Elliot Hyman, CEO of the Lyra Technology Group, joins Dave Sobel to discuss the evolving landscape of IT management, particularly in light of Microsoft's new Windows Update orchestration platform. This initiative allows app developers to integrate their update processes into the Windows 11 framework, creating a more unified and controlled update experience similar to that of mobile operating systems like iOS. Hyman emphasizes that while this could streamline the user experience, it may also pose...
Jun 07, 2025•38 min•Ep. 1656
Sherweb has launched a white-label self-service portal aimed at empowering managed service providers (MSPs) and their clients by streamlining operational tasks. This innovative platform enables clients to manage their technology licenses, subscriptions, and payments independently, reducing the need for service providers to handle routine inquiries. According to Rick Stern, Senior Director of Platform at Sherweb, this autonomy not only expedites the resolution of simple requests but also allows M...
Jun 06, 2025•18 min•Ep. 1658
New data reveals a significant divide in the managed service provider (MSP) landscape, with AI and infrastructure maturity emerging as key factors distinguishing high-growth MSPs from their lower-growth counterparts. A report from JumpCloud indicates that while 89% of MSPs saw revenue growth in 2024, only 22% achieved high growth, defined as an increase of over 20%. Successful providers are characterized by their willingness to adopt new technologies and integrate artificial intelligence into th...
Jun 05, 2025•15 min•Ep. 1657
NWN Corporation has acquired InterVision Systems, a managed services provider known for its innovative IT solutions and a strong partnership with Amazon Web Services. This strategic acquisition aims to enhance NWN's offerings in customer experience, cybersecurity, and intelligent infrastructure, solidifying its position in the North American technology market. With the addition of 1,600 new accounts and approximately $470 million in sales, NWN is set to significantly improve its market presence ...
Jun 04, 2025•15 min•Ep. 1655
ConnectWise has launched a unified MSP platform and an ASIO-powered professional services automation (PSA) solution at their IT Nation Secure event. The new offerings aim to streamline operations for managed service providers (MSPs) by providing features such as unified log management, automated alert triage, and customizable dashboards. The ConnectWise Pro package bundles essential tools into a single contract, allowing partners to choose flexible pricing models. This strategic move is designed...
Jun 03, 2025•16 min•Ep. 1654
ConnectWise has confirmed it was the target of a cyber attack by a nation-state threat actor, affecting a small number of its ScreenConnect customers. The company has since patched the software and implemented enhanced monitoring measures to secure its environment. This incident highlights the increasing targeting of remote monitoring and management (RMM) tools by advanced threat actors, particularly from Russian and Chinese intelligence services. The breach, occurring shortly before the IT Nati...
Jun 02, 2025•14 min•Ep. 1653
Kevin Torf, co-founder and managing partner of T2 Group, discusses the unique approach his organization takes in delivering technology solutions to the healthcare industry. T2 Group focuses on providing a comprehensive set of services, including professional consulting, managed services, contact center operations, resource management, and software development. With a team of around 100 employees, T2 Group has established long-term relationships with major healthcare providers across the United S...
Jun 01, 2025•20 min•Ep. 1638
Two powerhouse experts, Ryan Morris and Jay McBain, join host Dave Sobel to discuss the emerging landscape of agentic AI, exploring the balance between hype and reality. They delve into the implications of AI technologies, particularly in the context of IT service providers and managed services. The conversation highlights the recent launch of Atera's autopilot feature, which claims to autonomously handle a significant portion of level one support tickets, raising questions about market readines...
May 31, 2025•45 min•Ep. 1648
A recent report from SailPoint reveals a significant contradiction in the IT sector: while 96% of IT professionals view artificial intelligence agents as a security risk, an overwhelming 98% still plan to expand their use within organizations over the next year. The study highlights that although 84% of respondents currently utilize AI agents, only 44% have established governance policies for their behavior. This lack of oversight is concerning, especially as 80% of respondents reported that the...
May 30, 2025•16 min•Ep. 1651
DragonForce has emerged as a significant threat actor in the cybercrime landscape, targeting vulnerabilities in the SimpleHelp remote monitoring and management tool to execute sophisticated ransomware-as-a-service attacks against managed service providers (MSPs). Recent incidents have highlighted how attackers exploited known vulnerabilities, including path traversal and privilege escalation issues, to deploy DragonForce ransomware, which involved exfiltrating sensitive data and employing double...
May 29, 2025•12 min•Ep. 1649
AI's increasing presence in the legal field is raising significant concerns, particularly regarding the accuracy of information generated by these systems. Judges have reported a notable rise in AI-generated inaccuracies, with 23 instances of fake legal citations identified since May 1st. Legal data analyst Damien Chartland has documented 120 cases where courts recognized AI's hallucinations, which include fabricated legal quotes and non-existent authorities. This trend indicates a shift in resp...
May 28, 2025•14 min•Ep. 1647
Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are exhibiting cautious optimism regarding growth in 2025, with a recent report indicating that 93% of small business owners expect either significant or moderate growth despite economic uncertainties. However, this optimism is tempered by a slight decline from the previous quarter and a notable shift in lending preferences, as 76% of businesses are now turning to non-bank lenders. Additionally, while many businesses are adopting artificial intelligence (...
May 27, 2025•15 min•Ep. 1646
API security has evolved from being primarily an infrastructure issue to a complex challenge centered around language and design flaws. Jeremy Snyder, CEO of Firetail, discusses the findings from their latest state of API security report, emphasizing the alarming rise of indirect prompt injection as a significant threat in AI-integrated systems. As APIs underpin much of modern application architecture, understanding how they function and the potential vulnerabilities they present is crucial for ...
May 24, 2025•39 min•Ep. 1643
Anthropic has launched its latest AI models, Claude Opus 4 and Claude Sonnet 4, which are designed to enhance coding capabilities and problem-solving skills. Claude Opus 4 is touted as the most powerful model to date, capable of autonomously handling long tasks for several hours and outperforming competitors like Google's Gemini and OpenAI's models in coding tasks. The new models also feature improved accuracy, with a 65% reduction in the likelihood of taking shortcuts compared to their predeces...
May 23, 2025•18 min•Ep. 1645
Small businesses are increasingly adopting artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, particularly in personalized email marketing, which has become a primary channel for nearly 19% of small to mid-sized businesses in 2025. Despite the growing interest, many businesses face challenges in implementation, with 35% citing a lack of familiarity with AI as a significant barrier. A recent survey indicates that while 38% of small and medium-sized businesses are utilizing AI across various functions, th...
May 22, 2025•18 min•Ep. 1644
Microsoft and Google are making significant strides in the realm of artificial intelligence, with both companies unveiling ambitious plans to integrate AI deeply into their products and services. Microsoft’s Build 2025 conference showcased its vision of transforming the operating system into an AI agent platform, emphasizing the development of autonomous systems that can perform complex tasks. Key announcements included the public preview of Microsoft Intra-Agent ID for enhanced identity governa...
May 21, 2025•16 min•Ep. 1642
Kate O'Neill discusses the impact of AI and automation on business and human flourishing in her latest book, "What Matters Next." She introduces the concept of a now-next continuum, which helps leaders navigate the uncertainty of the future by connecting past knowledge with present realities and future possibilities. This framework aims to empower decision-makers to make coherent choices amidst the chaos of rapid technological advancement and cultural acceleration. O'Neill emphasizes the importa...
May 21, 2025•18 min•Ep. 1624
A historic gap between consumer sentiment and economic data is raising concerns about future tech spending. Despite positive economic indicators, such as a steady unemployment rate and a slight increase in the Consumer Price Index, consumer confidence is faltering, as evidenced by a significant drop in the Consumer Sentiment Index. Analysts from Bank of America have noted that this disconnect, the widest on record, suggests that businesses, particularly in sectors sensitive to consumer demand, m...
May 19, 2025•11 min•Ep. 1641
Gerasim Hovhannisyan, CEO of EasyDMARC, discusses the complexities and challenges of implementing DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) in the cybersecurity landscape. He shares his personal journey, which began after experiencing a significant financial loss due to an email phishing attack. This incident prompted him to explore email authentication protocols, leading to the creation of EasyDMARC, a platform designed to simplify the deployment of these protocol...
May 18, 2025•23 min•Ep. 1626
The discussion centers around the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, and monetization strategies, emphasizing the dual challenges of protecting data and AI models while also effectively pricing these solutions. Experts Bryant Tow and James D. Wilton explore the urgent risks posed by AI, including threats to company data and the integrity of AI models. They highlight the importance of aligning technical depth with business value, particularly as AI adoption accelerates a...
May 17, 2025•34 min•Ep. 1636
Charter Communications has announced its acquisition of Cox Communications for $34.5 billion, a significant move that will merge two of the largest internet service providers in the United States. This merger is expected to require approval from the Federal Communications Commission due to Cox's critical operational licenses. The combined entity plans to adopt the Cox Communications name, with Spectrum serving as the consumer-facing brand in areas previously served by Cox. This merger could pote...
May 16, 2025•13 min•Ep. 1640
Data silos are significantly hindering AI innovation, as highlighted by a recent report from Infanti. The survey of over 1,200 IT and cybersecurity professionals revealed that more than half of the respondents experience isolated data within their organizations, leading to inefficiencies and slow security responses. Nearly 30% of IT professionals reported that these data deficiencies obstruct their ability to effectively utilize AI tools. Experts emphasize the necessity for a comprehensive data ...
May 15, 2025•17 min•Ep. 1637
The European Vulnerability Database (EUVD) has officially launched, providing a vital platform for monitoring critical security flaws amid challenges faced by the U.S. in cybersecurity funding and management. This initiative aims to enhance transparency and deliver essential information on vulnerabilities, addressing gaps left by the U.S. Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures program, which has been hindered by budget cuts and operational delays. The EUVD not only identifies disclosed bugs but al...
May 14, 2025•15 min•Ep. 1635
Remote work is driving a significant startup boom, reshaping the IT services market. A recent study indicates that companies with higher levels of remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic have seen a notable increase in employee startups, with an estimated 11.6% of new business formations attributed to this trend. Despite major corporations reinstating return-to-office mandates, remote work adoption in the U.S. has risen from 19.9% in late 2022 to 23.6% in early 2025, highlighting a growing dema...
May 13, 2025•14 min•Ep. 1634
The recent U.S.-China tariff truce has led to a significant surge in global markets, with the U.S. reducing tariffs on Chinese goods from 145% to 30% and China lowering its tariffs on American imports from 125% to 10%. While this agreement has provided short-term relief, it has also triggered caution among Chief Information Officers (CIOs), who are now deferring IT projects and prioritizing cost management. A survey indicates that nearly two-thirds of IT leaders are focusing on cost control, wit...
May 12, 2025•17 min•Ep. 1633
Mousa Hamad, an expert in procurement and vendor management, shares insights from his extensive career in IT operations and business transformation. He emphasizes the importance of being customer-oriented and empathetic, drawing from his experiences on the front lines of IT. Hamad recounts a significant project where he tackled SaaS cost management by consolidating contracts and implementing a platform called Zylo, which streamlined the process and improved contract hygiene. This initiative not ...
May 11, 2025•19 min•Ep. 1623
Srinivas Krishnaswamy, author of "Inbound Marketing in the Age of GPTs," discusses the transformative impact of AI on customer search behaviors and marketing strategies for Managed Service Providers (MSPs). He emphasizes that traditional methods, particularly reliance on Google for information discovery, are evolving. With the rise of generative AI tools like ChatGPT, customers are increasingly turning to these platforms for tailored responses, which necessitates a shift in how MSPs approach the...
May 10, 2025•53 min•Ep. 1623
Ransomware attacks have surged dramatically, particularly affecting small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs), which now experience ransomware in 88% of breaches. According to Verizon's 2025 data breach investigations report, ransomware was detected in 44% of over 12,000 data breaches, marking a 37% increase from the previous year. While the number of organizations paying ransoms has decreased, the FBI's report indicates that complaints related to ransom have risen by 9%, making it the top threat to...
May 09, 2025•17 min•Ep. 1632
Top-performing IT solution providers are experiencing record profitability, achieving over 19% adjusted profit margins for the fifth consecutive year, despite a slowdown in revenue growth. The latest report from Service Leadership indicates that while managed service providers (MSPs) saw revenue growth of only 7.1% in 2024, their adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) grew at a more robust rate of 13%. This trend highlights the importance of operational...
May 08, 2025•16 min•Ep. 1631
AI tools are increasingly leaking sensitive data, with a recent report revealing that 68% of organizations have experienced data leaks due to employees using artificial intelligence tools. Despite a high level of confidence among security leaders—90% believe their security measures are effective—more than half reported regular malware and phishing incidents linked to improper AI implementation. The report highlights a significant disconnect between perceived security and actual threats, with onl...
May 07, 2025•15 min•Ep. 1630
