At Rapid7, our commitment to our partners is built on the foundation of the PACT (Partnering with Accountability, Consistency, and Transparency) program. Central to this mission is the Rapid7 Partner Academy, which was recently honored with a Gold Stevie Award in the 2026 American Business Awards® for Achievement in Collaboration and Partnership. This recognition underscores our dedication to providing world-class training that translates directly into partner success and customer resilience.

A new era of partner-led services

To meet the evolving needs of the cybersecurity landscape, Rapid7 Partner Academy has introduced specialized Partner Services Certifications. These role-based learning paths are designed to move beyond traditional "product training" by focusing on high-fidelity service delivery and outcome-driven results, including how to build, deliver, and scale services on Rapid7 solutions. The training and certification program was specifically recognized for its "Partner-First" design, which was built through extensive collaboration with our global partner ecosystem to ensure alignment with real-world sales and technical challenges.

Our award-winning partner services certification ecosystem focuses on three critical pillars of the Rapid7 Command Platform:

• Partner Services for InsightIDR: Equips partners with the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively guide customers through the post-sale phases of the InsightIDR solution.

• Partner Services for Exposure Command: Focuses on the transition from static vulnerability scanning to continuous attack surface validation, diving into the setup, management, and troubleshooting of Exposure Command.

• Partner Services for Vulnerability Management: Empowers partners to provide impactful services around deployment, management, and ongoing support for InsightVM that drive customer success.

All three of these Partner Services Certifications enable our partners to deliver services around Rapid7 solutions from deployment and onboarding, to management and best practices for usage, to express health checks and troubleshooting. Upon successful completion of the course theoretical exam, you are eligible to enroll in the Services Validation Component. After validating your services capabilities, you will receive the prestigious distinction of achieving the Rapid7 Partner Services Certification and Badge. This achievement helps to differentiate your services to your customers and prospects with official recognition among the most capable Rapid7 MSSPs and service delivery partners.

Real-world impact: From training to execution

The Gold Stevie Award recognizes more than just curriculum—it recognizes the impact these certifications have on the partner's ability to drive business and accelerate their profitability with Rapid7. By completing these Rapid7 Partner Academy certifications, partners gain:

• Operational excellence: Technical specialists learn to deploy and manage Rapid7 solutions with a "Gold Standard" approach, ensuring high-fidelity results for customers.

• Strategic alignment: Sales professionals are trained in the RSP (Rapid7 Sales Professional) methodology, allowing them to position Rapid7 as the preferred solution through effective discovery and objection handling.

• Program economics: Certified partners can take full advantage of the 2026 PACT updates, which offer enhanced incentives and streamlined deal motions for partner-led growth.

Collaborating for success

The Stevie Award for Achievement in Collaboration and Partnership specifically applauds how Rapid7 integrated partner feedback into the curriculum development. This wasn't just Rapid7 talking to partners; it was a co-innovation effort. By coordinating with partners and Rapid7 technical support stakeholders, we ensured that the Partner Academy content directly addresses the "last-mile" technical blockers partners face in the field.

The value and impact of Partner Academy is highlighted by the comments from the Stevie American Business Awards® judges:

"I’ve seen a lot of partner programs, and most are built for the vendor, not the partner. This one stands out...A 5X outperformance, 76% completion rate, 91% satisfaction, and an NPS of 68 all point to real value delivered, not vanity metrics. I’m especially impressed by the coordination behind it –100 contributors across 13 business units. That level of alignment is hard to achieve, and it shows strong leadership. The fact that the program was mentioned on an earnings call also signals clear strategic impact."

"Overall, this is an outstanding and result-oriented program, and it sets the bar high for the partner enablement process. Exceeding the certification target by 5X within a significantly shortened timeframe speaks volumes for the relevance and execution of the program, and the creation of role-based, technically sophisticated learning paths speaks volumes for the focus on partner enablement."

Celebrating our partners

This award is a shared victory with the thousands of partner individuals who have invested in their professional development through the Partner Academy. Whether you are a technical expert seeking to “Command the Attack Surface” or a sales professional looking to protect your margins, the Partner Academy is your gateway to success in the Rapid7 ecosystem.

Join the award-winning program and start your learning journey today!

As we continue to innovate, our goal remains the same: to provide the most transparent, consistent, and world-class enablement program in the industry. We invite all partners to officially become a Rapid7 PACT Partner to explore these award-winning certifications and start driving deeper impact for your customers today.

In 2026, security teams are still grappling with the challenges posed by expanding attack surfaces and persistent resource constraints. Together with the rapid onset of AI-driven threats, security leaders are weathering this ‘perfect storm’ by seeking consolidation of their technology stacks – favoring trusted partnerships that truly understand their unique ecosystems.

To elevate security partners from mere service providers to essential, trusted security advisors, it is vital to help customers achieve a comprehensive view of their IT environments. This includes a clear understanding of their risk profiles and a cohesive approach to continuous detection, response, and compliance, says Kelly Hiscoe, Sr. Director, Global Partner Programs & Experience.

Kelly brings to Rapid7 more than 17 years of experience in cybersecurity channel ecosystems. And after being named to CRN’s Women of the Channel list in 2020, 2024, and 2025, CRN has honored her as a Channel Chief for 2026.

She has consistently led her teams to design competitive programs, drive operational excellence, and enhance the partner experience from the ground-up. Here’s what makes her tick, and how Kelly (and Rapid7) are thinking about the channel in 2026 and beyond.

A channel philosophy rooted in shared responsibility

Kelly’s approach to the channel is grounded in the simple belief that true success is built through shared ownership. Rather than being confined to a single team, channel success must be woven into a company’s DNA: reflected in its processes, tools, and most importantly, how sales teams consistently engage with partners.

For Kelly, this means a company-wide commitment to engaging and collaborating with partners, in a way that, at its heart, exists to help customers achieve their goals. That’s what “Channel-first” means, and what Rapid7 aims to reflect.

Refreshing Rapid7’s partner ecosystem

In February 2025, Rapid7 launched its reimagined PACT Partner Program, and Kelly led the global team responsible for that launch. The revamped program was designed to equip partners with the tools, training, and resources needed to address evolving global security challenges together. 

Key enhancements included a modernized Partner Portal that enables real-time collaboration and automation, as well as tailored engagement programs and specializations, plus the launch of the Rapid7 Partner Academy. Since its debut, the Academy has seen more than 2,000 partner learners earn over 3,700 certifications. Rapid7’s partners consistently highlight its clarity, relevance, and impact in deepening cybersecurity expertise.

Looking ahead: Helping partners navigate 2026

As consolidation continues and competition in the market grows, partners are facing more challenges than ever in navigating that complexity and standing out amid the noise. Kelly remains focused on helping partners align with vendors that deliver clear, customer-centric value, comprehensive coverage across the expanding attack surface, and predictable engagement models. You can read Kelly’s full CRN Channel Chief details here.