At its recent Empower Partner Conference in Berlin, N-able executives set out a clear vision for the company’s future, strongly emphasizing cybersecurity resilience and flexible platform integration. John Pagliuca, CEO (pictured right), and Mike Adler (pictured left), Chief Technology and Product Officer, underlined N-able's strategic evolution from a traditional tools vendor towards becoming a cybersecurity-first company with deep integrations and best-in-class standalone products.
Speaking candidly about their approach, Pagliuca explained, “We’re squarely a cyber resilience or cybersecurity company. Our strategy is not just a layer but a comprehensive approach from monitoring to backup and recovery, with security controls and operations embedded throughout.”
The N-able leaders detailed the company’s unique approach, highlighting the importance of flexibility within an "eco-verse" of integrated solutions. Adler reinforced this point, describing their platform as intentionally open, stating, "You don't have to adopt a core solution first. You simply start solving the IT problem you have, and the platform's benefits naturally become apparent."
Pagliuca and Adler stressed that, unlike some competitors who offer broad but shallow product suites, N-able's strategy focuses on depth and quality within individual solutions such as data protection via Cove, endpoint management, and extended detection and response (XDR) through Adlumin.
“We believe in bringing best-in-class offerings that can stand independently but are enhanced significantly through integration,” Pagliuca said. “We’re not forcing a full platform buy-in; rather, we’re demonstrating that siloed approaches ultimately lead to inefficiencies and security gaps.” N-able also confirmed that Cove and Adlumin as the fastest growing products within its portfolio.
Addressing the increasing complexity faced by MSPs and SMEs, Adler argued the complexity is driven by the proliferation of enterprise-grade technology demands among smaller businesses. Pagliuca echoed this sentiment, noting that while everyday technology skills have advanced, a significant gap remains that MSPs must fill, particularly regarding sophisticated cybersecurity threats.
A potential counterbalance to this growing complexity is the increasing embedding of AI to facilitate more intelligent automation. When discussing the transformative potential of AI, Pagliuca called it “a how, not a what,” describing its role in automating routine tasks, thereby allowing MSPs to shift towards strategic activities. Adler added that AI would further enable proactive solutions, significantly enhancing MSP efficiency and productivity.
Highlighting their key message to partners leaving Berlin, Pagliuca urged MSPs to integrate cybersecurity deeply into their business growth strategy, shifting the focus from security alone to resilience. “Cybersecurity is a critical driver of growth for MSPs,” he stated, “it often determines whether you win or lose customers. You need to embrace it fully and proactively.”
Photo: Richard Murgatroyd Photography
