Overview: In this episode of the SMB Community Podcast, hosts James and Amy have a jam-packed agenda. They start off discussing the ongoing heatwave affecting various parts of the country before diving into critical cybersecurity concerns related to the U.S.'s recent conflict with Iran. They emphasize the importance of securing critical infrastructure against potential cyberattacks. They then tackle the challenge of attracting and retaining top talent, highlighting the importance of work-life integration, competitive compensation, and a strong company culture with unique perks. Additionally, they stress the urgency of upgrading Windows 10 machines to Windows 11 to ensure security and compliance. The podcast concludes with announcements about upcoming industry events and a giveaway featuring valuable resources for MSPs. --- Chapter Markers: 00:00 Introduction and Hosts Welcome 02:22 Cybersecurity Alert: US-Iran Conflict 04:16 MSP Question of the Week: Attracting and Retaining Top Talent 13:00 Windows 10 to Windows 11 Upgrade Urgency 16:52 MSP Upcoming Events 19:44 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
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20:18
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20:18
CloudFlare Outage: Facing IT Challenges and Market Competition
Overview: In this episode of the SMB Community Podcast, hosts James and Amy are back to delve into a series of key topics for IT professionals and managed service providers (MSPs). They discuss the recent CloudFlare outage and its relatively minimal impact on businesses, emphasizing the importance of adaptability. The episode's main focus is on how MSPs can stand out and provide value in a competitive and commoditized market by emphasizing unique selling propositions and customer-centric strategies. They also touch on the implications of leadership changes at Southwest Airlines and their potential impact on the airline's unique value proposition. Economic updates and their effects on business growth are reviewed, along with the continued significance of robust marketing efforts. The episode wraps up with lighter discussions about wildlife challenges in gardening and wishes for a happy Father's Day. --- Chapter Markers: 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:44 CloudFlare Outage Discussion 02:20 MSP Question of the Week: Standing Out in a Low-Cost World 11:54 Southwest Airlines Changes 15:59 Economic Update and Marketing Tips 18:26 Community Announcements and Freebies 22:26 Father's Day Reflections 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
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23:42
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23:42
Louis Erickson & Sam Blowes of Bit-Wizards
Host James sits down with Louis Erickson and Sam Blowes of Bit-Wizards for an exclusive interview. Louis Erickson is the co-founder and COO, and Sam Blowes is the Director of Solution Consulting at Bit-Wizards–an award winning IT services provider based in Florida. Louis is a serial entrepreneur that has built and grown several technology companies and departments, starting with Bit-Wizards’ Custom Software Engineering department. From there, Louis fostered the Bit-Wizards’ Digital Marketing department, the Bit-Wizards' Managed IT Services department, and finally, co-parenting communication service, TalkingParents. Sam Blowes is the Director of Solution Consulting at Bit-Wizards. He helps clients integrate their businesses into Microsoft’s Cloud based project management system and central hub. He works in the IT department internally, providing support and SharePoint integration for his co-workers. He’s a technology enthusiast in many areas, and is a creative problem solver. Check them out: https://bitwizards.com/ --- Our upcoming events and more: MASTERMIND LIVE – Tampa, FL – June 27-28th http://bit.ly/kernanmastermind Use “EARLYBIRD” as the coupon code to save $200! Check out Amy’s weekly newsletter! Sign up now: https://mailchi.mp/thirdtier/small-business-tech-news Kernan Consulting “Weekly Tips”! Sign up now: https://kernanconsulting.com/ Our Social Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-kernan-varcoach/ https://www.facebook.com/james.kernan https://www.facebook.com/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlpalachuk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybabinchak/ https://www.facebook.com/amy.babinchak/ https://thirdtier.net https://www.youtube.com/@ThirdTierIT
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28:03
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28:03
Michael Siggins – What’s New at ChannelPro?
I caught up with Michael Siggins, founder and Publisher of ChannelPro Magazine. In addition to covering a bit of the history of ChannelPro magazine, Michael gives us some great information about the ChannelPro events and other resources. Two cool topics we touched on include the State of the Channel research that was recently released (see link below) and the new IoT Playbook (also linked below). One cool stat from the State of the Channel report is that 44% of MSPs are bringing in more revenue than they did in the previous year. Folks are also broadening their scope and making money with security, IoT, and other offerings. The IoT (Internet of Things) Playbook is a new resource from ChannelPro to help you learn about the Internet of Things and figure out how to profit from IoT. After all, $1.4 Trillion is expected to be spent on IoT. That’s so big, it can’t all be in the enterprise. There’s plenty of money in the SMB space: How will you get your share? Side Note: I am doing a three out event before the ChannelPro SMB Forums. I’m bringing my SMB Roadshow to the ChannelPro pre-day. Check out the ChannelPro links below or visit www.smbroadshow.com. Links Mentioned: Web Site: www.channelpronetwork.com ChannelPro Events – www.ChannelProForum.com 2018 State of The Channel Research – www.channelpronetwork.com/article/2018-state-channel-survey-stepping-toward-future-it IoT Playbook – www.iotplaybook.com Other great publications from EH Media, the publisher of ChannelPro: https://www.cepro.com http://www.channelpronetwork.com https://www.commercialintegrator.com https://www.securitysales.com Check out the interview here: This interview is 30 minutes. Listen to the Podcast
Ireland