Uncle Marv's IT Business Podcast (Real Talk for IT Pros & MSPs)

In this engaging episode of the IT Business Podcast, Uncle Marv sits down with George Bardissi, founder of bvoip and MSP Initiative. George opens up about his transition from running an MSP to creating a VoIP solution specifically designed for IT service providers. He discusses the challenges of balancing multiple ventures and the importance of valuing one's time in the MSP world. George explains how bvoip's OneStream platform integrates deeply with popular PSA and ticketing systems, automating call logging and enhancing customer service for MSPs. He shares insights on why many MSPs hesitate to resell VoIP services and how BVOIP addresses these concerns. The conversation also covers the origins of MSP Initiative, including the famous bus tour during the pandemic and the community-focused events it organizes. George emphasizes the importance of creating meaningful experiences and sharing authentic knowledge within the MSP community.=== Companies Mentioned: BVOIP - https://www.bvoip.com/MSP Initiative - https://mspinitiative.com/ConnectWise - https://www.connectwise.com/Datto - https://www.datto.com/Autotask - https://www.datto.com/products/autotask-psa/Halo PSA - https://halopsa.com/Syncro - https://syncromsp.com/SuperOps.ai - https://superops.ai/Zendesk - https://www.zendesk.com/RingCentral - https://www.ringcentral.com/Zoom - https://zoom.us/Microsoft Teams - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/=== LICENSE CERTIFICATE: Envato Elements ItemItem Title: Upbeat & Fun Sports Rock LogoItem URL: https://elements.envato.com/upbeat-fun-sports-rock-logo-CSR3UETItem ID: CSR3UETAuthor Username: AlexanderRufireLicensee: Marvin BeeRegistered Project Name: IT Business PodcastLicense Date: January 1st, 2024Item License Code: 7X9F52DNML === Show InformationWebsite: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/Host: Marvin BeeUncle Marv’s Amazon Store: https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZBecome a monthly supporter: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcast

In this special edition of the IT Business Podcast, host Marvin Bee takes listeners on a journey through his career and the evolution of his podcast. Starting from his early days in a computer repair shop to founding his own business in 1997, Marv shares how he discovered podcasting in 2014 and became part of the Podnutz community. He recounts his experience at the 2025 PodFest conference, highlighting the growth of the podcasting industry and its impact on his own show. Marv proudly announces that the IT Business Podcast has seen significant growth, with unique listeners increasing from 7,094 in 2023 to 8,607 in 2024. He emphasizes the show's commitment to providing valuable content to help IT business owners run their operations better, smarter, and faster. The episode also touches on current events, including the ongoing California wildfire crisis, and stresses the importance of community in the MSP industry. Marv discusses various MSP communities and organizations, cautioning against becoming "just another membership organization with little value." Diversity in tech is another key topic, with Marv highlighting the current state of representation and its importance for innovation and success in the global market. He also addresses the thriving nature of the MSP space, with a focus on profitability and growth expectations for 2025. Looking ahead, Marv shares his plans for the podcast in 2025, including attending industry conferences and potentially expanding marketing efforts. He encourages listeners to support the show through various means and promises to continue delivering actionable advice, industry news, and insightful interviews.=== Links and Companies Mentioned: PodFest Expo - podfestexpo.comPodnutz - podnutz.comASCII - ascii.comIT Nation - connectwise.com/theitnationPax8 Beyond - pax8.comThreatLocker - threatlocker.com=== LICENSE CERTIFICATE: Envato Elements ItemItem Title: Upbeat & Fun Sports Rock LogoItem URL: https://elements.envato.com/upbeat-fun-sports-rock-logo-CSR3UETItem ID: CSR3UETAuthor Username: AlexanderRufireLicensee: Marvin BeeRegistered Project Name: IT Business PodcastLicense Date: January 1st, 2024Item License Code: 7X9F52DNMLItem Title: President DayItem URL: https://elements.envato.com/president-day-UFETP9UItem ID: UFETP9UAuthor Username: FlorewsMusicLicensee: Marvin BeeRegistered Project Name: IT Business PodcastLicense Date: January 23rd, 2025Item License Code: X8TPY7E3M4For any queries related to this document or license please contact: Envato Support via https://help.elements.envato.com/hc/en-us/requests/new === Show InformationWebsite: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/Host: Marvin BeeUncle Marv’s Amazon Store: https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZBecome a monthly supporter: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcast

In this episode, Uncle Marv welcomes Michelle Accardi, CEO of Liongard, and Brooke Lee, the new VP of Community and Channel, to discuss Liongard's recent successes and future plans. The conversation kicks off with Michelle explaining Liongard's rapid growth, including new integrations and high-profile hires like David Powell as CRO. Brooke shares her excitement about joining Liongard and her plans to strengthen community engagement through webinars, partner advisory councils, and the Liongard Academy. The discussion then dives into Liongard's advanced automated documentation, cyber asset discovery, and asset inventory features, highlighting how these tools can benefit MSPs. The conversation takes an interesting turn as Michelle and Brooke discuss the upcoming RoarCon events, which will now be hosted guest format events focusing on intimate, educational experiences for partners. The episode wraps up with a humorous Florida Man segment, featuring rejected personalized license plates and a quirky story from Sheriff Grady Judd. Throughout the show, Uncle Marv's witty banter and the guests' enthusiasm create an engaging and informative atmosphere, making this episode a must-listen for MSPs and tech enthusiasts alike.=== Websites and Companies Mentioned: Liongard - https://www.liongard.comIT Glue - https://www.itglue.comCyberFOX - https://www.cyberfox.com/Rejected Florida Vanity License Plates for 2024 - https://tinyurl.com/bdrme8p8Florida Man ... with a horse - https://tinyurl.com/4x2rhxxwDeloitte - https://www.deloitte.comZero Trust World, February 19-21, 2025: https://zerotrustworld.threatlocker.com/The Florida Man Games, March 1, 2025: https://www.thefloridamangames.com/=== MUSIC LICENSE CERTIFICATE: Envato Elements Item This license certificate documents a license to use the item listed below on a non-exclusive, commercial, worldwide and revokable basis, for one Single Use for this Registered Project. Item Title: Upbeat & Fun Sports Rock LogoItem URL: https://elements.envato.com/upbeat-fun-sports-rock-logo-CSR3UETItem ID: CSR3UETAuthor Username: AlexanderRufireLicensee: Marvin BeeRegistered Project Name: IT Business PodcastLicense Date: January 1st, 2024Item License Code: 7X9F52DNMLFor any queries related to this license please contact Envato Support via https://help.elements.envato.com/hc/en-us/requests/new or Envato Elements Pty Ltd (ABN 87 613 824 258) PO Box 16122, Collins St West, VIC 8007, Australia  === Show InformationWebsite: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/Host: Marvin BeeUncle Marv’s Amazon Store: https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZBecome a monthly supporter: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcast

Uncle Marv brings us a special edition of the IT Business Podcast, diving into the recent shakeup at Kaseya. Fred Voccola, CEO for the past decade, is transitioning to Vice Chairman after leading the company to over $1.5 billion in annual recurring revenue. This move comes as Kaseya eyes a potential public offering. To break down this news, Uncle Marv brings on Dave Sobel, host of MSP Radio and former vendor channel member. Dave offers insights into the timing of the announcement, the implications for Kaseya's future, and how this fits into broader industry trends. The conversation touches on the polarizing nature of Kaseya in the MSP community, the company's aggressive sales tactics, and the trend of long-term contracts in the industry. Dave cautions against emotional reactions to vendor strategies, encouraging MSPs to focus on customer experience instead. The podcast wraps up with speculation about Kaseya's next CEO and the likelihood of an IPO in the near future. Dave suggests that while Kaseya is positioning for potential public offering, current market conditions and the mixed performance of MSP companies in the public market might delay such plans.People/Companies Mentioned: Kaseya - www.kaseya.comConnectWise - www.connectwise.comDatto - www.datto.comSolarWinds - www.solarwinds.comOpenAI - www.openai.comAnthropic - www.anthropic.comHP - www.hp.comDell - www.dell.comCisco - www.cisco.comMicrosoft - www.microsoft.com=== MUSIC LICENSE CERTIFICATE: Envato Elements Item This license certificate documents a license to use the item listed below on a non-exclusive, commercial, worldwide and revokable basis, for one Single Use for this Registered Project. Item Title: Upbeat & Fun Sports Rock LogoItem URL: https://elements.envato.com/upbeat-fun-sports-rock-logo-CSR3UETItem ID: CSR3UETAuthor Username: AlexanderRufireLicensee: Marvin BeeRegistered Project Name: IT Business PodcastLicense Date: January 1st, 2024Item License Code: 7X9F52DNMLFor any queries related to this license please contact Envato Support via https://help.elements.envato.com/hc/en-us/requests/new or Envato Elements Pty Ltd (ABN 87 613 824 258) PO Box 16122, Collins St West, VIC 8007, Australia === Show InformationWebsite: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/Host: Marvin BeeUncle Marv’s Amazon Store: https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZBecome a monthly supporter: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcast

Welcome to the first episode of 2025 for the IT Business Podcast! Uncle Marv starts the year with a bang, sharing the latest industry moves and shakeups. From new job announcements to promotions, he covers it all, including the big news at LionGuard with Brook Lee and David Powell joining the team. Marv touches on upcoming guests and events, including the Florida Man Games in March and his attendance at ThreatLocker's Zero Trust World in February. He also teases exciting new content focused on NetAlly tools, promising in-depth, practical demonstrations for IT professionals. The episode takes a personal turn as Marv reflects on loyalty in the industry, sharing touching stories of long-time connections leading to new opportunities. He also introduces new ways for listeners to support the show, from Amazon affiliate links to Ko-Fi donations. Wrapping up, Marv gives a heartfelt tribute to his late friend Amy Coons, revealing the profound impact she had on his decision to start his own IT business. It's a poignant reminder of the personal connections that shape our professional journeys.Links:David Powell appointed new Chief Revenue Officer at Liongard: https://tinyurl.com/ycrupr58Brook Lee appointed as the new Vice President of Community and Channel at Liongard: https://tinyurl.com/8r7v6tmnPia announces CEO Gerwai Todd’s departure: https://tinyurl.com/3z3bbz9yAnker 60W USB Charger - https://amzn.to/4fO0i71Zero Trust World, February 19-21, 2025: https://zerotrustworld.threatlocker.com/The Florida Man Games, March 1, 2025: https://www.thefloridamangames.com/=== MUSIC LICENSE CERTIFICATE: Envato Elements Item This license certificate documents a license to use the item listed below on a non-exclusive, commercial, worldwide and revokable basis, for one Single Use for this Registered Project. Item Title: Upbeat & Fun Sports Rock LogoItem URL: https://elements.envato.com/upbeat-fun-sports-rock-logo-CSR3UETItem ID: CSR3UETAuthor Username: AlexanderRufireLicensee: Marvin BeeRegistered Project Name: IT Business PodcastLicense Date: January 1st, 2024Item License Code: 7X9F52DNMLFor any queries related to this license please contact Envato Support via https://help.elements.envato.com/hc/en-us/requests/new or Envato Elements Pty Ltd (ABN 87 613 824 258) PO Box 16122, Collins St West, VIC 8007, Australia === Show InformationWebsite: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/Host: Marvin BeeUncle Marv’s Amazon Store: https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZBecome a monthly supporter: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcast

Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/live/9O0yF-u9P3gUncle Marv's IT Business Podcast ends 2024 with a bang in this special holiday episode. The show features two groups of guests from the MSP industry, including familiar faces and new additions. The first group dives into discussions about business growth, project management challenges, and the evolving MSP landscape. Tom Bull and Stan Louissaint share insights from their Jersey-based operations, while Lynn Williams represents ASCII Group, celebrating their 40th anniversary. Brian Weiss talks about his company's pivot to a Microsoft-first approach and their recent office purchase. The second group brings more diverse perspectives. Dawn Sizer shares a frustrating experience with a PEO integration, while Joe Balsarotti shows off his impressive autograph collection. Bradley Gross, the "attorney for all technicians," discusses the increasing recognition of legal needs in the MSP world. Brandon Martens from TruGrid and Matt Linn from Thread offer vendor perspectives on working with MSPs. Uncle Marv announces the podcast award winners, with Dave Scott of Scott Growth Strategies taking home two awards for Best Episode and Best Guest of 2024. Moovila took home the Best Vendor Swag for 2024, accepted by Kate Schlarf, the VP for Growth Marketing for Moovila. Dave Scott of Scott Growth Strategies taking home two awards for Best Episode and Best Guest of 2024.The show concludes with a gift card giveaway and a teaser for Uncle Marv's coverage of the upcoming Florida Man Games in March 2025.Websites and Links: ASCII Group - www.ascii.comThread - www.thread.comMoovila - https://www.moovila.com/Scott Growth Strategies - www.scottgrowthstrategies.comFlorida Man Games - https://www.thefloridamangames.com/ === Show InformationWebsite: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/Host: Marvin BeeUncle Marv’s Amazon Store: https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZBecome a monthly supporter: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcast

In this episode of the IT Business Podcast, host Uncle Marv welcomes Frank DeLuca from The CTO Agency to discuss the challenges and opportunities in running an IT service business. Frank shares his journey from running a BBS at 13 to founding his own MSP, highlighting the importance of adapting to client needs and staying current with technology trends. The conversation takes an unexpected turn as Uncle Marv launches into a fiery rant about vendor-MSP relationships, sparked by a frustrating interaction with a young sales representative. This leads to a broader discussion on the changing landscape of IT services, including the push for long-term contracts and the need for better "rules of engagement" between vendors and MSPs. Frank and Uncle Marv dive into the complexities of selling cybersecurity solutions, particularly to insurance companies and law firms. They explore strategies for bundling services and the challenges of educating clients on the necessity of robust security measures. The episode wraps up with the popular "Florida Man" segment, featuring a shocking story about a Santa Claus impersonator arrested for child pornography, and a discussion on the technologies used to combat such crimes.Guest Bio:Frank DeLuca is the founder of The CTO Agency, an IT service provider specializing in professional services and insurance clients. With over 20 years of experience in the tech industry, Frank brings a wealth of knowledge on running a boutique MSP.Links and Websites: Vote for the 2024 Podcast Awards: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/survey/2024-podcast-awards/The CTO Agency - https://www.thectoagency.com/Florida 'Santa' Sentenced in Child Pornography Case:  https://tinyurl.com/mrynffcuSonicWall and CrowdStrike Join Forces: https://tinyurl.com/3xfcn3rzSonicWall - www.sonicwall.comCrowdStrike - www.crowdstrike.comSentinel One - www.sentinelone.comSophos - www.sophos.com === Show InformationWebsite: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/Host: Marvin BeeUncle Marv’s Amazon Store: https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZBecome a monthly supporter: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcast

Uncle Marv sits down with Richie Wade, Manager of Sales Engineering at DNSFilter, to explore the cutting-edge world of DNS security. Richie shares insights on how DNSFilter is leveraging AI to detect threats up to 7 days faster than traditional methods, catching 70% of threats with their in-house solution. The conversation dives into DNSFilter's recent integrations with major PSAs like ConnectWise and Datto Autotask, aimed at streamlining workflows for MSPs. Richie explains how these integrations minimize administrative workload and improve billing accuracy. Uncle Marv and Richie also discuss the changing cybersecurity landscape, with Richie revealing a 14% increase in malware and a 36% overall increase in threats on their network this year alone. They emphasize that organizations of all sizes are potential targets, debunking the myth that only large enterprises are at risk. The podcast touches on DNSFilter's unique features, including on-demand categorization of new domains and the ability to block newly registered domains. Richie also previews upcoming features like URL filtering and hints at more MSP-focused integrations in the pipeline. Towards the end, they discuss DNSFilter's upcoming annual security report and the importance of staying ahead of emerging cyber threats. The episode wraps up with a teaser about DNSFilter's pricing changes and new features coming in the new year.=== Websites and Links Mentioned: DNSFIlter Announces Integration with Six Leading PSA Platforms: https://tinyurl.com/5n6ck2z8Rise in Malicious Domains: https://tinyurl.com/3m95kzffDNSFilter - https://www.dnsfilter.comSuperOps - https://superops.com/ConnectWise - https://www.connectwise.comDatto Autotask - https://www.datto.comPulseway - https://www.pulseway.comHalo - https://halopsa.com/N-Able - https://www.n-able.com/Syncro - https://www.syncromsp.comAppRiver - https://www.appriver.comRewst - https://rewst.io/=== MUSIC LICENSE CERTIFICATE: Envato Elements Item This license certificate documents a license to use the item listed below on a non-exclusive, commercial, worldwide and revokable basis, for one Single Use for this Registered Project. Item Title: Upbeat & Fun Sports Rock LogoItem URL: https://elements.envato.com/upbeat-fun-sports-rock-logo-CSR3UETItem ID: CSR3UETAuthor Username: AlexanderRufireLicensee: Marvin BeeRegistered Project Name: IT Business PodcastLicense Date: January 1st, 2024Item License Code: 7X9F52DNMLFor any queries related to this license please contact Envato Support via https://help.elements.envato.com/hc/en-us/requests/new or Envato Elements Pty Ltd (ABN 87 613 824 258) PO Box 16122, Collins St West, VIC 8007, Australia === Show InformationWebsite: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/Host: Marvin BeeUncle Marv’s Amazon Store: https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZBecome a monthly supporter: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcast

Uncle Marv welcomes Zach Kromkowski, co-founder and CEO of Senteon, and winner of the 2024 IT Nation Pitch It competition. Zach kicks things off by sharing his recent transition to van life, discussing the challenges and goals behind this lifestyle change, including plans to visit MSP partners across the country. The conversation shifts to the state of MSP conferences, with Zach offering his perspective on the increasing number and scale of events. He emphasizes the importance of lowering barriers for innovative startups to participate and suggests more focused, skill-based conference tracks. Zach then dives into Senteon's journey, from its inception as an EDR platform to its current focus on automated system hardening based on CIS benchmarks. He discusses the pivots the company made, the importance of market research, and how the COVID-19 pandemic unexpectedly aided their development process. The episode wraps up with a discussion on the complexities of system hardening, highlighting the depth of knowledge required and the value of automated solutions in this space.Links and Websites: Senteon - https://senteon.co/ConnectWise - https://www.connectwise.com/Liongard - https://www.liongard.com/Compliance Scorecard - https://compliancescorecard.com/Florida Man Puts on Helmet; Intentionally Crashes into USAA Building: https://tinyurl.com/4yruecbpZach Previous Appearance on the IT Business Podcast: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/672=== MUSIC LICENSE CERTIFICATE: Envato Elements Item This license certificate documents a license to use the item listed below on a non-exclusive, commercial, worldwide and revokable basis, for one Single Use for this Registered Project. Item Title: Upbeat & Fun Sports Rock LogoItem URL: https://elements.envato.com/upbeat-fun-sports-rock-logo-CSR3UETItem ID: CSR3UETAuthor Username: AlexanderRufireLicensee: Marvin BeeRegistered Project Name: IT Business PodcastLicense Date: January 1st, 2024Item License Code: 7X9F52DNMLFor any queries related to this license please contact Envato Support via https://help.elements.envato.com/hc/en-us/requests/new or Envato Elements Pty Ltd (ABN 87 613 824 258) PO Box 16122, Collins St West, VIC 8007, Australia === Show InformationWebsite: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/Host: Marvin BeeUncle Marv’s Amazon Store: https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZBecome a monthly supporter: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcast

Listeners will be engaged by Marv's storytelling as he recounts a recent incident involving a $300,000 ransomware attack faced by a client due to poor security practices. He discusses how the lack of proper protections led to devastating consequences and stresses the significance of adopting a zero-trust framework. Marv outlines three core principles: never trust, always verifyleast privilege accessassume a breach.He also shares insights from his own client interactions, illustrating the challenges of implementing these principles in real-world scenarios. Additionally, Marv provides updates on upcoming shows, including Black Friday and Cyber Monday previews, encouraging listeners to explore valuable tech products for the holiday seasonWebsites and Links: *** Vote for the 2024 Podcast Awards: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/surveyThreatLocker: https://www.threatlocker.com/Black Friday Amazon Live with Eric Pinto: https://www.youtube.com/live/xCdVY_CWUOs?si=UWVsuza6N2plQwMoBlack Friday Amazon Live with Dawn Sizer: https://www.youtube.com/live/pNNgytMlNEI?si=JEjczLwCmOenn6iKPeople Mentioned for Shout OutsEric PintoDawn SizerErin Lawrence === Show InformationWebsite: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/Host: Marvin BeeUncle Marv’s Amazon Store: https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZBecome a monthly supporter: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcast