SMB Community Podcast

James Kernan

Podcasts, articles, and reference materials for Managed Service Providers. Brought to you by James Kernan and produced by Kernan Consulting. read less
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Episodes

How Do I Hold My Team Accountable?
Nov 28 2024
How Do I Hold My Team Accountable?
Another fun week of James and Amy! Following Halloween, James and Amy shared their mission of Halloween costumes and handing out Halloween candy. Kicking off this week's episode, DATTOCON missed out an opportunity for press and hype.  From lack of a major announcement, there is a PR opportunity missed.  --- 1.) MSP Question of the week:  How can you hold your team accountable? Business coaches are being hired all across the country due to a lack of accountability. Instead, James and Amy share some insightful areas to strengthen your accountability with your team: Set goals with your team on a set cadence either daily or weeklyCreate expectations in writing with your team. Utilizing meetings, such as a daily huddle, can be a great opportunity to do a checkin with the team and leadership.Enhanced communication is effective accountability. Accountability is not conflict, instead, accountability is effective communication.Train your employees. Without proper training, it is difficult to hold employees accountable. --- 2.) Notes on the News a). The Consequences of Getting Hacked: DNA-testing website 23andMe fights for survival    https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gm08nlxr3o b.) How big tech instends to power AI's thirst for energy: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/11/04/data-centers-how-big-tech-intends-to-power-ais-thirst-for-energy.html A huge upswing in the number of data centers worldwide shows no signs of slowing down, prompting Big Tech to consider how best to power the artificial intelligence revolution. Some of the options on the table include a pivot to nuclear energy, liquid cooling for data centers and quantum computing. --- 3.) 5 Minutes with a Smart Person:  Dan Amaro w/ E-Merge Real Estate from Ohio. Dan shares his story of success of becoming a full-time realtor and the steps he took to persevere. Learn more about Dan by following him on social media or sending an email to dan.amaro@e-merge.com. ---  Our upcoming events and more: December 4: M&A Workshop in Scottsdale, AZ December 5-6: MASTERMIND LIVE in Scottsdale, AZ http://bit.ly/kernanmastermind December 11: Channel Program M&A Forum in Dallas, TX   Check out Amy’s weekly newsletter!  Sign up now: https://mailchi.mp/thirdtier/small-business-tech-news Kernan Consulting “Weekly Tips”!  Sign up now: https://kernanconsulting.com/    Sponsor Memo: Since 2006, Kernan Consulting has been through over 30 transactions in mergers & acquisitions - and just this past year, we have been involved in six (6). If you are interested in either buying, selling, or valuation information, please reach out. There is alot of activity and you can be a part of it. For more information, reach out at kernanconsulting.com
Measuring Success: What KPI's Do You Use?
Nov 14 2024
Measuring Success: What KPI's Do You Use?
Hosts James and Amy sit down this week to discuss key performance indicators (KPIs) that can be used to measure success with your business.   1.) MSP Question of the week:   What reports or KPI’s do you need to manage your business?  Article by Amy:   https://www.channelpronetwork.com/2024/09/26/how-do-msps-measure-success-im-hitting-my-metrics-but-not-sure-theyre-the-right-ones/ --- 2.) Notes On The News  https://www.channele2e.com/news/big-3-rmm-psa-vendors-see-market-share-slip-canalys ConnectWise market share dropped from 26.8% to 24.3%. Kaseya market share dropped from 22.9% to 22.7% N-able market share dropped from 12.5% to 11.4% NinjaOne’s market share grew from 8.4% to 9.4% All others combined had a market share of 29.4% last year, which grew to 32.1% this year.  Canalys is forecasting the managed services industry itself to grow from $548 billion in 2024 to $608 billion in 2025. https://mspradio.com/podcast/marriotts-52m-fine-cybersecurity-warnings-and-tech-updates-from-microsoft-linkedin-atlassian/ Marriott was issued a hefty $52 million fine following major data breaches that compromised the personal information of over 344 million customers. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) settlement mandates that Marriott enhance its security measures ---  3.) Our upcoming events and more: December 4: M&A Workshop in Scottsdale, AZ December 5-6: MASTERMIND LIVE in Scottsdale, AZ http://bit.ly/kernanmastermind December 11: Channel Program M&A Forum in Dallas, TX   Check out Amy’s weekly newsletter!  Sign up now: https://mailchi.mp/thirdtier/small-business-tech-news Kernan Consulting “Weekly Tips”!  Sign up now: https://kernanconsulting.com/
Leveraging Chambers of Commerce for Client Attraction
Oct 17 2024
Leveraging Chambers of Commerce for Client Attraction
Christopher Barber - Cheaper Than a Geek https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherjbarber/ Host Karl had a great chat with Christopher Barber from Cheaper Than a Geek in Maryland. Topics include networking for client attraction, and using Chambers of Commerce to spread a wide net that brings in new clients for decades.  Chris got involved in his local chamber and worked his way up to being involved at the state and federal levels. Chris tells how he stumbled at first, with the local chamber, and then learned how to leverage it year after year. Side note: Chris gives out "nerd" glasses as a gimmick, and Nerds candy at parades. Details in the podcast. About Christopher Barber  Barber is the Founder, CEO, and Chief Nerd at Cheaper Than A Geek, an award-winning IT services firm known for delivering enterprise-level support to small businesses. With over two decades of experience in the IT industry, Christopher has built a reputation as a leader in providing innovative, customer-centric solutions that empower businesses to thrive in a digital world.  He has served at the executive level on multiple chamber boards, including the Maryland State Chamber of Commerce, and is a frequent speaker on topics ranging from cybersecurity to the strategic benefits of IT outsourcing. Christopher’s dedication to exceptional service and community engagement has earned him numerous accolades, including recognition as a Most Admired CEO by The Daily Record and as a U.S. Chamber of Commerce Top 100 Small Business honoree.
Should you offer vCISO services with your security offering?
Sep 20 2024
Should you offer vCISO services with your security offering?
Host James Kernan discussses security offerings, specifically looking at offering vCISO services as part of your cyber security stack. 1.) MSP Question of the Week: Should you offer vCISO services? ---  2.) 5 Minutes with a Smart Person Host James Kernan sits down with Charlene Ignacio, CEO of Fornix Marketing, to discuss being strategic about M&A discussions. --- 3.) Notes On The News  Chris Day, founder of ScalePad, has taken over as CEO, focusing on creating an integrated suite of products rather than pursuing new acquisitions. Outgoing CEO Dan Wensley will remain as a shareholder and advisor. Additionally, a recent IBM study reveals that business leaders' confidence in IT has significantly declined, with only 47% considering their IT organization effective, down from 69% in 2013    Reuters article: https://www.reuters.com/technology/cybersecurity/german-intelligence-says-russian-gru-group-behind-nato-eu-cyberattacks-2024-09-09/   Investopedia: https://www.investopedia.com/how-does-nvidia-s-record-usd279b-market-cap-loss-stack-up-8706251?utm_source=perplexity   A recent IBM study reveals that business leaders' confidence in IT has significantly declined, with only 47% considering their IT organization effective, down from 69% in 2013 ---  Our upcoming events and more: MASTERMIND LIVE – Denver, CO – NEXT WEEK Sept 26-27th http://bit.ly/kernanmastermind  Use “EARLYBIRD” as the coupon code to save $200!! SMBTechfest Q4 - Irvine, CA - October 17-18 www.smbtechfest.com Check out Amy’s weekly newsletter!  Sign up now: https://mailchi.mp/thirdtier/small-business-tech-news Kernan Consulting “Weekly Tips”!  Sign up now: https://kernanconsulting.com/
Smaller Businesses Need Different Security Services - An Interview with Dor Eisner
Sep 12 2024
Smaller Businesses Need Different Security Services - An Interview with Dor Eisner
Host Karl Palachuk caught up with Dor Eisner, CEO of Guardz. Right off the bat, Eisner points out the reason enterprise cybersecurity attacks are different from those focused on small business. Like it or not, most of the attacks that work against SMB clients will not work against larger enterprises. Eisner discusses the toolsets that are built specifically to attack small businesses, and marketed that way on the dark web. Assuming you don't want to spend time browsing the dark web, it's good to have a partner who is willing to. Guardz is focused completely on securing small businesses, and helping them to secure their networks in a way that helps them lower their insurance premiums. Think about what that means for your clients: A dashboard that benchmarks a network against the requirements and checklists used by cybersecurity insurance companies to set rates. A secure network AND lower insurance rates: That's a great combination! You can connect with Guardz at: https://guardz.com Request a Guardz Demo at https://guardz.com/schedule-a-meeting/ Karl asked about pricing and was pleased to find a very transparent, friendly pricing structure. Dor gives the pricing in the podcast, and it's posted clearly on the web site. In addition, you are not locked into longterm, inflexible contracts. Scale up and down as you need. Also check out the free internal-use licensing for MSPs. Learn it. Use it. And integrate Guardz into your solution. You get your free demo, free license, and some great sales tools at https://guardz.com. Check out the full podcast to hear Dor's advice on sales techniques and the response options for various clients and attack alerts. Connect with Guardz on social media at: YouTube -    https://www.youtube.com/@Guardz_comLinkedIn -    https://www.linkedin.com/company/guardz/Twitter -    https://x.com/GuardzCyberInstagram -    https://www.instagram.com/guardz_cyber/Facebook -    https://www.facebook.com/guardzcom/    About Dor Eisner Dor Eisner is the CEO and Co-Founder of Guardz, working to create a safer digital world for SMBs. Dor has over 20 years of experience in the field of cybersecurity. Prior to founding Guardz, Dor worked at IntSights, a Rapid7 company, as their VP of Business Development, as well as at Alarum Technologies as Director of Sales.  Dor began his career in cybersecurity in the Israeli Defense Force’s 8200 Unit as Cyber Security Team Lead.  About Guardz Guardz distinguishes itself in the cybersecurity market with the first AI-Native MDR solution that redefines security management for Managed Service Providers (MSPs) with an automated detection and response platform. It simplifies and strengthens security operations, enabling MSPs to protect their SMB customers against the ever-evolving cyber threat landscape. Guardz’s MDR empowers MSPs by integrating fragmented security controls into a cohesive, unified security ecosystem. By leveraging advanced artificial intelligence, the platform correlates data across multiple sources – such as dark web monitoring, email security, and cloud services – to detect threats at their earliest stages. This capability ensures that all security components, from user profiles to endpoint protection, work harmoniously, reducing the risk of overlooked vulnerabilities. Guardz’s cost-effective pricing reduces cybersecurity expenses by up to 75% compared to traditional solutions, making it accessible for businesses with lean IT teams. The platform also supports MSPs through the MSP Growth Hub, offering tools for business development, including ROI reports and AI-powered risk assessments. By combining innovation, affordability, and comprehensive protection, Guardz positions itself as a leader in the cybersecurity industry, empowering MSPs and their SMB clients to thrive in a safer digital world. Learn more at https://guardz.com. -- -- -- Thank you to Guardz for sponsoring this interview. :-)
Unifying the IT Channel Industry with the Channel program
Aug 26 2024
Unifying the IT Channel Industry with the Channel program
Host James Kernan sits down with Kevin Lancaster and Matt Solomon of Channel Program, a platform designed to unify the IT Channel industry. Kevin Lancaster and Matt Solomon are the co-founders of Channel Program, a platform designed to unify the IT Channel industry. Kevin Lancaster has a strong background in the channel technology space. He previously served as the CEO of ID Agent, a cybersecurity company, which he grew significantly before its acquisition by Kaseya. Matt Solomon also has extensive experience in the industry. He worked alongside Kevin at ID Agent and later became the Channel Chief at Kaseya. Matt has spoken at over 150 industry events across six countries. Together, they launched Channel Program to create a collaborative, video-enabled platform for IT Service Providers and Vendors. Do you have any specific questions about their work or the Channel Program? Check them out: Channel Program | Home --- Our upcoming events and more: MASTERMIND LIVE – Denver, CO – Sept 26-27th http://bit.ly/kernanmastermind  Use “EARLYBIRD” as the coupon code to save $200!! SMBTechfest Q4 - Irvine, CA - October 17-18 www.smbtechfest.com Check out Amy’s weekly newsletter!  Sign up now: https://mailchi.mp/thirdtier/small-business-tech-news Kernan Consulting “Weekly Tips”!  Sign up now: https://kernanconsulting.com/  Our Social Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-kernan-varcoach/ https://www.facebook.com/james.kernan
Smaller Businesses Are the Testbed for Malware - A Look at the Huntress Threat Report
Aug 22 2024
Smaller Businesses Are the Testbed for Malware - A Look at the Huntress Threat Report
Host Karl got together with Jamie Levy, Director of Adversary Tactics from Huntress.  Jamie is also a longtime researcher, developer and board member of the Volatility Foundation. She has worked over 15 years in the digital forensics industry, conducting investigations as well as building out software solutions.  We got together to discuss the Huntress 2024 Threat Report. Download here: https://www.huntress.com/resources/2024-cyber-threat-report?utm_campaign=CY24-Q2-Threat-Report&utm_source=smb-community-podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=August-2024-threat-report Jamie walks us through some of the major trends, including important "take-downs" and ransomware trends. One interesting finds is that squishing down one threat leaves room for other threats to increase. Her analogy to apex predators in the animal world is excellent.  Karl's favorite quote from this interview (though scary): "The smaller businesses are the testbed" for malware writers. Why have a test network when you can use live machines as your testbed? If feels like we knew that. Now we know it for sure. Thanks to Huntress for their excellent 2024 Threat Report. Check out the full report while you listen. MSPs: Huntress has a great NFR program for professional consultants. Here's a link to their not-for-resale program for MSPs - Neighborhood Watch. This gives MSPs access to Huntress products for internal use to to level up their own protection -- whether they are a partner or not! https://www.huntress.com/neighborhood-watch-program/internal-license-request?utm_campaign=CY22-Q2-NFR-Neighborhood-Watch&utm_source=smb-community-podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=August-2024-threat-report Comments and questions welcome. -- -- --  This is a paid appearance. Thank you, Huntress, for supporting the SMB Community Podcast. :-)
What you learned as a vendor, that you WISHED you knew as an MSP
Aug 15 2024
What you learned as a vendor, that you WISHED you knew as an MSP
Host James Kernan sits down with Dustin Puryear to discuss sales and marketing for MSP's. Dustin Puryear is indeed a prominent figure in the tech world. As the founder of Puryear IT, he leads a team dedicated to leveraging technology to enhance business operations. His expertise is widely recognized, with contributions to well-known publications like Windows Magazine and CIO.com. Additionally, he’s been featured in interviews on Federal News Radio and Microsoft Podcasts. Dustin’s involvement extends to national tours with Microsoft, where he shares his insights on enterprise technology with C-level executives. He has also authored several white papers and a book titled “Best Practices for Managing Linux and UNIX Servers". His blog, “Bayou Technology Blog,” reaches a large audience annually.   Check them out: IT Managed Support and Consulting Firms in Baton Rouge (puryear-it.com) --- Our upcoming events and more: MASTERMIND LIVE – Denver, CO – Sept 26-27th http://bit.ly/kernanmastermind  Use “EARLYBIRD” as the coupon code to save $200!! SMBTechfest Q4 - Irvine, CA - October 17-18 www.smbtechfest.com Check out Amy’s weekly newsletter!  Sign up now: https://mailchi.mp/thirdtier/small-business-tech-news Kernan Consulting “Weekly Tips”!  Sign up now: https://kernanconsulting.com/  Our Social Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-kernan-varcoach/ https://www.facebook.com/james.kernan