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

In this episode, Ted and Woody explain the functionality of Uncompromized, which provides identity theft protection, dark web monitoring, and internet privacy for individuals. They detail how the service allows MSPs to invite clients to subscribe easily, offering them immediate monitoring and protection against identity theft. The discussion also touches on the significance of scrubbing personal information from data broker sites, a feature that sets Uncompromized apart from traditional identity protection services. Ted and Woody share insights on the user-friendly nature of the service, its cost-effectiveness, and how it can help MSPs expand their service offerings while enhancing their clients' security posture. Key takeaways from the episode include the ease of onboarding for clients, the importance of protecting employees' personal data, and the potential for MSPs to generate revenue through this service. The conversation underscores the evolving landscape of cybersecurity and the need for MSPs to adapt and provide comprehensive solutions that address the challenges posed by remote work and increased digital threats.Key TakeawaysUncompromized offers identity theft protection, dark web monitoring, and internet privacy for individuals.The service is easy to deploy and requires no complex installations.MSPs can invite clients to subscribe, providing immediate monitoring and protection.The product helps scrub personal information from data broker sites.MSPs can earn revenue as employees pay for the service over time.Uncompromized is designed to enhance security for remote workers and their families. === 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

Dori Spade, a veteran with over 17 years in the Managed Service Provider (MSP) industry, shares her expertise in this engaging discussion. She talks about her journey transitioning to founding Call to Action, a consulting firm aimed at helping MSPs tackle common challenges like role clarity and scaling. Dori emphasizes the significance of Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) for strategic oversight and the necessity of breaking down silos between sales and service teams to boost new business sales. Her insights are invaluable for MSPs aiming for growth.

Uncle Marv welcomes Corey Tapper, a new ASCII member and owner of Techevolution, to the IT Business Podcast. Corey shares his experience attending ASCII events over the years before finally becoming a member, citing the emotional impact of seeing Frank Abagnale speak and the valuable networking opportunities. Techevolution, Corey's company, has been in business for 25 years. It started as a break-fix operation and transitioned to an MSP model about 8-10 years ago. What sets Tech Evolution apart is their ownership of a data center, allowing them to offer full-service technology solutions to their customers. Corey explains that his journey into data center ownership began with a bet to host email and websites on a dial-up connection. Recognizing the potential for recurring revenue, he gradually built out a server room and eventually a full-fledged data center. This unique approach allowed Techevolution to offer services like shared Exchange hosting before it was widely available. The company serves clients primarily in the New England area for MSP services but has hosting customers worldwide. Corey describes their data center setup, emphasizing their $3 million investment in equipment and infrastructure. They also offer co-location services to other MSPs and companies. Corey highlights the benefits of ASCII membership, particularly the peer groups and the supportive community. He values the ability to seek advice from fellow members and the spirit of collaboration, even among competitors. Key Takeaways:ASCII events provide valuable networking and learning opportunitiesTransitioning from break-fix to MSP model can enhance business stabilityOwning a data center can provide unique service offerings and revenue streamsPeer support and community are crucial benefits of ASCII membershipCollaboration among MSPs can lead to mutual growth and success === 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 begins by interviewing Eric Pinto from SocSoter, who discusses their new reporting platform designed to help MSPs prepare for audits and compliance checks. Pinto emphasizes the importance of providing evidence for services offered to customers, especially in the context of 24/7 coverage. Next, the host speaks with Dave Cava, partner at Encore Strategic and co-author of "The Pumpkin Plan for Managed Services." Cava shares insights on helping MSPs understand pricing and customer approach strategies. He mentions positive feedback from his presentation, particularly regarding a case study on a $200,000 MSP. The interview with Nick Wolf from Cork reveals a new partnership with DataStream, a cyber insurance broker. This collaboration allows MSPs to receive instant cyber insurance quotes through the Cork dashboard. Wolf also mentions Cork's participation in upcoming ASCII events and their first presentation at the current event. Joel Zaidspiner of Channel Pro discusses the publication's role in supporting MSPs and their upcoming events. He highlights the Channel Pro Defend event focusing on cybersecurity, scheduled for August 7th and 8th in New Jersey. Zaidspiner also outlines future events in Charlotte, Dallas, and Los Angeles, each with specific themes such as AI and cybersecurity.  === 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 hosts the IT Business Podcast live from ASCII Edge in Boston, featuring guest Brianna Rubino, Director of Events for the ASCII Group. Brianna shares insights on ASCII's 40th anniversary celebration and the ongoing event series. The ASCII EDGE event series includes nine events across North America, with eight in the U.S. and one in Canada. Brianna hints at exciting plans for 2025, including new locations for events. The ASCII Cup, set to take place in Tampa Bay, will be a significant celebration featuring an 80s theme and a "Back to the Future" party. Brianna discusses her role in planning these events and the process of selecting speakers. She emphasizes the mutual benefits for speakers and attendees, as it allows business owners to showcase their knowledge and interact with peers. The interview touches on Brianna's three-year tenure with ASCII and how the events compare to her previous experiences. She describes the ASCII community as a "traveling circus," highlighting the recurring cast of vendors and members across different cities. The conversation concludes with a tease about the upcoming ASCII Cup celebration in Tampa, promising a big and amazing event to mark the 40th anniversary. Key Takeaways: ASCII is celebrating its 40th anniversaryASCII EDGE series includes 9 events across North AmericaASCII Cup in Tampa Bay will feature an 80s themeNew event locations planned for 2025ASCII events provide networking opportunities for members and vendorsBrianna Rubino has been with ASCII for 3 years as Director of EventsLinks:ASCII Edge: https://events.ascii.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, Uncle Marv interviews Ann Westerheim from Ekaru at the ASCII EDGE event in Boston. Ann discusses her book "Cybersecurity for Main Street, Cyber Fit in 21 Days," which aims to simplify cybersecurity concepts for small businesses. She emphasizes the importance of basic security measures like multi-factor authentication and explains how her book has led to speaking opportunities. The conversation examines recent cybersecurity incidents, including the CrowdStrike update issue, and how these events raise awareness among businesses. Ann and Uncle Marv stress the importance of incident response planning and testing, as well as the need for continuous cybersecurity education.They also discuss the challenges of convincing clients to invest in cybersecurity measures, highlighting the need to frame the conversation in terms of business risk and potential financial impact. The interview concludes with Ann sharing her experiences as an ASCII member and the benefits of attending industry events. Key Takeaways: Simple cybersecurity measures can significantly reduce risks for small businessesRecent incidents highlight the importance of cybersecurity awareness and planningFraming cybersecurity in terms of business risk helps convince clients to investContinuous education and repetition are crucial for cybersecurity awarenessIndustry events and memberships provide valuable networking and learning opportunitiesLinks:Ann's Company: https://www.ekaru.com/Ann's Book "Cyberseurity for Main Street": https://amzn.to/3yhxgNqASCII Edge: https://events.ascii.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 interviews Dawn Sizer at the ASCII event in Boston, marking their first in-person meeting. Dawn shares her experience speaking at the event about automation and the positive response from attendees. They discuss the challenges of remote work verification, particularly in light of deepfake technology, and explore potential solutions such as enhanced background checks and identity verification methods. The conversation shifts to recent vendor issues in the industry, with both acknowledging that such problems could affect any company. They also touch on the problem of remote workers using automation to fake activity, highlighting the need for better monitoring solutions. Dawn elaborates on the benefits of ASCII membership, which she's been part of since around 2017. She emphasizes the value of community, networking opportunities, and financial benefits such as discounts on business insurance and vendor relationships. Dawn also mentions ASCII's women's network, which provides support and business-building opportunities for women at all levels in IT organizations. Key Takeaways: Remote work verification is becoming increasingly challenging due to deepfake technologyEnhanced background checks and identity verification may be necessary for remote hiringRecent vendor issues highlight the vulnerability of all companies in the industryASCII membership provides valuable community, networking, and financial benefits for MSPsASCII offers a women's network for support and business-building in the IT sectorLinks: ASCII Edge - The MSP Conference: https://events.ascii.com/3rd Element Consulting: https://www.3rdelementconsulting.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 welcomes Kris Shoemaker from Cavelo to discuss their data risk management platform. Cavelo positions itself under the attack surface management umbrella, offering a comprehensive solution for MSPs that includes data discovery and classification, vulnerability management, identity access management, and asset discovery. Kris explains that Cavelo's approach is data-centric, focusing on protecting a company's data and intellectual property. The platform uses agents deployed on Windows, Mac, and Linux devices to discover and classify sensitive information according to various frameworks. This allows MSPs to identify and protect their clients' "crown jewels." The vulnerability management module of Cavelo is highlighted as a robust solution, competing with major players in the field. Kris emphasizes that while Cavelo excels at finding and prioritizing vulnerabilities, it integrates with existing remediation tools rather than handling remediation itself. The identity access management feature is discussed, which helps identify users with access to sensitive data and tracks their activities. Cavelo integrates with both on-premises Active Directory and Office 365 tenants to provide a comprehensive view of permissions. Kris describes the onboarding process as streamlined and MSP-friendly, with easy deployment options and self-updating agents. He emphasizes that Cavelo is designed for ongoing monitoring rather than one-time assessments, though it can perform quick scans for potential new clients. The interview concludes with a discussion of Cavelo's position in the cybersecurity landscape. Kris positions Cavelo as a "left of boom" solution, focusing on proactive visibility and insights to help prevent or mitigate security incidents. Key Takeaways: Cavelo offers a comprehensive data risk management platform for MSPsThe platform focuses on data discovery, classification, vulnerability management, and identity access managementCavelo uses agents on various operating systems to discover and classify sensitive dataThe vulnerability management module competes with major players in the fieldCavelo integrates with existing remediation tools rather than handling remediation itselfThe platform provides insights into user access and permissions across on-premises and cloud environmentsCavelo positions itself as a proactive, "left of boom" solution in the cybersecurity landscapeWebsite: https://www.cavelo.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

Damon West, the keynote speaker at ASCII Edge in Boston, joins Uncle Marv to discuss his extraordinary life story. West begins by praising ASCII Edge for their exceptional client relationships and event organization. West recounts his past as a Division 1 starting quarterback at the University of North Texas, whose career was cut short by injury. This led to substance abuse issues, which escalated when he was introduced to methamphetamine while working as a stockbroker in Dallas. His addiction spiraled out of control, resulting in a life of crime and eventually a life sentence for organized crime. The turning point in West's life came in Dallas County Jail, where he met a seasoned convict named Muhammad. Muhammad shared the powerful analogy of the coffee bean, encouraging West to be like a coffee bean that changes its environment rather than being changed by it. This philosophy transformed West's outlook and behavior in prison. West describes how he became a positive influence in prison, helping others and maintaining a hopeful attitude. His transformation was so significant that after seven years, the parole board interviewed him and ultimately released him. West now lives on parole until 2073 but has become a sought-after motivational speaker and author. The interview touches on West's efforts to find Muhammad after his release, only to discover he had passed away. In honor of Muhammad's impact, West established a scholarship in his name for students from Muhammad's old neighborhood. West concludes by mentioning his books, including "The Coffee Bean: A Simple Lesson to Create Positive Change" and his autobiography "The Change Agent." Buy the Books!The Coffee Bean: A Simple Lesson to Create Positive Change: https://amzn.to/4djhdxrThe Change Agent: https://amzn.to/3WfXk3sKey Takeaways: Adversity can be an opportunity for personal growth and transformationThe power of positive thinking and hope in overcoming challengesThe importance of being a "coffee bean" - changing your environment rather than letting it change youThe impact of servant leadership and believing in othersThe value of education and giving back to the community === 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 kicks off the episode by acknowledging the sponsor, SuperOps, and dives into the major news of the CrowdStrike incident. A faulty sensor configuration update from CrowdStrike led to widespread computer outages affecting about 8.5 million Windows machines globally. Marv explains how he managed client concerns and highlights the critical need for robust disaster recovery strategies and business continuity planning. He underscores the importance of having a comprehensive crisis response plan and testing it regularly to ensure effectiveness. Marv also praises the IT community for their rapid response and effective communication during the incident, noting the collaborative efforts across various platforms and peer groups. Marv shares his personal weekend ordeal with a new HP system that repeatedly blue-screened at a client's site but worked fine in his office. After troubleshooting, he discovered a faulty NVIDIA T1000 add-in card was the culprit. He also recounts the sudden resignation of a staff member, CJ, and the ensuing challenges due to the lack of communication from the client. The episode wraps up with Marv discussing his upcoming trip to ASCII Edge and encouraging listeners to use his Amazon affiliate link to support the podcast.Key TakeawaysCrowdStrike Incident: A faulty sensor configuration update caused widespread outages, emphasizing the need for robust disaster recovery and business continuity plans.Rapid Response and Communication: Effective communication and collaboration within the IT community were crucial in managing the incident.Personal Troubleshooting: Marv's experience with a faulty NVIDIA T1000 card highlights the challenges of diagnosing hardware issues.Staff Resignation: The importance of clear communication between clients and service providers was underscored by a sudden staff resignation.LinksASCII Edge 2024: https://events.ascii.com/CrowdStrike Lessons: https://tinyurl.com/9esmm7ysCrowdStrike Community Support: https://tinyurl.com/mhypna7t === 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