Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/live/9O0yF-u9P3g

Uncle Marv's IT Business Podcast ends 2024 with a bang in this special holiday episode. The show features two groups of guests from the MSP industry, including familiar faces and new additions.

The first group dives into discussions about business growth, project management challenges, and the evolving MSP landscape. Tom Bull and Stan Louissaint share insights from their Jersey-based operations, while Lynn Williams represents ASCII Group, celebrating their 40th anniversary. Brian Weiss talks about his company's pivot to a Microsoft-first approach and their recent office purchase.

The second group brings more diverse perspectives. Dawn Sizer shares a frustrating experience with a PEO integration, while Joe Balsarotti shows off his impressive autograph collection. Bradley Gross, the "attorney for all technicians," discusses the increasing recognition of legal needs in the MSP world. Brandon Martens from TruGrid and Matt Linn from Thread offer vendor perspectives on working with MSPs.

Uncle Marv announces the podcast award winners, with Dave Scott of Scott Growth Strategies taking home two awards for Best Episode and Best Guest of 2024. Moovila took home the Best Vendor Swag for 2024, accepted by Kate Schlarf, the VP for Growth Marketing for Moovila. Dave Scott of Scott Growth Strategies taking home two awards for Best Episode and Best Guest of 2024.

The show concludes with a gift card giveaway and a teaser for Uncle Marv's coverage of the upcoming Florida Man Games in March 2025.

Websites and Links:

1. ASCII Group - www.ascii.com
2. Thread - www.thread.com
3. Moovila - https://www.moovila.com/
4. Scott Growth Strategies - www.scottgrowthstrategies.com
5. Florida Man Games - https://www.thefloridamangames.com/

=== Show Information

• Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/
• Host: Marvin Bee
• Uncle Marv’s Amazon Store: https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZ
• Become a monthly supporter: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcast

=== Music:

• Show Intro: Upbeat & Fun Sports Rock Logo, By AlexanderRufire
• License Code: 7X9F52DNML - Date: January 1st, 2024

In this episode of the IT Business Podcast, host Uncle Marv welcomes Frank DeLuca from The CTO Agency to discuss the challenges and opportunities in running an IT service business. Frank shares his journey from running a BBS at 13 to founding his own MSP, highlighting the importance of adapting to client needs and staying current with technology trends.

The conversation takes an unexpected turn as Uncle Marv launches into a fiery rant about vendor-MSP relationships, sparked by a frustrating interaction with a young sales representative. This leads to a broader discussion on the changing landscape of IT services, including the push for long-term contracts and the need for better "rules of engagement" between vendors and MSPs.

Frank and Uncle Marv dive into the complexities of selling cybersecurity solutions, particularly to insurance companies and law firms. They explore strategies for bundling services and the challenges of educating clients on the necessity of robust security measures.

The episode wraps up with the popular "Florida Man" segment, featuring a shocking story about a Santa Claus impersonator arrested for child pornography, and a discussion on the technologies used to combat such crimes.

Guest Bio:

Frank DeLuca is the founder of The CTO Agency, an IT service provider specializing in professional services and insurance clients. With over 20 years of experience in the tech industry, Frank brings a wealth of knowledge on running a boutique MSP.

Links and Websites:

1. The CTO Agency - https://www.thectoagency.com/
2. Florida 'Santa' Sentenced in Child Pornography Case: https://tinyurl.com/mrynffcu
3. SonicWall and CrowdStrike Join Forces: https://tinyurl.com/3xfcn3rz
4. SonicWall - www.sonicwall.com
5. CrowdStrike - www.crowdstrike.com
6. Sentinel One - www.sentinelone.com
7. Sophos - www.sophos.com

=== Show Information

• Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/
• Host: Marvin Bee
• Uncle Marv’s Amazon Store: https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZ
• Become a monthly supporter: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcast

=== Music:

• Show Intro: Upbeat & Fun Sports Rock Logo, By AlexanderRufire
• License Code: 7X9F52DNML - Date: January 1st, 2024

Uncle Marv sits down with Richie Wade, Manager of Sales Engineering at DNSFilter, to explore the cutting-edge world of DNS security. Richie shares insights on how DNSFilter is leveraging AI to detect threats up to 7 days faster than traditional methods, catching 70% of threats with their in-house solution.

The conversation dives into DNSFilter's recent integrations with major PSAs like ConnectWise and Datto Autotask, aimed at streamlining workflows for MSPs. Richie explains how these integrations minimize administrative workload and improve billing accuracy.

Uncle Marv and Richie also discuss the changing cybersecurity landscape, with Richie revealing a 14% increase in malware and a 36% overall increase in threats on their network this year alone. They emphasize that organizations of all sizes are potential targets, debunking the myth that only large enterprises are at risk.

The podcast touches on DNSFilter's unique features, including on-demand categorization of new domains and the ability to block newly registered domains. Richie also previews upcoming features like URL filtering and hints at more MSP-focused integrations in the pipeline.

Towards the end, they discuss DNSFilter's upcoming annual security report and the importance of staying ahead of emerging cyber threats. The episode wraps up with a teaser about DNSFilter's pricing changes and new features coming in the new year.

Websites and Links Mentioned:

• DNSFIlter Announces Integration with Six Leading PSA Platforms: https://tinyurl.com/5n6ck2z8
• Rise in Malicious Domains: https://tinyurl.com/3m95kzff
• DNSFilter - https://www.dnsfilter.com
• SuperOps - https://superops.com/
• ConnectWise - https://www.connectwise.com
• Datto Autotask - https://www.datto.com
• Pulseway - https://www.pulseway.com
• Halo - https://halopsa.com/
• N-Able - https://www.n-able.com/
• Syncro - https://www.syncromsp.com
• AppRiver - https://www.appriver.com
• Rewst - https://rewst.io/

=== Show Information

• Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/
• Host: Marvin Bee
• Uncle Marv’s Amazon Store: https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZ
• Become a monthly supporter: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcast

=== Music:

• Show Intro: Upbeat & Fun Sports Rock Logo, By AlexanderRufire
• License Code: 7X9F52DNML - Date: January 1st, 2024