ConnectWise CEO Manny Rivelo described a roughly $100 million investment to bring the company’s separate managed-service-provider (MSP) products onto a shared, AI-enabled platform called Asio. The goal was to unify professional services automation (PSA), remote monitoring and management (RMM), security and backup, with a mid-2026 target for product parity. By July 16, 2026, ConnectWise said its broader ConnectWise Platform was generally available. That establishes a product and branding milestone—not proof that every module has reached parity or that every customer can migrate without trade-offs.
For MSPs evaluating the bet, the key questions are practical: what is genuinely connected, what remains to be migrated, how AI actions are controlled, and whether consolidation improves total cost. On ownership, Rivelo characterized Thoma Bravo as willing to keep investing and pursue value creation over a longer period. Those were the CEO’s statements in a 2025 interview, not a commitment that the private-equity firm will retain ConnectWise indefinitely.
What the $100 million investment was meant to fund
In a 2025 interview with CRN, Rivelo framed the roughly $100 million as an investment in completing Asio: a shared platform layer intended to bring ConnectWise’s core MSP operations together. He described the core areas as RMM, PSA, cybersecurity and data backup, with shared data and services supporting automation, AI and robotic process automation.
The interview did not break down the figure by engineering, infrastructure, migration, acquisitions or sales and support; nor did it give a spending schedule, amount already spent, or an independently audited accounting. It is therefore best read as management’s stated investment commitment, not as a disclosed acquisition fund or evidence that the entire sum had been spent.
#1 Best Overall
- 【Powerful Load-bearing】12U Network Rack Open Frame is constructed from durable cold rolled steel; Rack shelf supports enhance stability, wall-mounted capacity of 130lbs, the ground-mounted up to 260lbs
- 【Considerate Designs】Open-frame layout, including a top panel adding space, anti-slip shelf stops fixing devices and compatible racks for stack and expansion to meet requirements of home server rack
- 【Complete Accessories】A 12U open frame server rack, two ventilated shelves, four shelf stops, four velcro straps and a set of equipment mounting screws
- 【Versatile Application】Ideal for space-efficient multi-device setups in warehouses, retail, classrooms, offices and more; Excellent choices as AV Rack/IT Rack
- 【Effortless Setup】 Network Rack includes hardware, a comprehensive manual, mounting hole drilling template and an online assembly video to simplify setup
The business rationale is straightforward. MSPs often coordinate tickets, endpoint monitoring, security alerts, backup events, documentation and billing across separate tools. ConnectWise’s thesis is that shared context and workflows can reduce manual handoffs and duplicated data. Whether that improves economics for a particular MSP depends on what it already owns, which workflows can actually cross product boundaries, and the cost and risk of moving off existing tools.
Asio became the ConnectWise Platform story
Asio was the name used for the platform architecture and integration strategy in the 2025 interview. In June 2026, ConnectWise introduced the ConnectWise Platform as an AI-native operating layer for MSPs; on July 16, the company announced that the platform was generally available. Its current positioning spans PSA, RMM, ScreenConnect, SIEM, automation, orchestration, AI agents, documentation, billing, backup and third-party integrations. ConnectWise calls it a “System of Action” for predictive IT in its June announcement and July availability announcement.
This is a clear evolution in branding and commercial positioning, but the announcements do not establish that every legacy product has been renamed, replaced or migrated. “Generally available” applies to the platform announcement; buyers still need to confirm which specific modules, capabilities, integrations and migration paths are available to them.
| Platform layer | Capabilities ConnectWise describes | What a buyer should verify |
|---|---|---|
| Service and business operations | PSA, ticketing, documentation and billing | Whether current ticket, permissions, reporting and billing workflows transfer intact |
| Technical operations | RMM, ScreenConnect, monitoring, patching and automation | Script behavior, alert tuning, integrations and parity with the tools in use today |
| Security and resilience | SIEM, security capabilities, backup and BCDR-related products | Which functions are native, integrated or separately licensed, and which workloads are covered |
| Intelligence and orchestration | Sidekick, AI agents and automated workflows | What an agent may read, recommend or execute, and where approval is required |
| Ecosystem | Third-party integrations and an open-ecosystem positioning | API support, versioning, data export and whether preferred vendors can remain in the stack |
ConnectWise’s 2025 announcement of PSA powered by Asio described common data for companies, contacts, tickets and assets, a shared interface, and embedded Sidekick and RPA capabilities. Those are meaningful integration claims. They do not by themselves prove common identity and permissions across every product, end-to-end event-triggered workflows, unified billing, or a complete migration path from each legacy system. A common screen is not the same thing as a common operating model.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
The parity promise remains a buyer-level question
Rivelo’s mid-2026 parity target was a forward-looking statement made in 2025. He acknowledged that some newer Asio modules had initially lacked functionality found in legacy products such as Automate, while saying the new RMM had reached parity and exceeded the older product in some areas. Those are executive assessments, not an independently verified, feature-by-feature comparison.
Rank #2
- Save valuable floor space: 12U wall mount server cabinet Dimensions: 24.25" H x21.65" W x17.72" D. MAXIMUM MOUNTING DEPTH is 14.2".
- Keep critical network equipment secure: glass door and side panels are lockable to prevent unauthorized access; Front door can be installed on either side of the front of the cabinet to satisfy your door swing orientation preference
- Easy equipment configuration: Fully adjustable mounting rails and numbered U positions, with square holes for easy equipment mounting with top and bottom punchout panels for easy cable access
- Durability: Made of high quality cold rolled steel holds up to 110lb (50kg) (Easy Assembly Required)
- PCI & HIPPA and EIA/ECA-310-E compliant
A November 2025 CRN follow-up described PSA modernization work involving permissions, custom views, layout controls and unified billing. It also reported that a rebuilt RMM release included more than 1,200 out-of-the-box alerts. The details illustrate why parity is more than a list of headline features: foundational controls and everyday workflows can determine whether a new system works for a particular operation.
Before treating parity as established for your environment, ask ConnectWise for a migration matrix that covers the functions you actually use. Compare legacy and new workflows for custom scripts and monitors, alert rules, reports, APIs, permissions, historical records, billing logic and third-party integrations. Ask which items are generally available, optional, in preview or on a separate product track; whether APIs remain stable; and what happens to customizations and data during migration. The available announcements do not answer those questions for every customer configuration.
AI promises assistance and action—but not one uniform level of autonomy
Rivelo’s 2025 vision included a security operations center agent that analyzes alerts, filters false positives, categorizes risk, generates documentation and suggests remediation. He also described AI-assisted creation of RMM scripts and monitors, with AI and RPA woven into service workflows. The larger ambition was a more autonomous MSP: using AI both to help SMB customers adopt AI securely and to let MSPs deliver their own services more efficiently.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
ConnectWise’s AI and Sidekick materials describe features such as ticket summaries, translation, triage, draft email responses, sentiment tracking, business insights and script generation. The company says generated scripts require technician approval before execution. That is an important control for that capability, but it should not be assumed to describe every agent or automated workflow across the platform. Buyers should verify permissions and approval gates feature by feature.
- Assistance: Summaries, translations and drafted responses help a technician interpret or communicate information.
- Recommendation: Triage, risk categorization or suggested remediation informs a decision but leaves it to a person.
- Action: A script or workflow changes a system. Buyers need to know what approval, testing, rollback and audit records apply.
- Autonomy: An agent acts without case-by-case approval. The relevant questions include its scope, privilege limits, error handling and emergency disablement.
ConnectWise’s platform page also makes vendor-reported performance claims, including up to 60% higher ticket throughput and nearly halved average resolution times. These should be treated as company-reported outcomes, not guaranteed results for an MSP. The cited public claims do not establish that every customer will see them or provide a universally applicable comparison. For a local business case, measure baseline ticket volume, handling time, review rates, exception work and service quality under a controlled rollout.
Rank #3
- Adjustable Depth: 23-40'' adjustable depth is used for servers and network equipment, ensuring enough space for AV equipment, components, and cabling, while allowing you to access ports and equipment from multiple sides.
- Strong Load Capacity: Ground-Mounted Load Capacity: 500 lbs, Wall-Mounted Load Capacity: 150 lbs. The av rack is made of carbon steel for better weldability performance and can help save space while meeting your need to place multiple devices.
- User-friendly Design: Ergonomic design makes the open frame av rack easier to use. The additional top panel is able to place other items with more available space. Roller design moves anywhere and anytime, is convenient, and is more energy-saving.
- Complete Accessories: We provide the accessories you need, including 2 x Pallets, 145 x M5*10 Cross Head Screws, 4 x Casters, 4 x M10*50 Expansion Screws,10 x M6*12 Cage Nuts, 1 x Grounding Wire, 1 x User Manual.
- Wide Application: The server rack wall mount maximizes the use of available space, suitable for retail venues, classrooms, offices, and other places where space is limited.
AI can shift labor rather than simply eliminate it. Less time spent on routine triage may mean more time supervising automation, resolving exceptions and documenting changes. An MSP should decide how its contracts, pricing and responsibility for remediation errors address those tasks. It should also examine data processing and retention, model-training use, audit logs, prompt-injection exposure, privilege boundaries, customer opt-outs and the ability to reverse an action. The materials cited here do not settle all of those governance questions for every agent.
Acquisitions supplied breadth; integration is the test
ConnectWise’s platform ambition builds on a portfolio expanded through acquisitions. In the CRN interview, Rivelo connected that history to capabilities including remote access (ScreenConnect), NOC, SOC and RMM (Continuum), documentation (ITBoost), SIEM and threat detection (Perch Security), automation and data analysis (StratoZen), benchmarking (Service Leadership), customer experience (SmileBack), payments and invoicing (Wise-Sync), Microsoft cloud backup and security (SkyKick), and business continuity and disaster recovery (Axcient).
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →That history explains how the company assembled a broad MSP stack; it does not, on its own, establish that every acquired product now shares data, identity, billing, support or administration. The test is whether the capabilities operate together reliably and whether product consolidation reduces work rather than relocating it. Rivelo also said ConnectWise would look aggressively for acquisitions that accelerate the roadmap or strengthen core capabilities, and that a few deals were possible. He named no targets, deal sizes or dates, so this is acquisition appetite, not a confirmed pipeline.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What Rivelo said about Thoma Bravo—and what it does not prove
Rivelo characterized Thoma Bravo as supportive of continued investment, including using capital and its balance sheet for growth and acquisitions. He said the owner was not in a hurry to sell and could prefer to participate in further “value creation” if ConnectWise could build more value. This is the CEO’s account in the 2025 interview, not an independent statement of Thoma Bravo’s timetable or a promise of permanent ownership.
“Value creation” can refer to product investment, revenue growth, acquisitions, margin improvement or preparation for a future transaction. Those aims can coexist. For customers, the practical implications are worth monitoring: whether investment improves product quality and support, whether acquisitions add integration burden, how bundles and renewals are priced, and whether legacy products remain supported. Private-equity backing does not by itself establish that a sale is imminent—or rule one out.
Rank #4
- Save valuable floor space: 6U wall mount server cabinet Dimensions: 13.78" H x21.65" W x17.72" D.Maximum mounting depth is 14.2"
- Keep critical network equipment secure: glass door and side panels are lockable to prevent unauthorized access. Front door can be installed on either side of the front of the cabinet to satisfy your door swing orientation preference
- Easy equipment configuration: Fully adjustable mounting rails and numbered U positions, with square holes for easy equipment mounting with top and bottom punch-out panels for easy cable access
- Durability: Made of high quality cold rolled steel holds up to 110lb (50kg) (Easy Assembly Required)
- PCI & HIPPA and EIA/ECA-310-E compliant
How an MSP can evaluate the platform’s economics and risks
ConnectWise’s PSA and RMM package pages list Basic, Standard and Premium PSA tiers and Essentials, Pro and Premium RMM tiers, with pricing handled through customized quotes. See the PSA pricing page and RMM pricing page. A platform bundle may reduce tool count, but a quote and contract are needed to establish actual cost; the public package structure does not supply a universal price or savings figure.
Recommended Free Tools
- Build a full current-cost baseline. Include software licenses, duplicate tools, integration upkeep, staff time spent switching systems, support, and current security and backup services.
- Model the proposed contract. Record module prices, endpoint or user measures, minimums, add-ons, renewal terms and any bundling conditions. Compare total cost over the contract period, not just the initial quote.
- Price the migration. Include data conversion, scripts and reports, integrations, retraining, customer communications, parallel operation and downtime risk.
- Test real workflows. Use representative tickets, alerts, backup events, billing cases and customer permissions. Ask for evidence that each cross-product workflow works in the configuration you would buy.
- Review portability and security. Confirm export formats for tickets, assets, documentation, billing records, security events and automation history; examine API limits, access controls, logging and data-handling terms.
- Set AI boundaries. Define which outputs require human review, which agents can act, what rollback is available, how actions are audited, and who is accountable for a failed remediation.
- Preserve an exit path. Establish how data can be retrieved, what happens to integrations and records at contract end, and whether your operating model can retain other vendors if the platform is not a fit.
Consolidation has a real trade-off. One integrated vendor may reduce duplicate data and context switching, while specialist products may still provide deeper capability in particular areas. A broader suite can simplify procurement but also concentrate operational risk: a compromised identity or automation layer may affect several parts of the MSP’s service stack. The right comparison is not simply feature count; it is fit, control, cost and reversibility for the MSP’s own customers and workflows.
What to watch next
ConnectWise’s stated sequence was to reach parity, deepen integration and embed AI, while pursuing build-buy-partner choices and selective acquisitions. In late 2025, the company discussed roadmap transparency and a public updates page; those intentions are not a substitute for a current, module-level schedule. MSPs should ask their account team for dated commitments and status on the functions relevant to their migration, rather than treating a broad platform roadmap as a delivery guarantee.
The material test of the Asio investment is therefore not whether ConnectWise has a platform name or a generally available platform announcement. It is whether a given MSP can move the required workflows onto it, retain essential integrations and controls, and show that the resulting economics justify the transition.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →
