Episodes

Control 18 has only five safeguards, yet you can spend an entire year preparing for it. Matt Lee of Pax8 and I will help you understand each safeguard and the importance of getting this right and the pitfalls to avoid.

Don't Forget about VoIP as you onboard new clients or even with existing clients. There are significant risks in not including some level of management of the VoIP system or providing some support when there are issues on the network. I sit down with Alec Stanners of bVoIP to talk a bit about the history of VoIP solutions and the challenges we faced in the early days versus the cybersecurity challenges MSPs face today.

Each of the items in the title are titles for show episodes dating all the way back to the beginning of 2020. They have made the top 10 playbacks for all time. I sit down with Chad Holstead of the BKS Team to talk through current trends and challenges related to these five.

We take a moment to remember where we were as an MSP. Joshua Smith of Reliaquest and Charles Love of ShowTech Solutions and I reflect on the technologies and challenges we faced more than eight years ago and then look at what has changed since.

Last week we talked about playbooks and runbooks... This week we are back in the CIS Top 18 controls, #17 and while the timing might be coincidental it is a perfect fit. What we have learned going through the first 16 controls to get to here. Listen to Matt Lee of Pax8 unpack the safeguards and perhaps here a bit of a tussle as we grapple with Yellow Brick Road or Wizard of OZ... you decide!

What happens if your RMM goes down and doesn't come back? We sit down with Mike Stewart of Anchor Networks and Charles Love of ShowTech Solutions to get their take on the importance of Runbooks. By the way, they were at a peer group and brought this up. Let's just say those who sleep alone at night are always looking for friends to share their no-sleep drama.

I always like to catch one or two attendees of an event after they get home to see what did they come away with. I spoke with Jim Harryman of Kinetic Technology Group to get his reaction on an event that he has now attended for the third year in a row. If you weren't at Channelcon24 I hope this gives you some FOMO and that we will see you at CCF and ChannelCon 2025.

The demand for cyber soldiers is always on the rise. We look at the challenges of protecting Critical Infrastructure and that while there is a lot of Doom and Gloom... there is hope. I sit down with Chris Storey of Qriar to discuss the importance of Incident response planning and how the right plan and some education might actually create a tipping point!

Using a framework to find gaps in your organization is a great way to improve your security posture. Have you thought about using the same framework with your clients? I think you find this discussion with Jim Harryman of Kinetic Technology Group a real eye-opener to the opportunities you have to reduce risk within your own company and that of your clients.

We are finally talking about Application Software Security with Matt Lee of Pax8. We went deep on a few safeguards and found some tangents.

Ever wonder what the world outside of IT does with cybersecurity awareness training? If they don’t engage with an MSP, how many do it at all? I sit down with Jennie Johnson of TCE Company to get her perspective on transitioning from the world of education (K12) to working in the IT Managed Services space.

We have all configured Email automation at some point and we often use systems and tools that automate email notifications with actions or instructions. With that being said, how often do we check in on the recipient as to whether or not the action and instructions are being followed. Listen to Charles Love of ShowTech Solutions share his experience and resolution when it comes to email automation as it pertains to Security Awareness Training.

Talking through the CompTIA Cybersecurity Audit outcome with Jim Harryman of Kinetic Technology Group. Obtaining the Trustmark is no small feat and requires dedication and effort by the entire organization. In this episode, we will talk about where they find themselves as they navigate the next twelve months as they prepare for the next audit.

We find ourselves getting closer to the end of CIS Top 18. In this episode, Matt Lee of Pax8 and I discuss Service Provider Management. Matt does an excellent job of laying out a success path for any MSP to implement. You should note that this is a non-technical control.

If you didn't get a chance to attend the sessions on MSP+ Playbooks or tabletop exercises, then join Matt Topper and me as we recap some of our interactions with attendees and feedback from both our sessions. In this episode there are no fire alarms.

Ever feel like a punching bag when the phone rings and you have an upset client? Do you communicate with your clients outside of IT support? I sit down with Morgan Barse of Wing Woman to talk about Marketing and how the majority of marketing needs to start after you onboard your client. I learned a lot from Morgan's insights, and I think you will, too.

From Layoffs to job transitions in the channel. Desraie Thomas and I chat about cybersecurity and how it impacts us all. It doesn't just happen at work; yet, as employees, we have been given the tools and resources we don't often see at home. The kids and elderly are usually victims who never have their stories heard. Then, we wrap things up with a new approach to delivering Governance and Risk solutions into the channel.

Security Awareness and Skills Training is CIS Top 18 Control 14 is where Matt Lee of Pax8 and I sit down in our home offices to discuss the ins and outs of all nine safeguards. The importance of them and how they help your organization mature your workforce.

Cybersecurity should be front and center in every organization, and who you hire impacts how well you can implement it. In this episode, we discuss having the right staff and aligning with company expectations and goals. While not necessarily a cybersecurity focus, we highlight how cybersecurity plays a role in who you hire and what you might look for in your hiring process. Join me as I hear from Charles Love about his journey using a recruiter.

Social media lives Social media is somehow a part of our everyday lives, and we see different platforms that cater to varying types of communication and content. With that said, when we misuse the platforms or share too much, we potentially risk all that we care to protect. Join me as I discuss the ins and outs of the appropriate use of Social Media and some world observations on what we can do better.

Cybersecurity is not the primary focus for hiring new employees but is vital to ensuring you hire the right candidate. I sit down with Ted White with Vertical Talent Solutions to discuss a strategy that lines up suitable candidates with MSPs so that the effort spent to get the right candidate isn't a pleasant and perhaps even enjoyable opportunity.

Ever wonder if you should be offering cybersecurity services? Are you taking on liability that isn't worth it? I sit down with Scott McCrady CEO of SolCyber to discuss the opportunities and benefits of partnering with an MSSP.

It is the Third Tuesday of the month, and we bring you to Control 13. This is an exciting Control (they all are) because it is often confused with being legacy, it is also potentially cost-prohibitive, and we believe it will likely only be doable when partnering with third-party resources. Matt Lee brings it home as he always does!

MSP spend a lot of time and energy trying to align with standards from one of the many frameworks that are out there to improve their cybersecurity posture. Whether you do it to meet regulatory requirements, or are just looking to improve your business operations, how do you know when you are failing or succeeding? I sit down with Jim Harryman of Kinetic Technology Group to discuss how evidence comes into play. Policy Process and People are key to collecting that appropriate evidence and Jim and...