The channel is eyeing some very positive business trends for 2021.

Avant Communications unveiled research that shows major opportunity for technology providers. Business customers are more interested than ever in trusting a channel partner with their business. And that’s especially true in the area of security.

Our editorial team has selected the articles that drew the most interest this week. There’s no Wall Street drama for you here — just good ole fashioned chatter about the channel.

Take a look at these seven mini-stories before you start your weekend.

7. High Wire Networks Going Public with Spectrum Global Solutions Merger

The provider of managed security and electrical solutions joined forces with a telecommunications company.

Spectrum Global is merging with High Wire, although it will take the latter’s name. Spectrum Global, which provides engineering and infrastructure services, sells solely through the channel.

Edward Gately has the scoop.

6. Demand for Outsourcing Cybersecurity to Benefit MSPs

New Syntax research suggests that more companies want to give their security to a third-party.

According to the report, 83% of IT leaders that work with an internal security team are thinking about turning the security process over to a service provider. That’s due in part to an increasing number of digital transformation initiatives that are stretching internal teams thin.

Get details from the report.

5. Avant Disruption Study: UCaaS, SD-WAN, Security Poised for Interconnected Growth

There’s a “daisy chain effect” going on in business technology, according to Avant Communications‘ Ken Presti.

Consider UCaaS, which spiked massively in demand last year due to COVID-19. Businesses adopting UCaaS wanted to give their customers the same experience as their employees, and adopted CCaaS. Then they adopted SD-WAN in order to better support cloud-based communications and new cybersecurity to protect the expanded network.

See more takeaways from the study.

4. Future of Work, Marketplaces Among Jay McBain’s Channel Trends

The channel will benefit from the firmly entrenched future of work.

That’s according to Forrester’s Jay McBain, principal analyst of channel partnerships and alliances. McBain unveiled several technological and business trends for 2021.

For example, McBain noted that although his team had predicted 17% of channel business to occur in a marketplace by 2023, they’re moving the deadline to 2021.

Take a look at some of McBain’s main points.

3. Master Agent Update: Acquisition Mania, Vendor Awards, Record Growth

We covered the most relevant master agent news of 2020’s fourth quarter.

And boy, was it ever relevant. The agent channel saw numerous acquisitions, multiple virtual summits and quite a lot of growth. Companies clearly feel comfortable about investing for the future.

Check out the gallery.

2. Curt Allen Leaves Vonage Channel Chief Post After New CEO Appointed

Vonage said goodbye to its channel chief.

Curt Allen left the cloud communications provider after about a half-year at the company. Jim Regan, who most recently served as Vonage’s vice president of channels, succeeded him. Allen explained some of the reasons for his departure, touching on the departure of former CEO Alan Masarek.

Read about the changes.

1. CenturyLink, Frontier Fall Short in Broadband Deployment

CenturyLink and Frontier Communications won’t meet their deadline for an FCC rural broadband program.

The service providers informed the FCC that they will not finish the required deployments for Connect America Fund (CAF) Phase II. This came as no surprise, as the companies had previously disclosed their hampered progress. Frontier stated that the pandemic played a role in slowing the company’s deployments.

Learn more about the situation.