SMB Community Podcast

Topic 1: Will Bots Take Jobs?

AI Robots are coming for your jobs! Or - in a much more realistic interpretation, they are coming to reduce the amount of mundane process work that humans do so they can focus on interpersonal stuff that robots can’t do.

We take a mostly positive spin on this one.

Related Link:

https://www.axios.com/robotic-process-automation-office-work-7151009d-131c-4d30-a064-757e2454470c.html

Topic 2: 100 Million IOT Devices Compromised

Scary fact: As the number of deployed devices continues to grow exponentially, the size of these incidents will also continue to grow. This will also have an effect on our liability insurance and state/provincial legislation.

Related Link:

https://www.wired.com/story/namewreck-iot-vulnerabilities-tcpip-millions-devices/

Facebook group mentioned: MSP Regulation and Legislation = https://www.facebook.com/groups/3011459202301532

Topic 3: Data programming and analytics on Fiverr

This is the gig-afying of some very cool new skills. This is an area where we think IT service providers can make some good money.

Fiverr is at www.fiverr.com - Now offering database development, data analytics, machine learning, and more.

See specifically https://www.fiverr.com/categories/data.

Book Mentioned: A Whole New Mind by Daniel Pink

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Sponsor Note:

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Host Karl interviewed Guillaume Boisvert, Director for Product Innovation at Sherweb. The topic of the day is: Take Office Security to the Next Level.

Guillaume has been instrumental in commercializing Sherweb's Infrastructure as a Service solutions for public and private cloud. He has more than 15 years of experience developing and marketing web services for both B2B and B2C platforms. Prior to his current position, Guillaume managed Sherweb's security and compliance product portfolio. He holds a degree in CIS, and has business training from McGill University.

The topic here is Sherweb's new Alliance program.

Sherweb's Office Protect has been around for quite a while. It adds a serious layer of security to O365/M365. The default Office configuration is designed for enterprise clients, and their defaults are good for a large slice of users. Office Protect fixes some obvious problems, such as turning on 2FA and logging. Both are off by default. That's great . . . until something goes wrong.

Office Protect basically implements a new set of "best practices" defined by you, rather then assuming that Microsoft is taking care of your best interest.

So what's new? The Office Protect Alliance offering actually monitors those logs, analyzes alerts, and even fixes problems. As Guillaume notes, they take over the problem-solving and you keep the client relationship (and money).

He also gives some great examples and information about how insurance companies and hackers both scan your web presence to see how professional you look on the security front. The insurance company wants to determine whether you're a larger risk; hackers are looking at the same information to determine whether you're a juicy target.

Find out more about Sherweb Office Protect Alliance at: https://www.sherweb.com/blog/security/office-protect-alliance/

Sherweb's Partner Blog is here: https://www.sherweb.com/blog/category/partner/

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Topic 1: Should you rely on best practices?

We return to the question of what ARE best practices and how you define them. But more than that, should you be following other peoples' so-called best practices? Stop leaning on best practices, and experiment!

Related Link:

https://thenextweb.com/growth-quarters/2021/04/01/stop-best-practice-start-experiment/

Topic 2: Distributor Ingram Micro Buys Harmony PSA.

First, do you care? Second, is this a good move? Would you be tempted to a PSA owned by one of your distributors?

Related Links:

https://www.crn.com/news/channel-programs/ingram-micro-acquires-harmony-makes-smb-play-for-cloudblue

https://www.channelpronetwork.com/news/ingram-micro-buys-harmony-business-systems-adds-psa-solution-cloudblue-platform

Topic 3: Submerged Servers. Like, IN the water.

Last year Microsoft completed a test of sealed server data centers at the bottom of the ocean. But they kep the water on the outside of the tank. Now they're developing a non-conductive liquid so they can cool servers by submerging them altogether.

Related Link:

https://www.theverge.com/2021/4/6/22369609/microsoft-server-cooling-liquid-immersion-cloud-racks-data-centers

Sponsor Memo:

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Host Karl caught up with Tom Lawrence of Lawrence Technology Services. Tom runs a very successful IT consulting business - and uses YouTube as his primary marketing tool. That's a very rare thing, but Tom's been making videos since 2014. His channel has really taken off in the last few years.

The "Lawrence Systems" channel is here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHkYOD-3fZbuGhwsADBd9ZQ - and has more than 185,000 subscribers. But lots of people don't subscribe, so he has about 1.8 million unique viewers in the last ninety days. Most of them joined in the last two years!

Tom's philosophy for YouTube is very straight forward: He creates videos to talk about whatever is on his mind. Sometimes that's technology; Sometimes it's business. But he always puts in a plug at the end. "If you have a project we can help with, drop us a line." This is a great example of the philosophy that you should create content that you would like to consume. That will attract an audience that will find that content appealing.

Here's the bottom line on the effectiveness of this strategy: 349 businesses hired Lawrence Technology Services as a result of his YouTube channel!!!

Tom's approach is also a great example of the philosophy of, "Just do what you do." He doesn't worry about guru advice about length or format.

Lots of great advice and information here.

Catch Tom's channel here: - "Lawrence Systems" channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHkYOD-3fZbuGhwsADBd9ZQ

- Content Creation Ethics and Guidelines - https://www.lawrencesystems.com/content-ethics/

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Topic 1: Stop Talking About Multicloud and Hybrid Cloud

It's time to take this seriously and talk about Integration. As always, we take a stab at the terminology used by our industry and ponder about what's really going on. We all love jargon, but it's important to dig a little a figure out what's really being discussed.

Related Link:

https://thenewstack.io/stop-talking-about-multicloud-and-hybrid-cloud-and-start-talking-about-integration/

Topic 2: Detecting Deef Fake Videos with AI

Scientists developed a clever way to detect deep fakes by analyzing light reflections in the eyes

Related Link:

https://thenextweb.com/neural/2021/03/11/ai-detects-deepfakes-analyzing-light-reflections-in-the-cornea-eyes-gans-thispersondoesnotexist/

Book to note: Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman.

Topic 3: Next Up - Open AI that doesn’t require massive compute power

New AI project can generate convincing text that anyone can use. The makers of Eleuther hope it will be an open source alternative to GPT-3, the well-known language program from OpenAI.

The Eleuther project makes use of distributed computing resources, donated by cloud company CoreWeave as well as Google, through the TensorFlow Research Cloud, an initiative that makes spare computer power available.

Related Link:

https://www.wired.com/story/ai-generate-convincing-text-anyone-use-it/

Book to note: Flash Foresight by Daniel Burrus.

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Sponsor Memo:

Today's show is brought to you by US!

Please check out Dave's Business of Tech podcast. Daily five minute podcasts, plus weekly recaps, video, and more. Visit https://businessof.tech.

Also check out Karl's SMB Community Podcast, a weekly 30-minute interview format with some of the most interesting people in the SMB IT Community. Visit https://smbcommunitypodcast.com.

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Host Karl sat down with Kevin Coppins, President and CEO of Spirion. Kevin wakes up every day on a mission to protect what he knows matters most—your sensitive personal data. With a team of passionate data privacy professionals at his back, Kevin is working to re-envision the culture of entire industries, putting privacy at the forefront where it belongs.

One of the biggest problems today is that people "just do their jobs" everyday, and unwittingly expose sensitive data to the Internet. Sensitive data is being replicated thousands of times across databases, shared folders, and cloud servers around the globe—and all a bad actor needs to cause chaos is one opening. Spirion is attempting to change the paradigm of data security; not by building higher walls, but by radically shrinking the target. The COVID Data Explosion - As we work together to flatten the curve, organizations around the world are scrambling to adapt. IT departments have been so focused on making the shift to working from home, that they've left the door open for a new threat. We also discuss the Growing Compliance Problem, Solved - GDPR. CCPA. FERPA. HIPAA. More privacy regulations have been passed in the last two years than the previous hundred. This has led companies around the world to spend billions trying—and often failing—to stay in compliance with a rapidly shifting regulatory landscape. Finally, we address: Why Kevin Doesn't Want Happy Customers!

Links:

https://www.spirion.com/ https://twitter.com/ktcoppins

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Topic 1: Cops and Robots

Move to stop NYC police from using armed robots. Note: The police do not own any armed robots, but they do own some robots. So this is totally a preventive measure. We previously discussed the use of AI and facial recognition by police departments. The question here is, when do we begin the conversation (before or after deployment)?

Related Link:

https://link.wired.com/view/5e3f0a597e553f71453d575ddurk4.17ax/3469246b

Topic 2: Is Bitcoin mining compatible with Singapore’s green initiatives?

Bitcoin mining uses about the same amount electricity as Norway! Now Singapore is questioning whether this non-green factor is consistent with their go-green policies.

Meanwhile . . . Bank of America says there’s no reason to use Bitcoin. Ethereum has more features. And Ethereum is easier to manage if you’re interested in De-Fi (decentralized finance). BofA released a report last week entitled “8 Dirty Little Secrets of Bitcoin.” See the slideshow link below.

Related Links:

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/business/cryptocurrency-blockchain-environmental-impact-singapore-14385104

https://www.coindesk.com/bank-of-america-defi-potentially-more-disruptive-than-bitcoin

https://www.thinkadvisor.com/2021/03/22/8-dirty-little-secrets-of-bitcoin-bofa-securities/

Topic 3: Tech Data-Synnex merger - Does this matter to IT consultants?

Tech distributors Synnex and Tech Data are merging. Karl is surprised this took so long. But, in the big picture, does this affect you?

SaaS companies have been taking distributors (and partners) out of the equation for many years. The cloud is moving servers into data centers, who frequently bypass distributors. Cloud services are more effectively sold by Sherweb, AppRiver, Intermedia, Pax8, etc.

Were you surprised? Give us your feedback.

Related Links:

ChannelE2E Announcement re: Synnex / Tech Data Merger
https://www.channele2e.com/investors/private-equity/synnex-tech-data-merge/

CRN Slideshow re: D&H Response to Synnex / Tech Data Merger
https://www.crn.com/slide-shows/channel-programs/d-h-co-presidents-on-standing-out-amid-the-tech-data-synnex-merger-we-are-like-evolution-versus-revolution-

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Sponsor Memo -

Are you still using on-prem file servers and VPNs to share files with remote workers? Egnyte is a business class cloud sharing solution that works more like your on-prem server than other solutions. With a security first approach to file sharing and collaboration, Egnyte offers multiple options for sharing files and collecting files from outside sources. And do it all addressing data governance and compliance. Want to learn more? Check out Egnyte.com/msp, and when you do, tell them we sent you.

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Host Karl interviews Eric Anthony, the founder of the hot All Things MSP Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/allthingsmsp).

Eric also manages a YouTube Channel focused on his photography/videography hobby.

Eric has been helping people with technology since high school. He has owned his own break/fix and managed services companies, spent time in internal IT and for the last 7 years has been working for vendors in the channel. He also runs the All Things MSP Facebook group and YouTube channel.

On the professional side, Eric is the Director, MSP Director of Community and Partner Enablement at Egnyte. He is based in Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill Area. He started as an MSP in 1992 and has worked for a variety of vendors.

Links:

• Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/allthingsmsp
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/EricAnthonyMSP
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esanthony/
• Egnyte: https://www.egnyte.com/

More info coming soon on Egnyte's MSP Summit May 11th.

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Topic 1: AI Mayflower to Cross the Atlantic

This is a recreation of the Mayflower voyage with a 100% autonomous ship. Great for research and proof of concept.

The Smithsonian doesn’t talk about autonomous shipping vessels, but that might be an option going forward. There are currently very small crews on shipping vessels, but there might be some advantages with this technology.

Related Link:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/mayflower-england-400-celebrations-exhibit-180975850/

We update our burrito bet.

Topic 2: NFT - Non-fungible Token Artwork

By now you've heard of NFTs, particularly artwork stored with Etherium blockchain guarantee of authenticity. Sold on Rarible.com or similar web sites.

New wrinkle: As bitcoin hoarders attempt to invest in NFTs to avoid taxes, any system that helps organize and verify this data becomes a permanent record for governments that seek to tax.

Related Link:

https://www.theverge.com/2021/3/1/22308075/grimes-nft-6-million-sales-nifty-gateway-warnymph

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFD_8oDxw1k

www.Niftygateway.com

https://www.wired.com/story/digital-currencys-popularity-rises-privacy-fears/

Topic 3: RMM/PSA from Tanium

Salesforce is announcing an RMM to be sold as an add-on to all of their installations. Dave thinks this is a contender for disrupting the MSP market. Is this just an enterprise/mid-market play, or will they be moving into SMB? We shall see.

Related Link:

https://www.channele2e.com/technology/management/tanium-salesforce-it-service-center/

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Note from our Sponsor:

Are you still using on-prem file servers and VPNs to share files with remote workers? Egnyte is a business class cloud sharing solution that works more like your on-prem server than other solutions. With a security first approach to file sharing and collaboration, Egnyte offers multiple options for sharing files and collecting files from outside sources. And do it all addressing data governance and compliance. Want to learn more? Check out Egnyte.com/msp, and when you do, tell them Killing IT sent you.

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Host Karl interviewed Ryan Denehy, Founder and CEO of Electric (www.electric.ai).

Electric manages pretty much any cloud-based services for end users.

Interestingly, they provide support via Slack, Teams, and Email - not through a client-facing ticketing system. Ryan explains that they primarily focus on SaaS management, device management, and network management.

In growing their MSP business, Ryan challenged the assumption that you have to be local and small in order to thrive in the SMB IT market. In particular, they challenged the belief that you have to look people in the eye and ask for their business.

About Ryan:

Ryan Denehy is a 3x entrepreneur and the Founder and CEO of Electric. Having experienced the pain and frustrations that many business owners encounter in managing their IT infrastructure and support needs, Ryan's light bulb idea to create a cloud-based, real-time, 24-7 IT Support ecosystem laid the foundation for Electric's vision to redefine IT Support for a new generation.

Throughout the pandemic, Electric sought out to be the antithesis of all things "Silicon Valley bro culture". The company has seen demand skyrocket during the pandemic and actually reopened its Series B round in March and April for added funds from Dick Costolo and Adam Bain at 01 Ventures.

Links:

• https://www.electric.ai/
• https://twitter.com/DenehyXXL
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryandenehy

Sponsor Note: Gatekeeper from Calyptix Security Introducing Gatekeeper from Calyptix Security: zero trust access securing RDP and SSH connections with two factor authentication without open ports to the internet, client installs or VPN.

Two years of partner driven development brings audit friendly access across all types of devices. Reduce stress and implement proper safeguards as advised by the FBI, NSA and DHS, all in a purpose-built solution for small businesses. Interested? Learn even more by visiting calyptix.com/gatekeeper, and when you do, tell them Karl sent you.

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