, and even application development. That breadth is designed to reduce vendor sprawl—an ongoing pain point for CIOs juggling fragmented technology stacks.

CEO Mark Clayman framed the recognition as validation of the company’s approach: blending deep expertise with intelligent automation to help organizations modernize and secure increasingly complex environments.

CRN’s Jennifer Follett, VP of U.S. Content and Executive Editor, described the 2026 MSP 500 honorees as companies redefining managed services by helping businesses stay agile and maximize IT investments.

Why It Matters for the Channel

Recognition on CRN’s MSP 500 list isn’t just a marketing win. For channel-focused service providers, it strengthens credibility with partners, investors, and enterprise buyers.

The MSP sector itself is in a period of consolidation and reinvention. Cybersecurity threats are escalating, hybrid cloud architectures are expanding, and AI is reshaping operational expectations. Providers that fail to automate and standardize delivery models risk margin compression and customer churn.

Netrio’s Elite 150 placement suggests it’s leaning into that transformation rather than defending legacy models.

For CIOs and IT leaders evaluating partners, the signal is clear: managed services are no longer about outsourced IT maintenance. They’re about intelligent, always-on operational infrastructure.

And in 2026, AI-enabled delivery platforms may well determine which MSPs thrive—and which merely survive.

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