Vendor awards carry more weight when the customers cast the votes. That’s the case with the ASCII Cup, where IT service providers rank the technology partners they work with all year. The 2026 top honor went to Pax8, which has now won Vendor of the Year twice in three years.
Key Things to Know
- Pax8 is the 2026 ASCII Cup Vendor of the Year, as voted by members of the ASCII community.
- Atakama finished as first runner-up, and Kaseya placed third.
- ASCII members vote at regional ASCII Edge events across North America, scoring vendors in 12 categories.
- Pax8 also won Vendor of the Year in 2024 and finished as first runner-up in 2025.
- ASCII is a community within the Global Technology Industry Association (GTIA).
Who Won the 2026 ASCII Cup Vendor of the Year?
Pax8 won the 2026 ASCII Cup Vendor of the Year. ASCII, a GTIA community, announced the result after a full year of member voting.
The award recognizes technology partners whose innovation, partner programs and overall value help IT service providers (ITSPs) grow their businesses.
When and Where Were the Awards Presented?
The 2026 ASCII Cup awards were presented Oct. 22 at the final ASCII Edge event of the year in San Antonio, Texas. The event brought the ASCII community together to recognize the vendors that support ITSP success.
The awards continue a tradition started by The ASCII Group, which is now part of GTIA.
How Are ASCII Cup Winners Chosen?
ASCII Cup winners are chosen through a yearlong, peer-driven voting process at regional ASCII Edge events across North America. At each event, ASCII members evaluate participating vendors across 12 categories.
Results from the full event series determine the Vendor of the Year and the rest of the top-ranked partners. The practical upshot: the ranking reflects repeated feedback from service providers, not a single judging panel or one-time survey.
Which Companies Finished in the Top Ten?
The 2026 ASCII Cup award recipients are:
- Pax8: 2026 ASCII Cup Vendor of the Year
- Atakama: First Runner-Up
- Kaseya: Third Place
- SonicWall: Fourth Place
- ThreatMate: Fifth Place
- Monjur: Sixth Place
- RYTHMz: Seventh Place
- Vircom: Eighth Place
- Proofpoint: Ninth Place
- Cynet: Tenth Place
Security vendors make up a large share of the list. SonicWall, ThreatMate, Vircom, Proofpoint and Cynet all placed, a signal of where service providers are putting their attention.
How Has Pax8 Performed in Past ASCII Cup Voting?
Pax8 has finished at or near the top for three straight years. It won Vendor of the Year in 2024, placed first runner-up in 2025 and returned to the top spot in 2026.
That consistency matters more than a single win. It shows the same pool of ITSPs rating the company highly year after year.
What Does GTIA Say About the Award?
GTIA describes the ASCII Cup as a direct reflection of what its members value in vendor partners. Jerry Koutavas, vice president, Community ASCII, at GTIA, points to the member-driven nature of the vote as the award’s defining feature.
“The ASCII Cup is a great example of the IT channel connecting and growing together,” Koutavas says. “These awards come straight from our members, recognizing the technology partners who help ITSPs build stronger businesses. Congratulations to Pax8 and all of this year’s honorees.”
How Did Pax8 Respond to the Win?
Pax8 credits its focus on community, education and partner success for the result. Rob Rae, corporate vice president of partner experience at Pax8, ties the award’s value to who cast the votes.
“Recognition from the MSP and MIP community means a lot because these are the partners we work alongside every day,” Rae says. “Being named the 2026 ASCII Cup Vendor of the Year tells us our focus on community, education and partner success is making a difference, and we’re honored by that vote of confidence.”
Why Does the ASCII Cup Matter to AV Integrators?
The ASCII Cup matters to AV integrators because it shows which vendors IT service providers trust as AV and IT work continues to overlap. More AV projects now involve networking, security and managed services, the same territory these ITSPs cover every day.
For integrators adding managed services or recurring revenue, a peer-voted ranking offers a useful starting point when vetting partners. It’s feedback from firms running similar service businesses.
