Blacksmith just earned another BetterTracker (Channel Program) Category Leader badge for 2026 Q1 — our latest quarter ranked among the top‑rated vendors in the IT channel across more than 80 technology categories.

Blacksmith’s 2026 Q1 Category Win

For 2026 Q1, Blacksmith was recognized as a Category Leader in Compliance.

That means MSPs and IT providers continue to rank Blacksmith in the top‑right quadrant of BetterTracker’s StackCharts for one or more compliance-related segments — where high satisfaction and strong market presence intersect.

What the Category Leader Badge Actually Signifies

BetterTracker’s Category Leader badge is awarded to vendors that rise to the top of their StackCharts category based on verified reviews and partner sentiment, not sponsorship dollars or ad spend. It’s a signal that a solution is both widely trusted and consistently recommended by MSPs who use it in the field.

To land in that top‑right quadrant, a platform has to show up where it counts: quality, reliability, ease of doing business, and overall impact on an MSP’s stack. Earning the badge again in 2026 Q1 reinforces that Blacksmith is not just visible — it’s performing at a level that partners are willing to endorse publicly.

How We Kept the Streak Going

This quarter’s recognition reflects what MSPs and IT providers are telling BetterTracker about their day‑to‑day experience with Blacksmith:

• Strong placement in StackCharts across multiple security and governance categories

• A steady flow of positive, verified reviews from partners running Blacksmith in production

• Continued improvement in product capabilities, workflows, and partner enablement

Because the rankings and badges are refreshed on a regular cadence, you don’t keep this position by coasting. Staying at the top requires consistent outcomes: tighter governance, clearer risk visibility, smoother audits, and real gains in operational efficiency for MSP teams.

Why This Matters for Blacksmith and the Channel

With so many security and compliance tools available, external signals like the Category Leader badge help MSPs cut through the noise. When peers collectively elevate a platform to the top tier of its categories, it accelerates trust — especially for providers who don’t have the time or appetite to run bake‑off after bake‑off.

For Blacksmith, this latest recognition underscores that the work we’re doing — on automation, risk assessment, data privacy, and supply chain security — is resonating where it matters most: inside MSPs’ service offerings and client environments. It also raises the bar for us. If we want to keep earning this kind of recognition, we have to keep shipping meaningful updates, tightening our partner experience, and supporting real‑world outcomes, not just features on a slide.

What It Means for MSPs Evaluating Their Stack

For MSPs, another quarter of Category Leader status is less about trophies and more about proof. When an award is grounded in current MSP feedback, it tells you:

• Teams like yours are successfully deploying and scaling the platform with clients

• The solution is delivering enough value that busy providers are taking time to leave reviews

• The experience in production aligns with the promises made in demos and marketing

If you’re reassessing your stack for automation, compliance‑driven security, or third‑party risk, this 2026 Q1 recognition is one more data point that Blacksmith isn’t just “good on paper” — it’s a platform your peers are betting on in the field. Click the button below to schedule a demo!