KnowTechTalk

AI – It's everywhere nowadays, reshaping our reality in ways we’ve only begun to explore. Barb goes in depth with Jimmy Hatzell – the intrepid co-founder and CEO of Hatz AI – exploring his vision and expertise to see how AI can empower, enhance and encourage transformation for MSPs and their clients.

0:00 – Barb's Introduction

0:46 – Who is Jimmy Hatzell and Hatz AI?

5:29 – How did Jimmy's compelling vision and strategy attract investment and seed funding from important investors such as Vestigo Ventures?

8:37 – In light of recent embarrassing incidents affecting businesses involved with AI outcomes, what measures are being implemented by Hatz AI to ensure MSPs can offer these services with confidence without negatively impacting their reputation?

14:21 – How does Jimmy's platform deal with problems and queries that fall of out of its scope involving its training data?

18:21 – What do MSPs say in response to clients to ask, “why should I use your AI service”? What are the benefits and value of choosing Hatz AI as a solution?

22:57 – What is the most important thing Jimmy has ever learned?

This podcast has been brought to you by CDNTechnologies.com. Canada's first and only certified outsourced IT Company where we provide IT Service, IT Support and Cyber Security to businesses all throughout North America from out worldwide headquarters in Oakville, Ontario.

Technology and threats chage daily, so shift the stress of managing your technology to us, as we're direct to tech 24/7/365. Our mission is to bring you User Friendly, Hands Free, Technology Peace. Call us at 905-542-9759.

Our guest, Michael Contento, is a seasoned expert who has journeyed through the whole life cycle of an MSP. We hear about Michael's story and gain invaluable insights on the MSP landscape in Canada, the dynamics of mergers, what to look for in an acquisition, and the hurdles owner-operated MSPs face. Whether you're a budding MSP looking to scale or an established player contemplating a merger, this episode is tailored for you.

0:00 – Barb's Introduction

1:42 – Who is Michael Contento and F12.net?

3:49 – Why did Michael sell his MSP?

8:58 – Aside from money, what should an MSP look for when they are considering who they are going to sell to?

19:43 – What other things should MSPs do when they are preparing to sell?

28:38 – What is the most important thing Michael has ever learned?

This podcast has been brought to you by CDNTechnologies.com. Canada's first and only certified outsourced IT Company where we provide IT Service, IT Support and Cyber Security to businesses all throughout North America from out worldwide headquarters in Oakville, Ontario.

Technology and threats change daily, so shift the stress of managing your technology to us, as we're direct to tech 24/7/365. Our mission is to bring you User Friendly, Hands Free, Technology Peace. Call us at 905-542-9759.

Small businesses require a simple plan to protect themselves from cyber crime. Cyber attacks are unexpected, and these attacks seem to be on the increase. The good news is the majority of cyber crimes can be prevented, and a network assessment performed by an MSP is pivotal to improving security within an organization. Matthew K. Koenig from Nodeware returns to share more insights and the power of IT assessments with Barb.

0:00 – Barb's Introduction

2:33 – Who are Matthew K. Koenig and Nodeware?

6:12 – What do vulnerability scans find when an MSP assesses the network environment of a small business?

15:23 – How can regular vulnerability assessments shift a business' approach from reactive to proactive in terms of cyber security?

20:21 – What is the most important thing Matthew has ever learned?

This podcast has been brought to you by CDNTechnologies.com. Canada's first and only certified outsourced IT Company where we provide IT Service, IT Support and Cyber Security to businesses all throughout North America from out worldwide headquarters in Oakville, Ontario.

Technology and threats change daily, so shift the stress of managing your technology to us, as we're direct to tech 24/7/365. Our mission is to bring you User Friendly, Hands Free, Technology Peace. Call us at 905-542-9759.

In this grand symphony of small business IT, every instrument, every section plays its part. But as we know, in any great performance, a single note change can influence the whole piece. This raises a crucial question: How does a business keep track of all the subtle changes in each section? Shawn Sailer from Liongard joins Barb to explain how tools like Liongard ensure the symphony always plays on, beautifully in tune.

0:00 – Barb's Introduction

2:37 – Who are Shawn Sailer and Liongard?

7:17 – How do MSPs use and leverage Liongard as an opportunity with co-managed IT and other companies?

15:59 – What is the most important thing Shawn has ever learned?

This podcast has been brought to you by CDNTechnologies.com. Canada's first and only certified outsourced IT Company where we provide IT Service, IT Support and Cyber Security to businesses all throughout North America from out worldwide headquarters in Oakville, Ontario.

Technology and threats change daily, so shift the stress of managing your technology to us, as we're direct to tech 24/7/365. Our mission is to bring you User Friendly, Hands Free, Technology Peace. Call us at 905-542-9759.

In today's fast-paced business environment, technology has become an integral part of almost every aspect of operations. From communications, marketing to supply chain management and Cyber Security, ALL businesses rely heavily on technology. Journalists behind industry publications, conferences, social media and research reports provide a deep understanding of the tech industry and can offer valuable guidance to help businesses navigate its complex landscape.

Join Barb as she speaks with Rich Freeman, an industry expert with over two decades of experience in technology journalism. Rich is the go-to source for the latest trends, news, and best practices in the managed services space.

0:00 – Barb's Introduction

2:07 – How did Rich Freeman wind up in technology journalism from Yale?

3:50 – How has writing for technology journalism evolved over the years?

5:00 – Rich's thoughts about the impact of ChatGPT on the industry.

6:43 – What are some of the biggest challenges facing MSPs and their vendors today, and how does Rich see these challenges evolving in the coming years?

15:24 – Will AI play a role in levelling the playing field in the world of MSPs?

19:04 – What are Rich's predictions for the future when it comes to MSPs, vendors and the industry?

24:26 – Rich's thoughts on the decreasing price trends of PCs.

27:20 – What is the most important thing Rich has ever learned?

This podcast has been brought to you by CDNTechnologies.com. Canada's first and only certified outsourced IT Company where we provide IT Service, IT Support and Cyber Security to businesses all throughout North America from out worldwide headquarters in Oakville, Ontario.

Technology and threats change daily, so shift the stress of managing your technology to us, as we're direct to tech 24/7/365. Our mission is to bring you User Friendly, Hands Free, Technology Peace. Call us at 905-542-9759.

Consider this: 99% of the world doesn’t speak geek, nor do they understand cybersecurity and how to protect their digital assets. For the 1% of people who are familiar with terms like Privilege Escalation, Lateral movement and Seim, you might want to continue listening to understand how to communicate effectively to the rest of the world.

Joining Barb today is her friend Ann Westerheim – founder and president of Ekaru, a tech company for small business in Boston, recognized as an accomplished technology innovator and leader. Ann is also now a published author, making history with her new book “Cybersecurity for Main Street – Cyber Fit in 21 Days”.

0:00 – Barb's Introduction

1:56 – Who are Ann Westerheim and Ekaru?

4:00 – What inspired Ann to write her book “Cybersecurity For Main Street: Cyberfit in 21 Days”?

9:57 – What were some of the hurdles Ann faced when writing the book?

12:22 - What is the “one thing” every small business owner should do to protect and preserve their company’s critical data and computer systems?

16:12 – What is the most important thing Ann has ever learned?

This podcast has been brought to you by CDNTechnologies.com. Canada's first and only certified outsourced IT Company where we provide IT Service, IT Support and Cyber Security to businesses all throughout North America from out worldwide headquarters in Oakville, Ontario.

Technology and threats change daily, so shift the stress of managing your technology to us, as we're direct to tech 24/7/365. Our mission is to bring you User Friendly, Hands Free, Technology Peace. Call us at 905-542-9759.

Does your business need cyber insurance? Truth is, cyber criminals are targeting smaller organizations because the smaller your business, the less prepared it is to guard itself against a cyber attack.

Cyber insurance policies and riders have grown popular over the last decade as cybercriminals have become more cunning. Because of this, cyber insurance prices have also risen, so you may be curious whether cyber insurance is something your business absolutely needs.

Joining Barb today is Desraie Thomas of DataStream Cyber Insurance, offering clarity to businesses on the topic of cyber insurance.

0:00 – Barb's Introduction

2:20 – Who is Desraie Thomas and DataStream Cyber Insurance?

7:29 – What does cyber insurance cover?

13:16 – What does an insurance company need to know about your business?

18:15 – What is the most important thing Desraie has ever learned?

This podcast has been brought to you by CDNTechnologies.com. Canada's first and only certified outsourced IT Company where we provide IT Service, IT Support and Cyber Security to businesses all throughout North America from out worldwide headquarters in Oakville, Ontario.

Technology and threats change daily, so shift the stress of managing your technology to us, as we're direct to tech 24/7/365. Our mission is to bring you User Friendly, Hands Free, Technology Peace. Call us at 905-542-9759.

If you are thinking about selling your IT company chances are you have come full circle. The majority of MSPs are tech turned owner operators that grew a respectable businesses and now are done and want out. They can now take that long overdue vacation, treat themselves to something nice, pay back that line of credit and finally have some REAL money in the bank as they think about retirement and what they are going to do next.

Think of it... to sell or not to sell? To buy or not to buy? Joining Barb is Michael Einbinder-Schatz, to talk about life after the acquisition of his MSP – Jobecca Technology Group.

0:00 – Barb's Introduction

2:05 – Who is Michael Einbinder-Schatz and his MSP, Jobecca Technology Group?

7:44 – Why did Michael sell? How did he find the buyer?

17:23 – What did Michael do to prepare his customers for the transition?

27:53 – Does Michael have any regrets selling his business?

29:11 – What is Michael doing now?

39:27 – What is the most important thing Michael has ever learned?

This podcast has been brought to you by CDNTechnologies.com. Canada's first and only certified outsourced IT Company where we provide IT Service, IT Support and Cyber Security to businesses all throughout North America from out worldwide headquarters in Oakville, Ontario.

Technology and threats change daily, so shift the stress of managing your technology to us, as we're direct to tech 24/7/365. Our mission is to bring you User Friendly, Hands Free, Technology Peace. Call us at 905-542-9759.

What is Malware? Do you constantly get hammered by pop-up ads that come from nowhere and infuriate you when using your computer? Does your computer run slow, act funny, or crash unexpectedly? Are you getting tons of spam from unknown senders? Did your internet browser suddenly change? If so, then your computer might be infected with malicious programs that could end up destroying your files, stealing your personal and financial information, and rendering your computer useless.

It's all true. Cyber criminals lurk everywhere and are constantly finding new ways to harm you. If you want to make sure you aren’t their next victim, listen up. Joining Barb is Eddie Phillips of Malwarebytes.

0:00 – Barb's Introduction

2:04 – Who are Eddie Phillips and Malwarebytes?

4:48 – How does Malwarebytes help small business owners protect and preserve their company's critical data?

6:55 – How do you distinguish the difference between malware and a virus?

9:04 – How are endpoint detection and response and managed detection and response services that are delivered by MSPs and IT companies different from off-the-shelf solutions?

15:23 – What is the most important thing Eddie has ever learned?

This podcast has been brought to you by CDNTechnologies.com. Canada's first and only certified outsourced IT Company where we provide IT Service, IT Support and Cyber Security to businesses all throughout North America from out worldwide headquarters in Oakville, Ontario.

Technology and threats change daily, so shift the stress of managing your technology to us, as we're direct to tech 24/7/365. Our mission is to bring you User Friendly, Hands Free, Technology Peace. Call us at 905-542-9759.

When was the last time you thought about the security and the health of your computer network? I know you are so darn busy running your business that you simply forget, until something major happens. Consider this a friendly reminder to get your network checked out – if nothing else, it’s a good way to get a third party review of your network’s security and IT.

You care what happens to your company's tech assets, don't you? Over and over again, as we do our IT discoveries, it’s shocking to find out that a lot of the businesses out there have non-existent backups, security loopholes, and flawed systems that are not accounted for. It is important to have detailed invoices that clearly explain what IT services you are paying for, what you are being billed and why you have that charge.

Listen up! Joining Barb is fellow Canadian Colin Knox from Gradient MSP. Gradient is a popular tool in the MSP space that is used to match security protections, and subscriptions to devices for billing.

0:00 – Barb's Introduction

2:09 – What's new with Colin Knox and Gradient MSP?

9:08 – Colin talks about Gradient MSP's new integration with CompTIA

19:36 – What is Gradient's MSP sanctuary and how has it grown?

24:59 – What is the most important thing Colin has ever learned?

This podcast has been brought to you by CDNTechnologies.com. Canada's first and only certified outsourced IT Company where we provide IT Service, IT Support and Cyber Security to businesses all throughout North America from out worldwide headquarters in Oakville, Ontario.

Technology and threats change daily, so shift the stress of managing your technology to us, as we're direct to tech 24/7/365. Our mission is to bring you User Friendly, Hands Free, Technology Peace. Call us at 905-542-9759.

Let me ask you a controversial question: When was the last time you took inventory of all the computers and devices in your organization? What is being backed up? Have you checked it? If you don’t know what hardware you own, or what software subscriptions you are paying for then you might be overpaying or getting underserved.

Think of this. If you have ever attempted to grow a business or organize your business, one of the first things you do is take inventory of what you own, your assets, your goods.

Turn up the volume and listen up! Joining Barb today is Dan Wensley, CEO of ScalePad, a leading company that offers innovative solutions to companies like CDN Technologies so they can help their customers with backup radar, hardware and software asset management, monitoring, warranty services and compliance.

0:00 – Barb's Introduction

3:10 – Who are Dan Wensley and ScalePad?

8:59 – What can we do to help people who are not in the tech space realize that hardware has an expiration date?

15:25 – Warranties are current, secure and up to date. What about backing up devices and staying safe?

22:20 – What is the most important thing Dan has ever learned?

This podcast has been brought to you by CDNTechnologies.com. Canada's first and only certified outsourced IT Company where we provide IT Service, IT Support and Cyber Security to businesses all throughout North America from out worldwide headquarters in Oakville, Ontario.

Technology and threats change daily, so shift the stress of managing your technology to us, as we're direct to tech 24/7/365. Our mission is to bring you User Friendly, Hands Free, Technology Peace. Call us at 905-542-9759.

Did you know you are not supposed to use your mobile phone while it’s charging? When you use your phone while it’s charging, you are using more power than its being fed, and this screws up the battery.

Did you also know that charging your phone overnight hurts the phone battery life? According to lifeside.com it is recommended that you charge your phone when it at 10% and only charge it up to 90%.

Humans are really bad at recharging. It takes about 8 hours of charge for 16 hours of use. Why is that Joining Barb is Ryan Markel of Markel.me to explain how to charge our batteries as humans.

0:00 – Barb's Introduction

1:46 – Who are Ryan Markel and Markel.me?

5:25 – What do people need to do to “recharge their batteries” as humans?

16:00 – Ryan on conative strengths, going with the flow, and our natural instincts.

27:30 – How did Ryan discover conation and the awareness of being in a conative state?

32:53 – What is the most important thing Ryan has ever learned?

This podcast has been brought to you by CDNTechnologies.com. Canada's first and only certified outsourced IT Company where we provide IT Service, IT Support and Cyber Security to businesses all throughout North America from out worldwide headquarters in Oakville, Ontario.

Technology and threats change daily, so shift the stress of managing your technology to us, as we're direct to tech 24/7/365. Our mission is to bring you User Friendly, Hands Free, Technology Peace. Call us at 905-542-9759.

How do you decide who to hire when you reach the point in your business when you realize – I need help with the IT? IT companies can look all the same, but who can you trust to partner with? It’s no secret that everyone preaches prevention, customer service. So how do you make sure you are comparing apples to apples instead of oranges to grapefruits when shopping for IT company aka a managed services provider.

And on the other side of the coin, as a managed service provider how do you attract and build awareness about the services that you provide that help companies with their IT security, support and day to day tech operations?

Joining Barb today is Paul Green, Owner of MSP Marketing. Paul helps IT companies distribute information to the right people, in the right way, so businesses know they’ve hired the right company for their technical needs.

0:00 – Barb's Introduction

1:37 – Who are Paul Green and MSP Marketing?

4:08 – How would you develop a unique sales proposition that resonates with businesses shopping for Managed Service Providers?

8:18 – What's the best strategy to build your audience to get your messaging across?

21:04 – What is the most important thing Paul has ever learned?

This podcast has been brought to you by CDNTechnologies.com. Canada's first and only certified outsourced IT Company where we provide IT Service, IT Support and Cyber Security to businesses all throughout North America from out worldwide headquarters in Oakville, Ontario.

Technology and threats change daily, so shift the stress of managing your technology to us, as we're direct to tech 24/7/365. Our mission is to bring you User Friendly, Hands Free, Technology Peace. Call us at 905-542-9759.

Businesses are spending more money on IT this year. Gartner predicts the global IT spend could reach $4.4 trillion this year and that’s despite rising inflation, the Russian invasion, chip shortages and talent shortages.

Since we’re all leveraging technology as a competitive advantage, and looking to technology to solve our problems today, we’re going to talk about what every small business owner must know about protecting and preserving their company’s critical data, computer systems and everything in between the phone systems, the printers and where you access documents from.

Joining Barb today is Fred Voccola, CEO of Kaseya which is becoming – or may even now be – the world's largest technology solution provider for small and medium businesses.

0:00 – Barb's Introduction

1:55 – Who are Fred Voccola and Kaseya?

12:20 – Kaseya has grown by 300% since Fred became CEO. What advice does he have for people with smaller companies who are growing at a similar rate?

14:45 – What are small businesses investing in to keep moving forward in a positive direction, post-pandemic?

27:36 – What is the most important thing Fred has ever learned?

This podcast has been brought to you by CDNTechnologies.com. Canada's first and only certified outsourced IT Company where we provide IT Service, IT Support and Cyber Security to businesses all throughout North America from out worldwide headquarters in Oakville, Ontario.

Technology and threats change daily, so shift the stress of managing your technology to us, as we're direct to tech 24/7/365. Our mission is to bring you User Friendly, Hands Free, Technology Peace. Call us at 905-542-9759.

What should you expect to pay for IT support for your business? How do you make sure you know exactly what you are paying for? What are all the services you are buying to keep your business cyber safe?

The computer industry is still young, and there are not many guides in place to protect consumers. How do you determine if the fees that are billed are correct? It’s great when the person who’s paying the bill get’s a “deal”. It’s the worst when the person who sent the bill realizes that they forgot to charge for x, y, and z... again. No one likes to work and not get paid!

Joining me today is fellow Canadian Colin Knox from Gradient MSP to expose the back end of IT service companies and what we do to make sure customers are getting exactly what they are paying for and to help explain how IT Bills are calculated.

0:00 - Barb's Introduction

1:49 - Who are Colin Knox and Gradient MSP?

3:25 - Client environments are always changing, adding or removing services and people. How does Gradient help with this?

8:14 – Barb and Colin about the importance of PSA software along with the costs and compliance involved in delivering to the client.

11:34 - What is the most important thing Colin has ever learned?

This podcast has been brought to you by CDNTechnologies.com. Canada's first and only certified outsourced IT Company where we provide IT Service, IT Support and Cyber Security to businesses all throughout North America from out worldwide headquarters in Oakville, Ontario.

Technology and threats change daily, so shift the stress of managing your technology to us, as we're direct to tech 24/7/365. Our mission is to bring you User Friendly, Hands Free, Technology Peace. Call us at 905-542-9759.

Our world has shifted online and it’s important that all of us make cybersecurity a priority. Let’s protect ourselves, our communities and our collective future.

Remember: Human beings, devices, and applications all have identities.

In your business, it is important to identify who your employees are, what account access they have and understanding what can be done with their account privileges and access. The top priority of a business will be to ensure their cybersecurity strategy has enough coverage and adequate protection.

Matt Lee of Pax8 discusses how business leaders need to adapt their security strategy to ensure they are well equipped, agile, and resilient enough to face cyber challenges because threats are always changing.

0:00 - Barb's introduction

3:09 - Who are Matt Lee and Pax8?

4:22 - Matt speaks more about having one of the highest certification designations possible in the cyber security space.

7:12 – Matt shares a story about the largest cybersecurity loss he's ever seen.

16:28 – What types of conversations should businesses and executives need to have with their teams for their business to avoid being a victim?

30:07 – What is the most important thing Matt has ever learned?

This podcast has been brought to you by CDNTechnologies.com. Canada's first and only certified outsourced IT Company where we provide IT Service, IT Support and Cyber Security to businesses all throughout North America from out worldwide headquarters in Oakville, Ontario.

Technology and threats change daily, so shift the stress of managing your technology to us, as we're direct to tech 24/7/365. Our mission is to bring you User Friendly, Hands Free, Technology Peace. Call us at 905-542-9759.

Have you ever locked yourself out of your own system because you can't remember your own password?

How do you know you are actually talking to someone from your tech support department?

Forced password resets can be a catch 22 because changing your password all the time creates problems and so does not ever changing your password.

Announcing Jimmy Hatzell of Quickpass to discuss Password Policy Pitfalls. How Poor Password Practices Plague Personal Protection, Privacy, And Patience.

0:00 Barb's introduction

2:24: Who is Jimmy Hatzell?

3:05: Who is Quickpass and how do they help businesses and organizations?

4:05: How does Quickpass differ from resetting your own password all the time?

8:00: What reverse authentication is and how to verify a caller's identity especially if you are suspicious.

12:35 What is the most important thing Jim Hatzel has ever leaned?

This podcast has been brought to you by CDNTechnologies.com. Canada's first and only certified outsourced IT Company where we provide IT Service, IT Support and Cyber Security to businesses all throughout North America from out world wide headquarters in Oakville Ontario. 

In the next 17 minutes you''' discover How To Protect Your Remote Workforce From a Cyber Attack. Listen to  Barb Paluszkiewicz‏ from CDN Technologies and Eric Anthony of Egnyte talk about what's new  and what you need to know about cloud file sharing solutions. 

Listen to this podcast and you'll discover: 

2:36: Who is Eric Anthony?

4:02: What is Egnyte and what do they do?

5:16: How to stop data sprawl?

9:21: How to protect personal identifiable information for being accidentally shared or accessed by employees?

11:19: Who creates the rules and policies for the business' information?

13:57: What’s the most important thing Eric has ever learned?

16:44: Connect with us at CDN Technologies.com or call us at 905 542 9759 mention that you listened to the podcast and we'll send you a free gift, that you will love. Guaranteed.

Joining Barb Paluszkiewicz‏ for this episode of #KNOWTECHTALK talk are Paul Nebb of Titan Technologies, Henry Overton of Turn Key Solutions, Al Alper of Absolute Logic and Tim Meredith of Tech Eagles, to discuss how you can choose the right IT company to support your business.

Listen to this podcast and you'll discover: 

0:00- 2:32 -  Intro

02:33-10:12 -  #1:  What is the #1 question people ask when they call your business?

10:13 -14:37 -  #2: How do I know what I need and what’s the best direction?

14:38-20:38 -  #3: OK, why wouldn’t I just hire a full time IT Guy and go to Best Buy or Amazon to buy computers?

20:59-28:17 - #4: What should I look for when I’m shopping around for an IT Company? What should I expect to pay for IT support for my business?

28:18-38:58  - #5: So many viruses and ransomware, How do I make sure that I’m not getting infected by what you do?

38:59 - 47:21 - #6: What’s the best advice you have for a business?

47:22-49:41  - Extro

Listen To This Podcast and You'll Discover:

• The 3 most common ways IT services companies charge for their services and the pros and cons of each approach
• A common billing model that puts ALL THE RISK on you, the customer when buying IT services; you'll learn what it is and why you need to avoid agreeing to it
• Exclusions, hidden fees and other "Gotcha" clauses IT companies put in their contracts that you DON'T want to agree to
• How to make sure you know exactly what your paying for to avoid disappointment, frustration and added costs you didn't expect