TubbTalk: The Podcast for Managed Service Providers

In this episode, Stephen McCormick talks to Mitch Redekopp, CEO of Riverity Technology Services, an MSP in Canada. The company has become known as one of the top managed service providers in Saskatchewan, while also having a highly experienced software development on hand.

They have a deep focus on packaging together cybersecurity and creating bespoke solutions to help improve their clients' internal business processes. River City won Emerging MSP Of the Year category at the SuperOps MSP Awards.

They talk about what the business does, and how Mitch got into the MSP industry. He explains their cybersecurity offering, and how the software development element fits in with their other services.

Richard asks Mitch about the process of entering the SuperOps awards competition, why he thinks he won and what the success means for their business. They also talk about the books Mitch has written and his predictions for cybersecurity and cyber protection.

Mitch shares the best and worst parts of running an IT business, his plans for the future and potential obstacles he might need to overcome. He also gives his advice for new MSPs, and reveals his biggest influences and mentors. 

Mentioned in This Episode

• Rivercity Technology
• The Tech Tribe
• 7 Figure MSP
• Book: Chris Wiser: The Small Business Owner's Guide to Protecting Your Business From Hackers
• Book: Janna Dutton: Conversations Over Coffee
• Book: Marcus Sheridan: They Ask, You Answer
• Paul Green
• Ernest Murry CTO of Genuine Technology Group

In this episode, Stephen McCormick talks to Jack Peploe of Veterinary IT Services, who won the MSP Website of the Year Award at the SuperOps MSP awards. Jack is a veterinary IT expert and ertified Ethical Hacker, who has worked alongside the veterinary sector since he set up his first business at age 16.

He has made it his mission to help veterinary practices across the UK to utilise their technology so that they can function in a secure, professional and efficient manner, leaving vets to focus on patient care.

Stephen asks Jack how he got into the IT industry and why he decided to niche his business. They discuss the SuperOps competition – the entry process, what the win means to his company and what Jack attributes his success to.

Stephen asks Jack for his thoughts on the most common mistakes MSPs make with their websites and his advice for MSPs just starting out. They also talk about the best and worst parts of running an MSP business, Jack’s influences and where he thinks the industry is going next.

Mentioned in This Episode

• Marcus Sheridan: They Ask, You Answer
• ChatGPT
• Paul Green
• IT Veterinary Services

In this episode, Richard Tubb talks to Andy Readman, Principal Consultant at Pax8 EMEA. He explains why MSPs should consider using Pax8 Professional Services.

Andy’s focus is on developing the Pro Services capability to deliver services to their MSP partners that will make a tangible difference to their businesses and help them grow.

Richard asks Andy about his role at Pax8, what he did before and what led him to his current job. They talk about Pax8’s Pro Services and Andy reassures Richard that it’s not a competitor to MSPs.

They explore how to better utilise new technologies and tools such as Intune, what digital transformation means for MSPs and How Pro Services helps with that transformation process.

Andy also explains how Pro Services helps MSPs with cybersecurity and migrations to tools like Azure and SharePoint, and lets Richard in on the Pax8 ice-breaker where everyone shares a surprising fact about themselves.

Mentioned in This Episode

• Singlesource IT
• CompTIA report into the digital skills gap
• Cybersecurity masterclasses
• Azure demystification webinar
• Microsoft Intune
• Data strategy workshop
• Get started with Pax8
• Pax8 launch briefing (for new clients)

In this special TubbTalk interview, Richard Tubb becomes the guest on his own show! Team Tubb’s Community Manager, Stephen McCormick, takes over the presenter’s seat; he asks probing questions to find out Richard’s origin story and what’s important to him. 

They talk about how Richard got into the world of IT, why he set up his own business and why he made the decision to sell up. Richard explains how he went from blogger to speaker, to consultant and media expert.

Stephen asks Richard about the importance of community, the groups hosting meet-ups around the world, and what makes the IT channel so special. Richard explains what they’ve meant to him, both personally and professionally. 

Richard talks about why MSPs need to practice self-care and be honest about mental health challenges, and the tools he uses to help him relax. He also shares who’s inspired him in the world of business in general and technology in particular. 

He also tells Stephen what he’d do and what he’d focus on if he started an MSP today, how to get started with outsourcing for your business, and his best sales and marketing tips. The interview ends with Richard answering a series of questions from the TubbTalk audience. 

Mentioned in This Episode

• Life Lessons From My Father
• The E-Myth Revisited
• The IT Owner’s Survival Guide
• SuperOps
• Uptime Solutions
• Tubblog mental health resources
• CompTIA
• The Tech Tribe
• ConnectWise Evolve
• Karl Palchuck
• Erick Simpson
• Harry Brelsford
• Raja Pagadala
• Book: David Allen: Getting Things Done
• Book: Bob Burg: The Go Giver
• Zomentum
• The Sandler Selling System
• Robin Robbins – lumpy mail
• Paul Green
• Andrew Moon
• ZedNet

In this episode, Richard Tubb talks to Derik Belair and Gavin Garbutt, co-founders of Augmentt, a SaaS security management and software solution. They decided to build a technology platform dedicated to helping MSPs create SaaS and Microsoft service revenues when they noticed a shift towards cloud-based applications.

They talk in detail about the Augmentt solution: which tech tool category it falls into, their approach to cybersecurity and how the solution helps with MFA.

Derik and Gavin walked through how to easily deploy it, the SaaS Application Discovery Feature and using it to back up data. They also looked at how Augmentt can be used in onboarding and offboarding, and  why MSPs need to understand the threat of shadow IT.

They also share candidly about their personal and business relationship, as they’ve worked together for a long time. Gavin and Derik also shared the biggest change they’ve seen in the industry in the last 20 years, their biggest lesson from their experiences in the MSP space, and what’s coming next for Augmentt.

Mentioned in This Episode

• Augmentt
• Augmentt video demo
• Augmentt Discover
• Dropbox
• Adobe
• Salesforce
• Box cloud management
• Gino Wickman: Rocket Fuel

In this episode, Richard talks to Marc Barry, co-founder and Chief Product officer at Enclave. He has a Master's Degree in Applied Information Security, and a background in security across public and private sector organisations, with a focus on building, researching and securing computer networks. 

He tells Richard about his background and experience and what drew him to Enclave. He also explains what Zero Trust is and what Enclave does, as well as how it differs from a traditional VPN.  

They discuss the impact Enclave has on traditional firewalls, how it works with fixed IP addresses, how to deploy it efficiently and the integration strategy. Marc also explains the recent project to make the tool usable on smartphones. 

Richard asks Marc how Enclave fits in with today’s remote working culture, how it works with modern and virtual infrastructures, how it’s licenced to MSPs and what the customer support looks like. 

Marc talks Richard through how Enclave guarantees user safety, the free version for non-commercial users and what’s next for the business. He also shares the resources he uses regularly to keep up to date in the industry, and who’s influenced him throughout his career. 

Mentioned in This Episode

• The Colonial Pipeline hack
• Billing reconciliation tool: Gradient
• Development tool: GitHub
• Anonymous functions: lambda
• Cyber Kill Chain from Lockheed Martin
• Deployment tool: Kubernetes
• Google security researcher: Tavis Ormandy
• Software engineer: Mark Russinovich
• Computer scientist: Paul Graham
• Computer science news site: Hacker News
• Discusssion site: Reddit
• RSA security conference
• InfoSec conferences

In this episode, recorded live at IT Nation Connect 22, Richard speaks to experts from three different companies offering some of the best MSP tools available on the market.

Ben Spector and Ted Roller explain why Zomentum is different to other quoting tools, how it helps MSPs with turning prospects into sales, and how it fits in with the vendor eco-structure. 

Richard also speaks to Joe Alapat and Matt Miller of Liongard, who talk about the type of MSPs who use the tool, how it fits into their tech stack, its integration strategy and how it solves MSP pain points.

James Steel of Linode explains why so many business owners are considering a move to alternative cloud solutions. He tells Richard the typical customers they have at Linode, and how the recent acquisition of the company by Akamai will enable them to support more MSPs.

Mentioned in This Episode

• Zomentum
• Liongard
• Linode
• Sales quoting software: QuoteWerks
• Close CRM
• Proposal templates & quote software: ConnectWise CPQ (formerly ConnectWise Sell)
• Video: Zomentum Walkthrough
• Video: Zomentum Connect Walkthrough
• Book: W. Chan Kim & Renee A. Mauborgne: Blue Ocean Strategy, Expanded Edition: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make the Competition Irrelevant
• Active Directory
• Endpoint Security: Sentinel One
• Accounting Software: QuickBooks
• UniFi-Ubiquiti servers
• Open-source tool: Odoo
• Open-source security: Wazuh
• Security and cloud delivery: Akamai
• Cloud computing: Digital Ocean
• Alternative cloud: Vultr
• Cloud-based network management: Auvik
• Tom Lawrence YouTube channel

In this episode, Richard talks to Michael George, CEO of Invicti Security. They’re an accurate automated application security testing platform that scales like no other solution.

Michael tells Richard about his past experience of leading Continuum, and what the buyout and merger process was like. He also explains what led him to found Invicti, and how the business helps MSPs. 

They talk about the importance of a positive company culture and how Michael and the Invicti team build and nurture theirs. Michael also explains the organisation’s relationship with the wider cybersecurity company and how it fits in to the MSP market.

Richard asks Michael why he thinks that application security testing is so important in modern cybersecurity, the practicalities of solution consolidation in cybersecurity, and how Invicti helps MSPs manage risk in a scalable way.

They also look at the good and the bad when it comes to private equity funding for MSP vendors and how to spot red flags, what’s next for Invicti and what’s next for Michael – including mountain climbing.

Mentioned in This Episode

• Invicti
• ConnectWise
• Jira
• Jenkins
• ServiceNow
• A3Sec SAS
• Smart Solution Consulting GmbH
• Monogo
• Bulletproof
• Kaseya
• Linux
• Summit Partners (growth equity firm)
• Book: David Foster Wallace: Infinite Jest
• David Foster Wallace Kenyon College commencement address: This is Water
• Invicti's AppSec Indicator report
• Invicti's MSSP Program
• Invicti Resources Library

In this episode, Richard is joined by Dave Algeo, the founder of the Midlife Reshape Academy. He specialises in helping people in all walks of life to refocus on their health and wellness and get back to their past fitness levels.

They talk about how MSP owners and IT professionals can deal with overwhelm and burnout, and how to balance productivity and the demands of the job with managing health and wellbeing.

Dave shares some tips on maintaining wellness when you’re struggling to prioritise it with all the other demands on your time. He also talks Richard through his SDADS Method, which is a way to help you simplify tasks.

 They also explore what the secret to weight loss is, and if it even exists. Dave explains how you can ensure that you’re doing the right things for your wellness, and how to break bad habits and engrain good ones. Richard and Dave also discuss the importance of mental health.

Mentioned in This Episode

• Crackerjack video featuring Rosie
• Layne Norton
• The IT Business Owner's Survival Guide
• Guest blog post: Writing Down Your Successes
• Productivity tool: AppBlock (for Android users)
• Productivity tool: Freedom (for iOS users)
• Audio course: Operation Snooze
• Meditation app: Headspace
• Meditation app: Calm
• Book: Prof. Matt Walker: Why We Sleep
• Tubblog mental health resources
• Chrome extension: Newsfeed Eradicator
• Pastor Steven Furtick

In this episode, Richard talks to Raja Pagadala, managing director of London-based MSP The Final Step. It’s one of London's oldest and most well-established IT businesses and a 2022 winner on the MSP 501. 

Raja is actively sought out by some of the industry's top vendors and businesses to act as an advisor and confidant. This interview was recorded live at ConnectWise IT Nation in Orlando, Florida. 

They talk about how peer groups help Raja personally and professionally, what’s changed the most since Raja started his business, and his number one piece of advice for today’s MSP owners. 

Richard also asks Raja to talk more about The Final Step as a business: what a white glove MSP is, the toolkit they use to support their clients, and how they retain those clients for decades. 

Raja explains why they go deep into client businesses to better support them and why MSPs should think strategically about their own clients. He also tells Richard how the business attracts tech talent and retains them. 

Richard also asks Raja how he handles having tough conversations as the MD, their four-step methodology for helping clients break their IT bottlenecks, and how to demonstrate your value to clients who’ve forgotten how you help them. 

Mentioned in This Episode

• HTG
• CompTIA
• The Tech Tribe
• ConnectWise
• The IT Nation
• Acronis
• Jim Collins
• DattoCon
• Kaseya
• The Final Step downloadable ebook: How to break the IT Bottleneck
• Bob Burg: The Go-Giver
• Hardin Byars of Innovus Consulting, LLC
• Simon Sinek: Start With Why
• Patrick Lencioni: The Five Dysfunctions of a Team