Imagine an amusement park filled with CIOs, CTOs, and experts in AI, cloud, and security, all debating the latest technologies that will shape the future of IT&C and the global MSP industry. That was the atmosphere at MSP Global 2025, where our colleague Dragoș Călinescu, Global Cloud Solutions Architect at M247 Global, attended from October 22–23 at the PortAventura park near Barcelona. Two days of conferences, exhibitions, and meetings with potential technology partners—and, of course, a few roller coasters tested between sessions. Upon returning, Dragoș shared the trends he noticed, the solutions that caught his attention, and how these could be integrated into M247 Global’s infrastructure.
Dragoș, tell us a few words about MSP Global 2025. What stood out to you at this event?
Dragoș Călinescu, Global Cloud Solutions Architect, M247 Global:
The event took place at PortAventura, about 129 km from Barcelona, and was flawlessly organized. MSP Global 2025 is the “younger sibling” of CloudFest—the German event held annually in Frankfurt. The main focus was on Managed Service Providers and value-added solutions for providers like M247 Global.
There were multiple conferences and panels dedicated to cybersecurity, backup, and other essential services, with speakers from around the world. Current market challenges were discussed, especially the role of artificial intelligence: how it can be a weapon for attackers but also an increasingly effective tool for defending endpoints and infrastructure.
According to the organizers, the event brought together around 4,300 participants from 80 countries and about 60 exhibitors. In parallel, themed conferences were held in English, Spanish, and German, all managed through the event’s dedicated app. Evening networking parties made professional interactions much easier. M247 Global did not have its own booth, as we are not a traditional MSP, but we collaborate with global MSP providers.
This year’s edition had the theme “Grow Your Ecosystem.” Which solutions or technologies seemed most relevant for M247 Global’s operations?
Dragoș Călinescu:
Most of the offerings focused on cybersecurity, particularly at the endpoint level — from servers and PCs to mobile devices.
In the cloud technology space, I noticed several interesting directions. One of them involves platforms that enable the creation of globally distributed clusters, allowing resources from different regions to be managed through a unified, simple, and scalable interface.
There are also new solutions that facilitate the aggregation of multiple clusters from different data centers, interconnected through a secure network based on redundant VPNs. This setup allows users to select virtual resources available in their preferred region; if one provider lacks capacity, the platform automatically connects to other global operators. The system integrates continuous monitoring and a performance evaluation mechanism based on availability and service quality indicators.
Another notable innovation comes from GPU resource-sharing platforms, which allow flexible and fractional allocation of processing power according to specific needs. These can support both artificial intelligence projects and applications involving complex computational workloads.
All these technologies are relevant for a cloud provider such as M247 Global and deserve consideration for future integration.
Recently, many clients demand a “VMware alternative.” Was this topic present at the conference?
Dragoș Călinescu:
Yes, it’s definitely a hot topic, as also confirmed at MSP Global. There are already several alternatives to VMware available on the market, including unified platforms for distributed or on-premises clouds, with support for Kubernetes, containerization, and Docker. We’re talking about both commercial and open-source solutions that are highly competitive in terms of functionality — some even surpassing VMware in interface design, flexibility, and global capabilities. In conclusion, we’re fully able to meet such requirements from our clients.
Which promising trends did you notice for the near and distant future?
Dragoș Călinescu:
Without a doubt, artificial intelligence dominated the discussions. Everyone is trying to integrate it—from helpdesk to cybersecurity and automated threat detection. There’s a lot of talk about AI systems collaborating to detect zero-day attacks or analyze large volumes of data.
AI has, in a sense, become the new “broadband”—everyone wants it, many don’t know exactly how to use it, but all present it as the solution of the future. After AI, the highest interest was in cybersecurity, especially endpoint protection.
How did you find the event in terms of organization and overall experience?
Dragoș Călinescu:
Excellently organized. The dedicated app provided access to the schedule, QR code scanning, session registration, and networking parties. Everything, from logistics to participant experience, was managed superbly by the CloudFest team.
The venue—PortAventura—offered a spectacular setting, with spaces for private meetings, conferences, and relaxation. The emphasis was more on networking than technical demos, which stimulated professional discussions and connections. If I were to add a suggestion, I would have liked a stronger focus on cloud and pure AI—specifically interfacing AI with various providers, LMS systems, and data mining—not just superficial integrations.
The event brought together 120+ speakers, 100+ partners, and participants from 65 countries, nearly half in executive positions—a fantastic opportunity for networking and strategic partnerships.
MSP Global 2025 grew spectacularly compared to the previous edition: from 800–1,500 participants in 2024 to 6,000 in 2025. The organizers aim to attract 9,000 participants and double the number of booths in 2026. M247 Global will, of course, be there—where innovation, collaboration, and technology meet.