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 ..read more

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 whe ..read more

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 smal ..read more

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? 15:5 ..read more

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 ..read more

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, su ..read more

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 to ..read more

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 fe ..read more

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 ..read more

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 o ..read more