Rapid7 Awards Spotlight Partners' Pivotal Role in Cyber Defense

BOSTON, MA – February 11, 2026 – In a move that underscores the growing importance of collaborative defense in cybersecurity, Rapid7, Inc. has announced the winners of its 2026 Partner of the Year Awards. While award ceremonies are common in the tech industry, this year's announcement from the AI-powered security leader highlights a fundamental shift in the market: the evolution of channel partners from transactional resellers to strategic allies essential for navigating an increasingly complex and automated threat landscape.

Rapid7 honored 28 partners across four global regions, recognizing their excellence in helping customers build cyber resilience. The awards acknowledge the critical role these firms play in translating advanced technology into tangible security outcomes.

“Our partners play a critical role in helping customers shift from reactive security to a more preemptive, outcomes-driven approach,” said Suzanne Swanson, vice president of global channel partnerships at Rapid7. “This year’s Partner of the Year Award winners distinguished themselves by turning insight into action, combining technical excellence with go-to-market strength to help customers confidently command their attack surface.”

Honoring a Global Network of Security Vanguards

The awards spanned 12 distinct categories, reflecting the specialized expertise now required in the security ecosystem. The top regional honors went to firms demonstrating comprehensive excellence in their respective markets.

In North America, technology solutions provider CDW was named Partner of the Year. “We're thrilled CDW has been recognized as Rapid7’s North American Partner of the Year, a reflection of our shared commitment to driving impactful security outcomes for our shared customers,” commented Marcus Thompson, product manager at CDW.

The award for the EMEA region was presented to Saepio, a specialist cybersecurity partner. “Nine years ago, our founders set out to build a specialist cybersecurity partner, and Rapid7 has been central to that journey ever since,” said Amir Nooriala, co-CEO of Saepio. “This award celebrates a transparent, trusted partnership delivering meaningful, mission-critical security outcomes.”

In Latin America, Netconn secured the top partner award. Abraão Dias, director of innovations at Netconn, emphasized the practical impact of the collaboration, noting the challenge of “raising customer maturity through attack surface visibility, automation, and incident response” could only be met through the full implementation of Rapid7’s platform and the expertise of the Netconn team.

For the Asia-Pacific and Japan (APJ) region, Orro was recognized as Partner of the Year. Manuel Salazar, director of cyber services at Orro, pointed to the future of their joint efforts. “As organizations across the region mature their security programs, our joint focus on go-to-market execution, particularly around Continuous Threat Exposure Management, positions us strongly to help customers operationalize CTEM and move from visibility to action.”

The Engine of Growth: Partnerships in a Platform-Driven Market

This celebration of partners is more than a public thank you; it is a direct reflection of Rapid7's core business strategy. In an era where cybersecurity vendors like CrowdStrike, Palo Alto Networks, and Fortinet all lean heavily on robust channel programs, a strong partner ecosystem is not just a benefit but a competitive necessity. For Rapid7, whose revenue has shown consistent growth and is overwhelmingly derived from recurring subscriptions for its Command Platform, partners are the primary engine for scaling its AI-powered solutions globally.

With over 11,500 customers in 150 countries, direct engagement is impractical. Partners act as a force multiplier, providing the regional presence, linguistic capabilities, and trusted local relationships needed to deploy and manage sophisticated security platforms. They are the ones who integrate Rapid7's technology into diverse customer environments, ensuring that the platform’s potential is fully realized. This indirect sales model is crucial for sustaining the company's high percentage of recurring revenue, which stood at 96% in 2024, by fostering long-term customer adoption and satisfaction.

From Transaction to Transformation: The Evolving Partner Mandate

The diversity of the award categories themselves tells a story of industry evolution. Awards for Cloud Security Partner of the Year (SHI, Nomios), MSSP Partner of the Year (Novawatch, MEO, ctrl:cyber), and Exposure Management Partner of the Year (SHI, SCC, CTC Global) demonstrate that the role of a partner has moved far beyond simply facilitating a software license sale.

Today's market demands specialized expertise. Customers are not just buying a tool; they are seeking a solution to complex problems like securing multi-cloud environments, managing a sprawling attack surface, or outsourcing their entire security operations to a Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP). Partners are filling this gap, building practices around specific technologies and disciplines. SHI's dual win for both Cloud Security and Exposure Management in North America, for example, signals a deep, specialized capability that adds significant value on top of Rapid7's platform.

This shift is driven by a broader trend of platform consolidation. Organizations are looking to reduce the complexity and cost of managing dozens of disparate security tools. They are turning to integrated platforms like Rapid7's Command Platform, and they need partners who can help them manage this transition and extract the full value. The mention of Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) by Orro is particularly telling, indicating that partners are at the forefront of operationalizing cutting-edge security frameworks for their clients.

A Collective Defense in the Age of Adversarial AI

The strategic importance of these partnerships is magnified by the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence in cyber warfare. As both defenders and attackers leverage AI, creating what some analysts call an “adversarial AI arms race,” no single organization can stand alone. The future of effective cybersecurity lies in a collective, ecosystem-driven defense.

Vendors like Rapid7 provide the AI-powered platform and global threat intelligence, while partners provide the human intelligence, contextual understanding, and on-the-ground implementation. This combination is what enables the crucial shift from a reactive posture—cleaning up after a breach—to a preemptive one that anticipates and neutralizes threats before they can cause damage.

The 2026 awards are a clear signal that in the modern cybersecurity landscape, technology and the human element are inextricably linked. The success of a platform is measured not only by its technical capabilities but by the strength of the ecosystem that delivers it. By fostering and celebrating these deep-rooted alliances, Rapid7 and its partners are building a more resilient front against the sophisticated cyber threats of tomorrow.