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C1 is proud to announce that we have achieved Cisco 360 Preferred Partner status across all six Cisco portfolios — Networking, Security, Collaboration, Services, Cloud & AI Infrastructure, and Splunk. This milestone represents more than a designation. It reflects the depth of our technical expertise, the breadth of our architectural capabilities, and our commitment to delivering measurable business outcomes across the entire Cisco portfolio.

It starts with a voice you recognize. A call from the superintendent asking for an urgent update. A voicemail from a principal requesting sensitive student information. A message that sounds authentic, because it is, at least on the surface. The tone, cadence, and even the subtle inflections are exactly right. But the request isn’t. AI-powered deepfakes are rapidly reshaping the threat landscape for K–12 schools, turning trusted communication channels into potential points of vulnerability.

Today’s business environment is shaped by AI, evolving security demands, and a clear commitment to delivering measurable results. In this landscape, technology modernization has become a strategic imperative. Meaningful transformation requires clarity of purpose, deep customer understanding, and the ability to translate technology investments into tangible outcomes.

With 2026 underway, CEOs are turning priorities into action, and C1 CEO Jeffrey Russell is zeroed in on disciplined execution. In CRN’s 2026 CEO Outlook, he outlines why enterprises must modernize with intention, balancing innovation, cost control, and resilience to deliver measurable results. Read his full perspective alongside peers from across the tech industry on CRN. Q: What is the biggest market opportunity your company will tackle in 2026?

Once upon a time, “managed services” meant uptime. If the servers stayed green, the provider was a hero. But in 2026, that model is officially outdated. Service quality is table stakes. What matters now is service intelligence—the ability to learn, automate, and improve from every action the IT organization takes. Think about it: your service desk logs hundreds of tickets a day. Each one contains clues about process gaps, recurring incidents, and improvement opportunities.

If your CX strategy starts with technology instead of people, you’re doing it backwards. Too many organizations invest in customer-facing platforms—chatbots, analytics dashboards, “AI-driven experience suites”—without first asking the fundamental question: “To do what?” That single question should be the first slide in every CX roadmap.

When was the last time your CFO asked you to justify the long-term value of a switch upgrade? Or questioned why your infrastructure spend curve looks more like a roller coaster than a runway? If you’re leading IT infrastructure in 2026, you know the feeling. Budgets are tighter, scrutiny is sharper, and yet—expectations have never been higher.

Cybersecurity in 2026 is paradoxical. Organizations are spending more on security than ever—Gartner projects global cybersecurity investment to surpass $215 billion this year, a 14% increase over 2025 (Gartner Security Spending Forecast 2026). Yet, data breaches remain relentless. The culprit isn’t always cutting-edge malware or state-sponsored APTs. More often than not, it’s the oldest weakness in the book: unauthorized access.

In 2025, experience has become the ultimate differentiator — not just for customers, but for employees too. Enterprises that align customer experience (CX) and employee experience (EX) into a unified Total Experience (TX) strategy are the ones redefining success. Behind every exceptional customer interaction is an empowered employee — and behind both lies one essential foundation: communication.

“Don’t put all your AI eggs in one chatbot.” — A guiding principle for IT investment in 2026.