On September 10th, 2024 ConnectWise announced they purchased Axcient. I’m neutral on this having very limited experience with ConnectWise. Their announcement email is here.

I suspect Axcient was in need of capital. Over the last couple of years many MSPs moved from Datto BCDR and SaaS backups to Axcient which offers essentially the same thing. While Axcient’s GUI is nowhere near as streamlined. as Datto’s, they offer lower pricing, better terms and better support. Before the acquisition by Kaseya, Datto would have won in those areas, except pricing, where they always demanded a premium.

I’m entirely OK with another conglomerate arising in the channel to challenge Kaseya. I’m not reflexively anti-Kaseya. We use many of their products and we have a good relationship with their director-level management. However, it isn’t healthy for the ecosystem to lack competition, not just in terms of products, but in terms of vertical integration and deep-pocketed investors.