Brian Harmison, CEO of Corsica Technologies – Interview Series

Brian Harmison, CEO of Corsica Technologies has led the company since 2020 after serving as its EVP of Digital Transformation, bringing with him a strong background in software engineering, technology leadership, and strategic growth. His earlier career includes serving as CEO of Symplexity and holding key roles at Enspire Software, Logikos, and Arias System Concepts, where he oversaw engineering teams, managed complex customer requirements, and drove quality-focused development. This blend of executive experience and technical depth shapes his approach to guiding Corsica Technologies through evolving IT and cybersecurity challenges.

Corsica Technologies is a full-service IT and cybersecurity provider that helps organizations modernize infrastructure, enhance security resilience, and streamline operations. The company delivers managed IT support, advanced cybersecurity services, cloud solutions, and digital transformation expertise, all built to create measurable efficiencies and stronger business outcomes. With a team of engineers and specialists focused on solving complex technological challenges, Corsica provides both strategic guidance and hands-on support to help businesses operate more securely and effectively in an increasingly digital world.

You began your career in software engineering and development before moving into executive leadership—how did your engineering roots influence your approach to leading Corsica Technologies and shape your belief in applying AI and automation in managed services?

Starting out as a software engineer teaches you to look at problems through the lens of systems and workflows. You learn that quality and consistency come from good design, not from heroics. That mindset has shaped how I lead Corsica.

Many MSPs and MSSPs try to solve challenges by adding more tools or more people. I have always believed you get better results by building an integrated operating model that brings together data, automation, and people. AI fits naturally into that approach. It allows us to improve accuracy, reduce noise, and give our teams better information at the moment they need it. The end goal is simple. Better outcomes for customers and a better experience for employees.

With Corsica’s acquisition of AccountabilIT, how has this integration strengthened your ability to deliver AI-enabled workflows and expand your national reach?

AccountabilIT was a strong cultural and strategic fit. They bring deep Microsoft security expertise, including Sentinel, XDR, and membership in the Microsoft Intelligent Security Association. That capability expands what we can deliver to customers that are building their security programs around the Microsoft ecosystem.

The acquisition also expands our national coverage. Corsica was traditionally stronger in the eastern part of the country. AccountabilIT strengthens our presence in the west. Together we can offer a unified service experience and a stronger set of security and automation capabilities across a larger footprint.

You’ve highlighted that AI-assisted workflows are improving responsiveness and incident resolution. Can you share a specific example where AI materially accelerated accuracy or time-to-resolution for a client?

AI and automation are fundamentally changing the way managed service providers approach client service, especially for tasks that are repetitive yet require a certain level of discernment. For example, categorizing and prioritizing service tickets demands thoughtful judgment based on ticket content or client feedback. Traditionally, these activities could consume significant time when multiplied across thousands of cases each week. By leveraging AI to handle these decisions, organizations like Corsica Technologies can save hours of effort while ensuring consistency and accuracy in outcomes.

Similarly, routine processes such as onboarding or offboarding employees—tasks that involve creating or disabling user accounts across multiple platforms—are streamlined through automation. In the past, these workflows relied on complex scripting to address every variable, often resulting in rigid and imperfect solutions. Now, with AI, technology can intelligently select the appropriate tools and steps for each scenario, much like training a new team member who can execute tasks in a fraction of the time. This aligns with Corsica’s philosophy of integrating AI into their operating model to reduce manual work, improve quality, and enable people to focus on higher-value activities that demand expertise and human judgment.

How are security capabilities like Microsoft Sentinel and extended detection & response changing what mid-market organizations now expect from their managed service providers (MSPs) and managed security service providers (MSSPs), and how is Corsica adapting to meet those expectations?

These tools have raised expectations across the board. Customers expect continuous detection, not occasional system reviews. They expect real threat hunting, not simple log monitoring. They also expect the MSP/MSSP to help them align security tools with governance and business strategy.

Corsica is adapting by strengthening our Microsoft security expertise through the acquisition of AccountabilIT and by integrating security, support, and automation into a single operating model. Customers want one partner who understands the full environment and can take ownership of outcomes. We are building for that expectation.

You’ve described AI in cybersecurity as a “double-edged sword.” What risks do you see in its adoption, and how is Corsica transforming those risks into long-term advantages?

The biggest risks include the development of more convincing social engineering, faster attack cycles, and overconfidence in off-the-shelf AI tools that may not keep up with advanced threats. Shadow AI is also creating new data exposure risks inside many organizations.

At the same time, AI gives us better visibility, more accurate triage, and faster escalation paths. We combine these advantages with human judgment and clear governance. Our goal is to use AI to reduce risk for customers, not introduce new ones.

As you shift toward a more AI-driven service model, what internal changes in processes, teams, or skill sets have been most critical to support this evolution?

The biggest changes have been around workflow design, training, and integration across teams. We have moved away from static playbooks and built more dynamic workflows that use data to guide the first steps of most interactions. We have trained our teams on how to work with AI in their daily processes. And we have broken down silos so support, engineering, and security can work from the same information and tools.

The goal is to let AI handle the repeatable steps so our people can focus on the work that requires expertise.

For growing businesses evaluating MSPs today, what should be the top criteria when choosing a partner that promises AI-enabled services rather than traditional IT support?

I would focus on three areas. First, make sure the MSP can actually integrate AI into their workflows and not just resell tools. Second, ask how they measure outcomes and whether they will share those results. Third, look for an MSP that treats data security, governance and communication as part of the service. AI is powerful, but it only works well inside a strong operating model.

In your view, how will customer experience for MSP clients evolve over the next few years as AI becomes more embedded in operations?

Customers should expect faster responses, more accurate routing, and a more personalized support experience. AI will also make the service more proactive. Issues will be identified earlier and surfaced before they cause downtime.

What will not change is the relationship. Customers still want a trusted partner who understands their business. AI helps us spend more time on that work and less time on manual tasks.

What is the most overlooked opportunity in applying AI within managed services that you believe the industry has not fully appreciated yet?

The biggest overlooked area is data. Many organizations want to use AI but do not have a clear understanding of where their data lives, who owns it, or which systems should be the source of truth. Most have significant data sprawl, especially with cloud-based applications.

AI will force a reckoning around data organization, governance, and access. MSPs that can help customers solve these foundational data challenges will deliver far more value than those who only focus on automation.

As you look five years ahead, what breakthroughs in AI, automation, or data integration do you believe will most redefine what an MSP/MSSP should deliver—and how is Corsica positioning itself to stay ahead of that curve?

I expect three major changes over the next five years. AI will handle much more of the initial triage and enrichment. The line between IT operations and security operations will continue to merge. And data governance and integration will become as important as traditional support.

Corsica is preparing for this by building an integrated operating model, strengthening our Microsoft security capabilities, expanding our national footprint, and investing in the data practices that allow AI to be used safely and effectively.

Thank you for the great interview, readers who wish to learn more should visit Corsica Technologies.