October 14th marks the official end of the road for Windows 10 updates — no more patches, no more bug fixes, and no more support. In this episode, Bryan sits down with Plow Networks' Systems Support Engineer, Emmanuel Tsavaris, to break down what this means for businesses still running Windows 10 and why sticking with the familiar could come with serious security risks.

Emmanuel explains why so many organizations have dragged their feet on switching to Windows 11, the real dangers of running an unsupported OS, and what practical steps IT leaders should be taking now, from hardware upgrades to end user training, to prepare for a smooth and secure transition.

Plus, they explore the benefits of Windows 11 beyond just security, including faster performance and improved efficiency, and offer guidance for teams that aren't quite ready to make the move.

If you're still "kicking the can" on Windows 11, this episode is your wake-up call — and your action plan.

Links to resources mentioned in the show: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/meetwindows11 

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/getting-ready-for-the-windows-11-upgrade-eb50813f-c7da-4cf8-89a3-6ba0d33b2773

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This week, Bryan sits down with Kyle Duke, CIO of EvidenceCare, to dig into the critical intersection of technology and healthcare. With nearly 20 years of experience in health tech—from nimble startups to major enterprises—Kyle brings a unique lens to the conversation. They explore the growing demand for "technology translators" inside organizations, the evolving role of clinical decision support tools, and why Kyle remains optimistic about the future of tech-supported healthcare. If you're into real talk about where healthcare and innovation collide, this one’s for you. 

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Learn more about Plow Networks: https://bit.ly/3RNGHKz 

In this After Hours episode, Bryan Link is again joined by Plow Networks Co-Founders Brian Law and Cameron Plato for an in-depth conversation on key issues impacting businesses today. The trio dives into the importance of conducting business reviews with your IT providers, sharing essential questions to ensure you're aligned with your service providers and getting the best IT solutions for your business. They also discuss Microsoft’s April 1st 5% price increase on all monthly license subscriptions, offering insights on optimization strategies that could keep businesses from feeling that 5% increase—but also unpacking the frustrations behind potential clients' reluctance to optimize. Wrapping up, the guys explore Microsoft’s new Copilot product, its hefty $30-per-license price tag, and the mixed expectations surrounding its value. Is it on Microsoft or the CSPs to drive sales for Copilot? The team theorizes on this and more, ultimately concluding that the new AI tool still faces a tough road ahead. Tune in for a no bull$hIT discussion on the challenges and opportunities in the ever-evolving IT landscape. 

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Learn more about Plow Networks: https://bit.ly/4bLZmzT

This week Bryan sits down with Mike Paez, a Technical Trainer at Fortinet and a rising star in cybersecurity education. With his engaging and creative approach to teaching, Mike has earned the nickname “The Bill Nye of Cybersecurity.” He shares his unique career journey—from sales to engineering to his current role—highlighting how empathy, ingenuity, and design creativity drive his mission to make cybersecurity more accessible. Tune in to hear how Mike is changing the game on YouTube, LinkedIn, and beyond! We hope you enjoy this week's episode of Cut the $hIT.

Watch Mike on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLbbcH8MnXJ7m8eACMz-Aoz0cxDprEOp4&si=D9GhZ_vYu4C4xpbG 

Cybersecurity Skills Gap Report: https://www.fortinet.com/content/dam/fortinet/assets/reports/2024-cybersecurity-skills-gap-report.pdf

Watch the video version on our YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PlowNetworks/playlists 

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Learn more about Plow Networks: https://bit.ly/4bLZmzT

Technology and service sales are evolving—so what’s working, what’s not, and where are we headed? This week Bryan sits down with Christopher Shubert, VP of Channel Sales at AppDirect, to break it all down. With nearly six years under his belt at AppDirect and extensive experience in sales, Christopher shares his take on the current state of the industry, the biggest challenges facing sellers today, and how research and training platforms will shape the future of buying and selling. No matter what you're selling the bottom line is, in this current "information era" fueled by the internet and artificial intelligence we are in, consumers' buying habits are changing. And that is what Bryan and Christopher are here to talk about. We hope you glean a few thoughtful insights from this week's episode, enjoy. 

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Learn more about Plow Networks: https://bit.ly/4bLZmzT

For the first episode of 2025, Bryan is solo, bringing you his annual technology trends and predictions for the new year. As they say, the more things change the more they stay the same, that seems to be the case with technology trends for this year as well. From the widespread adoption of AI to companies looking to maintain safe levels of cybersecurity, Bryan guesses not much will change regarding those this year. However, with a new president in the white house, there are always going to be changes that come with that. What kind of changes will the IT industry see with President Trump in office? Find out Bryan's predictions in this week's episode of Cut the $hIT. 

Articles referenced during the show:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-are-companies-using-ai-agents-heres-a-look-at-five-early-users-of-the-bots-26f87845?mod=tech_lead_story

https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/microsoft-ai-assistant-copilot-365-suite-dfb293b3?mod=tech_feat1_ai_pos3 

Watch the video version on our YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PlowNetworks/playlists 

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Learn more about Plow Networks: https://bit.ly/4bLZmzT

In the last episode of 2024, Bryan sits down with Nathan Whittacre, Founder and CEO of Stimulus Technologies, a leading managed IT services provider (MSP) based in Henderson, Nevada. Despite both being veterans of the IT services industry, this conversation goes beyond "inside baseball" and dives into the real challenges and opportunities facing MSPs today.

Nathan shares his unique perspectives on the IT buying process, how MSPs can deliver genuine value to their clients, and where he sees AI shaping the future of IT services. Whether you're in the tech world, an IT leader, or just curious about the evolving business landscape, this episode is packed with actionable insights and thought-provoking discussion.

Tune in for an engaging look at how technology providers are adapting, innovating, and delivering smarter solutions for clients in today's fast-paced environment. 

We will see you all in 2025!

Unlock Your 5% Discount on Microsoft 365 Licensing!

https://plow.net/microsoft-365-promo/ 

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This week Bryan is joined again by Co-Founders of Plow Networks, Cameron Plato and Brian Law for an After Hours episode. If you're new, here or maybe forgot since we haven't had an After Hours in a while, these episodes are the epitome of Cut the $hIT. Unfiltered, raw conversations between Bryan, Cameron, and Brian about industry trends and topics they think the listeners need to know. In this episode, the three talk about how things are wrapping up as 2024 comes to a close and look toward the future for 2025. They get into the differences they see in the IT sales world from a hiring perspective for potential salespeople compared to in years past. And most interestingly, Bryan brings up the topic of Managed Detection and Response (MDR), and how businesses are finding out that the R, doesn't always mean response. They will lay out how you should approach a conversation with your MDR to make sure you know exactly what their "response" looks like. 

Unlock Your 5% Discount on Microsoft 365 Licensing!

https://plow.net/microsoft-365-promo/ 

Watch the video version on our YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PlowNetworks/playlists 

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Learn more about Plow Networks: https://plow.net 

In this week's episode Bryan is joined by Roni Jamesmeyer, Senior Marketing Manager at Five9, to explore how AI is reshaping healthcare through cutting-edge contact center solutions. With over two decades in the industry, Five9 began as a dialer software provider for call centers and has since evolved into a major player in cloud contact center technology. Roni shares her journey from traditional cabling to hosted voice services and discusses how Five9 now supports healthcare companies with AI-driven interactive virtual agents (IVAs). They dive into the transformative power of IVAs, the role of AI in improving patient experience, and how healthcare companies are meeting the consumer-driven demands of today’s patients. Tune in for an insightful discussion on the future of healthcare contact centers!

Watch the video version on our YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PlowNetworks/playlists 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cuttheshitpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cuttheshit_pod/ Learn more about Plow Networks: https://plow.net

This week, Bryan is joined in Nashville by MacKenzie Brown, VP of Security at Blackpoint Cyber. Blackpoint focuses on delivering Identity-Based Security to its customers, and MacKenzie explains how this benefits customers of all sizes. Join us as MacKenzie shares her journey from working in IT at Microsoft to her current cybersecurity position at Blackpoint. As a woman in the IT industry, MacKenzie provides unique insights into working in this field and shares her thoughts on the future of cybersecurity.

We hope you enjoy this exciting episode.

Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PlowNetworks/podcasts

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