As inflation concerns resurface, the latest data reveals a modest rise in the Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index, with the overall PCE increasing by 2.3% year-over-year. Despite these inflationary pressures, the economy shows resilience, with GDP growth at an annualized rate of 2.8% in the third quarter and a steady job market. Host Dave Sobel highlights five positive economic trends, including a decrease in inflation rates and an increase in real wages, which suggest a cautiously opt...
Dec 02, 2024•14 min•Ep 1492•Transcript available on Metacast Dave Sobel interviews Colin Britton, the COO of Devisee, to discuss the current landscape of automation and management applications, particularly in relation to Microsoft Intune. Colin shares insights into how Devisee is positioning itself as an "easy button" for Intune, addressing the challenges faced by Managed Service Providers (MSPs) in utilizing the Microsoft 365 platform. The conversation delves into the evolution of the Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) space since their time at Logi...
Dec 01, 2024•16 min•Ep 1475•Transcript available on Metacast Dave Sobel engages with the audience during a live Question and Answer session, addressing a variety of topics relevant to the managed services provider (MSP) market. The discussion kicks off with a deep dive into technician density, clarifying that endpoints per technician should include all devices covered under managed services plans, not just workstations and servers. Sobel emphasizes the importance of tracking these metrics as automation and AI continue to evolve, potentially allowing for i...
Nov 30, 2024•28 min•Ep 1491•Transcript available on Metacast Host Dave Sobel sits down with Ken Carnesi, the co-founder and CEO of DNSfilter, to explore the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) within their DNS security solutions. Ken explains how DNSfilter leverages machine learning to enhance threat intelligence by analyzing both proprietary data and third-party feeds. With over 100 different feeds, the challenge lies in reconciling differing opinions on what constitutes a threat. By employing machine learning algorithms, DNSfilter can determine ...
Nov 29, 2024•21 min•Ep 1474•Transcript available on Metacast Host Dave Sobel welcomes Dennis O'Shea, CEO of Mobile Mentor, a managed services provider (MSP) with a unique background in mobile technology. Dennis shares insights from his extensive experience in the industry, particularly focusing on the generational differences in attitudes toward data security and privacy. He highlights how younger generations, especially Generation Z, have a more relaxed approach to sharing personal information, influenced by their social media habits, contrasting sharply...
Nov 28, 2024•22 min•Ep 1473•Transcript available on Metacast The episode opens with a report on a major telecommunications breach attributed to Chinese government hackers known as Salt Typhoon. This breach has compromised American telecom infrastructure, allowing unauthorized access to phone calls and text messages. With fewer than 150 individuals confirmed as monitored, the potential impact could extend to millions, raising alarms among U.S. officials about the fragility of secure communications as the nation approaches a critical transition period. The ...
Nov 27, 2024•17 min•Ep 1490•Transcript available on Metacast There is a growing urgency for organizations to adopt artificial intelligence (AI) amidst a notable lack of readiness. A recent Cisco report reveals that while 85% of IT leaders feel they have less than 18 months to act on AI, only 13% believe they are fully prepared to harness its potential. The episode highlights the structural challenges organizations face, particularly in data management, with 80% of respondents reporting issues that hinder their AI initiatives. Despite these obstacles, comp...
Nov 26, 2024•14 min•Ep 1489•Transcript available on Metacast Early challenges faced by Artificial Intelligence Personal Computers (AIPCs), include productivity gaps, consumer confusion, and adoption barriers. A recent study by Intel highlights that users of AI-equipped PCs are less productive than those using traditional computers, losing an average of 15 hours a week on digital chores. Despite the potential for generative AI to streamline these tasks, many consumers remain unaware of AIPCs, leading to misconceptions about their utility and security. The ...
Nov 25, 2024•14 min•Ep 1488•Transcript available on Metacast In this bonus episode of the Business of Tech, host Dave Sobel engages in a compelling conversation with Martin from Bitdefender, who describes his role as a popular scientist focused on making cybersecurity research more accessible and understandable. Martin Zugec highlights Bitdefender's long-standing commitment to research, particularly in Romania, where a wealth of security researchers contribute to the field. He emphasizes the importance of visibility for their groundbreaking work, aiming t...
Nov 24, 2024•17 min•Ep 1472•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of The Business of Tech, host Dave Sobel welcomes Abraham Garver from Focus Investment Bank to discuss the current state of the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market for Managed Service Providers (MSPs). The conversation begins with an overview of the increasing interest from private equity groups in investing in MSPs, particularly those with operational maturity and a solid EBITDA of at least $3 million. Garver highlights that while there is a significant amount of capital avail...
Nov 23, 2024•20 min•Ep 1471•Transcript available on Metacast host Dave Sobel engages in a detailed conversation with Jake Varghese from ConnectWise, focusing on the company's business management software portfolio. Varghese outlines the seven key products within the portfolio, and the discussion highlights the importance of these tools in helping Managed Service Providers (MSPs) streamline their operations and improve efficiency. A significant portion of the conversation revolves around the transition of the PSA to the ASIO platform. Sobel and Barghese ex...
Nov 22, 2024•24 min•Ep 1470•Transcript available on Metacast Significant developments in workplace engagement and productivity lead, focusing on contrasting strategies from major companies like Amazon and Intel. Amazon's CEO Andy Jassy recently addressed employee concerns regarding the company's return-to-office (RTO) mandate, which requires corporate employees to work on-site five days a week starting January 2025. While Jassy claims the policy aims to strengthen company culture, over 500 employees have signed a petition against it, raising questions abo...
Nov 21, 2024•16 min•Ep 1487•Transcript available on Metacast Microsoft's Ignite event highlights the company's latest advancements in artificial intelligence and productivity tools. Microsoft has introduced a range of new AI agents designed to enhance collaboration within Microsoft 365 Copilot, including features for SharePoint, project management, and meeting assistance. These pre-configured agents aim to automate repetitive tasks and improve efficiency, with the Copilot Analytics dashboard providing insights into the impact of AI on productivity across ...
Nov 20, 2024•14 min•Ep 1486•Transcript available on Metacast We dive in on the latest economic trends, focusing on rising inflation and its impact on consumer confidence. The consumer price index has seen an increase to 2.6% as of October, driven largely by persistent housing costs, which rose by 4% in October alone. Neil Kashkari, president of the Minneapolis Federal Reserve, highlights the housing sector as a significant challenge in the inflation landscape, while also expressing uncertainty about the economic implications of President-elect Trump's pro...
Nov 19, 2024•13 min•Ep 1484•Transcript available on Metacast A new study reveals the significant impact of generative AI on the job market, showing a 21% decline in demand for automation-prone freelance jobs shortly after the release of ChatGPT. The research, which analyzed over 1 million job postings, indicates that writing jobs were the most affected, followed by software development and graphic design roles. This shift raises concerns about the future of employment in these sectors, as the integration of AI tools continues to reshape professional workf...
Nov 18, 2024•16 min•Ep 1482•Transcript available on Metacast Host Dave Sobel welcomes back Peter Kujawa from Service Leadership to discuss the latest trends in managed service provider (MSP) revenue and profitability for Q3. Peter shares insights from a new analysis that reveals a slowdown in organic managed service growth, which has been trending back to historical norms after a significant spike during the COVID-19 pandemic. While the organic growth rate peaked at around 25% during the pandemic, it has now settled back to approximately 10-10.5%. Peter r...
Nov 17, 2024•19 min•Ep 1469•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of the Business of Tech Lounge, host Dave Sobel engages in a thought-provoking discussion with Ryan Morris of Morris Management Partners and Luis Giraldo, Chief Experience Officer at ScalePad. The conversation centers around the provocative question: Does standardization equal commoditization? As the IT channel evolves, many Managed Service Providers (MSPs) are grappling with the challenge of balancing technology stack and process standardization while striving to maintain strate...
Nov 16, 2024•32 min•Ep 1467•Transcript available on Metacast Host Dave Sobel sits down with Jeff Bishop, who oversees the ASIO product line at ConnectWise. The conversation delves into the evolution of the ASIO platform, which has been a significant focus for the company. Jeff reflects on the challenges faced during the development process, particularly the decision to create an entire platform during the pandemic, which he admits was not ideal. Despite the hurdles, the team has made substantial progress, rebuilding core services and laying a strong found...
Nov 15, 2024•19 min•Ep 1466•Transcript available on Metacast We start focusing on the resurgence of the state-sponsored cyber espionage group Volt Typhoon. This group has been targeting critical infrastructure, particularly outdated devices like Cisco and Netgear routers, and has successfully compromised a significant percentage of these devices in a short time frame. The episode highlights the vulnerabilities in the energy sector, where third-party breaches account for a substantial portion of incidents, emphasizing the need for improved vendor responsib...
Nov 14, 2024•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast Significant challenges are being faced by companies like OpenAI as they encounter scaling plateaus in developing new large language models. Host Dave Sobel notes that AI researchers are advocating for innovative training techniques that mimic human reasoning, suggesting a shift in the competitive landscape. OpenAI's latest model, O1, employs a technique called test-time compute, which allows for real-time evaluation of multiple possibilities, potentially enhancing performance and altering the de...
Nov 13, 2024•17 min•Ep 1465•Transcript available on Metacast With a significant increase in global demand for cloud services and data security, the managed services market is expected to reach an estimated $393.02 billion by 2025. Factors contributing to this growth include the need for specialized providers to manage complex IT infrastructures and the rising trend of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD), which necessitates enhanced data security measures. North America leads the market, but Europe and Asia-Pacific are also experiencing substantial growth driven ...
Nov 12, 2024•15 min•Ep 1464•Transcript available on Metacast Wayne Selk from CompTIA joins host Dave Sobel to focus on the current state of cybersecurity and the challenges faced by Managed Service Providers (MSPs). They delve into CompTIA's recent state of cybersecurity report, which highlights a significant gap between cybersecurity investments and the outcomes achieved. This disconnect raises critical questions about how MSPs can better align their efforts with business objectives to ensure effective cybersecurity practices. Wayne emphasizes the import...
Nov 11, 2024•27 min•Ep 1459•Transcript available on Metacast In this bonus episode of the Business of Tech, host Dave Sobel engages in a thought-provoking discussion with Naveen Krishnan, an AI architect at Microsoft. The conversation centers around the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence and its applications across various industries, including retail, financial services, and manufacturing. Nupi shares insights into how businesses are increasingly looking to integrate AI into their existing solutions or develop new ones, highlighting the import...
Nov 10, 2024•20 min•Ep 1453•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of The Business of Tech, host Dave Sobel engages in a thought-provoking discussion with Aaron Painter, CEO of NameTag, about the evolving landscape of identity verification in the face of emerging threats like deep fakes. The conversation begins with an exploration of traditional identity verification methods, particularly multi-factor authentication (MFA), and their limitations. Painter emphasizes that while MFA is a critical first step in securing accounts, it is not sufficient...
Nov 08, 2024•22 min•Ep 1452•Transcript available on Metacast Cisco's 2024 Consumer Privacy Survey reveals a growing awareness among consumers regarding data privacy and its correlation with trust in artificial intelligence. The survey indicates that 53% of consumers are now aware of their national privacy laws, a significant increase from previous years, and 81% of these informed individuals feel their data is protected. Notably, younger consumers are taking proactive steps to safeguard their privacy, with nearly half of those aged 25 to 34 having switche...
Nov 06, 2024•13 min•Ep 1463•Transcript available on Metacast The findings of a recent report highlight the challenges faced by C-suite executives regarding aging IT systems amidst a surge in AI adoption. While 90% of executives believe their technology is top-notch, nearly two-thirds acknowledge that outdated infrastructure poses significant issues, with many critical IT systems nearing the end of their life cycle. The report also reveals that although 75% of organizations are investing in AI and machine learning, less than half report a positive return o...
Nov 05, 2024•13 min•Ep 1462•Transcript available on Metacast The latest economic indicators highlight a steady U.S. GDP growth rate of 2.8% for the third quarter of 2024. This growth is supported by a notable increase in consumer spending, which rose at a 3.7% annualized rate. However, the job market shows signs of stagnation, with only 12,000 new jobs added in October, raising concerns about underlying weaknesses. Despite the unemployment rate remaining steady at 4.1%, the episode emphasizes the challenges faced by small businesses in filling job vacanci...
Nov 04, 2024•12 min•Ep 1461•Transcript available on Metacast Host Dave Sobel engages in a fascinating discussion with Dr. A. K. Pradeep, a pioneer in the emerging field of neuro-AI. The conversation explores the intersection of neuroscience and generative AI, highlighting how insights from neuroscience can enhance the effectiveness of AI technologies in understanding consumer behavior. Dr. Pradeep emphasizes the importance of integrating these insights into AI algorithms to create more meaningful and persuasive marketing strategies, rather than relying so...
Nov 03, 2024•28 min•Ep 1451•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of the Business of Tech Lounge, host Dave Sobel engages with UK-based journalist Simon Quicke, who brings a wealth of experience covering the IT channel and managed services. The discussion centers around current trends affecting IT services, particularly the impact of artificial intelligence (AI), regulatory changes, and employment dynamics within the industry. Sobel emphasizes the importance of understanding market differences, especially between the UK and the US, as they expl...
Nov 02, 2024•30 min•Ep 1458•Transcript available on Metacast Microsoft reported a strong fiscal first quarter for 2025, surpassing earnings expectations with a notable 33% growth in Azure revenue, driven by AI services. However, the company is facing cloud capacity constraints and has announced substantial investments to enhance data center capacity, reflecting the booming demand for AI. Despite this growth, Microsoft’s investment in OpenAI is projected to result in significant losses this quarter. Alphabet, the parent company of Google, also reported imp...
Nov 01, 2024•14 min•Ep 1460•Transcript available on Metacast 
