Cybersecurity at an inflection point: the 2026 Omdia Cybersecurity Platform Ecosystem champions redefining partner value - Omdia

Omdia Blogs The 2026 Omdia Cybersecurity Platform Ecosystems Leadership Matrix identified six vendors that stand at the forefront of the industry’s most significant transformation in more than a decade. Check Point, CrowdStrike, Palo Alto Networks, Proofpoint, TrendAI™ and Zscaler achieved Champion status. These vendors combine platform breadth with mature partner engagement and enablement, with clear strategies for scaling partner delivered services. Champion status reflects strong channel management, robust market performance, and a proactive approach to advancing the cybersecurity partner ecosystem. The Shift Redefining Cybersecurity’s Next Decade The cybersecurity market is undergoing a structural shift as organizations consolidate point products into platforms, operationalize AI, and navigate an increasingly volatile threat landscape. These pressures are reshaping the partner ecosystem around new expectations, new economics, and new forms of value creation. Vendors are rethinking how they fund, enable, and reward partners. Programs are being redesigned around recurring revenue, cross sell motions, and lifecycle aligned incentives. Engagement models are becoming more structured and segmented, with clearer alignment across hyperscalers, GSIs, MSSPs, and distributors. Automated tooling, co selling frameworks, and role based certifications are scaling enablement and reducing friction. At the same time, AI is redefining how partners differentiate. It is no longer an add on feature, it is becoming the foundation of how partners sell, deliver, and create value. Vendors are embedding AI across quoting, pricing, partner scoring, co marketing, and service delivery. More importantly, AI is transforming partner business models. Emerging agentic platforms allow partners to build and commercialize custom AI security agents that codify their expertise. This marks a significant shift: partners are evolving from resellers into IP creators, competing on automation, intelligence, and differentiated AI driven services. Services delivery is now central to partner strategy. The vendors that enable partners to commercialize differentiated AI agents and scale outcome based services fastest will help shape the next decade of ecosystem competition. The Capabilities Defining This Year’s Champion These industry shifts are reshaping the entire ecosystem, but the 2026 Champions are the vendors translating them into consistent partner growth, platform adoption, and services execution. Their strategies illustrate where the market is heading and how partners will build profitable, AI driven practices in the years ahead. Check Point earns Champion status for expanding its platform with AI security and exposure management while strengthening partner support. Its updated program, improved tooling, and new incentives help partners build recurring, services‑led offerings. These investments give partners clearer pathways to deliver MDR, SASE, and broader lifecycle‑aligned security services. CrowdStrike stands out for ecosystem momentum across GSIs, MSSPs, and major marketplaces, with AWS Marketplace contract value nearing $1.5bn and additional volume from Google and Microsoft. Program updates, Falcon Flex, and Charlotte AI AgentWorks expand partner incentives, licensing flexibility, and opportunities to develop services and monetize AI‑native security capabilities. Palo Alto Networks’ Champion position reflects its platform expansion and redesigned NextWave program. Updated rebates, new development funds, and improved CPQ and deal‑registration tools simplify engagement. MSSP‑aligned pricing and Cortex XSIAM underpin managed SOC services, while expanded distributor and GSI tracks aim to scale mid‑market reach and large transformation projects. Proofpoint is named a Champion for redesigning its partner program with streamlined tiers, new rebate models, expanded deal registration, and increased marketplace activity. Co investment funds support DSPM, Insider Threat, and DLP services. The Hornetsecurity acquisition creates an MSP unit, while certified delivery and managed services programs broaden partner scale and consistency. TrendAI™ reaffirmed its position as a Champion by focusing its portfolio on the unified Vision One platform and establishing the Global Partner Office. A flexible consumption model increased recurring revenue and improved margin predictability, while 20,000 new partners, expanded enablement, and AI-driven tools supported partner-led renewals and services-led growth globally. Zscaler’s entry into the Champions category reflects its leadership in Zero Trust security and its expansion of the Zero Trust Exchange to secure AI applications, agent communication, and agentic workflows, strengthened by SPLX and Red Canary. Summit Program enhancements, new specializations, and deeper MSSP and GSI alignment support its partner‑driven growth ambitions. The Omdia Cybersecurity Platform Ecosystems Leadership Matrix considered 24 cybersecurity vendors. Inclusion was based on vendors meeting three thresholds: at least $500m in annual cybersecurity revenue (excluding professional services), more than 50% of total business transacted through the channel, and over 30% of business driven by enterprise focused partners. More from author Matthew Ball Chief Analyst Matthew Ball leads the Cybersecurity Ecosystems and Global IT Opportunity research services at Canalys, now part of Omdia. He delivers strategic insights into the evolving cybersecurity partner landscape, analyzing vendor engagement with MSPs, MSSPs, GSIs, and the transformation of routes to market, including marketplaces. His research spans platform adoption, M&A activity, emerging vendor funding, and the intersection of AI and cybersecurity. More from author Lets connect More insights Assess the marketplace with our extensive insights collection. More insights Hear from analysts When you partner with Omdia, you gain access to our highly rated Ask An Analyst service. Hear from analysts Omdia Newsroom Read the latest press releases from Omdia. Omdia Newsroom Solutions Leverage unique access to market leading analysts and profit from their deep industry expertise. Solutions