The Killing IT Podcast
IT authors and entrepreneurs Ryan Morris, Karl Palachuk, and Dave Sobel provide commentary on the changing world of technology opportunities and emerging tech. We want to expand the discussion from the SMB IT channel to all things tech - with one eye on the future and the other on profits. Join us!
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Episode 169 - Sentient AI, Privacy Legislation, and the Digital Twins
06/21/2022
Episode 169 - Sentient AI, Privacy Legislation, and the Digital Twins
Topic 1: Sentient AI? Is it real? Should you lose your job over it? For starters, violating an NDA and whistleblowing are vastly different reasons to be fired. Besides, this so-called sentient AI could easily just be a complex game of 20 questions; pattern matching at it's best. That said, this freaked-out-ness might be a good indicator that we are getting too close to comfort. Topic 2: Will privacy legislation happen? The internet was made for sharing data. Sooner or later, that 140 characters or less post about that weird thing your boss does with his hands would be inevitable! However, as individuals, we cherish our privacy and are entitled to at least an elective form of privacy. I mean, sharing your boss's quirks online is far from sharing your social security number or the name of your first born...Besides, he's a cool guy once you look pass his jazz hands. Additionally, enforcement of privacy laws are practical but sometimes that extra step is damning for commerce. Topic 3: Digital Twins A pop quiz for all you die hard Killing It listeners: "What is a digital twin?" That's right, the digital twin has grown lungs and is making its way into the collective consciousness after its ten year stint as a dinner table tall tale. An impending existence adjacent to the metaverse, this digital representation shifts and grows with its physical world counterpart; kind of like your weird baby cousin who decides to parrot your every word and move, it is constantly growing and learning... https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61742884 Sponsor Memo: AgileBlue AgileBlue is a 24/7 SOC, XDR and SOAR providing managed breach protection including monitoring, detection, and automated response to cloud, networks, and endpoints. Helping MSPs build their cyber business while increasing gross margins, ARR and stickiness. AgileBlue’s partner program engages, enables, supports, and rewards your business growth with a white-labeled security dashboard, pooled pricing, marketing collateral, and purpose-built sales content. A 24/7 extension of your team, learn more at agileblue.com :-)
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Episode 168 - The Criteria of the "Tech Company", the Consumption Model, and Working Trackers
06/14/2022
Episode 168 - The Criteria of the "Tech Company", the Consumption Model, and Working Trackers
Topic 1: What does tech company even mean? RoW is a good resource to better gauge who can call themselves a tech company. We might want to reframe this seemingly exclusive title. What is the criteria a company must meet to be able to slap this title on a business card? Topic 2: Do we think subscription / consumption model is souring? The ideal business model is evershifting. But the supscription based and reoccuring model is exploding. With our indiviudalistic society, people want to exercise their right to choose...So as long as you are focused on customer success, it's more than likely said choice would be in your favor. Topic 3: Trackers are working - a bit of follow-up on the Wired story. Crypto has moved from the “anonymous” nirvana to a perfect paper trail. Well, bitcoin trail. Historic sanctions against Russia-based cryptocurrency exchanges have had a desired effect, but robust enforcement of laws to counter money laundering internationally is needed to really thwart ransomware perpetrators, according to witnesses testifying before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Dave’s interview - business of tech - Sponsor Memo: SBTTC his podcast is sponsored by the Small Biz Thoughts Technology Community. Check us out at www.SmallBizThoughts.org. Forms, templates, and checklists are just the start. Our Community includes ALL of the best-selling books on managed services in all available formats, plus free training, members-only programs, and the best business training available to managed service providers anywhere. Plus, we have weekly live members-only Zoom calls. The average member saves more than 200% of their membership cost each year. We are totally dedicated to YOUR success. Just because you're in business for yourself doesn't mean you have to go it alone. Join us today at www.SmallBizThoughts.org. :-)
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Episode 167 - Apple Self Repair, Digital Nomad Visas, and Monitoring Remote Workers
06/07/2022
Episode 167 - Apple Self Repair, Digital Nomad Visas, and Monitoring Remote Workers
Topic 1: Update on that Apple Self-Repair Kit for iPhone Screen The basic program includes two large Pelican cases full of equipment and tools, which you rent for $49/week plus a $1,300 deposit. Then the repair kit is about $10 cheaper than taking your phone to the Apple store for the service. At this point, the self-repair program appears to meet enough requirements that you can check the box and say there IS a self-repair option. But it is not the simple, elegant “Apple” experience you might have assumed you would have. One of many videos you can find: Topic 2: “Digital Nomad” Visas Are Becoming Quite Competitive 30 Best Digital NOMAD VISA and Residency Programs for Remote Workers in 2022 How “Digital Nomad” Visas Can Boost Local Economies This article includes a great summary graphic. Topic 3: Techies reject worker surveillance About half of tech employees would jump ship rather than have their productivity monitored via audio/video recording, keystroke tracking or similar methods, according to a Morning Consult poll shared exclusively with Axios' Ina Fried. Why it matters: Employers are experimenting with new, often controversial ways of keeping tabs on an increasingly remote workforce. By the numbers: More than half of tech workers wouldn't take a new job at a company that surveils its employees, the survey found. About 3 in 5 tech workers who are currently working either partially or entirely remotely said they have no interest in returning to the office full time. About 3 in 5 tech workers also said they would be open to using virtual reality for training and professional development. Vendor Memo: Field Effect When it comes to delivering cyber security services to your clients, there’s a lot to consider – and even more at stake. Firewalls and antivirus don’t provide enough protection anymore and adding more tools to an already complex tech stack is expensive and difficult to manage. The Field Effect Partner Momentum Program, together with their award-winning security portfolio, solve these issues by making it easier for MSPs to: -Deliver complete cyber security protection; -Unlock new revenue streams; -Simplify operations; -And stand out from the competition. Learn more and connect with the Field Effect team today by visiting: fieldeffect.com/MSPRadio
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Episode 166 - The Myth of Anonymity in Bitcoin, Cloud 911, and Self Governing on Compliance
05/31/2022
Episode 166 - The Myth of Anonymity in Bitcoin, Cloud 911, and Self Governing on Compliance
Topic 1: Shredding the Myth of Anonymity in Bitcoin Wired recently published a long, detailed story of how law enforcement agencies around the world collaborated to bring down the largest child abuse sex network in history. One key element in this take-down is the “trick” of turning bitcoin from an anonymous tool into a perfect record of evidence. This story truly is the modern equivalent of the Al Capone story. Once agents have access to a few crypto wallets, they can then use the public Bitcoin blockchain data to identify every transaction, and every buyer or seller. All of this data is unique, unalterable, and publicly accessible. A few key points: Bitcoin has been used extensively by criminals on the promise that it’s anonymous and untraceable. Bitcoin exchanges are “permanent, unchangeable, and entirely public” in nature. Once one Bitcoin transaction is connected to a specific legitimate account, an entire web of related transactions can be built. Somewhat related story: Man gets life in prison for traveling to Vietnam to sexually abuse children. Topic 2: 911 Needs to Move to the Cloud. What's taking so long? "Modern" 911 systems are actually old, outdated, and far more complex than they would be if you rebuilt the system from the ground up. But rebuilding all that infrastructure takes time and costs money. Plus, if you get it wrong, people die. Topic 3: CISA Addresses Self-Attestation for IT Service Security It would be impossible to have government agencies test and verify everything they are charged with regulating. But, as we saw with Boeing’s 737 Max, there are real consequences for letting companies regulate themselves. The Computer Information Security Agency just released “guidance” around security services sold to government agencies. Basically, they want companies to declare (and eventually document) their compliance with security frameworks such as CMMC. Note that the National Institute for Standards and Technology released similar guidance as well, in addition to being the home of CMMC and other standards. See: Quote from the NIST report: “The external system service providers discussed in this publication include cloud service providers.” See: Vendor Memo: Gozynta Did you know that the average MSP spends 10 hours manually inputting accounting data each week? That time is 120 prospect calls, a month’s worth of the Business of Tech, or building an entire lego death star. Gozynta Mobius can make your life easier through accounting automation. Automatic sync of invoices, expenses and inventory from ConnectWise Manage into QuickBooks Online in just a single click of a button. With onboarding, direct support, and regular feature releases, Gozynta is a family owned company dedicated to making software suck a little less each day. Visit us at gozynta.com :-)
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Episode 165 - Great Resignators, AI Ransomware, and the Unsure State of Privacy
05/24/2022
Episode 165 - Great Resignators, AI Ransomware, and the Unsure State of Privacy
Topic 1: Found all those Great Resignators: They’re working somewhere else. Looks like a basic shake-up that forced a number of employers to treat their employees like humans. Maybe, and we're only speculating here, the working person realizes they don't have to work somewhere that has no decent pay, no decent benefits, no decent work evironment, and so on...Maybe. Consistent data shows that this so called Great Resignation is about worker power. Topic 2: Truly terrifying – AI + Ransomware: The unholy combination of AI + Ransomware is upon us. It's time to draw up a plan to prepare your business for the looming ransom payment. Topic 3: Roe v Wade implications for privacy rights: The spread of data science is inevitable. Is imploying a privacy regulation futile or ABSOLUTELY necassary? Vendor Memo: Egnyte Are you still using on-prem file servers and VPNs to share files with remote workers? Egnyte is a business class cloud sharing solution that works more like your on-prem server than other solutions. With a security first approach to file sharing and collaboration, Egnyte offers multiple options for sharing files and collecting files from outside sources. And do it all addressing data governance and compliance. Want to learn more? Check out Egnyte.com/mspradio, and when you do, tell them Dave sent you. :-)
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Episode 164 - Cyberattacks higher education, Apple's 180, & The End as we know it!
05/17/2022
Episode 164 - Cyberattacks higher education, Apple's 180, & The End as we know it!
Topic 1: Ransomware leads to the first casualty in the higher education market as Lincoln College closes permanently due to cyberattack in December 2021. Who was their MSP … and why was there not a plan in place? Ten years ago, a system failure of more than 24 hours could mean the end of your business. Today, with ransomeware on the rise, what are the odds of hundreds of schools, hospitals, businesses etc. going under? As this inevitable threat unfolds, it begs the question: Why haven't we implimented data back ups as the standard? Topic 2: Let’s not ignore Apple’s 180 on Right to Repair ...But, of course, it’s right to repair their way, and does not play nice with so-called partners. Conceptually, Apple's 180 on the Right to Repair is heading in the right direction! That said, the right to repair doesn't necessarily mean access to the right to an easy repair. Topic 3: Market sentiment - end of times! Trends predicate yet another recession. But with record numbers and a growing demand in the tech realm, the recession might be the best time for you to invest. But before you put on those rose tinted glasses, you might want to weigh in the drag this slump might have on potential customers. Sponsor Memo: Cisco Did you know Cisco helps Managed Services Providers directly? Know about the Cisco Partner Program? Focused on helping partners combine managed services expertise and service creation with innovative Cisco technology and proven go-to-market resources, there’s a program option for you. With provider pricing, MDF, and marketing resources coupled with Cisco’s leading technologies inculding Meraki, Duo, and Umbrella, learn more with the link right in the show notes. :-)
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Episode 163 - Work from Home Post Pandemic, Declaration for the Future of the Internet, & Big Tech salaries!
05/10/2022
Episode 163 - Work from Home Post Pandemic, Declaration for the Future of the Internet, & Big Tech salaries!
Topic 1: Colloquium: What do we think the permanent changes are to “the workplace” after the pandemic. What percentage will go back? Is hybrid permanent forever? Has the concept of office changed forever from a technology perspective? If yes, was this something we should have seen coming and covid just sped it up? What’s next that we might not have seen coming? Topic 2: Declaration for the Future of the Internet Splinternet - China and Russia And the actual 3-page declaration: Topic 3: Big Tech salaries revealed Ryan -- -- -- Sponsor Memo: SBT Tech Community This podcast is sponsored by the Small Biz Thoughts Technology Community. Check us out at SmallBizThoughts.org Forms, templates, and checklists are just the start. Our Community includes ALL of the best-selling books on managed services in all available formats, plus free training, members-only programs, and the best business training available to managed service providers anywhere. Plus, we have weekly live members-only Zoom calls. The average member saves more than 200% of their membership cost each year. We are totally dedicated to YOUR success. Just because you're in business for yourself doesn't mean you have to go it alone. Join us today at SmallBizThoughts.org :-)
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Episode 162: Musk we talk about Social Media and another Data Breach?
05/03/2022
Episode 162: Musk we talk about Social Media and another Data Breach?
Topic 1: Should businesses embrace or avoid social media? Can we talk about “social media” without focusing too much on Elon? I think we all love the concept of the Marketplace of Ideas...but the Internet somehow turns that into silos of sewage. With Facebook, Twitter, and Reddit, the marketplace allows ignorance and stupidity to win. Maybe they even enhance the ability of misinformation to be taken more seriously than knowledge and wisdom. Topic 2: Data breaches happen then nothing. Topic 3: The evolving “next normal” of employment. This story will continue evolving for a while. The employee’s market won’t last forever. But some changes will last. Also: One learns a lot of lessons from one’s first job. :-) Return-to-office is driving Gen Z to quit https://www.businessinsider.com/return-to-office-great-resignation-gen-z-thinking-about-quitting-2022-4 Related articles: Employers who want to see their offices filled again could see some workers quit. Sixty-four percent of workers around the world said they would think about a new job if they had to go back full-time. The age of the tyrannical boss is over — and managers who don't give employees more freedom will face a talent reckoning Sponsor Memo: Acronis Are you still relying on a frustrating patchwork of legacy solutions? Modernize your cybersecurity and data protection with Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud. It’s a single solution that combines backup, anti-malware, and endpoint protection management. As an MSP, you can easily improve clients’ security posture, eliminate complexity, and generate more recurring revenue. Learn more about Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud at Acronis.com.
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Episode 161 - Hospital Robots, Undersea Cyberattacks, & the Failing DTC Model
04/26/2022
Episode 161 - Hospital Robots, Undersea Cyberattacks, & the Failing DTC Model
Topic 1: Hospital Robots Are Helping Combat a Wave of Nurse Burnout Moxi and other delivery-focused assistants have become even more critical as the Covid-19 pandemic has pushed health care workers to their limits. https://www.wired.com/story/moxi-hospital-robot-nurse-burnout-health-care/ Topic 2: DHS investigators say they foiled cyberattack on undersea internet cable in Hawaii https://www.cyberscoop.com/undersea-cable-operator-hacked-hawaii/ https://thisishowtheytellmetheworldends.com/ https://www.audible.com/pd/This-Is-How-They-Tell-Me-the-World-Ends-Audiobook/1635577179 Topic 3: The DTC model is failing to generate proSts, and founders are rushing to partner with big-box retailers like Target after years of shunning them https://www.businessinsider.com/dtc-brands-wholesale-partnerships-are-key-on-path-to-profitability-2022-4 -- -- -- Sponsor Memo: Egynte is back with their 2022 MSP Summit. Hear what’s new at Egnyte from the Senior Leadership team. Learn from an open discussion with a panel of your peers. Choose from a variety of sessions with experts, including Tiffani Bova, Chief Growth Evangelist at Salesforce. The event is May 12, 2022, Win prizes, network with peers, all in a half day online event. Register for free right at engyte.com/mspradio :-)
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Episode 160 - Changing Language to Avoid Censors, the 9 PM Work Hour, and The Russian Tech Exodus
04/19/2022
Episode 160 - Changing Language to Avoid Censors, the 9 PM Work Hour, and The Russian Tech Exodus
Topic 1: Changing language to avoid censors Topic 2: The rise of the 9pm work hour Topic 3: Russian Tech Migrating by the Thousands Between 50,000 and 70,000 tech workers have already fled Russia, and 70,000 to 100,000 more could leave in April. With flights to the West canceled, they have wended their way to countries where Russian citizens can still travel visa-free. -- -- -- Sponsor Memo: Linode Linode – a top Infrastructure as a Service provider has resources specifically for helping MSPs explore the alternative cloud. Discover this growing market: one of the best-kept secrets in building a scalable, thriving, modern Managed Service Provider business. Learn about the cloud provider landscape, improving KPIs, security, and more in Linode's free ebook, The MSP's Guide to Modern Cloud Infrastructure, available now. This resource and more at linode.com/mspradio.
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Episode 159 - New Follow Request from the FBI, Quantum Computing hype, The guac is still extra--Drone burrito delivery
04/12/2022
Episode 159 - New Follow Request from the FBI, Quantum Computing hype, The guac is still extra--Drone burrito delivery
Topic 1: Without a federal privacy law… what’s our take? Keeping up with the Joneses (NSA): Topic 2: Does Quantum Computing really have a hype problem? Topic 3: Burrito delivery.. Is here. Or there. Finally! -- -- -- Sponsor Memo: When it comes to delivering cyber security services to your clients, there’s a lot to consider – and even more at stake. Firewalls and antivirus don’t provide enough protection anymore and adding more tools to an already complex tech stack is expensive and difficult to manage. The Field Effect Partner Momentum Program, together with their award-winning security portfolio, solve these issues by making it easier for MSPs to: -Deliver complete cyber security protection; -Unlock new revenue streams; -Simplify operations; -And stand out from the competition. Learn more and connect with the Field Effect team today by visiting: fieldeffect.com/MSPRadio :-)
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ETF focuses on "Return on Character", the shift away from reseller models accelerates, & AI to help troubled kids
04/05/2022
ETF focuses on "Return on Character", the shift away from reseller models accelerates, & AI to help troubled kids
Topic 1: “Return on Character” Exchange Traded Fund focuses on companies run by a character! But, somehow, Tesla and Meta are not part of the index. Perhaps too much character is just too much. Links: Related article from Harvard on the role of “character” on business success: Topic 2: The Shift Away from Reseller Models Accelerates … But Are MSPs Ready to Adapt? Not a technology conversation, per se … but a conversation about the business of technology. The shift to recurring revenue, consumption economics, and an ecosystem approach to customer engagement / support has been coming for years. Last week Microsoft stepped on the accelerator and not all partners are thrilled with the change. Links Topic 3: AI to help troubled kids Links: -- -- -- Sponsor Memo: PC Matic — Endpoint Security built on a zero trust/default deny foundation Finally - a light weight, simple to deploy & easy to manage approach to application allowlisting. The perfect compliment to your current security stack. No minimums and no annual contracts. Find out more about by visiting PCMatic.com/MSP today. :-)
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Episode 157 - The legal right to "switch off", E-drivers license gets the greenlight in Arizona, and Managed Services Market Growth and Trends
03/29/2022
Episode 157 - The legal right to "switch off", E-drivers license gets the greenlight in Arizona, and Managed Services Market Growth and Trends
Topic 1: The big switch-off: Workers want a legal right to ignore out of hours emails The majority of employees would support a new law giving them a 'right to disconnect' from workplace communications. Links: Topic 2: TSA allows Arizonians to use their e-drivers license TSA enables Arizona residents to use mobile driver’s license or state ID for verification at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport | Transportation Security Administration Topic 3: Managed Services Market Growth & Trends Managed Services Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Solution, By Managed Information Service (MIS), By Deployment, By Enterprise Size, By End Use, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2022 - 2030 The global managed services market is expected to reach USD $731.08 billion by 2030. The market is projected to register a CAGR - compound annual growth rate - of 13.4% from 2022 to 2030. Links: -- -- -- Sponsor Memo: This podcast is sponsored by the Small Biz Thoughts Technology Community. Check us out at www.SmallBizThoughts.org. Forms, templates, and checklists are just the start. Our Community includes ALL of the best-selling books on managed services in all available formats, plus free training, members-only programs, and the best business training available to managed service providers anywhere. Plus, we have weekly live members-only Zoom calls. The average member saves more than 200% of their membership cost each year. We are totally dedicated to YOUR success. Just because you're in business for yourself doesn't mean you have to go it alone. Join us today at www.SmallBizThoughts.org. :-) :-)
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Episode 156 - Tech Meets War in Ukraine, Deep Fake Faces, and Hacking North Korea
03/22/2022
Episode 156 - Tech Meets War in Ukraine, Deep Fake Faces, and Hacking North Korea
Topic 1: Public Databases Stumble into War in Ukraine Early in the Ukraine invasion, Google Maps and Flight Radar 24 found that their data were being used by the Russians to view auto and air traffic inside Ukraine. We've touched on related topics like this for years, so we weren't super surprised. Links: Topic 2: People Find Deep Fake Faces More Trustworthy than Real Faces You want beautiful symmetry? Program it! Link: Topic 3: Hacker Gets Pissed Off and Takes Down North Korean Internet Link: -- -- -- Sponsor Memo: SafeDNS SafeDNS - the Web filtering solution for MSPs. with an ever-increasing number of cyberattacks and data loss - customers ask “how to deal with it?” Answer -Add an extra layer of protection: Web filtering solution on a DNS level. Deploy SafeDNS and be protected in minutes. with a Reseller panel and Whitelabel capability, generate more recurring revenue with AI-powered DNS Threat Protection. all with 24/7 support. Want to learn more? For details, please contact us - :-)
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Episode 155 - Hackers without Borders, Microsoft lends a hand in Ukraine, and Big Tech--Innovations Big Detriment
03/15/2022
Episode 155 - Hackers without Borders, Microsoft lends a hand in Ukraine, and Big Tech--Innovations Big Detriment
Topic 1: Hackers without Borders - Welcome to 21st Century Warfare A new humintarian group emerges in the wake of armed conflicts in Ukraine. Hackers without Borders aim to aid victims of war via the cyberworld. Topic 2: Microsoft finds itself in the middle of a war in the Ukraine In stopping malware attacks, they find themselves taking sides, and working with our government. Analogies to Detroit carmakers in WWII are natural. https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-finds-foxblade-malware-on-ukrainian-systems-removing-rt-from-windows-app-store/ Topic 3: How Big Technology Systems are Slowing Innovation The assumption has always been that technology is the source of innovation: new capabilities that enable businesses to do things they couldn’t before and empowering small businesses to compete against large entrenched market leaders. But the latest evidence suggests that technology systems adopted by large firms may be having exactly the opposite effect. This story is behind a pay wall. https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/02/17/1044711/technology-slowing-innovation-disruption/ https://drive.google.com/file/d/17aXAtn_6n-xux271KMQdtWBU9FKpyAxu/view?usp=sharing --- --- --- Sponsor Memo: PC Matic — Endpoint Security built on a zero trust/default deny foundation Finally - a light weight, simple to deploy & easy to manage approach to application allowlisting. The perfect compliment to your current security stack. No minimums and no annual contracts. Find out more about by visiting PCMatic.com/MSP today. -- -- -- Keywords / tags :-)
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Episode 154 -Meta lawsuit, office space, NFTs, and more!
03/08/2022
Episode 154 -Meta lawsuit, office space, NFTs, and more!
Special guest co-host: Topic 1: Texas Sues Meta Over Facial Recognition Texas is suing over past use of facial recognition technology. The suit accuses Facebook of violating the state's privacy laws by capturing biometric data on tens of millions of Texans without properly obtaining consent. Topic 2: Why Companies are not cutting back on office space. Let's discuss how leaders can best support hybrid work environments and the steps needed to meet workers where they, well, work best. Topic 3: NFTs - Hype, Facts, and Future While NFT’s initial hype might not meet reality in the short term, is it akin to a fad, or does it have the potential to be a transformational technology area? Source: Sponsor Memo: Acronis Are you still relying on a frustrating patchwork of legacy solutions? Modernize your cybersecurity and data protection with Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud. It’s a single solution that combines backup, anti-malware, and endpoint protection management. As an MSP, you can easily improve clients’ security posture, eliminate complexity, and generate more recurring revenue. Learn more about Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud at . :-)
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Episode 153 - Fusion Energy, Monitoring vs. Observability, and Ugly 5G
03/01/2022
Episode 153 - Fusion Energy, Monitoring vs. Observability, and Ugly 5G
Topic 1: Fusion Energy Will Save The World (Eventually) The most successful nuclear fusion test shows impressive progress and potential at the JET tokamak reactor in the UK. Link: Topic 2: Monitoring vs Observability We are quickly moving into a new era when it comes to monitoring technology. In fact, we need distinctions between observining, monitoring, and responding. Where do we draw the new lines? Links: Topic 3: Ugly … but useful? Motorola has announced a new wearable 5G neckband that provides power to special AR/VR headsets. The neckband is particularly ugly and includes a a mini computer with touchpad, SIM card slot, speakers, and other goodies. It also provides 5G connectivity to the headset. We discuss the ugliness, the usefulness, and what it tells us about the future of technology. Link: -- -- -- Sponsor Memo: BVOIP BVOIP — the Cloud communications offering designed specifically for IT providers, bvoip offers a complete Unified Communications suite which can also be tightly integrated via Microsoft Teams. Bvoip delivers the modern workforce cutting edge features including Contact Center, integration to your business apps, and real time visibility into your remote workers. You control the price, with a unique hybrid model that avoids the complex dial tone taxation or compliance bullseye. Don’t get stuck in a vendor relationship that works against you! Bvoip is channel only company that’s here to support you. Find out more by visiting :-)
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Episode 152 - NFT's Gone Amok. Adult Language. And SpaceX Loses 40 Satellites.
02/22/2022
Episode 152 - NFT's Gone Amok. Adult Language. And SpaceX Loses 40 Satellites.
Topic 1: Nike Sues StockX for NFT Sale of Their shoes Follow this story if you can. Strictly speaking, an NFT is simply a blockchain receipt that you own a specific thing. StockX sells NFTs that are actually fungible. You can trade you NFT for a physical shoe they hold in a locker for you. Google Nike StockX NFT and you’ll see ads from StockX that use the Nike name and images. But they are not an authorized Nike retailer. StockX says they’re not selling Nikes, only tokens. Trademark law is confused on the issues. But this isn’t the only issue like this. Turning "Magic the Gathering" cards into NFTs – but not by the owner. Links: Topic 2: Dave's Sad, Irritating Venture into NFTs Caution: Adult language. Topic 3: SpaceX Loses 40 Satellites to Solar Storm Solar storms have knocked out forty car-sized satellites. Worse storms coming. Sun has 11 year cycles and the hyperactivity will peak in 2025. We think this comes at a very interesting time in the history of technology. Link: -- -- -- Sponsor Memo: Cisco Did you know Cisco helps Managed Services Providers directly? Know about the Cisco Partner Program? Focused on helping partners combine managed services expertise and service creation with innovative Cisco technology and proven go-to-market resources, there’s a program option for you. With provider pricing, MDF, and marketing resources coupled with Cisco’s leading technologies including Meraki, Duo, and Umbrella, learn more with the link right in the show notes. :-)
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Episode 151 - Stolen Bitcoin, Post-Trust Economy, and the NVidia Deal is Off
02/15/2022
Episode 151 - Stolen Bitcoin, Post-Trust Economy, and the NVidia Deal is Off
Topic 1: $3.6 Bil in Stolen Bitcoin Recovered $900,000,000 still missing. Bad news: blockchain doesn’t stop people from stealing your stuff. Good news: Once the government finds it, they can prove exactly where it was stolen. Surprisingly normal money laundering techniques. - Topic 2: Do we have a trust deficit? Our comments on an article in the Atlantic. A serious follow-on to the "zero trust" of crypto currency. - Topic 3 option - Revisiting NVidia-ARM Deal Have we over-regulated, or is this good for everybody? Nvidia and Arm had worked out an extensive arms-length deal that was quite complicated. Clearly, they were designing a merger with regulators in mind. Softbank bought Arm for $36 B and was looking forward to getting a payoff on that investment. Is this just about money, or also about technology? - Sponsor Memo: SafeDNS SafeDNS - the Web filtering solution for MSPs. With an ever-increasing number of cyberattacks and data loss - customers ask “how to deal with it?” Answer -Add an extra layer of protection: Web filtering solution on a DNS level. Deploy SafeDNS and be protected in minutes. with a Reseller panel and Whitelabel capability, generate more recurring revenue with AI-powered DNS Threat Protection. all with 24/7 support. Want to learn more For details, please contact us - :-)
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Episode 150 !!! Wherein we discuss Antiwork, Airtags, and the Rights of Robots
02/08/2022
Episode 150 !!! Wherein we discuss Antiwork, Airtags, and the Rights of Robots
Topic 1: The “Antiwork” movements, The Great Resignation, and the stupidest movement in America You've seen the movement. But you may have missed the Reddit page. Did you miss the anti-work interview gone wrong? Check out With some counterpoints on loyalty: Topic 2: Apple Airtags Revisited: Bringing stalking to the masses. Airtags are certainly not the only tags out there. But, as with all things, Apple brought them to the masses. And that includes the masses of criminals who somehow take everything good and misuse it. Bad behavior includes following women from a bar after slipping an airtag in her bag, and tracking expensive cars so you can steal them more easily. Scary video watched over 3.9 million times on TikTok Topic 3: It's time for a Robot Roundup! Where do we stand? Can (should) robots deliver booze? Do they have rights as pedestrians? Is outsourcing policing to them a good idea? Or should they just unload trucks? -- -- -- Sponsor Memo: Linode Linode is the alternative to costly and complex cloud providers. Serving nearly a million developers and organizations around the world, Linode accelerates innovation by making cloud computing simple, affordable, and accessible. As the world’s largest independent cloud provider, Linode gives its partners the ability to: - Improve margins without sacrificing performance - Provide solutions that include 100% human support your customers can rely on - Scale on a platform with proven reliability - Eliminate vendor lock-in - Offer a smarter alternative for multi-cloud management - Design solutions with no pricing surprises Join the movement to a simpler, alternative cloud. Visit :-)
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Episode 149 - Cruising through 2022; Lessons from Mark Cuban and Microsoft
02/01/2022
Episode 149 - Cruising through 2022; Lessons from Mark Cuban and Microsoft
Topic 1: Is 2022 the Year to Embrace the Grind? Is this your year to take on big challenges, set the cruise control, or something else? This topic was inspired by our friend TC Doyle at Channelnomics. “Not every year or period is destined to be a transformative one. For every 1945, 1989, or 2001, there are plenty of 1913s, 1953s, and 2005s.” https://channelnomics.com/2022/01/embrace-the-grind-thats-2022/ Topic 2: Mark Cuban Takes on Walmart. Is he disrupting anything? What about basic strategy? “The ultra-straightforward business plan of undercutting middle men and offering a proven product for a better price than anyone else seems almost quaint today, but Cuban knows what he’s doing — in a generic way, at least. “ https://techcrunch.com/2022/01/24/mark-cuban-cost-plus-pharmacy-lower-prices-reduce-stress/ Topic 3: Activision bought by Microsoft. This is much more than a gamer play. Does this give us a peek into the future of edge computing and next-level technologies that coordinate operations across the internet? We have some opinions. -- -- -- Sponsor Note: Egnyte Are you still using on-prem file servers and VPNs to share files with remote workers? Egnyte is a business class cloud sharing solution that works more like your on-prem server than other solutions. With a security first approach to file sharing and collaboration, Egnyte offers multiple options for sharing files and collecting files from outside sources. And do it all addressing data governance and compliance. Want to learn more? Check out Egnyte.com/mspradio, and when you do, tell them the guys at Killing IT sent you. :-)
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Episode 148 - Share Workspace, Gloating Over Your Competitors, and Driverless Cars
01/25/2022
Episode 148 - Share Workspace, Gloating Over Your Competitors, and Driverless Cars
Recorded as "Killing IT Live" - and then we picked out these three topics. Sponsor Memo: Cisco Did you know Cisco helps Managed Services Providers directly? Know about the Cisco Partner Program? Focused on helping partners combine managed services expertise and service creation with innovative Cisco technology and proven go-to-market resources, there’s a program option for you. With provider pricing, MDF, and marketing resources coupled with Cisco’s leading technologies including Meraki, Duo, and Umbrella, learn more with the link right in the show notes. Topic 1: Prognostication request - Is shared workspace going to be the largest source of New Jargon in 2022? Do you know what "Benching" or "Desking" are? You could probably guess what shared desking is. We look at the possibilities of future workspace. There is clearly more than one answer. Related Links: Topic 2: Don't Gloat About Your Competitors' Troubles Wherein we examine the difference between your marketing blog and your technology/security blog. You can be really great from the security viewpoint, but we discuss whether that discussion should leak over to the marketing side of the house. Corporate marketing is not the place to talk about your competitors' security issues. Link: Topic 3: Karl loses a one dollar bet on driverless cars And other “cutting edge” technologies have also not fared as well. How much is just hype and how much is just slower than we projected? :-)
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Episode: 147 - Sonos vs. Google; McDonalds Goes 100% Green; Tesla vs. the DMV
01/18/2022
Episode: 147 - Sonos vs. Google; McDonalds Goes 100% Green; Tesla vs. the DMV
Announcement: Do not miss Killing IT Live! next Wednesday. Register at . Topic 1: Sonos Patent Infringement Sonos has a major win against Google in their patent infringement. We this to launch into a discussion of patents (use and abuse) in the technology industries. Link: Topic 2: McDonalds sees massive recycling and carbon neutrality Is this the future of building? The future of franchising? Look for this to affect other industries as well. Link: Topic 3: CA DMV ‘revisiting’ its approach to regulating Tesla’s public self-driving test For years, Tesla has tested autonomous vehicle technology on public roads without reporting the results to the California Department of Motor Vehicles. All other car makers are required to report this data. And then . . . viral videos of horrible Tesla accidents have put pressure on the DMV to stop this special treatment. Among other things, this reminds us of Boeing validating its own safety tests on the 737 Max. Link: -- -- -- Sponsor Memo: IT Service Provider University After eight years of training IT consultants, Small Biz Thoughts is now launching IT Service Provider University, providing training and certifications for all kinds of technology consultants. Certification pathways include Technician, Service Manager, Sales and Marketing, Manager/Owner, and Front Office. More information at -- -- -- :-)
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Episode 146 A Dose of Reality for High Tech
01/11/2022
Episode 146 A Dose of Reality for High Tech
Reminder: Killing IT Live is January 19th Register now ----- Topic 1: A Dose Of Reality: Big Promises vs. Small Results in Emerging Tech Money makes innovation possible. But there seems to be a disconnect between big, big investments and successful innovations. We look at the failure of big market growth through actual, tangible products. How do we reconcile this divide? ----- Topic 2: Revisiting Remote Work Predictions for 2022 Any favorite remote work predictions? We have long-term trends that have been overwhelmed by the pandemic changes. Will remote go back to what it was? Probably not, but how much change will be permanent. We look at recent trends and then . . . well, we speculate. ----- Topic 3: Chip shortage might be bringing us a new generation in automotive technology. Qualcomm announced that they've made a a deal for Volvo and Polestar to use Qualcomm's "Snapdragon Cockpit" chips along with an operating system from Google. These chips will be in those cars later this year. -- -- -- Sponsor Memo: Think you know PC Matic? Think again. PC Matic is working with MSPs to deliver true zero trust/default deny endpoint security. Allowing only trusted applications and blocking all the rest. A light weight, simple to deploy & easy to manage approach to application allow-listing. Layering a default deny approach provides MSPs of all sizes the ability to again focus on prevention, and PC Matic delivers this without impacting performance or efficiency. Find out more about by visiting Be sure to ask about PC Matic's exclusive lead sharing program for MSPs backed by a prime time national TV campaign. :-)
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Episode 145 - The Cyberdemic continues; Fighting Open Source Attacks; A More Human Approach
01/04/2022
Episode 145 - The Cyberdemic continues; Fighting Open Source Attacks; A More Human Approach
Note: Don't miss Killing IT Live - January 19th at 9am Pacific - Register now at Topic 1: The “Cyberdemic” will continue, according to Experian. Record breaking number on cyber breaches. Many elements conspire against us. What can you do? Link: Topic 2: OpenSource and the internet. Solid code, to a point. Should we have a way to hold someone responsible? Is a "Software Bill of Materials" a good idea or bad idea? Links: Topic 3: Winning by being human? When cyber criminals are doubling down on AI and expensive programming, perhaps we need to take a lower-tech approach to defeating them. Here are some options. Link: ----- Sponsor Note: Calyptix Cyber security for small business is overwhelming. Unprecedented threats, escalating rhetoric and limited resources. So lean on your community. The Calyptix Community Shield automatically unites small businesses and raise the costs and challenges for cybercriminals by harnessing threat intelligence from our community. If they attack any one of us, everyone gets the benefit with Community Shield. An example? A log4J blocklist for scanners and exploits, rolled out specifically for outbound events - All for no added cost. By working together, we will prevail. Learn more at and tell them we sent you. :-)
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Episode 144 - Complexity, Transforming the Local Store, and Microsoft's Metaverse
12/28/2021
Episode 144 - Complexity, Transforming the Local Store, and Microsoft's Metaverse
Note: Don't miss Killing IT Live - January 19th at 9am Pacific - Register now at Topic 1: Is troubleshooting possible when complicated becomes complex? If no one person can make a technology, can anyone fix it? What does complexity mean for our industry? Will we need to change our troubleshooting practices going forward? Give us your feedback. Link: Topic 2: Can the corner store get digitally transformed? Here's some good news: The corner store might be your next gold mine! It's actually amazing how few of these shops have made their way into modern technology. This might keep you employed for the next ten years. Link: Topic 3: Metaverse from a Microsoft perspective. Satya Nadella gave his perspective on the metaverse and what it might look like. Surprise! Microsoft makes the hardware and software that will make it happen. -- -- -- Sponsor Note: Acronis Are you still relying on a frustrating patchwork of legacy solutions? Modernize your cybersecurity and data protection with Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud. It’s a single solution that combines backup, anti-malware, and endpoint protection management. As an MSP, you can easily improve clients’ security posture, eliminate complexity, and generate more recurring revenue. Learn more about Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud at . :-)
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Episode 143 - Birds Aren't Real; China's Influencers; Hybrid Workplaces
12/21/2021
Episode 143 - Birds Aren't Real; China's Influencers; Hybrid Workplaces
Topic 1: Fake Fake news . . . Birds Aren’t Real Birds Aren’t Real, or Are They? Inside a Gen Z Conspiracy Theory. Links: Topic 2: China uses American influencers to promote their version of reality Links: Warning: This page is (oddly) very poorly designed. If your system autoplays, it will play about twenty videos all at once. Topic 3: What to know before you take a job in a hybrid workplace It’s hard to maintain culture. And it’s not a good fit for everyone. Link: ----- Register NOW for Killing IT Live - January 19th - Register now ----- Sponsor Note: PC Matic Think you know PC Matic? Think again. PC Matic is working with MSPs to deliver true zero trust/default deny endpoint security. Allowing only trusted applications and blocking all the rest. A light weight, simple to deploy & easy to manage approach to application allowlisting. Layering a default deny approach provides MSPs of all sizes the ability to again focus on prevention, and PC Matic delivers this without impacting performance or efficiency. Find out more about by visiting Be sure to ask about PC Matic's exclusive lead sharing program for MSPs backed by a prime time national TV campaign. :-)
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Episode 142 - Unnecessary Chip Merger, Future Smartphones, and Digital Twins
12/14/2021
Episode 142 - Unnecessary Chip Merger, Future Smartphones, and Digital Twins
Topic 1: F.T.C. Sues to Stop Blockbuster Chip Deal Between Nvidia and Arm Arm provides technology that other chip makers need. Does this give Nvidia an unfair advantage? And is the merger a completely unnecessary move prompted by the need for investors to show a profit? What is the channel takeaway? Link: Topic 2: What will smartphones be like in ten years? We actually come to a consensus on this for a variety of reasons. We think we know what phones will look like; we have different ideas about the functionality. Link: Topic 3: AWS Announces IoT TwinMaker to Accelerate the Creation of Digital Twins One of Ryan's favorite topics. Well, it's here! Will you get a digital twin for Christmas next year? More than a static "snapshot," digital twins are data-driven representations of things like in the real world, updated with real- or almost real-time data so we can study potential behavior of the things they represent. AWS has built a system so you can play with this technology and find new uses for it. Links: -- -- -- Sponsor Memo: Egnyte Are you still using on-prem file servers and VPNs to share files with remote workers? Egnyte is a business class cloud sharing solution that works more like your on-prem server than other solutions. With a security first approach to file sharing and collaboration, Egnyte offers multiple options for sharing files and collecting files from outside sources. And do it all addressing data governance and compliance. Want to learn more? Check out and when you do, tell them the guys at Killing IT sent you. :-)
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Episode 141 - China Cyber Warfare, Robots and Humans, Amazon Private 5G
12/07/2021
Episode 141 - China Cyber Warfare, Robots and Humans, Amazon Private 5G
Topic 1: China mucking around with Iran and Israel China attacks Israel and makes it look like Iran did it. Meanwhile, Iran really is attacking Israel. And now Israel is attacking Irananian fuel supplies and Iran is exposing personal dating profiles of Israelis. It looks like Israel is attacking Iranian train systems, and Iran is attacking Israeli water systems. Attacks against citizens are causing political unrest in both countries. Links: Topic 2: Robots are not yet smart enough to take most jobs Robots are getting better, but still require lots of human interaction. They are becoming "just another tool" that humans interactively use. Link: Topic 3: Amazon Private 5G Amazon private 5G is now available to deploy. They even supply the equipment for free: You just pay for usage. Will this be a disruption? Links: Configure at: -- -- -- Sponsor Note: Gozynta Did you know that the average MSP spends 10 hours manually inputting accounting data each week? That time is 120 prospect calls, a month’s worth of the Business of Tech, or building an entire lego death star. Gozynta Mobius can make your life easier through accounting automation. Automatic sync of invoices, expenses and inventory from ConnectWise Manage into QuickBooks Online in just a single click of a button. With onboarding, direct support, and regular feature releases, Gozynta is a family owned company dedicated to making software suck a little less each day. Visit us at . :-)
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Episode 140 - Apple Privacy, Internet of Ice Cream Things, and Asteroid Armageddon
11/30/2021
Episode 140 - Apple Privacy, Internet of Ice Cream Things, and Asteroid Armageddon
Topic 1: Apple goes after the NSO Group Apple takes companies to court to prevent them from cracking into Apple phones. This touches on privacy as well as treating huge corporations as nation-states. Science fiction or reality? Links: Topic 2: McDonald’s and the ice cream machine - update We covered the "right to repair" issue regarding McD's ice cream machines. Now the picture is a lot more complicated. You never know where intrigue can be found. We also touch on the value of service contracts and how that fits in the mix. This might also be the first use of IOICT - Internet of Ice Cream Things. Link: Topic 3: We’re Going to “Armageddon” an Asteroid NASA just launched a rocket that will -- in 1 year -- crash into an asteroid so they can measure the impact on its orbit. The purpose: to practice and learn whether we could alter the path of an asteroid in the future if it were headed toward Earth. Sweet! Links: -- -- -- Sponsor Memo: Acronis Are you still relying on a frustrating patchwork of legacy solutions? Modernize your cybersecurity and data protection with Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud. It’s a single solution that combines backup, anti-malware, and endpoint protection management. As an MSP, you can easily improve clients’ security posture, eliminate complexity, and generate more recurring revenue. Learn more about Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud at . :-)
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