Overview:

In this episode of the SMB Community Podcast, hosts Amy and James discuss a variety of news and trends that affect the MSP community. Key topics include Google's acquisition of cybersecurity firm Wiz for $32 billion, the impact of tariffs on tech prices, and how MSPs can use this information to their advantage. They also delve into Gartner's study on the overuse of cybersecurity tools and its implications for SMBs. In the AI segment, they share a range of AI tools relevant for businesses, such as Notebook LM, amy.io, and tools discovered on AppSumo like QUSO. James announces the creation of an AI tool list that will be shared with listeners. 

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Chapter Markers:

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:27 Hosts' Health and Upcoming Events

01:26 Google Acquires Cybersecurity Company Wiz

02:59 Impact of Tariffs on MSPs

07:36 Gartner's Cybersecurity Trends for 2025

09:57 Intel's Positive Developments

11:03 Cool AI Tools for Your Business

22:15 Conclusion and Farewell

---

New Book Release: I'm proud to announce the release of my new book, The Anthology of Cybersecurity Experts! This collection brings together 15 of the nation's top minds in cybersecurity, sharing real-world solutions to combat today's most pressing threats. Whether you're an MSP, IT leader, or simply passionate about protecting your data, this book is packed with expert advice to help you stay secure and ahead of the curve. Available now on Amazon! https://a.co/d/f2NKASI

---

Sponsor Memo:

Since 2006, Kernan Consulting has been through over 30 transactions in mergers & acquisitions - and just this past year, we have been involved in six (6).

If you are interested in either buying, selling, or valuation information, please reach out.

There is alot of activity and you can be a part of it.

For more information, reach out at kernanconsulting.com

Overview:

In this episode of the SMB Community Podcast, host James Kernan from Kernan Consulting interviews Zulfiya Forsythe, CEO and founder of Omadli Group, about the transformative power of AI in the workplace. Forsythe shares her unique journey from accounting to tech, highlighting the development of data analytics and AI solutions that help businesses streamline administrative tasks and gain actionable insights. The discussion covers how Forsythe's team partners with MSPs to create automation around reporting, build executive dashboards, and leverage AI tools to enhance business efficiency. The episode also touches on the current explosion of AI tools and the importance of educating users to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving tech landscape. 

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Chapter Markers:

00:00 Introduction to the SMB Community Podcast 

00:24 Meet the AI Guru: Zulfiya Forsythe

00:48 From Accounting to AI: Zulfiya Forsythe's Journey

04:40 AI in the Workplace: Real-World Applications

08:09 Partnering with MSPs: A Win-Win

12:52 The AI Explosion: Tools and Trends

17:41 The Future of AI: Opportunities and Challenges

22:59 Conclusion and Contact Information

---

New Book Release: I'm proud to announce the release of my new book, The Anthology of Cybersecurity Experts! This collection brings together 15 of the nation's top minds in cybersecurity, sharing real-world solutions to combat today's most pressing threats. Whether you're an MSP, IT leader, or simply passionate about protecting your data, this book is packed with expert advice to help you stay secure and ahead of the curve. Available now on Amazon! https://a.co/d/f2NKASI

---

Sponsor Memo:

Since 2006, Kernan Consulting has been through over 30 transactions in mergers & acquisitions - and just this past year, we have been involved in six (6).

If you are interested in either buying, selling, or valuation information, please reach out.

There is alot of activity and you can be a part of it.

For more information, reach out at kernanconsulting.com

 

Overview: 

In this episode of the SMB Community Podcast, James Kernan interviews MJ Shoer of GTIA, formerly known as CompTIA. MJ shares his extensive background in the IT industry, having transitioned from an MSP owner to a key figure at CompTIA and now GTIA. They discuss the reasons behind the rebranding to GTIA and the organization's continued focus on member benefits, global expansion, and impactful philanthropy. MJ also highlights GTIA's unique value propositions, such as their extensive industry research, mentorship programs, and inclusive networking events. The conversation provides a comprehensive overview of GTIA's objectives and MJ's vision for the future.

 

Chapter Markers:

 

00:00 Introduction

00:27 Interview with MJ Shoer: Beginnings and Career Journey 

04:16 The Evolution of GTIA and Its Impact

12:48 Member Benefits and Opportunities

19:02 Future Vision and Strategic Planning

21:42 How to Get Involved with GTIA

22:43 Conclusion and Farewell

 

New Book Release: I'm proud to announce the release of my new book, The Anthology of Cybersecurity Experts! This collection brings together 15 of the nation's top minds in cybersecurity, sharing real-world solutions to combat today's most pressing threats. Whether you're an MSP, IT leader, or simply passionate about protecting your data, this book is packed with expert advice to help you stay secure and ahead of the curve. Available now on Amazon! https://a.co/d/f2NKASI

 

Sponsor Memo:

Since 2006, Kernan Consulting has been through over 30 transactions in mergers & acquisitions - and just this past year, we have been involved in six (6).

If you are interested in either buying, selling, or valuation information, please reach out.

There is alot of activity and you can be a part of it.

For more information, reach out at kernanconsulting.com

Overview: 

In this episode of the SMB Community Podcast, hosts Amy Babinchak and James Kernan dive into how IT professionals can leverage the end-of-life schedules of Microsoft Windows 10 to generate new business. This week, they emphasize the importance of planning and maintaining a regular upgrade schedule for client systems to avoid issues and ensure security.

The conversation also touches on the impact of drone deliveries in dense areas and the evolving landscape of remote meetings, with a particular focus on Zoom's declining market share. The team also explores the necessity for MSPs to obtain CMMC certification to maintain government contracts, and the ongoing trends in mergers and acquisitions within the market. James and Amy also announce the start of a new series focused on exploring productive AI tools. Check out the chapter markers below for more!

 

Chapter Markers:

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:47 MSP Question of the Week: Windows 10 End of Life

05:52 The Drone Dilemma: A Look into the Future

08:57 Zoom's Market Share and Meeting Fatigue

18:41 Mergers and Acquisitions in the IT Market

20:42 CMMC Certification and Government Business

26:17 Cool AI Tools: A New Series

28:17 Conclusion 

 

New Book Release: I'm proud to announce the release of my new book, The Anthology of Cybersecurity Experts! This collection brings together 15 of the nation's top minds in cybersecurity, sharing real-world solutions to combat today's most pressing threats. Whether you're an MSP, IT leader, or simply passionate about protecting your data, this book is packed with expert advice to help you stay secure and ahead of the curve. Available now on Amazon! https://a.co/d/f2NKASI

 

Sponsor Memo:

Since 2006, Kernan Consulting has been through over 30 transactions in mergers & acquisitions - and just this past year, we have been involved in six (6).

If you are interested in either buying, selling, or valuation information, please reach out.

There is alot of activity and you can be a part of it.

For more information, reach out at kernanconsulting.com

In this Thursday episode of the SMB Community Podcast, hosts James Kernan and Amy Babinchak discuss recent events and trends in the IT and business world. Amy details her recent speaking engagement at the M365 Community Days event, highlighting the importance for MSPs to network with internal IT professionals. The hosts dig into the question of whether MSPs are finding success with offshore resources versus local hiring. They share mixed opinions but note a growing number of success stories with offshoring, particularly post-pandemic. The episode also covers major news, including Apple’s U.S.-focused AI investment, Ninja One’s $500 million funding milestone, and a surprising admission from HP about their customer service wait times. Additionally, this week's 5 Minutes with a Smart Person features Ken Miller. Ken talks about his business, which combines AI and VAs to optimize SMB operations. 

---

Chapter Markers:

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

02:14 Event Recap: M365 Community Days

04:43 MSP Question of the Week: Are MSP’s finding success with offshore resources?

10:43 Apple's Major Announcements

15:02 Ninja One's Growth and Funding

17:57 HP's Customer Service Revelation

20:16 5 Minutes with a Smart Person: Ken Miller

32:00 Upcoming Events and Closing Remarks

---

New Book Release: I'm proud to announce the release of my new book, The Anthology of Cybersecurity Experts! This collection brings together 15 of the nation's top minds in cybersecurity, sharing real-world solutions to combat today's most pressing threats. Whether you're an MSP, IT leader, or simply passionate about protecting your data, this book is packed with expert advice to help you stay secure and ahead of the curve. Available now on Amazon! https://a.co/d/f2NKASI

---

Sponsor Memo:

Since 2006, Kernan Consulting has been through over 30 transactions in mergers & acquisitions - and just this past year, we have been involved in six (6).

If you are interested in either buying, selling, or valuation information, please reach out.

There is alot of activity and you can be a part of it.

For more information, reach out at kernanconsulting.com

Overview: In this episode of the SMB Community Podcast, hosts James and Amy discuss effective strategies for making the most out of attending industry events. They highlight the importance of sitting with different people at meals, asking questions during sessions, and breaking the ice in socially awkward situations. The conversation shifts to upcoming events, the challenges of event attendance, and relevant industry news, including Sophos's recent layoffs and industry forecasts for 2025.      Chapter Markers:   00:00 Introduction and Welcome   01:44 MSP Question of the Week: How do you get the most out of industry events?    04:11 Networking Tips for Industry Events   08:10 Choosing the Right Events to Attend   13:41 CRN Magazine's 2025 Outlook    17:52 Sophos Acquisition and Layoffs   19:54 Local Event Highlights and Closing Remarks

 

New Book Release: I'm proud to announce the release of my new book, The Anthology of Cybersecurity Experts! This collection brings together 15 of the nation's top minds in cybersecurity, sharing real-world solutions to combat today's most pressing threats. Whether you're an MSP, IT leader, or simply passionate about protecting your data, this book is packed with expert advice to help you stay secure and ahead of the curve. Available now on Amazon! https://a.co/d/f2NKASI

 

Sponsor Memo:

Since 2006, Kernan Consulting has been through over 30 transactions in mergers & acquisitions - and just this past year, we have been involved in six (6).

If you are interested in either buying, selling, or valuation information, please reach out.

There is alot of activity and you can be a part of it.

For more information, reach out at kernanconsulting.com

Overview: In this episode of the SMB Community Podcast, hosts Amy Babinchak and James Kernan discuss various topics including the aftermath of the Super Bowl, the trends in mergers and acquisitions, and the effectiveness of Microsoft Action Pack programs. They explore the potential of AI in increasing productivity through a new book, 'AI Productivity Leap', and AI project management software. The episode also covers trending news from the growth trends of tech franchises to leadership changes in major companies.     Chapter Markers:   00:00 Introductions    00:52 Super Bowl Recap and Reactions   06:15 MSP Question of the Week: What is the Value of my MSP?    13:36 T-Mobile and Starlink Partnership   16:10 DeepSeek Hack and Government Response   17:27 Microsoft Action Pack Program Ending   19:02 Franchise Growth in the IT Industry   20:49 CEO Shuffling in the Tech Industry   21:28 Weekend Reads: Intel and Kaseya Leadership Changes   23:59 5 Minutes with a Smart Person Interview: Manish Bhardia of AIMEY.AI   27:49 AI Productivity Leap: The Book    36:22 Upcoming Industry Events   40:51 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

 

New Book Release: I'm proud to announce the release of my new book, The Anthology of Cybersecurity Experts! This collection brings together 15 of the nation's top minds in cybersecurity, sharing real-world solutions to combat today's most pressing threats. Whether you're an MSP, IT leader, or simply passionate about protecting your data, this book is packed with expert advice to help you stay secure and ahead of the curve. Available now on Amazon! https://a.co/d/f2NKASI

 

Sponsor Memo:

Since 2006, Kernan Consulting has been through over 30 transactions in mergers & acquisitions - and just this past year, we have been involved in six (6).

If you are interested in either buying, selling, or valuation information, please reach out.

There is alot of activity and you can be a part of it.

For more information, reach out at kernanconsulting.com

Overview: In this episode of the SMB Community Podcast, hosts James Kernan and Amy Babinchak discuss the transformative impact of AI on MSP sales and efficiency, emphasizing AI's potential to double market size and help MSPs manage new applications. Amy announces the start of her new AI class. This episode also delves into recent tech industry news, including the U.S. Department of Justice's intervention in the HPE and Juniper deal, changes in Ingram Micro's leadership, Dell's policy on employee location, and CrowdStrike's efforts to recover its reputation. This week's 5 Minutes with a Smart Person special guest, Melissa Hockenberry from First Things First Training and Consulting, shares insights on customer retention and how her company customizes training to enhance client experiences.    Chapter Markers: 00:00 Introduction to SMB Community Podcast   00:52 Hosts' Morning Banter   01:35 MSP Question of the Week: AI in Sales   03:32 AI's Impact on MSPs   10:15 Industry News Highlights   13:04 Dell's Return to Office Policy   20:03 CrowdStrike's Comeback   21:37 Intel's Potential Takeover   24:14 5 Minutes with a Smart Person: Melissa Hockenberry on Training   39:23 Upcoming Events and Engagements   41:26 Final Thoughts and Farewell  

 

New Book Release: I'm proud to announce the release of my new book, The Anthology of Cybersecurity Experts! This collection brings together 15 of the nation's top minds in cybersecurity, sharing real-world solutions to combat today's most pressing threats. Whether you're an MSP, IT leader, or simply passionate about protecting your data, this book is packed with expert advice to help you stay secure and ahead of the curve. Available now on Amazon! https://a.co/d/f2NKASI

 

Sponsor Memo:

Since 2006, Kernan Consulting has been through over 30 transactions in mergers & acquisitions - and just this past year, we have been involved in six (6).

If you are interested in either buying, selling, or valuation information, please reach out.

There is alot of activity and you can be a part of it.

For more information, reach out at kernanconsulting.com

Overview:

In this episode of the SMB Community Podcast, hosts Amy Babinchak and James Kernan discuss winter weather conditions across the Midwest, then transition into tech news, including rumors of a potential acquisition involving Intel. The conversation shifts to insights on compliance for managed service providers (MSPs), particularly around the new CMMC regulations. They also talk about TikTok's current legal challenges and the latest Citrix acquisition. This week's 5 Minutes with a Smart Person features an interview with Brandi Bonds of Next Level Now, who shares her expertise on providing strategic CFO services to MSPs, emphasizing the importance of accurate financials and strategic planning. The show wraps up with discussions on upcoming classes and events aimed at helping IT professionals improve their business skills and stay ahead in the industry. 

 

Chapter Markers:

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview

00:51 Weather Chat and Personal Updates

03:59 Tech News: Intel Acquisition Rumors

06:43 CMMC Compliance for MSPs

10:58 TikTok's Future and Acquisition Proposals

13:53 Citrix Acquires Unicorn

14:43 MSP Question of the Week: Answering Calls Live vs. Auto Attendant

19:10 Upcoming Classes and Events

24:05 5 Minutes with a Smart Person: Brandi Bonds with NextLevelNow.Net 

41:16 Conclusion and Upcoming Events

 

New Book Release: I'm proud to announce the release of my new book, The Anthology of Cybersecurity Experts! This collection brings together 15 of the nation's top minds in cybersecurity, sharing real-world solutions to combat today's most pressing threats. Whether you're an MSP, IT leader, or simply passionate about protecting your data, this book is packed with expert advice to help you stay secure and ahead of the curve. Available now on Amazon! https://a.co/d/f2NKASI

 

Sponsor Memo:

Since 2006, Kernan Consulting has been through over 30 transactions in mergers & acquisitions - and just this past year, we have been involved in six (6).

If you are interested in either buying, selling, or valuation information, please reach out.

There is alot of activity and you can be a part of it.

For more information, reach out at kernanconsulting.com

In this episode of the SMB Community Podcast, hosts Amy and James discuss the dynamics of reselling computer hardware and software for MSPs, emphasizing the importance of building trust with clients. They highlight recent changes in market leadership among PSA and RMM tools, with Kaseya overtaking ConnectWise. The conversation also covers major developments in the tech industry, such as the proliferation of data centers and chip manufacturing to support AI growth. Additionally, Amy announces a new class aimed at helping MSPs add AI management and security services to their offerings, underscoring the significant business opportunities in AI management. 

 

Chapter Markers:

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:51 Weather Woes and Personal Stories

03:29 MSP Question of the Week: Should MSPs Resell Hardware and Software?

04:29 Debate: The Role of MSPs in Selling Hardware

14:11 Big Players vs. Small Players in the MSP Market

15:20 TikTok and Tech Industry News

24:00 Microsoft Windows 10 End of Life

27:37 Upcoming AI Class for MSPs

31:10 Conclusion and Sign-Off

 

News Articles:

• https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjde3p0rnjgo 
• https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/19/tsmc-confident-in-continued-chips-act-funding-under-trump-says-cfo.html  
• Channel News:  For the first time ever (dating back 29 years), ConnectWise has relinquished the #1 market share position to Kaseya. NinjaOne grew at 54.1% y/y and overtook N-able for the #3 market share position. Doubling in size with 102% y/y growth, HaloPSA (Halo) now finds itself in the Top 5 of global market share.

 

• MS Windows 10 EOL Oct 2025
• 900 million Windows 10 devices are still in use, needing refresh. --> Intel Corporation, AMD and Qualcomm are bringing NPU technology (A neural processing unit (NPU) is a specialized computer microprocessor designed to mimic the processing function of the human brain. )  to mainstream and entry-level chip offerings, which will expand the accessibility of AI-capable PCs.  Demand is huge – especially over the next 3 years. --> NVIDIA is bringing out the latest Blackwell RTX 50 series GPUs, injecting fresh momentum into the gaming PC market. --> Lenovo, Dell Technologies, HP and ASUS all expanded their AI assistants and applications pre-installed on devices, making AI assistants on PCs a new norm.

 

New Book Release: I'm proud to announce the release of my new book, The Anthology of Cybersecurity Experts! This collection brings together 15 of the nation's top minds in cybersecurity, sharing real-world solutions to combat today's most pressing threats. Whether you're an MSP, IT leader, or simply passionate about protecting your data, this book is packed with expert advice to help you stay secure and ahead of the curve. Available now on Amazon! https://a.co/d/f2NKASI

 

Sponsor Memo:

Since 2006, Kernan Consulting has been through over 30 transactions in mergers & acquisitions - and just this past year, we have been involved in six (6).

If you are interested in either buying, selling, or valuation information, please reach out.

There is alot of activity and you can be a part of it.

For more information, reach out at kernanconsulting.com