SMB Community Podcast

We cannot ignore what's going on with Reddit. This one is more "of interest" than a direct hit on topics we think you need to know about. There are many ramifications for business people, of course. And it's also a reflection of some bigger trends in society generally.

We spent more time on Reddit, so this show only features two topics.

Topic 1: /r/wallstreetbets/ . . . Good, bad, or just ugly?

Sub Reddit takes on hedge funds. “Professional” hedge fund managers are selling Game Stop short - and the Reddit users are forcing the stock UP. They are bankrupting professionals hour by hour.

Overall, is this just gambling, or is there s business purpose here?

Lots of related links.

https://apnews.com/article/gamestop-stocks-reddit-updates-0bfe08b10002e7bb334983948f53b6e4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nKQ90CzxgM

https://www.cnet.com/news/reddit-and-elon-musks-gamestop-stock-surge-its-a-ponzi-scheme/

https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/27/22251964/amc-stock-price-reddit-wallstreetbets-trading-gamestop

Reddit: These folks are intentionally manipulating stocks. Completely outside the world of regulations. https://www.reddit.com/r/wallstreetbets/

Topic 2: Apply Says They'll Increase Privacy by Default

Apple promises you will be “opted out” by default from targeted remarketing. Is that necessarily a good thing? Do you really want to see a lot of random advertising?

Google has this cool tool - https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated

Apply thinks you value privacy so much that you don't care that you'll be ignoring a bunch of ads. Google's bet is that you will tire of random, unrelated ads and choose to go back to the world where ads are relevant once again.

What do you think? Drop some comments at https://killingit.smallbizthoughts.com.

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Host Karl interviews Paul Katzoff from White Canyon Software.

White Canyon provides software to really, truly, honestly remove all the data on hard drives so it cannot be recovered. As Paul points out, we could download free tools from the internet, but "they don't get certified for a reason - they don't work."

Wipe Drive can erase one drive at a time, a dozen at a time, or even build a Pixi network.

In addition to securing old hard drives, Wipe Drive makes it easy to recycle systems to keep them out of the land fill and help not-for-profit associations with donated hardware.

The program also gives you great reports that can be shared as proof that hard drives have been wiped clean.

For almost a decade, Paul has worked with technology companies seeking manageable growth and brand loyalty/expansion. His career has ranged from being an integral part of a new business start-up team, to becoming a key driver in the business enabling it to become both sustainable and profitable. Currently, Paul serves as the CEO of White Canyon Software -- a data security company used by 44 of the fortune 100 companies.

Web Site - https://www.whitecanyon.com/

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Topic 1: Update on the update: Alphabet cancels their balloon-based internet offering

Apparently, they listened to last week’s show. After many years and billions spent, Alphabet (Google) has dropped their plans to provide Internet access to remote areas via lighter-than-air balloons.

Side note: We are deep inside an era where private organizations are taking on challenges - and trying new things - without direct government help.

Related Link:
https://www.cnet.com/news/google-parent-company-shutting-down-loon-its-internet-beaming-balloon-project/

Topic 2: Shall we adopted the word “integrator” to describe our channel partners?

A view from another industry. The Commercial Integrator magazine proposes the work Integrator for their slice of the channel. We think this mostly works. Is there a similar term for the so-called managed services providers in the channel?

Related Link:
https://www.commercialintegrator.com/business_resources/technology-integrator/

Topic 3: Is this a good or bad use of chat bots?

Microsoft has patented some technology that they now say they will not produce. Basically, they can take pretty much anyone with a substantial data record and create a "realistic" chat bot. This easily includes lots of famous people. But it might also include someone close to you who just happens to be dead.

Creepy? Some people think so. What do you think?

Related Links:
https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-patents-a-chatbot-to-imitate-real-people-2021-1

https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/27/tech/microsoft-chat-bot-patent/index.html

“Microsoft patented a chatbot that would let you talk to dead people. It was too disturbing for production”

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James Kernan interviews Hartland Ross from eBridge Marketing Solutions.

Hartland has been working in the sales and marketing of IT services and SaaS firms since 1999. He is well recognized and regarded in the IT services industry and to date has worked with hundreds of firms providing opportunities for business growth through M&A, marketing strategy and by providing industry advice, recommendations and introductions.

With over 20 years of business development experience and having worked with technology firms since 2001, Hartland is a sought after conference speaker and authority who is often interviewed and quoted in industry related case studies and articles.

eBridge Marketing Solutions focuses on working with B2B IT service firms looking for alternative growth strategies to complement existing efforts. We focus on both organic (digital marketing) as well as M&A options for those in the following industries: Web hosting, SaaS, IaaS, PaaS, MSPs, Data Centers and IT Security companies.

Links:

• http://www.thehostbroker.com/
• https://www.ebridgemarketingsolutions.com
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/hartlandross/

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Topic 1: SpaceX Takes Off!

SpaceX launched sixty more satellites last week - with ONE rocket. They now have more than 1,000 satellites deployed. Their target is a total of 1,440. These will be dedicated to Internet-beaming.

Last year, SpaceX launched 26 rockets successfully. This year, the goal is 40. Most of those rockets have landed successfully on their floating platforms in the ocean.

Related Link:
https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-17-satellites-launch-webcast

Topic 2: Microsoft coming after your customers. Really.

Amy Babinchak has raised the alarm with a couple of blog posts. We look at Microsoft's complicated relationship with their so-called partners.

Third Tier Links:
https://www.thirdtier.net/2021/01/13/microsoft-really-is-coming-for-your-clients-this-time/

https://www.thirdtier.net/2021/01/19/what-microsofts-new-auditing-initiative-means-for-partners/

Topic 3: It's never good news when the popular media know what we do for a living

When our problems become “mainstreet” topics, it's not good for us. This includes the concept of Managed Services and the basics of Ransomware. We  discuss.

Related Link:
https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/19/tech/ransomware-2020-review/index.html

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Sponsor Note:

Are you still relying on a frustrating patchwork of legacy solutions? Modernize your cybersecurity and data protection with Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud. It’s a single solution that combines backup, anti-malware, and endpoint protection management. As an MSP, you can easily improve clients’ security posture, eliminate complexity, and generate more recurring revenue. Learn more about Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud at Acronis.com.

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Karl interviews Janet Schijns from the JS Group. Janet is the CEO and Digital Ninja of JS Group, a leading go-to-market consultancy in the technology industry. She's a former executive at Motorola, Verizon and Office Depot. Plus, Janet is the founder of Tech Worlds Half, a not-for-profit dedicated to keeping women in the technology industry.

Her recent awards include:

• Channel Influencer of the Year
• Top 10 Women in Technology
• Top 50 Influencer in Technology
• ... and her newest accolade: Analytics Insight "10 Most
• Impactful Women in Technology 2020"

Plus she's a Star Wars raving fan!

Janet has a super focus on channel marketing. The mission statement of the JS Group is: "Save the Channel." What a great mission.

Here Janet makes the argument that the "digital transformation" has already happened. We are now in the digital normal. If you missed it, that's on you: you need to catch up.

Sites/Links:

• https://www.jsgnow.com
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetschijns/
• https://twitter.com/channelsmart

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Closing in on 100 episodes . . .

After a few hiccups on the Internet, we managed to record this week's show. Please support our advertiser!

Topic 1: Azure in a box?

Microsoft is rolling out data centers "in a box." Earlier, we reported on Microsoft putting data centers on the ocean floor. This containerized project has been in the works since at least 2008.

Note: We hereby claim copyright to the phrase, "Dude. I need a data center."

Link:

https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsofts-azure-modular-datacenter-whats-special-clouds-got-to-do-with-it/

Topic 2: Net Neutrality Revived for 2021

Dead? Not at all! With the recent election, the Democratic version of Net Neutrality could see the light of day. We use this as a launching pad to discuss access in a larger context, including bandwidth availability, and its effect on education, business, and opportunity.

Link:

https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/6/22216843/georgia-runoff-net-neutrality-fcc-jon-ossoff-raphael-warnock-democrats-senate

Topic 3: Amazon to compete directly with UPS, FedEx, and USPS?

Amazon is buying 11 used Boeing 767-300 jets from Delta and WestJet, the first time it has bought rather than leased. We speculate about what Amazon's up to . . . and several non-obvious related technologies. Once again, supply chain is a huge topic for 2021.

Link:

https://transporttmsandlogisticstms.com/2021/01/10/amazon-is-buying-11-used-boeing-767-300-jets-from-delta-and-westjet-the-first-time-it-has-bought-rather-than-leased/

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:-)

Host Karl interviews Daniel Welling from Marlow, UK.

Here we look at "organic growth" vs. buying companies as a growth strategy. Which is best for you?

Daniel started his career in IT in 1995, following a sales track, working for a number of VARs and quickly developing a consultative approach to new business and account management, leading to Sales Management within a few years. The urge to do more resulted in forming an IT support business (what today we call an MSP!) in 2002 which developed over the following 12-years with the obligatory highs, lows and lessons learned.

In 2014 the opportunity arose to exit the business in a trade sale, allowing Daniel to pursue his non-IT interests, which have included further highs, lows and lessons in the fields of motorsport and soft drinks, while remaining involved with the MSP market through being an active member of MSP communities, taking a part time role with the acquirer of his business and growing a base of other MSPs with whom he has worked in the blended-capacity of mentor, consultant, NED and devils advocate.

Note: Daniel is a late-comer to the community of IT pros who meet all over the world. He discovered this great community after he sold his business.

Site: https://www.wellingmsp.com

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One very serious topic, and two somewhat-lighter topics this week. Please post questions or comments. And don't forget to share with your friends.

Topic 1: Open Source Managed Service Tools?

Here's a seriously interesting question: Is open source software for managed services a beautiful vision of the future . .. or a nightmare. We have different thoughts on this one.

Link:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2020/12/23/open-source-managed-services-technology-in-evolution-part-i/

Topic 2: The next interface? Gesture controls.

We start with a link to a white paper that lays the groundwork for this discussion. It's a quick read, and very interesting. We also encourage you to Google "computer gesture control" to dig deep into the kinds of products and software you can start deploying today.

We also added a link to one cool example: BMW's radio control.

Links:

https://arxiv.org/pdf/2010.13197.pdf

https://www.bimmer-tech.net/blog/item/124-bmw-gesture-control

Topic 3: Touchless in 2020

On a somewhat related note, gest controls are one example of touchless controls. Clearly, the need to go touchless has come to the forefront during the pandemic.

https://www.engadget.com/touchless-contactless-technology-2020-160048513.html

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Sponsor Note:

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/

:-)

Host Karl sat down with Pete to talk about promoting IT businesses.

Pete started his own MSP in 2011. For the next near decade that business grew, hit and exceeded the magic £1m turnover mark (one million pounds revenue), grew to 16-staff, strong and the business brand itself became well known locally as something for other MSPs to aspire to.

In early 2020 Pete exited the business to pursue other interests, including Video, and helping other MSP Owners!

In this conversation, we start with a discussion of mergers and acquisitions and that flows into a general discussion of business success. One big question: What's your number? Pete completed the sale of his business as the pandemic shutdown was taking place. So that's a great story.

Before selling the business, Pete invested in video (YouTube) production. His big challenge was: How do you use YouTube videos to promote your IT business? Pete kept the YouTube channel - and you can find it at youtube.com/petematheson.

Pete gives some great examples of the videos he produced as an IT consultant. These are client-facing. From there, he moved to helping IT pros figure out videos for their business.

Sites:

• petematheson.co.uk
• youtube.com/petematheson
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/petematheson/
• https://twitter.com/petematheson

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