Advertise on podcast: Uncle Marv's IT Business Podcast (Real Talk for IT Pros & MSPs)

I don’t do websites, so my first reaction to the PHP security headlines was that this probably wasn’t my problem. Then clients started asking what they needed to worry about, and I had to give them an honest answer: I didn’t know yet, but I would find out. This solo conversation follows the questions that sent me digging into vendor notices, client systems, and the applications connected to their Microsoft 365 environments. Between the PHP concerns and the ConnectWise cloud backup incident discussed on the show, the bigger lesson became clear: vendor security is our security. I share what I’m reviewing, where I found gaps in my own processes, and why we can outsource services without outsourcing our responsibility to understand the risks our clients are accepting. === Chapters 00:10 MSP Vendor Security and Client Responsibility00:22 PHP Vulnerabilities: Beyond Website Security01:38 ConnectWise Cloud Backup and Microsoft 365 Risks03:19 Action1 and Vendor Security Communications07:34 IT Asset Inventory and Patch Ownership09:55 Patch Verification and Signs of Compromise12:35 Microsoft 365 App Permissions and Vendor Access16:07 Backup Restore Testing and Vendor Outages18:05 Client Communication and Cybersecurity Accountability === Resources / Books / Podcasts / Apps PHP2Shell: Official PHP vulnerability announcements and security updates. https://www.php.net/archive/2026.phpAction1 service pause: Official statement about temporarily suspending services as a security precaution. https://x.com/Action1corp/status/2112958795240374585Action1 service restoration: Vendor announcement and follow-up confirming patching and restored services. https://community.spiceworks.com/t/action1-service-temporarily-paused-as-a-security-precaution/1258964Action1 PHP2Shell guidance: Finding PHP risks beyond websites. https://www.action1.com/blog/php2shell-the-biggest-risk-is-the-php-you-dont-know-youre-running/ConnectWise Cloud Backup: Official incident updates and guidance for the separate Cloud Backup security incident. https://www.connectwise.com/company/trust/advisories=== SPONSORS: Technology Partner, NetAlly: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/netally/Technology Partner: Bvoip: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/bvoipTravel Partner: TruGrid: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/trugridDigital Partner, Designer Ready: http://itbusinesspodcast.com/designerready=== SHOW MUSIC: Item Title: Upbeat & Fun Sports Rock LogoItem URL: https://elements.envato.com/upbeat-fun-sports-rock-logo-CSR3UETAuthor Username: AlexanderRufireItem License Code: 7X9F52DNML === Connect with Uncle Marv 🌐 Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/ 🎙 Host: Marvin Bee 🛒 Uncle Marv’s Amazon Store (gear & tools I recommend): https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZ ☕ Support the show: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcast If you found value in this episode, share it with another MSP, IT provider, or tech entrepreneur. Your support helps keep practical, no-nonsense IT business conversations coming every week.

Are we moving clients to the cloud because it makes sense, or because we decided servers were supposed to disappear? My friend Tom Wyant of Wyant Computers in Traverse City, Michigan, joins me for an honest conversation about on-prem servers, Active Directory, and the applications that keep both relevant. Tom supports clients using a mix of local infrastructure and cloud services, so this isn’t a debate about picking a side. It’s about figuring out what actually works. We talk through recurring costs, application limitations, large files, security responsibilities, and the headaches that follow a migration nobody fully thought through. My takeaway? Before you recommend replacing that server, find out what it does, who depends on it, and what the business might lose by moving. Familiar doesn’t automatically mean outdated, and cloud doesn’t automatically mean better. === Chapters 01:02 Meet Tom Wyant of Wyant Computers01:32 Cloud vs. On-Prem Servers: Why the Debate Isn’t Over08:52 Cloud Repatriation: Costs, Control, and Performance13:11 Active Directory and the True Cost of Cloud Migration16:00 Microsoft 365 Security and Guest Access Risks20:28 Cloud Applications vs. Hosted Legacy Software26:30 Legacy Applications and Hybrid IT Decisions28:38 Law Firm Cloud Migration: Pricing and Large Files40:15 Cloud Migration Exit Plans and Application Compatibility48:52 Six Steps for Choosing Cloud or On-Prem Infrastructure=== Guest Tom Wyant, Wyant Technologies / Wyant Computer Services, Co-Founder and CEOWebsite: https://www.gowyant.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomaswyant=== People Mentioned Eric Anthony, All Things MSP: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esanthony/Diana Giles: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianagiles/Matt Forman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewforman/Chad Kempt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chadkempt/Stan Louissaint: https://www.linkedin.com/in/slouissaint/Dawn Sizer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawn-sizer/=== Links from the Show A Cloudian/Centiment survey of 212 senior IT decision-makers found that roughly 75% had moved some workloads back in the previous two years. Nearly 30% of those repatriating workloads also expanded their cloud footprint. Important caveat: this was a vendor-sponsored survey, not proof that 75% of all businesses are leaving cloud.https://www.techtarget.com/cybersecurity/feature/Cloud-repatriation-What-CISOs-need-to-knowCloud repatriation is real—but it usually means bringing back selected workloads, not abandoning cloud entirely. Businesses may move applications, databases, or storage to on-premises infrastructure or private cloud while continuing to use public-cloud services.https://www.idc.com/resource-center/blog/storm-clouds-ahead-missed-expectations-in-cloud-computing/Uptime Institute says the “everybody is leaving cloud” narrative is overstated. Rising costs motivate some moves back, but organizations also continue moving workloads into public cloud. Both directions can be part of the same strategy.https://intelligence.uptimeinstitute.com/resource/cloud-repatriation-overstatedLocal infrastructure still has a substantial role. Uptime Institute’s 2025 survey estimated that 45% of respondents’ workloads remained in corporate facilities. That measures what stayed local—not what moved back—and the survey is not representative of typical small-business server closets.https://datacenter.uptimeinstitute.com/rs/711-RIA-145/images/2025.Annual.Survey.Report.pdf?version=0=== SPONSORS: Technology Partner, NetAlly: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/netally/Technology Partner: Bvoip: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/bvoipTravel Partner: TruGrid: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/trugridDigital Partner, Designer Ready: http://itbusinesspodcast.com/designerready=== SHOW MUSIC: Item Title: Upbeat & Fun Sports Rock LogoItem URL: https://elements.envato.com/upbeat-fun-sports-rock-logo-CSR3UETAuthor Username: AlexanderRufireItem License Code: 7X9F52DNML === Connect with Uncle Marv 🌐 Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/ 🎙 Host: Marvin Bee 🛒 Uncle Marv’s Amazon Store (gear & tools I recommend): https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZ ☕ Support the show: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcast If you found value in this episode, share it with another MSP, IT provider, or tech entrepreneur. Your support helps keep practical, no-nonsense IT business conversations coming every week.

You don’t need to overhaul your MSP to start getting value from AI. You need to find one task your team is tired of repeating. Meredith Payne returns to the show at TD SYNNEX Inspire in Greenville to talk about her work leading digital growth and customer success, what’s changing inside Partner First, and how MSPs can put automation to work without making everything more complicated. I ask Meredith where smaller providers should start, whether human help is sticking around, and how to know if these tools are actually improving the business. Her advice is to start small, learn as you go, and look beyond placing orders to see what your customer data can help you do next. === Chapters 00:11 Welcome and Meredith Payne Returns01:57 PartnerFirst, Agent Bridge, and MCP06:20 Keeping Human Help Alongside AI07:33 Learning From Failure and Starting Small09:28 Exploring Greenville and Fall for Greenville12:28 Customer Insights Beyond Quotes and Orders14:59 Helping Partners Adopt Digital Tools16:18 What Should Your MSP Fix First?18:27 Inspire Vendor Floor and Favorite Swag21:02 Closing Thoughts and Thank You=== Guest: Meredith Payne, TD SYNNEX, Vice President, Digital Growth & Customer Success Website: https://www.tdsynnex.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredithnpayne=== Resources / Books / Podcasts / Apps Partner with TD SYNNEX: https://www.tdsynnex.com/na/us/en/partnerfirst.htmlMSP Evolve: https://site.tdsynnex.com/msp-evolve/p/1PartnerFirst Digital Bridge: https://www.tdsynnex.com/na/us/digital-bridge/ai-agent/Agent Bridge: https://news.tdsynnex.com/news/td-synnex-unveils-ai-that-works-alongside-partners-expanding-partnerfirst-with-agentic-capabilities/PartnerFirst MCP Connector: https://news.tdsynnex.com/news/td-synnex-unveils-ai-that-works-alongside-partners-expanding-partnerfirst-with-agentic-capabilities/PartnerFirst Customer Lifecycle Offering: https://news.tdsynnex.com/news/td-synnex-unveils-ai-that-works-alongside-partners-expanding-partnerfirst-with-agentic-capabilities/TD SYNNEX Inspire: https://www.tdsynnex.com/na/us/inspire/Fall for Greenville: https://www.fallforgreenville.net/Falls Park on the Reedy: https://www.greenvillesc.gov/falls-park=== SPONSORS: Technology Partner, NetAlly: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/netally/Technology Partner: Bvoip: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/bvoipTravel Partner: TruGrid: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/trugridDigital Partner, Designer Ready: http://itbusinesspodcast.com/designerready=== SHOW MUSIC: Item Title: Upbeat & Fun Sports Rock LogoItem URL: https://elements.envato.com/upbeat-fun-sports-rock-logo-CSR3UETAuthor Username: AlexanderRufireItem License Code: 7X9F52DNML === Connect with Uncle Marv 🌐 Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/ 🎙 Host: Marvin Bee 🛒 Uncle Marv’s Amazon Store (gear & tools I recommend): https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZ ☕ Support the show: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcast If you found value in this episode, share it with another MSP, IT provider, or tech entrepreneur. Your support helps keep practical, no-nonsense IT business conversations coming every week.

Before you buy another AI tool or help a client deploy agents, take a hard look at the environment supporting them. Recording from Greenville, South Carolina, I talk with Joseph Vlajcic about what happens when businesses chase individual AI use cases without considering how those systems will work together. We discuss why disappointing returns can come from more than choosing the wrong tool. Sometimes the surrounding infrastructure needs attention first. Joseph walks through AI running in the data center, public cloud, and at the edge, with the network connecting all three. That brings up questions MSPs need to ask about traffic, access, security, and visibility. I also raise something we haven’t spent enough time discussing: we’re watching AI-driven threats coming in, but what about the activity our own AI tools generate going out? We wrap up with the business conversations that can be harder than the technical work. How do you handle clients who want AI but resist your recommendations? What belongs in the discussion around service agreements? And what should you never promise about an AI future nobody can fully predict? Joseph brings it back to segmentation, identity, patching, and making investments that support the use case in front of you. === Guest: Joseph Vlajcic, TD SYNNEX Title: Vice President, Cisco.Website: https://www.tdsynnex.com/na/us/cisco/sso/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-vlajcic-6099136=== Companies / Vendors / Products / Books TD SYNNEX: https://ir.tdsynnex.com/overview/default.aspxCisco: https://www.cisco.com/FinOps Fusion: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261008565728/en/TD-SYNNEX-Introduces-FinOps-Fusion-to-Optimize-AI-Token-Spend-Across-Cloud-and-Core-InfrastructureAmazon Bedrock: https://aws.amazon.com/bedrock/Claude Mythos Preview: https://www.anthropic.com/glasswing=== Resources / Training / Initiatives Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA): https://www.cisco.com/site/us/en/learn/training-certifications/certifications/enterprise/ccna/index.htmlProject Glasswing: https://www.anthropic.com/project/glasswing=== Events / Conferences TD SYNNEX Inspire: https://www.tdsynnex.com/na/us/inspire/=== SPONSORS: Technology Partner, NetAlly: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/netally/Technology Partner: Bvoip: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/bvoipTravel Partner: TruGrid: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/trugridDigital Partner, Designer Ready: http://itbusinesspodcast.com/designerready === SHOW MUSIC: Item Title: Upbeat & Fun Sports Rock LogoItem URL: https://elements.envato.com/upbeat-fun-sports-rock-logo-CSR3UETAuthor Username: AlexanderRufireItem License Code: 7X9F52DNML === Connect with Uncle Marv 🌐 Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/ 🎙 Host: Marvin Bee 🛒 Uncle Marv’s Amazon Store (gear & tools I recommend): https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZ ☕ Support the show: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcast If you found value in this episode, share it with another MSP, IT provider, or tech entrepreneur. Your support helps keep practical, no-nonsense IT business conversations coming every week.

Saving money on AI does not mean much if you are still using it the wrong way. That was one of my biggest takeaways from TD SYNNEX Inspire in Greenville, South Carolina. Erick Simpson joins me to unpack the announcements that caught our attention, including FinOps Fusion and Agent Bridge. We discuss the potential to better understand AI spending, reduce manual work around quoting and ordering, and spot client opportunities that get buried when we are busy putting out fires. I also explain why I want to see the AI spending conversation go beyond cutting costs to improving prompts, automations, and results. The vendor floor gave us another reason to rethink what we bring to clients. Ergonomic workspaces, healthcare carts, branded device cases, and other hardware sparked conversations we do not usually have at MSP events. Before the recap, I share how I moved a client’s Access-based application to V2 Cloud, what was still unfinished, and how a $15 cable helped another client avoid replacing an external drive. And yes, Erick and I get into the swag, including a few things I will actually use. === Guest: Erick Simpson, MSP Mastered / Channel Mastered Website: https://ericksimpson.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericksimpson=== Companies / Vendors / Products / Books V2 Cloud: https://v2cloud.com/TD SYNNEX Inspire — official conference site. https://www.tdsynnex.com/na/us/inspire/Channel Mastered — About. https://channelmastered.com/about/MSP Mastered — official site. https://mspmastered.com/Digi — TD SYNNEX Inspire 2026 event overview. https://www.digi.com/resources/events/2026/td-synnex-inspire-2026TD SYNNEX — PartnerFirst agentic capabilities announcement. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261008201780/en/TD-SYNNEX-Unveils-AI-That-Works-Alongside-Partners-Expanding-PartnerFirst-with-Agentic-CapabilitiesTD SYNNEX — FinOps Fusion announcement. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261008565728/en/TD-SYNNEX-Introduces-FinOps-Fusion-to-Optimize-AI-Token-Spend-Across-Cloud-and-Core-InfrastructureTD SYNNEX — Space Tech Initiative announcement. https://news.tdsynnex.com/news/td-synnex-launches-space-tech-initiative-to-help-partners-capitalize-on-the-growing-space-economy/Uncle Marv’s IT Business Podcast — FinOps Fusion coverage. https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/blog/td-synnex-launches-finops-fusion/=== Swag Mentions Ergotron: https://www.ergotron.com/en-us/KIOXIA: https://americas.kioxia.com/en-us/Kingston Technology: https://www.kingston.com/enOmnissa: https://www.omnissa.com/=== SPONSORS: Technology Partner, NetAlly: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/netally/Technology Partner: Bvoip: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/bvoipTravel Partner: TruGrid: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/trugridDigital Partner, Designer Ready: http://itbusinesspodcast.com/designerready=== SHOW MUSIC: Item Title: Upbeat & Fun Sports Rock LogoItem URL: https://elements.envato.com/upbeat-fun-sports-rock-logo-CSR3UETAuthor Username: AlexanderRufireItem License Code: 7X9F52DNML === Connect with Uncle Marv 🌐 Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/ 🎙 Host: Marvin Bee 🛒 Uncle Marv’s Amazon Store (gear & tools I recommend): https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZ ☕ Support the show: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcast If you found value in this episode, share it with another MSP, IT provider, or tech entrepreneur. Your support helps keep practical, no-nonsense IT business conversations coming every week.

Recurring revenue is nice. Recurring profitability is what pays the bills. I sat down with Augie Staab, Director of MSP Sales at TD SYNNEX, at Inspire in Greenville, South Carolina, to talk about the difference. We dug into cybersecurity stack standardization, what makes a vendor offering truly useful to MSPs, and why letting every customer pick a different tool can undermine your business. Augie also explained how TD SYNNEX’s dedicated MSP sales team and new MSP ARC program aim to help partners identify gaps and make better business decisions. Stop building a different stack for every customer I asked Augie about selling cybersecurity as a service rather than simply reselling a product. She pointed to a familiar problem: customers request their preferred vendors, and the MSP keeps making exceptions. Her advice was to standardize around technologies you understand, know the industries you serve well, and build something you can deliver repeatedly. The lesson is straightforward: recurring sales alone don’t prove your service model is profitable. === Guest: Augie Staab, TD SYNNEX, Director of MSP Sales Website: https://www.tdsynnex.com/na/us/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritapena=== Companies / Vendors / Products / Books / Events / Organizations Become a Partner: https://www.tdsynnex.com/na/us/en/partnerfirst.htmlTD SYNNEX Inspire: https://www.tdsynnex.com/na/us/inspire/TD SYNNEX MSP Sales: https://www.tdsynnex.com/na/us/smbconnect/msp-sales/TD SYNNEX PartnerLINK: https://www.tdsynnex.com/na/us/PartnerLINK/TD SYNNEX MSP Evolve: https://site.tdsynnex.com/msp-evolve/p/1=== SPONSORS: Technology Partner, NetAlly: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/netally/Technology Partner: Bvoip: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/bvoipTravel Partner: TruGrid: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/trugridDigital Partner, Designer Ready: http://itbusinesspodcast.com/designerready === SHOW MUSIC:  Item Title: Upbeat & Fun Sports Rock LogoItem URL: https://elements.envato.com/upbeat-fun-sports-rock-logo-CSR3UETAuthor Username: AlexanderRufireItem License Code: 7X9F52DNML === Connect with Uncle Marv 🌐 Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/ 🎙 Host: Marvin Bee 🛒 Uncle Marv’s Amazon Store (gear & tools I recommend): https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZ ☕ Support the show: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcast If you found value in this episode, share it with another MSP, IT provider, or tech entrepreneur. Your support helps keep practical, no-nonsense IT business conversations coming every week.

Using fewer AI tokens doesn’t automatically mean you’re saving money. I sat down with Andre Van der Post, Vice President of Cloud Solutions at TD SYNNEX, at Inspire in Greenville, South Carolina, to talk about FinOps Fusion and what it takes to manage AI spending beyond the token count. We get into infrastructure costs, poorly written prompts, governance, and the opportunity for MSPs to help clients make smarter decisions. Andre also gets honest about what’s still being built. The takeaway: managing AI costs means understanding the business value, not just watching usage. === Guest: Andre Van der Post, TD SYNNEX Website: https://tdsynnex.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrevanderpost=== Companies / Vendors / Products / Books Sign Up for an account at TD SYNNEX: https://www.tdsynnex.com/na/us/en/partnerfirst.htmlFinOps Fusion: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261008565728/en/TD-SYNNEX-Introduces-FinOps-Fusion-to-Optimize-AI-Token-Spend-Across-Cloud-and-Core-InfrastructureTD SYNNEX Inspire: https://www.tdsynnex.com/na/us/inspire/Microsoft Copilot: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/copilotGoogle Gemini: https://gemini.google.com/AI Token Consumption Assessment: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261008565728/en/TD-SYNNEX-Introduces-FinOps-Fusion-to-Optimize-AI-Token-Spend-Across-Cloud-and-Core-InfrastructureUnified Visibility Dashboard: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261008565728/en/TD-SYNNEX-Introduces-FinOps-Fusion-to-Optimize-AI-Token-Spend-Across-Cloud-and-Core-InfrastructureAI Spend Optimization Recommendations: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261008565728/en/TD-SYNNEX-Introduces-FinOps-Fusion-to-Optimize-AI-Token-Spend-Across-Cloud-and-Core-Infrastructure=== SPONSORS: Technology Partner, NetAlly: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/netally/Technology Partner: Bvoip: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/bvoipTravel Partner: TruGrid: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/trugridDigital Partner, Designer Ready: http://itbusinesspodcast.com/designerready=== SHOW MUSIC: Item Title: Upbeat & Fun Sports Rock LogoItem URL: https://elements.envato.com/upbeat-fun-sports-rock-logo-CSR3UETAuthor Username: AlexanderRufireItem License Code: 7X9F52DNML === Connect with Uncle Marv 🌐 Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/ 🎙 Host: Marvin Bee 🛒 Uncle Marv’s Amazon Store (gear & tools I recommend): https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZ ☕ Support the show: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcast If you found value in this episode, share it with another MSP, IT provider, or tech entrepreneur. Your support helps keep practical, no-nonsense IT business conversations coming every week.

Dr. Lorne Lavine, better known as The Digital Dentist, joined me to talk about building an IT business that serves one vertical and serves it well. Before becoming an MSP owner, Lorne practiced periodontics, which gave him a real advantage when he started helping dental offices with technology, software decisions, networks, HIPAA, and cybersecurity. We talked about how he grew through credibility, referrals, writing, speaking, and staying focused on dentists instead of trying to support every kind of business. There are some solid lessons here for any MSP: niche down, understand the customer’s world, do profitable risk assessments, avoid racing to the bottom on price, and build your role around the work you actually enjoy doing. === Guest: Dr. Lorne Lavine, The Digital Dentist Website: https://www.thedigitaldentist.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/digitaldentist=== Shout Outs Robin Robins / Technology Marketing Toolkit: https://www.technologymarketingtoolkit.com/Jennifer Bleam: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-bleam/Nigel Moore / The Tech Tribe: https://thetechtribe.com/=== Companies / Vendors / Products / Books Henry Schein: https://www.henryschein.com/Patterson Dental: https://www.pattersondental.com/Carestream Dental: https://www.carestreamdental.com/en-us/Open Dental Software: https://www.opendental.com/Curve Dental: https://www.curvedental.com/Planet DDS: https://www.planetdds.com/DentalTown: https://www.dentaltown.com/U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: https://www.hhs.gov/Office for Civil Rights, HHS: https://www.hhs.gov/ocr/Dentrix: https://www.dentrix.com/Dentrix Ascend: https://www.dentrix.com/products/dentrix-ascendOpen Dental: https://www.opendental.com/Denticon: https://www.planetdds.com/denticon/=== SPONSORS: Technology Partner, NetAlly: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/netally/Technology Partner: Bvoip: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/bvoipTravel Partner: TruGrid: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/trugridDigital Partner, Designer Ready: http://itbusinesspodcast.com/designerready === SHOW MUSIC: Item Title: Upbeat & Fun Sports Rock LogoItem URL: https://elements.envato.com/upbeat-fun-sports-rock-logo-CSR3UETAuthor Username: AlexanderRufireItem License Code: 7X9F52DNML === Connect with Uncle Marv 🌐 Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/ 🎙 Host: Marvin Bee 🛒 Uncle Marv’s Amazon Store (gear & tools I recommend): https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZ ☕ Support the show: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcast If you found value in this episode, share it with another MSP, IT provider, or tech entrepreneur. Your support helps keep practical, no-nonsense IT business conversations coming every week.

Charlotte Conroy from Recent Communications joins me for a straight conversation about UCaaS, cloud communications, and why MSPs should stop treating phones like the thing they would rather avoid. Her company works alongside MSPs to help clients move from aging phone systems to supported, reliable communications without turning every phone issue into an internal help desk problem. We talk about competing on value instead of price, the reality of copper-line shutdowns, legacy phone systems that are still out there, integrations with door access and overhead paging, and where AI can actually help without making the customer experience worse. If communications matter to your clients, this is a good reminder that somebody needs to own the conversation, even if you do not want to own the entire phone stack. === Guest: Charlotte (Ciccone) Conroy, Recent Communications Website: https://www.recentcom.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlottecicconeconroy=== News ITSM Market Worth $22.91 Billion by 2031: https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/it-service-management-market-worth-22-91-billion-by-2031--report-by-marketsandmarkets-302894029.html === Companies / Vendors / Products / Books FreedomVoice: https://www.freedomvoice.com/GoDaddy: https://www.godaddy.com/Intermedia: https://www.intermedia.com/RingCentral: https://www.ringcentral.com/Vonage: https://www.vonage.com/Avaya: https://www.avaya.com/en/Grandstream Networks: https://www.grandstream.com/Viking Electronics: https://vikingelectronics.com/Ubiquiti: https://ui.com/UniFi: https://ui.com/D&H Distributing: https://www.dandh.com/TD SYNNEX: https://www.tdsynnex.com/ === Podcasts / Events / Organizations ITEXPO: https://www.itexpo.com/MSP Expo: https://www.mspexpo.com/TechSuperShow: https://www.techsupershow.com/TD SYNNEX Inspire: https://www.tdsynnex.com/na/us/inspire/TD SYNNEX Inspire Insider: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/td-synnex-inspire-insider-7491233541796683776/ === Connect with Uncle Marv 🌐 Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/ 🎙 Host: Marvin Bee 🛒 Uncle Marv’s Amazon Store (gear & tools I recommend): https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZ ☕ Support the show: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcast If you found value in this episode, share it with another MSP, IT provider, or tech entrepreneur. Your support helps keep practical, no-nonsense IT business conversations coming every week.

Lucas Dowd and Kevin Townsend, co-founders of Catalyst Shift, join me to talk about a problem just about every MSP knows too well: the data you need to run the business is scattered across your PSA, RMM, CRM, email, accounting, and other tools. The result is too much manual digging, too many disconnected reports, and not enough time in front of the customer having the conversations that actually matter. We talk about their idea of a business operating layer that brings those systems together, looks for patterns, and turns the information into practical next steps. That can mean faster QBR preparation, early warning signs of churn, clearer client risk profiles, proposal support, and a better story around the value your MSP is delivering. The big takeaway is simple: AI should not just create another dashboard for you to ignore. It should help you spot what needs attention and give your team more time to be human with clients. === Chapters 00:24 Meet Lucas Dowd and Kevin Townsend of Catalyst Shift01:28 Building a Business Operating Layer for MSPs04:36 Connecting PSA, RMM, CRM, and Other Disconnected Data08:23 Palantir, Data Normalization, and the Forward-Deployed Model11:27 QBRs, Client Reporting, and Actioned Intelligence14:34 Tool Sprawl and Why Building Internal AI Is Harder Than It Looks18:34 Client 360 Insights: Churn Risk, Sentiment, Playbooks, and Proposals25:56 How Small MSPs and Larger Providers Can Use Catalyst Shift29:53 ASCII Early Adopter Trial and Closing Thoughts=== Guests Lucas Dowd, CatalystShift: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucasadowdKevin Townsend, CatalystShift: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kkreative/Website: https://www.catalystshift.ai/ ASCII Member Benefit: https://www.catalystshift.ai/docs/ascii-early-adopter=== Companies / Vendors / Products / Books Palantir Technologies: https://www.palantir.com/ConnectWise: https://www.connectwise.com/NinjaOne: https://www.ninjaone.com/HaloPSA: https://halopsa.com/HubSpot: https://www.hubspot.com/Palo Alto Networks: https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/RSA: https://www.rsa.com/=== SPONSORS: Technology Partner, NetAlly: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/netally/Technology Partner: Bvoip: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/bvoipTravel Partner: TruGrid: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/trugridDigital Partner, Designer Ready: http://itbusinesspodcast.com/designerready === SHOW MUSIC: Item Title: Upbeat & Fun Sports Rock LogoItem URL: https://elements.envato.com/upbeat-fun-sports-rock-logo-CSR3UETAuthor Username: AlexanderRufireItem License Code: 7X9F52DNML === Connect with Uncle Marv 🌐 Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/ 🎙 Host: Marvin Bee 🛒 Uncle Marv’s Amazon Store (gear & tools I recommend): https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZ ☕ Support the show: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcast If you found value in this episode, share it with another MSP, IT provider, or tech entrepreneur. Your support helps keep practical, no-nonsense IT business conversations coming every week.

I sat down with Andy Syrewicze from Proofpoint MSP Platform to talk about a problem every MSP runs into: Microsoft 365 security looks simple until you start managing it across real client environments. Andy explains how Proofpoint 365 Total Protection, the MSP platform formerly known as Hornetsecurity, brings together email security, Microsoft 365 backup, security awareness training, permission management, DMARC, and tenant standardization. The big takeaway is that security cannot stop at email filtering or MFA. MSPs need layered protection, cleaner SharePoint permissions, better user reporting habits, and a standard Microsoft 365 baseline they can consistently apply across their client base. === Chapters 00:48 Welcome and TechCon Unplugged Recap06:47 TD SYNNEX Inspire Preview08:12 Sponsors: TruGrid and 1Stream09:29 NetAlly Tip: Troubleshooting DNS Resolution Problems15:35 Meet Andy Syrewicze From Proofpoint19:24 Microsoft 365 Security Gaps for MSPs23:52 Building a Microsoft 365 Security Baseline28:19 Managing SharePoint Permissions Before Copilot34:17 AI Phishing and Copilot Governance39:40 Proofpoint 365 Total Protection for MSPs43:16 Layered Security and User Awareness46:29 Final Takeaways and Closing=== Guest: Andy Syrewicze, Proofpoint MSP Platform  Website: https://www.proofpoint.com/Proofpoint 365 Total Protection: https://www.proofpoint.com/us/products/365-total-protectionLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/asyrewicze/ === NetAlly Tip of the Week Uncle Marv's Top 10 DNS Resolvers (September 2026): https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/downloads/ITB-Top-10-DNS-202609/  === Companies / Vendors / Products / Books Pax8: https://www.pax8.com/en-us/ConnectWise: https://www.connectwise.com/TD SYNNEX: https://www.tdsynnex.com/Google: https://www.google.com/Cloudflare: https://www.cloudflare.com/Quad9: https://quad9.net/DNSFilter: https://www.dnsfilter.com/NextDNS: https://nextdns.io/DMARC: https://dmarc.org/BIMI: https://bimigroup.org/FIDO Alliance: https://fidoalliance.org/FIDO2: https://fidoalliance.org/fido2/ === Companies / Vendors / Products / Books TechCon Unplugged: https://www.mspunplugged.com/techcon-unplugged/MSP Unplugged: https://www.mspunplugged.com/TD SYNNEX Inspire: https://www.tdsynnex.com/na/us/inspire/IT Nation: https://itnation.connectwise.com/The ASCII Group: https://www.asciigroup.com/ChannelPro: https://www.channelpronetwork.com/Zero Trust World: https://ztw.com/SaaS Awards: https://www.cloud-awards.com/saas-awards/=== SPONSORS: Technology Partner, NetAlly: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/netally/Technology Partner: Bvoip: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/bvoipTravel Partner: TruGrid: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/trugridDigital Partner, Designer Ready: http://itbusinesspodcast.com/designerready=== SHOW MUSIC: Item Title: Upbeat & Fun Sports Rock LogoItem URL: https://elements.envato.com/upbeat-fun-sports-rock-logo-CSR3UETAuthor Username: AlexanderRufireItem License Code: 7X9F52DNML === Connect with Uncle Marv 🌐 Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/ 🎙 Host: Marvin Bee 🛒 Uncle Marv’s Amazon Store (gear & tools I recommend): https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZ ☕ Support the show: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcast If you found value in this episode, share it with another MSP, IT provider, or tech entrepreneur. Your support helps keep practical, no-nonsense IT business conversations coming every week.

I sat down with Dave Sobel to talk about why too many MSPs are leaving AI out of their websites, client conversations, and service offerings. We dig into AI governance, shadow AI, Microsoft Copilot, and why simply asking better questions can create real business opportunities. AI is everywhere. It is at every conference, in every vendor presentation, and in every customer conversation. Yet Dave’s research found that 68% of roughly 3,600 MSP websites do not mention AI at all. That means a lot of providers may be invisible to prospects looking for guidance, services, or simply a trusted technology partner who has a point of view. We talked about the difference between being an AI expert and being willing to lead the conversation. Most clients do not have an AI policy. They may not know which tools employees are using, what data is being shared, or whether shadow AI is already happening inside the business. That is not a reason for an MSP to stay quiet. It is an opening to help clients understand what is happening, develop guardrails, and make informed decisions without becoming the department of no. Dave also walked through the updated Version 5 of the Free MSP Checklist, which now includes AI and compliance considerations alongside the traditional infrastructure and cloud questions. We also spent time on the GTIA acquisition of ASCII, the changing landscape of MSP communities, and why it makes sense to be in more than one room as the channel evolves. === Chapters 00:24 Welcome and Meet Dave Sobel02:10 Free MSP Checklist: AI and Compliance Updates03:53 Why MSP Websites Are Missing the AI Conversation09:06 Client AI Policies and the Value of MSP Guidance11:57 The Buyer Journey, Referrals, and Website Visibility16:01 Defining AI Services with Copilot, ChatGPT, and Claude18:53 AI Governance and Shadow AI Opportunities22:02 GTIA Acquires ASCII: Impact on MSP Communities29:49 Resources, Business of Tech, and Closing=== Guest: Dave Sobel, MSP Radio Website: https://www.davesobel.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davesobel=== Companies / Vendors / Products / Books MSP Radio: https://www.mspradio.com/The Business of Tech: https://www.businessof.tech/Small Biz Thoughts: https://www.smallbizthoughts.org/IT Service Provider University: https://www.itspu.com/Free MSP Checklist, Version 5: https://freemspchecklist.com/ChatGPT: https://openai.com/chatgpt/OpenAI: https://openai.com/Claude: https://www.anthropic.com/claudeAnthropic: https://www.anthropic.com/SolarWinds: https://www.solarwinds.com/Global Technology Industry Association (GTIA): https://gtia.org/The ASCII Group: https://gtia.org/asciiNational Society of IT Service Providers (NSITSP): https://www.nsitsp.org/MSPAlliance: https://www.mspalliance.com/=== SPONSORS: Technology Partner, NetAlly: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/netally/Technology Partner: Bvoip: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/bvoipTravel Partner: TruGrid: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/trugridDigital Partner, Designer Ready: http://itbusinesspodcast.com/designerready === SHOW MUSIC: Item Title: Upbeat & Fun Sports Rock LogoItem URL: https://elements.envato.com/upbeat-fun-sports-rock-logo-CSR3UETAuthor Username: AlexanderRufireItem License Code: 7X9F52DNML === Connect with Uncle Marv 🌐 Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/ 🎙 Host: Marvin Bee 🛒 Uncle Marv’s Amazon Store (gear & tools I recommend): https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZ ☕ Support the show: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcast If you found value in this episode, share it with another MSP, IT provider, or tech entrepreneur. Your support helps keep practical, no-nonsense IT business conversations coming every week.

I had a great conversation with Alex and Mariana of MyPCFriends Cybersecurity, a husband-and-wife MSP team based in Kissimmee, Florida. Their story starts with Alex’s computer engineering and break-fix work in Venezuela, continues through the challenges of rebuilding in the United States, and arrives at a business that is more intentional about managed services, cybersecurity, compliance, and serving the right clients. They are now focused on financial services and insurance organizations, with clients extending beyond Florida. === Chapters === Guests: Alex Villamizar and Mariana Arrietta MyPCFriends Cybersecurity: https://mypcfriends.comMariana: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariana-arrieta-mypcfriends/Alexis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-mypcfriends/ === SPONSORS: Technology Partner, NetAlly: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/netally/Technology Partner: Bvoip: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/bvoipTravel Partner: TruGrid: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/trugridDigital Partner, Designer Ready: http://itbusinesspodcast.com/designerready === SHOW MUSIC:  Item Title: Upbeat & Fun Sports Rock LogoItem URL: https://elements.envato.com/upbeat-fun-sports-rock-logo-CSR3UETAuthor Username: AlexanderRufireItem License Code: 7X9F52DNML === Connect with Uncle Marv 🌐 Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/ 🎙 Host: Marvin Bee 🛒 Uncle Marv’s Amazon Store (gear & tools I recommend): https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZ ☕ Support the show: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcast If you found value in this episode, share it with another MSP, IT provider, or tech entrepreneur. Your support helps keep practical, no-nonsense IT business conversations coming every week.

Tom Bull of Two River Computer joins me for a practical conversation about building an MSP around trust, community, and the work clients actually need. Tom shares how his business grew from computer repair and consulting into managed IT, residential technology, Wi-Fi, smart-home projects, and cybersecurity, all while serving smaller businesses that larger MSPs often overlook. We talk about referral relationships, local visibility, Google reviews, and why listening to the customer can matter more than following every piece of conventional channel advice. We also get into the realities of controlled growth and modern security. Tom explains why he paused new-client onboarding when his team hit capacity, how he thinks about profit over revenue, and why he is careful about taking on work he cannot support well. We cover AI use policies, Microsoft 365 protection, SentinelOne Vigilance, Petra, ThreatLocker, Ubiquiti, SonicWall, backups, identity security, and the layered approach MSPs need to keep clients protected without overcomplicating the stack. === Chapters 01:52 Meet Tom Bull of Two River Computer04:22 Tom Bull’s Tech Career and MSP Origin Story10:01 Building a Community-Driven Local IT Business13:17 Growing an MSP by Giving Clients What They Want17:42 Small-Business MSP Niches, Pricing, and Referral Partnerships22:15 AI Policies, Shadow AI, and MSP Liability Concerns30:04 Building a Layered Security Stack With SentinelOne and Petra32:46 ThreatLocker, AutoElevate, and Application Control38:38 TechCon Unplugged, 1Stream, and TruGrid Sponsor Message41:09 Working on the Business and Finding MSP Profitability49:11 Local SEO, Google Reviews, and Profitable Hardware Sales53:10 Ubiquiti, Managed Switches, and Network Visibility56:49 SonicWall vs. Ubiquiti Gateway Security01:08:53 Developing Future Leaders at Two River Computer=== Guest: Tom Bull, Two River Computer Website: https://www.tworivercomputer.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tworivercomputer=== Events TechCon Unplugged: https://techconunplugged.com/Discount Code: TCUMarvin=== Companies / Vendors / Products / Books Synchro: https://syncrosecure.com/SentinelOne Vigilance: https://www.sentinelone.com/services/vigilance/Petra Security: https://www.petrasecurity.com/Huntress: https://www.huntress.com/ThreatLocker: https://www.threatlocker.com/AutoElevate: https://www.cyberfox.com/platforms/autoelevate-by-cyberfox/SonicWall: https://www.sonicwall.com/Ubiquiti: https://ui.com/Proofpoint: https://www.proofpoint.com/Domotz: https://www.domotz.com/Auvik: https://www.auvik.com/Cork: https://www.corkinc.com/Tech Marketing Engine: https://techmarketingengine.com/The Pumpkin Plan: https://amzn.to/4yp2XxzDiscount Code: TCUMarvin=== SPONSORS: Technology Partner, NetAlly: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/netally/Technology Partner: Bvoip: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/bvoipTravel Partner: TruGrid: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/trugridDigital Partner, Designer Ready: http://itbusinesspodcast.com/designerready=== SHOW MUSIC: Item Title: Upbeat & Fun Sports Rock LogoItem URL: https://elements.envato.com/upbeat-fun-sports-rock-logo-CSR3UETAuthor Username: AlexanderRufireItem License Code: 7X9F52DNML === Connect with Uncle Marv 🌐 Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/ 🎙 Host: Marvin Bee 🛒 Uncle Marv’s Amazon Store (gear & tools I recommend): https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZ ☕ Support the show: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcast If you found value in this episode, share it with another MSP, IT provider, or tech entrepreneur. Your support helps keep practical, no-nonsense IT business conversations coming every week.

Sean Lardo, better known around the channel as Mr. IT Nation, joined me for a special conversation following the announcement of the IT Nation PitchIT 2026 finalists: Lemhi, Synthreo, and Blacksmith InfoSec. After a 16-week competitive cohort built around coaching, refinement, and practice, these three companies are now preparing to take the stage at IT Nation Connect Global in Orlando. === Chapters 00:23 PitchIT 2026 Finalists Announcement01:47 Meet Sean Lardo of IT Nation03:07 Behind the PitchIT Finalist Reveal06:01 How PitchIT Vendors Refine Their Message08:40 Uncle Marv’s PitchIT Rankings and Prize Debate11:12 MSP Feedback on PitchIT Vendor Interviews13:22 Preparing Vendors for Real Sales Conversations14:14 The Best Questions MSPs Should Ask Vendors17:04 Evaluating Vendor Fit Beyond Price19:12 What to Expect at PitchIT Orlando21:09 Finalist Congratulations and IT Nation Connect Closing=== Guest: Sean Lardo, ConnectWise / The IT Nation Website: https://www.connectwise.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanlardo=== Companies / Vendors / Products / Books ConnectWise: https://www.connectwise.com/The IT Nation: https://itnation.connectwise.com/PitchIT: https://itnation.connectwise.com/pitchitIT Nation Connect Global: https://itnation.connectwise.com/connect-globalLemhi: https://lemhi.com/Synthreo: https://synthreo.ai/Blacksmith InfoSec: https://blacksmithinfosec.com/=== SPONSORS: Technology Partner, NetAlly: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/netally/Technology Partner: Bvoip: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/bvoipTravel Partner: TruGrid: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/trugridDigital Partner, Designer Ready: http://itbusinesspodcast.com/designerready=== SHOW MUSIC: Item Title: Upbeat & Fun Sports Rock LogoItem URL: https://elements.envato.com/upbeat-fun-sports-rock-logo-CSR3UETAuthor Username: AlexanderRufireItem License Code: 7X9F52DNML === Connect with Uncle Marv 🌐 Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/ 🎙 Host: Marvin Bee 🛒 Uncle Marv’s Amazon Store (gear & tools I recommend): https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZ ☕ Support the show: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcast If you found value in this episode, share it with another MSP, IT provider, or tech entrepreneur. Your support helps keep practical, no-nonsense IT business conversations coming every week.