MSP Chat

67:28

Episode 66: It Takes a Community to Secure an End User

MSP Chat ·

2025/03/14

Erick and Rich discuss Evergreen Services Group’s M&A alternative to centralized MSP rollups and three strategies for enhancing your client onboarding process. Then they’re joined by Huntress CEO Kyle Hanslovan for a wide-ranging look at the current threat landscape, the role of community in strengthening security, and what software vendors should be doing to harden their products. And finally, one last thing: the incredible sum paid at auction for a Cheeto shaped like a Pokemon

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62:15

Episode 65: Game Over, Man!

MSP Chat ·

2025/03/07

Erick and Rich discuss why it’s not at all too early to be taking the security implications of quantum computing seriously and three tips for achieving competitive differentiation. Then they’re joined by Nancy Henriquez, CEO of Sibyl Consulting, for an expert’s take on marketing, sales, and operations for MSPs. And finally, one last thing: employers weigh in on whether AI agents or humans do better work, and the results aren’t pretty for the humans. Discussed in this episode:Quantum Computing Isn’t

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66:37

Episode 64: Wonderful Synergy

MSP Chat ·

2025/02/28

Erick and Rich discuss the five new products from ThreatLocker and what they say about the company’s future direction as well as avoiding the dangers of relying too heavily on a few big clients. Then Rich, flying solo for an interview recorded during Erick’s vacation, speaks with Sophos CEO Joe Levy about all things managed security. And finally, one last thing: why a lot more Americans than you might think are open to working for an AI boss. Discussed in this episode:Learning From

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82:14

Episode 63: There’s No Patch for Stupidity

MSP Chat ·

2025/02/21

And trust us, there’s no stupidity in this episode. Just Erick and Rich talking about what New Charter Technologies buying a vendor that specializes in AI-based service desk optimization says about the future of managed services and three critical service desk KPIs every MSP should be tracking. Then they’re joined by Michael George, CEO of Syncro, for an insider’s look at the future of AI-powered management for MSPs. And finally, one last thing: Why a popular beer maker probably now wishes it had

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71:58

Episode 62: Rough is Enough

MSP Chat ·

2025/02/14

Erick and Rich discuss Atera’s agentic AI RMM feature and how to avoid burning out your technicians. Then they’re joined by Nigel Moore of The Tech Tribe for an insider’s look at trends and opportunities this year in managed services. And finally, one last thing: The criminal consequences of today’s sky-high egg prices. Discussed in this episode:Has Atera Gone Full Agentic?The Tech Tribe home pageInformation about ScaleCon 2025Book by Nigel Moore: Package, Price, Profit: The Essential Guide to

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70:14

Episode 61: Under the Big Open Tent

MSP Chat ·

2025/02/07

Erick and Rich discuss NinjaOne’s $252 million acquisition of Dropsuite and three tips for managing cash flow and profitability. Then they get an insider’s introduction to the Global Technology Industry Association (which you might know by its former name, CompTIA) by its chief community officer, MJ Shoer. And finally, one last thing: Erick’s vivid description of what the “corpse flower” currently blooming in Brooklyn smells like. Discussed in this episode:Hot Take: NinjaOne Buys DropsuiteGTIA home

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72:30

Episode 60: Eat Less, Drink Less, Exercise More

MSP Chat ·

2025/01/31

Erick and Rich discuss what dual acquisitions by Cytracom and AvePoint say about the importance of platforms in managed services, as well as why and how to get in on the large and growing opportunity in co-managed IT. Then they’re joined by Peter Kujawa, vice president and general manager of ConnectWise’s Service Leadership unit, for a fascinating, fact-filled exploration of what Service Leadership’s latest MSP benchmark reports says about the state of the channel. And finally, one last thing: what

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66:45

Episode 59: End Game of End Games

MSP Chat ·

2025/01/24

Erick and Rich are joined by Kaseya Co-Founder and Vice Chairman Fred Voccola in his first interview since stepping down as CEO to discuss why he’s changed roles and what it means for Kaseya partners. That comes after your hosts talk about recent research suggesting there’s a huge latent co-managed IT opportunity for MSPs in cloud management and three tips for helping customers manage legacy systems. And finally, one last thing: “soup you can suck on.” Discussed in this episode:Rackspace The 2025

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62:08

Bonus Episode: The Enemy Within

MSP Chat ·

2025/01/21

In this special bonus episode of MSP Chat, sponsored by Alchemi Data Management, Erick and Richtalk about the connection between data security and insider threat security, and why both are more important than ever right now, as well as three techniques MSPs can use to more closely align their IT services with a client’s business goals. Then they’re joined by Rob Sims, CTO and co-founder of Alchemi, for an eye-opening conversation about insider threats and how to protect against them. And finally,

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54:39

Episode 58: Walk Like a Duck

MSP Chat ·

2025/01/17

Erick and Rich discuss Ingram Micro’s platform-based strategy for driving growth and winning partner loyalty, as well as three proven techniques MSPs can use to build credibility with sales prospects. Then they’re joined by Nick Heddy, president and chief commerce officer of Pax8, for an insider’s look at why online marketplaces matter and how MSPs should pick the right one to go deep with. And finally, one last thing: Proof, courtesy of a Waymo ride with a comically bad ending, that autonomous

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95:46

Episode 57: Confusing and Misunderstood

MSP Chat ·

2025/01/10

Erick and Rich discuss what research from CompTIA implies about the year ahead for the channel in AI, plus three proven strategies for navigating client budget constraints. Then they’re joined by compliance guru Mike Semel for a deep dive look at what the recently published CMMC final rule means for MSPs. And finally, one last thing: The lamest excuse ever given for failing to return a rental car on time. Discussed in this episode:Happy Days Are Here Some More!CompTIA’s IT Industry Outlook 2025

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40:16

Episode 56: Living in the Future

MSP Chat ·

2025/01/03

Welcome to 2025! Erick and Rich kick off the year by discussing research from last month showing just how much MSPs value platforms, explaining how to use LinkedIn Sales Navigator to generate leads without cold calling, and sharing New Years resolutions for themselves and the channel. And finally, one last thing: A look back at last year’s predictably chaotic Santa Claus bar crawl. Discussed in this episode:MSPs Love PlatformsEighty Percent of Security Leaders Prefer Platform-Based GenAI, Finds

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43:20

Episode 55: Let’s Go to the Whiteboard

MSP Chat ·

2024/12/20

Erick and Rich discuss what agentic AI will mean to MSPs and three techniques for getting more from your vendor relationships. Then they’re joined by attorney Brad Gross for a conversation about legal New Year’s resolutions every MSP should adopt. And finally, one last thing: a report on who won this year’s Microsoft Excel World Championship. Discussed in this episode:The Agents Are ComingBrad Gross’s WebsiteCanadian man wins Microsoft Excel World Championships in Las Vegas

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63:20

Episode 54: Punched in the Face

MSP Chat ·

2024/12/13

Don’t worry. Listening to this week's episode of MSP Chat will be insightful rather than painful. Erick and Rich discuss what a new collaboration agreement between Ingram Micro and AWS Marketplace says about marketplaces and MSPs generally, plus three tips to get end users bought into purchasing advanced security services by keeping them apprised of the latest cyber threats. Then they're joined by Nadir Merchant, general manager of the IT Operations Suite at Kaseya, for a conversation about AI in

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67:55

Episode 53: Prepare for Sprawl

MSP Chat ·

2024/12/06

Did you know that the average MSP bundle includes 13 product categories? Erick and Rich discuss that and a host of other research insights in this episode with Colin Knox, CEO of Gradient MSP. They also dive into the hype and reality of agentic AI and three critical nuances to delivering co-managed IT services. And finally, one last thing: proof that generative AI is the slimiest marketer on Earth when it comes to designing websites. Discussed in this episode:KnowBe4’s Artificial Intelligence

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25:34

Episode 52: Password123

MSP Chat ·

2024/11/29

In what’s fast becoming an annual Thanksgiving week tradition, Erick and share three semi-serious things they’re each thankful for in 2024, from the job security provided by bad password hygiene to having a job not imperiled by AI. And finally, one last thing: The shocking number of people who have had a major appliance quit on them while preparing a holiday dinner (and why you might want to think twice before ordering your Thanksgiving spread from Marie Callender’s).Discussed in this episode:77% of

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62:22

11-20-24 MSPChat Episode 51 audio export

MSP Chat ·

2024/11/22

Don’t worry, Rich hasn’t acquired a serious smoking habit recently. It just sounds like he has, because after five straight weeks on the road his voice has quit on him. That didn’t stop him and Erick from diving into how communities like TD SYNNEX CommunitySolv can accelerate go-to-market ecosystem growth, though, and why every MSP should fire their worst customers regularly. Then Rich is joined by John Holland of Corporate Finance Associates for a look at the M&A landscape for MSPs coming out

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50:25

Episode 50: Getting Intentional

MSP Chat ·

2024/11/15

Live from the ChannelPro Defend West event in Newport Beach, Calif., Erick and Rich discuss a quietly weighty new “Automation as a Service” offering from RPA vendor Rewst and how rigorous documentation can pay off big during M&A negotiations. Then Rich is joined by MSP and brand strategist Lisa Shorr to explore five key lessons you’ll learn from her new book, Your B.R.A.N.D. Unleashed: 9 Proven Strategies That Build Trust and Maintain Lasting Client Loyalty. And finally, one last thing: Does it

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56:30

Episode 49: Put a Dollar in the Cuss Jar

MSP Chat ·

2024/11/08

No actual cussing on this episode. Just Erick and Rich discussing Pax8’s new partner program and essential service quality KPIs every MSP should track. Then they’re joined by Rayanne Buchianico of ABC Solutions for a conversation about CFOs and why way more MSPs should have one. And finally, one last thing: An AI hallucination that left a lot of Dubliners disappointed on Halloween.Discussed in this episode:AI hoax causes thousands to show up in Dublin, Ireland, for non-existent Halloween parade

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57:12

Episode 48: User = Cloud = Security

MSP Chat ·

2024/11/01

Live from DattoCon 2024 in Miami, Erick and Rich discuss the new Kaseya 365 User security solution and three hiring practices that will set new employees up for long-term success. Then they’re joined by Mike Puglia, the general manager of Kaseya’s security suite, to talk some more about Kaseya 365 User, the new DNS and web filtering features in Kaseya 365 Endpoint, AI, and more. And finally, one last thing: an oddly satisfying Halloween tradition from Stillwater, Minn., that involves dropping

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