SMB Community Podcast: Business Advice for Small MSP Owners

Thanks to Sherweb for sponsoring this episode! (Details below.)

Topic 1: 179 Arrested in Massive Global Dark Web Takedown

"Operation Disruptor" is an unprecedented international law enforcement effort, stemming from last year’s seizure of a popular underground bazaar called Wall Street Market. This more than a US-centric law enforcement effort since the dark side of the Internet is international. So, this was a major, successful, multi-national undertaking.

Clearly, this is something you should be talking to you clients about. They don't need the details, of course, but they need to know that the threat is real!

https://www.wired.com/story/operation-disruptor-179-arrested-global-dark-web-takedown/

Topic 2: Microsoft’s underwater server experiment resurfaces after two years.

Turns out, dunking data centers is a great idea! About 1/8th as many failures, compared to data center up here with oxygen and temperature variations. It's also a good test for data centers in space or on other planets.

Next up: Placing data centers offshore . . . near you.

https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/14/21436746/microsoft-project-natick-data-center-server-underwater-cooling-reliability

Topic 3: Microsoft Lighthouse: An RMM.

We tackle this straight on. Does the new MS Lighthouse with MSP dashboard compete with you? Or is it simply competing for your attention and money?

Announcement: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/small-and-medium-business-blog/announcing-microsoft-365-lighthouse-for-managed-service/ba-p/1698181

Note, also that T-Mobile is offering Microsoft 365 and support services.

https://www.bloomberg.com/press-releases/2020-09-21/t-mobile-gets-down-to-business-for-small-business-launches-new-small-business-plans-with-microsoft-365

And HP is offering managed services . . .

https://www.channelpronetwork.com/news/hp-introduces-subscription-hardware-and-services-program-smbs

And Lenovo is offering managed services . . .

https://www.channelpronetwork.com/news/lenovo-introduces-microsoft-365-managed-services-smbs

Should you be afraid? Energized? Should your clients be warned about these changes? We discuss from many different angles.

-----

Today's Sponsor is Sherweb's Accelerate 2020:

The MSP event of the year is back. This time, it’s virtual and free to attend!

Sherweb's Accelerate 2020 offers a comprehensive online program to help you gear up for the future of managed services. Industry experts will deliver thought leadership sessions and hands-on workshops on sales, marketing, financials, strategic business planning and customer engagement. Also available will be 1:1 meetings and fun virtual networking.

Want to stay relevant in a disrupted world? Join us from anywhere on October 21st and 22nd. Registration is open at accelerate.sherweb.com.

:-)

Today's guest is Victor Raessen, founder of MSP Navigator.

What are the first three questions every new MSP asks?

1) How do I get clients?

2) What are you using for RMM?

3) What are you using for PSA?

Victor won't help you for #1, but MSP Navigator is designed to help you with #2, #3, and all the other "What are you using for" questions.

Victor has worked in the IT Managed Services space for more than 20 years and has experience from both the MSP and the vendor side of the business. Victor is the founder of MSP Navigator, an online platform that helps IT managed service providers keep track of their technology stack and discover new services.

MSP Navigator was founded in 2019 to provide the most comprehensive and curated overview of available technology solutions in order to help organisations in their digital transformation journey.

Built for MSP looking to manage and optimize their Technology Stack, It offers a free and curated overview of almost 900 products from 450 vendors in 77 different categories.

Both MSPs and vendors can self onboard and self manage their profiles. MSP Navigator has had attention from IT Channel Pro, TechTarget and ChannelE2E.

The platform allows you to perform an audit on your current tech landscape by telling the platform about the products you are using today. It presents you with an overview of the products and services in your tech landscape, visualized with smart product cards across different categories. The product cards contain links to the vendors web pages, support and social networks.

Product cards can be used to keep track of information such as notes, the internal product champion, product status. You can indicate your relationship with the product (reseller, integrator, developer) so other users can contact you through your public profile if they need help. The platform can suggest products and services in underrepresented categories, for example based on the NIST cybersecurity framework.

Soon, the platform will let you keep track of your product spend, get notifications on upcoming renewal dates and view feedback from peers that have been using products you're interested in.

Link:

https://msp-navigator.com/msp

:-)

About the SMB Community Podcast: Weekly business advice for small MSP owners from Amy Babinchak and James Kernan of the Small Biz Thoughts community — MSP sales, MSP pricing and agreements, hiring and leading an MSP team, MSP operations, selling your MSP, and AI for small MSPs. Produced by MSP Radio. More for MSP owners at smallbizthoughts.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Topic 1: Google disrupting Higher Ed.

Should be jump on this boat? Education is overdue for disruption, but is this the right approach?

And what’s up with CompTIA?

Where we move away from 4-year degree and toward certifications, it rubs up against our industry very much.

Another factor, of course, is the cost of higher ed. And, just to add one more factor: There's more knowledge to be had than is humanly possible to have.

https://www.inc.com/justin-bariso/google-plan-disrupt-college-degree-university-higher-education-certificate-project-management-data-analyst.html

Topic 2: Should we make broadband a national effort?

First off: It seems embarrassing that we are discussing this in the United States!

Read this and come back:
https://www.vox.com/recode/2020/9/10/21426810/internet-access-covid-19-chattanooga-municipal-broadband-fcc

Karl harkens back to his experience in Australia over the last few years.

The potential here is amazing, for IT Service Providers (not just Amazon and Microsoft). There are many, many ramifications for this.

If nothing else, increased connectivity means more potential buyers for all services (for all - not must Apple and Facebook).

Your feedback welcome!

Topic 3: Section 230, revisited.

Censorship. Regulation. Publishing. Responsibility. This one covers it all! When both parties agree on something, you know there's a problem.

https://www.getrevue.co/profile/caseynewton/issues/trump-attacks-section-230-275602

https://www.theverge.com/21273768/section-230-explained-internet-speech-law-definition-guide-free-moderation

All of this stuff can help you start ongoing conversations with your clients. You just have to figure out where to start.

-- -- --

Sponsor note:

Acronis invites you to the Acronis Global Cyber Summit, this is the premier event dedicated to connecting the IT channel and IT pros with actionable insights, solutions, and strategies for effective cyber protection. Bringing together service providers, value-added-resellers, CIOs, and ISVs, the Summit is the world's largest gathering of thought leaders and industry experts sharing insights and advances in the field of cyber protection. Featuring a long list of speakers, sign up for free at acronis.events/summit2020/. – you’ll even be able to catch Dave doing “why do we care” online. See you there.

:-)

Our guest this week is JB Fowler, CPO of Domotz. Domotz is a fast growing provider of a remote network monitoring and management system for all connected devices and IoT systems. The system is super affordable and enables MSPs to offer new IoT and security services for all connected devices - from cameras to VoIP systems.

JB has spent over 20 years in the networking industry where he has led product strategy for a number of players in the commercial integration, residential integration and MSP sectors. As CPO at Domotz, JB is focused on understanding the pain points MSPs face with managing and securing IoT devices so Domotz can continue improving it\'s software for managed services.

Additional Relevant Information Today's business networks have a lot more on them than just computers and routers. There are all kinds of connected things on a network: Commercial Appliances, routers, firewalls, switches, VoIP phones, Point of Sale systems, Digital Signage, AV Equipment and Security Cameras. Who should be managing all this new technology? MSPs of course.

Web site: https://www.domotz.com

Follow this link for a 21 day free trial.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/domotz Twitter: https://twitter.com/domotz LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/domotz/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/domotz/

:-)

About the SMB Community Podcast: Weekly business advice for small MSP owners from Amy Babinchak and James Kernan of the Small Biz Thoughts community — MSP sales, MSP pricing and agreements, hiring and leading an MSP team, MSP operations, selling your MSP, and AI for small MSPs. Produced by MSP Radio. More for MSP owners at smallbizthoughts.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Topic 1: Are all your smart devices going to be used in evidence against you?

Follow up on the topic of having an AI app get you out of a ticket. Between your cloud-stored camera footage and device recordings, police might be able to be used to defend you . . . or convict you.

We discuss several sides of this emerging technology, including the integrity of the data as well as our right against self-incrimination.

Alexa, Play My Alibi: The Smart Home Gets Taken to Court
Link:
https://www.wired.com/story/gadget-lab-podcast-470/

Topic 2: Tech companies want to get you back to your office

35% of companies have no timeline for getting back to work. But, some very big tech companies are helping you start to move in that direction. But, at the same time, those big companies aren't headed back to their offices!

Link:
https://www.wired.com/story/big-tech-help-get-you-back-office/

Topic 3: Making money from electricity instead of Bitcoin. Huh?

Recently, power prices in Taxes popped over $200 per megawatt-hour. One company, Layer1, stopped mining Bitcoin for 30 minutes and reaped returns of 700%.

This highlights an ongoing issue of the true costs of bitcoin.

Link:
https://www.aljazeera.com/ajimpact/power-move-bitcoin-miner-soaring-profits-selling-energy-200901152939457.html

:-)

I sat down (virtually) with Harry Brelsford, the true found of the SMB IT consulting community worldwide. For more than twenty years, Harry has been the prime mover and shaker at SMB Nation, and is the author of more than twenty books, primarily focused on technology and consulting in the SMB space.

Many years ago, Harry wrote one of my favorite books on how to be a technology consultant - SMB Consulting Best Practices. For years I had hoped that Harry would update that book for the twenty-first century. Now he has!

Today Harry is releasing The Pocket MBA - Instant Entrepreneur. This is a great new book. It is good for any audience - IT or not - and is a great resource for anyone who is looking to start their own consulting business, for any industry.

In this interview, Harry explains the "Finder Minder Grinder" model he uses to organize the book. You can check it own now at www.pocket.mba/ (check out that URL).

Chapters include:

• So You Want to Be an Entrepreneur?!?!?
• Entrepreneur Business Plan
• Foundation for Entrepreneurial Success
• Discovering Opportunity
• Planting Seeds and Growing an Entrepreneur Practice
• Entrepreneur Marketing
• PIVOT Marketing and Analytics System
• Entrepreneurial Sales
• Be the Rainmaker
• Client Relationship Management
• Business Management
• Financial Management
• Use Case: Consulting Methodologies
• New Ideas!

This interview has some very interesting observations about entrepreneurs, starting a business, and consulting in general. Check it out.

:-)

About the SMB Community Podcast: Weekly business advice for small MSP owners from Amy Babinchak and James Kernan of the Small Biz Thoughts community — MSP sales, MSP pricing and agreements, hiring and leading an MSP team, MSP operations, selling your MSP, and AI for small MSPs. Produced by MSP Radio. More for MSP owners at smallbizthoughts.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We have a sponsor today:

PC Matic — Endpoint Security built on a zero trust philosophy, allowing only trusted applications and blocking all the rest. Light weight, simple to deploy, easy to manage, find out about PC Matic's unique lead sharing program for MSPs backed by a prime-time national TV campaign. Together, we bring advanced security solutions combined with more than sales enablement … we bring actual leads. Find out more about PC Matic by visiting PCMatic.com/msp/

Topic 1: Discussion of Service Leadership Mid-Year numbers

Paul Dippell reports on how MSPs are thriving (or surviving) during the recession. We discuss the report.

Links:

https://www.channele2e.com/events-2/webcasts/paul-dippell-service-leadership-august-webcast/

https://www.businessof.tech/2020/08/25/service-leaderships-mid-year-it-service-provider-report-card-how-are-we-doing/

Topic 2: Apple's new “privacy policy” is challenged by Facebook and others.

Is it really just a ploy to to manipulate ads without allowing other platforms to do the same? We discuss.

https://www.securitymagazine.com/articles/93186-facebook-criticizes-apples-new-ios-privacy-policies

Topic 3: Life after the pandemic - Automation and Anti-Immigrant Fears.

This is a continuing theme throughout history. Workers always fear that technology will displace them. And, to the extent that companies turn to immigrants, there is historical fear that jobs will be lost to immigrants as well.

We discuss: Is it time to rethink how we talk about it?

https://www.psychologicalscience.org/news/minds-business/automation-anti-immigration-fears.html

:-)

Brian Doyle meets up with host James Kernan to discuss customer engagement. Most MSPs have rock-solid service delivery process. But - the simple things, like checking in outside of assisting customers when not in duress, get lost. Listen in for some tips on improving your connections and how it can improve your business.

Brian spent nearly 20 years in the MSP industry owning his own shop, as a partner in a Regional Managed Data Center, and as a hired gun for a Mid-Market MSP.

Today Brian runs vCIOToolbox, a Strategic Client Management Platform that helps MSP's with client retention, technical alignment, and budgeting through better business reviews.

--

Links: vCIOToolbox.com (SaaS) MSPBusinessSchool.com (podcast)

About the SMB Community Podcast: Weekly business advice for small MSP owners from Amy Babinchak and James Kernan of the Small Biz Thoughts community — MSP sales, MSP pricing and agreements, hiring and leading an MSP team, MSP operations, selling your MSP, and AI for small MSPs. Produced by MSP Radio. More for MSP owners at smallbizthoughts.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode 75 !!!

It may not be a big event for you, but we feel great about producing seventy-five episodes of The Killing IT Podcast. Thank you for all your support, and for spreading the word.

Topic 1: Retrospective on Changing/Emerging Technology

We started the podcast with a lot of excitement around new (emerging) technologies. So, we thought this episode is a great opportunity to give our updated opinions on some of these technologies.

We mention some of the highlights of CompTIA's revised "Top 10 Emerging Technologies" report. We have a few that we think are not quite ready for the list, and even one sleeper.

Related Link:
https://www.comptia.org/content/infographic/2020-emerging-technology-top-10-list

Topic 2: Update - Epic vs. Apple - week two

As Ryan describes it, the judge played Solomon and split the baby on this one. An interesting development on the legal front re: Epic v Apple. The best line: the current predicament (for Epic) is largely self-inflicted.

Channel strategy is voluntary, and when a vendor chooses to introduce competition or conflict, channel partners are free to opt out. As always, it’s vital to remember that vendors do not own their channels, they must influence channel partners to choose to be in visit with them.

Related Link:
https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/25/21400240/epic-apple-ruling-unreal-engine-fortnite-temporary-restraining-order

Topic 3: Life after Pandemic - SaaS management

Yay! A new thing we all have to pay attention to. :-)

A new "class" of service is now available. In fact, in one week, two companies announced that they are releasing a service: SaaS management. We explain what that is, and give a few introductory thoughts.

The companies are:

Augmentt https://augmentt.com

and

SaaS Alert https://saasalerts.com

-- -- --

Feedback welcome!

:-)

Karl Palachuck connects with Dortha Hise to talk about virtual assistants and what they can do for you . . . even if you're a "Type-A" business owner.

Check out a few resources from Dortha to get started:

VA Prep Checklist & Worksheets - if you're ready to hire a VA, this checklist and worksheets will provide you with questions to ask, a place to track your logins, make notes for budget, must-haves, etc. - https://prettysmartva.lpages.co/va-prep/

Make Delegation a Habit - a 10-day challenge designed to support you in identifying what to delegate and how to work with a team; includes downloadable worksheets with actionable guidance to implement faster - https://prettysmartva.lpages.co/delegation-challenge/

Website: http://prettysmartvaservices.com/

--

Dortha Hise is the Chief Overwhelm Eliminator at Pretty Smart Virtual Services. She and her team of amazing virtual assistants specialize in untangling tech for their overwhelmed clients.

Clients from wide-sweeping industries rave about Dortha Hise, Chief Overwhelm Eliminator. They are freed up to do the things they love in their business, have reconnected with their joy, and are living a life free of overwhelm.

Dortha is passionate about helping entrepreneurs identify the tasks that cause them overwhelm and limit their profits, shows them how to delegate those tasks, and thus frees up their time. Dortha is compassionate, positive, dependable, and trustworthy. She knows a lot about overwhelm, having been a litigation paralegal for ten years prior to starting her own business in 2004. Dortha has learned she has a gift for supporting others who want to proactively use nature to heal.

Dortha currently lives with her husband Jason, in Folsom, California. They are avid backpackers and have a goal of hiking the Sierra Nevada Mountain stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail. They also have two feather babies, cockatiels and their names are Chuck and Nunchuck.

About the SMB Community Podcast: Weekly business advice for small MSP owners from Amy Babinchak and James Kernan of the Small Biz Thoughts community — MSP sales, MSP pricing and agreements, hiring and leading an MSP team, MSP operations, selling your MSP, and AI for small MSPs. Produced by MSP Radio. More for MSP owners at smallbizthoughts.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.