SMB Community Podcast

To finish off the calendar year 2024, host James Kernan sits down with Karl Palachuk to discuss this year's hot topic: mergers & acquisitions. In this episode, James and Karl uncover the importance of timing and understanding when the ideal time to buy/sell a practice would be.   Our upcoming events and more: Check out the link below for details on upcoming 2025 events: http://bit.ly/kernanmastermind   New Book Release: I'm proud to announce the release of my new book, The Anthology of Cybersecurity Experts! This collection brings together 15 of the nation's top minds in cybersecurity, sharing real-world solutions to combat today's most pressing threats. Whether you're an MSP, IT leader, or simply passionate about protecting your data, this book is packed with expert advice to help you stay secure and ahead of the curve. Available now on Amazon! https://a.co/d/f2NKASI   Sponsor Memo: Since 2006, Kernan Consulting has been through over 30 transactions in mergers & acquisitions - and just this past year, we have been involved in six (6). If you are interested in either buying, selling, or valuation information, please reach out. There is alot of activity and you can be a part of it. For more information, reach out at kernanconsulting.com

Now nearly halfway into December, James and Amy return to discuss Q4 marketing plans and recent headlines in the news. --- 1.) MSP Question of the week:  What are some good marketing campaigns to run at the end of the calendar year? --- 2.) Notes on the News a). Amazon Chip Supplier: As one of the top web server suppliers in the world (AWS), Amazon is capitalizing on a great market opportunity.  b.) Paid Training for Cybersecurity: James and Amy both realize there is a big skills gap in our industry. While training can be expensive and time-consuming, training can help cultivate culture and knowledge amongst your team. https://www.technewsworld.com/story/paid-training-placement-program-eases-cybersecurity-hiring-challenges-179437.html https://www.cnbc.com/2024/11/23/how-tech-bros-bought-americas-most-pro-crypto-congress-ever.html https://www.channele2e.com/news/canalys-rmm-psa-leadership-matrix-ninjaone-halopsa-have-a-lot-of-momentum ---  Our upcoming events and more: December 4: M&A Workshop in Scottsdale, AZ December 5-6: MASTERMIND LIVE in Scottsdale, AZ http://bit.ly/kernanmastermind December 11: Channel Program M&A Forum in Dallas, TX   New Book Release: I'm proud to announce the release of my new book, The Anthology of Cybersecurity Experts! This collection brings together 15 of the nation's top minds in cybersecurity, sharing real-world solutions to combat today's most pressing threats. Whether you're an MSP, IT leader, or simply passionate about protecting your data, this book is packed with expert advice to help you stay secure and ahead of the curve. Available now on Amazon! https://a.co/d/f2NKASI   Sponsor Memo: Since 2006, Kernan Consulting has been through over 30 transactions in mergers & acquisitions - and just this past year, we have been involved in six (6). If you are interested in either buying, selling, or valuation information, please reach out. There is alot of activity and you can be a part of it. For more information, reach out at kernanconsulting.com

To kick off the month of December, James and Amy are back with another episode of the SMB Community Podcast. --- 1.) MSP Question of the week:  Should I require my remote employees to return to the office? In response to a recent article by Amazon, it sounds not so desirable. For Amazon, their reasoning was due to a lack of innovation. Perhaps there is a type of creative thinking that is missing? Tune in to hear more! ---  Our upcoming events and more: December 5-6: MASTERMIND LIVE in Scottsdale, AZ http://bit.ly/kernanmastermind December 11: Channel Program M&A Forum in Dallas, TX   Check out Amy’s weekly newsletter!  Sign up now: https://mailchi.mp/thirdtier/small-business-tech-news Kernan Consulting “Weekly Tips”!  Sign up now: https://kernanconsulting.com/    Sponsor Memo: Since 2006, Kernan Consulting has been through over 30 transactions in mergers & acquisitions - and just this past year, we have been involved in six (6). If you are interested in either buying, selling, or valuation information, please reach out. There is alot of activity and you can be a part of it. For more information, reach out at kernanconsulting.com

Another fun week of James and Amy! Following Halloween, James and Amy shared their mission of Halloween costumes and handing out Halloween candy. Kicking off this week's episode, DATTOCON missed out an opportunity for press and hype.  From lack of a major announcement, there is a PR opportunity missed.  --- 1.) MSP Question of the week:  How can you hold your team accountable? Business coaches are being hired all across the country due to a lack of accountability. Instead, James and Amy share some insightful areas to strengthen your accountability with your team: Set goals with your team on a set cadence either daily or weekly Create expectations in writing with your team. Utilizing meetings, such as a daily huddle, can be a great opportunity to do a checkin with the team and leadership. Enhanced communication is effective accountability. Accountability is not conflict, instead, accountability is effective communication. Train your employees. Without proper training, it is difficult to hold employees accountable. --- 2.) Notes on the News a). The Consequences of Getting Hacked: DNA-testing website 23andMe fights for survival    https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gm08nlxr3o b.) How big tech instends to power AI's thirst for energy: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/11/04/data-centers-how-big-tech-intends-to-power-ais-thirst-for-energy.html A huge upswing in the number of data centers worldwide shows no signs of slowing down, prompting Big Tech to consider how best to power the artificial intelligence revolution. Some of the options on the table include a pivot to nuclear energy, liquid cooling for data centers and quantum computing. --- 3.) 5 Minutes with a Smart Person:  Dan Amaro w/ E-Merge Real Estate from Ohio. Dan shares his story of success of becoming a full-time realtor and the steps he took to persevere. Learn more about Dan by following him on social media or sending an email to dan.amaro@e-merge.com. ---  Our upcoming events and more: December 4: M&A Workshop in Scottsdale, AZ December 5-6: MASTERMIND LIVE in Scottsdale, AZ http://bit.ly/kernanmastermind December 11: Channel Program M&A Forum in Dallas, TX   Check out Amy’s weekly newsletter!  Sign up now: https://mailchi.mp/thirdtier/small-business-tech-news Kernan Consulting “Weekly Tips”!  Sign up now: https://kernanconsulting.com/    Sponsor Memo: Since 2006, Kernan Consulting has been through over 30 transactions in mergers & acquisitions - and just this past year, we have been involved in six (6). If you are interested in either buying, selling, or valuation information, please reach out. There is alot of activity and you can be a part of it. For more information, reach out at kernanconsulting.com

Hosts James and Amy are back this week to discuss the series of noteworthy headlines from this week as well as this week's MSP question of the week. --- 1.) Notes On The News IT Nation - one announcement CompTIA Aquired - New Divisions will be created Department of Labor - Ruling for Overtime Labor --- 2.) MSP Question of the week:  Are you a REAL MSSP? What does it take to become a MSSP? ---  Our upcoming events and more: December 4: M&A Workshop in Scottsdale, AZ December 5-6: MASTERMIND LIVE in Scottsdale, AZ http://bit.ly/kernanmastermind December 11: Channel Program M&A Forum in Dallas, TX   Check out Amy’s weekly newsletter!  Sign up now: https://mailchi.mp/thirdtier/small-business-tech-news Kernan Consulting “Weekly Tips”!  Sign up now: https://kernanconsulting.com/   

Hosts James and Amy sit down this week to discuss key performance indicators (KPIs) that can be used to measure success with your business.   1.) MSP Question of the week:   What reports or KPI’s do you need to manage your business?  Article by Amy:   https://www.channelpronetwork.com/2024/09/26/how-do-msps-measure-success-im-hitting-my-metrics-but-not-sure-theyre-the-right-ones/ --- 2.) Notes On The News  https://www.channele2e.com/news/big-3-rmm-psa-vendors-see-market-share-slip-canalys ConnectWise market share dropped from 26.8% to 24.3%. Kaseya market share dropped from 22.9% to 22.7% N-able market share dropped from 12.5% to 11.4% NinjaOne’s market share grew from 8.4% to 9.4% All others combined had a market share of 29.4% last year, which grew to 32.1% this year.  Canalys is forecasting the managed services industry itself to grow from $548 billion in 2024 to $608 billion in 2025. https://mspradio.com/podcast/marriotts-52m-fine-cybersecurity-warnings-and-tech-updates-from-microsoft-linkedin-atlassian/ Marriott was issued a hefty $52 million fine following major data breaches that compromised the personal information of over 344 million customers. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) settlement mandates that Marriott enhance its security measures ---  3.) Our upcoming events and more: December 4: M&A Workshop in Scottsdale, AZ December 5-6: MASTERMIND LIVE in Scottsdale, AZ http://bit.ly/kernanmastermind December 11: Channel Program M&A Forum in Dallas, TX   Check out Amy’s weekly newsletter!  Sign up now: https://mailchi.mp/thirdtier/small-business-tech-news Kernan Consulting “Weekly Tips”!  Sign up now: https://kernanconsulting.com/       

This week, host James Kernan speaks with David Sims, founder of Security First IT, regarding navigating HIPAA from the lens of MSP business ownership. About David Sims Since 1998, David is an experienced IT and cybersecurity professional who specializes in healthcare security and compliance. With over two decades of hands-on experience, he founded Security First IT to provide advanced solutions tailored to healthcare providers and small to medium-sized practices, ensuring they stay secure in an ever-changing threat landscape. David also founded and runs the podcast "Help Me with HIPAA", a show dedicated to how MSPs navigate healthcare and help their clients. https://securityfirstit.com/ https://helpmewithhipaa.com/ ---  Our upcoming events and more: MASTERMIND LIVE - Scottsdale, AZ - December 5-6th www.smbtechfest.com Check out Amy’s weekly newsletter!  Sign up now: https://mailchi.mp/thirdtier/small-business-tech-news Kernan Consulting “Weekly Tips”!  Sign up now: https://kernanconsulting.com/ 

Returning to the podcast, host James sat down with Tim Fitzpatrick from Rialto Marketing. Topics include defining your processes, establishing your onboarding, and identifying your competitive advantage in the markets you serve. About Tim Fitzpatrick Tim is the President of Rialto Marketing, a company that provides marketing consulting, advisory, and outsourced or fractional Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) services. Rialto Marketing specializes in helping B2B professional service firms accelerate their growth by building and managing their marketing engines. He also hosts the Rialto Marketing Podcast which features interviews with B2B professional service firm owners and executives who are actively working to grow their businesses. The podcast aims to help listeners learn from the experiences of these successful professionals by discussing the good, the bad, and the ugly of their journeys. It's a great resource for anyone looking to accelerate their business growth and gain valuable insights from industry leaders. https://www.linkedin.com/in/timpfitzpatrick https://www.rialtomarketing.com/ ---  Our upcoming events and more: MASTERMIND LIVE - Scottsdale, AZ - December 5-6th www.smbtechfest.com Check out Amy’s weekly newsletter!  Sign up now: https://mailchi.mp/thirdtier/small-business-tech-news Kernan Consulting “Weekly Tips”!  Sign up now: https://kernanconsulting.com/   

Christopher Barber - Cheaper Than a Geek https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherjbarber/ Host Karl had a great chat with Christopher Barber from Cheaper Than a Geek in Maryland. Topics include networking for client attraction, and using Chambers of Commerce to spread a wide net that brings in new clients for decades.  Chris got involved in his local chamber and worked his way up to being involved at the state and federal levels. Chris tells how he stumbled at first, with the local chamber, and then learned how to leverage it year after year. Side note: Chris gives out "nerd" glasses as a gimmick, and Nerds candy at parades. Details in the podcast. About Christopher Barber  Barber is the Founder, CEO, and Chief Nerd at Cheaper Than A Geek, an award-winning IT services firm known for delivering enterprise-level support to small businesses. With over two decades of experience in the IT industry, Christopher has built a reputation as a leader in providing innovative, customer-centric solutions that empower businesses to thrive in a digital world.  He has served at the executive level on multiple chamber boards, including the Maryland State Chamber of Commerce, and is a frequent speaker on topics ranging from cybersecurity to the strategic benefits of IT outsourcing. Christopher’s dedication to exceptional service and community engagement has earned him numerous accolades, including recognition as a Most Admired CEO by The Daily Record and as a U.S. Chamber of Commerce Top 100 Small Business honoree.

Hosts James and Amy sit down this week to discuss difficult situations where the customer will not take your prosposal or recommendation   1.) MSP Question of the week:  What happens if you customer won't take your recommendation? --- 2.) Notes On The News  Safety around AI: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/09/29/tech/newsom-california-ai-safety-bill/index.html Warnings about Free/Public Wi-fi in airports: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/09/29/its-time-to-take-warnings-about-using-airport-public-wi-fi-seriously.html ---  Our upcoming events and more: SMBTechfest Q4 - Irvine, CA - October 17-18 www.smbtechfest.com Check out Amy’s weekly newsletter!  Sign up now: https://mailchi.mp/thirdtier/small-business-tech-news Kernan Consulting “Weekly Tips”!  Sign up now: https://kernanconsulting.com/ 

  Hosts James and Amy discuss pricing and the question around discounts for certain clients.   1.) MSP Question of the week:  Should you discount your price to win the deal?   " The bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of a cheap price is forgotten." - Benjamin Franklin – --- 2.) Notes On The News  The UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has announced a provisional decision to impose a fine of £6.09M ($7.74 million) on Advanced Computer Software Group Ltd (Advanced) for its failure to protect the personal information of tens of thousands when it was hit by ransomware in 2022. Cyberattacks on Microsoft 365 Security  -- The increased number of cyberattacks on MS 365 data have forced many to adopt tools to protect themselves.  Microsoft copilot “wave 2” was released last week --  Cool thing is they have included tons of user feature requests ( almost 800 ) ---  Our upcoming events and more: SMBTechfest Q4 - Irvine, CA - October 17-18 www.smbtechfest.com Check out Amy’s weekly newsletter!  Sign up now: https://mailchi.mp/thirdtier/small-business-tech-news Kernan Consulting “Weekly Tips”!  Sign up now: https://kernanconsulting.com/ 

Hosts Amy Babinchak and James Kernan discuss the struggles of recruiting and what key qualities to look for when recruiting good people. 1.) MSP Question of the Week: When struggling with recruiting, how do you find good people/talent? --- 2.) Notes On The News  ConnectWise Expands MSP Platform with Acquisitions of Axcient and SkyKick, Strengthening Data Protection and Cloud Management   Microsoft will begin force-upgrading Windows 11 22H2 systems to version 23H2 starting October 8, 2024, as the former reaches end of support: Microsoft Forces Windows 11 Upgrades and Tightens Office Security as IT Departments Brace for Changes Apple launched new iPhone 16 in September 2024 ---  Our upcoming events and more: SMBTechfest Q4 - Irvine, CA - October 17-18 www.smbtechfest.com Check out Amy’s weekly newsletter!  Sign up now: https://mailchi.mp/thirdtier/small-business-tech-news Kernan Consulting “Weekly Tips”!  Sign up now: https://kernanconsulting.com/   

Host James Kernan discussses security offerings, specifically looking at offering vCISO services as part of your cyber security stack. 1.) MSP Question of the Week: Should you offer vCISO services? ---  2.) 5 Minutes with a Smart Person Host James Kernan sits down with Charlene Ignacio, CEO of Fornix Marketing, to discuss being strategic about M&A discussions. --- 3.) Notes On The News  Chris Day, founder of ScalePad, has taken over as CEO, focusing on creating an integrated suite of products rather than pursuing new acquisitions. Outgoing CEO Dan Wensley will remain as a shareholder and advisor. Additionally, a recent IBM study reveals that business leaders' confidence in IT has significantly declined, with only 47% considering their IT organization effective, down from 69% in 2013    Reuters article: https://www.reuters.com/technology/cybersecurity/german-intelligence-says-russian-gru-group-behind-nato-eu-cyberattacks-2024-09-09/   Investopedia: https://www.investopedia.com/how-does-nvidia-s-record-usd279b-market-cap-loss-stack-up-8706251?utm_source=perplexity   A recent IBM study reveals that business leaders' confidence in IT has significantly declined, with only 47% considering their IT organization effective, down from 69% in 2013 ---  Our upcoming events and more: MASTERMIND LIVE – Denver, CO – NEXT WEEK Sept 26-27th http://bit.ly/kernanmastermind  Use “EARLYBIRD” as the coupon code to save $200!! SMBTechfest Q4 - Irvine, CA - October 17-18 www.smbtechfest.com Check out Amy’s weekly newsletter!  Sign up now: https://mailchi.mp/thirdtier/small-business-tech-news Kernan Consulting “Weekly Tips”!  Sign up now: https://kernanconsulting.com/   

Host Karl Palachuk caught up with Dor Eisner, CEO of Guardz. Right off the bat, Eisner points out the reason enterprise cybersecurity attacks are different from those focused on small business. Like it or not, most of the attacks that work against SMB clients will not work against larger enterprises. Eisner discusses the toolsets that are built specifically to attack small businesses, and marketed that way on the dark web. Assuming you don't want to spend time browsing the dark web, it's good to have a partner who is willing to. Guardz is focused completely on securing small businesses, and helping them to secure their networks in a way that helps them lower their insurance premiums. Think about what that means for your clients: A dashboard that benchmarks a network against the requirements and checklists used by cybersecurity insurance companies to set rates. A secure network AND lower insurance rates: That's a great combination! You can connect with Guardz at: https://guardz.com Request a Guardz Demo at https://guardz.com/schedule-a-meeting/ Karl asked about pricing and was pleased to find a very transparent, friendly pricing structure. Dor gives the pricing in the podcast, and it's posted clearly on the web site. In addition, you are not locked into longterm, inflexible contracts. Scale up and down as you need. Also check out the free internal-use licensing for MSPs. Learn it. Use it. And integrate Guardz into your solution. You get your free demo, free license, and some great sales tools at https://guardz.com. Check out the full podcast to hear Dor's advice on sales techniques and the response options for various clients and attack alerts. Connect with Guardz on social media at: YouTube -    https://www.youtube.com/@Guardz_com LinkedIn -    https://www.linkedin.com/company/guardz/ Twitter -    https://x.com/GuardzCyber Instagram -    https://www.instagram.com/guardz_cyber/ Facebook -    https://www.facebook.com/guardzcom/    About Dor Eisner Dor Eisner is the CEO and Co-Founder of Guardz, working to create a safer digital world for SMBs. Dor has over 20 years of experience in the field of cybersecurity. Prior to founding Guardz, Dor worked at IntSights, a Rapid7 company, as their VP of Business Development, as well as at Alarum Technologies as Director of Sales.  Dor began his career in cybersecurity in the Israeli Defense Force’s 8200 Unit as Cyber Security Team Lead.  About Guardz Guardz distinguishes itself in the cybersecurity market with the first AI-Native MDR solution that redefines security management for Managed Service Providers (MSPs) with an automated detection and response platform. It simplifies and strengthens security operations, enabling MSPs to protect their SMB customers against the ever-evolving cyber threat landscape. Guardz’s MDR empowers MSPs by integrating fragmented security controls into a cohesive, unified security ecosystem. By leveraging advanced artificial intelligence, the platform correlates data across multiple sources – such as dark web monitoring, email security, and cloud services – to detect threats at their earliest stages. This capability ensures that all security components, from user profiles to endpoint protection, work harmoniously, reducing the risk of overlooked vulnerabilities. Guardz’s cost-effective pricing reduces cybersecurity expenses by up to 75% compared to traditional solutions, making it accessible for businesses with lean IT teams. The platform also supports MSPs through the MSP Growth Hub, offering tools for business development, including ROI reports and AI-powered risk assessments. By combining innovation, affordability, and comprehensive protection, Guardz positions itself as a leader in the cybersecurity industry, empowering MSPs and their SMB clients to thrive in a safer digital world. Learn more at https://guardz.com. -- -- -- Thank you to Guardz for sponsoring this interview. :-)

Host James Kernan sits down with an exclusive interview with Tim Fitzpatrick, President of Rialto Marketing. Founded in 2012, Tim created Rialto with the vision of having a positive lasting impact on the businesses they work with. Tim believes there are three (3) critical elements of marketing: strategy, planning, and leadership. Having a passion for developing and growing businesses has allowed Tim and Rialto Marketing to accomplish groundbreaking marketing campaigns over the years.   ---  Our upcoming events and more: MASTERMIND LIVE – Denver, CO – Sept 26-27th http://bit.ly/kernanmastermind  Use “EARLYBIRD” as the coupon code to save $200!! SMBTechfest Q4 - Irvine, CA - October 17-18 www.smbtechfest.com Check out Amy’s weekly newsletter!  Sign up now: https://mailchi.mp/thirdtier/small-business-tech-news Kernan Consulting “Weekly Tips”!  Sign up now: https://kernanconsulting.com/   

Hosts James Kernan and Amy Babinchak kick off this week's episode with topics regarding big wins, Windows 10 End of Life, and an exclusive interview with Tim Fitzpatrick 1.) MSP Question of the Week: Can you share some big wins? Hosts James Kernan and Amy Babinchak sit down and discuss various successes and wins with clients over the years. ---  2.) 5 Minutes with a Smart Person Host James Kernan interviews Tim Fitzpatrick, the President of Rialto Marketing. Rialto provides marketing consulting and outsourced CMO services to help B2B professional service firms that need accelerated growth without the full-time cost. --- 3.) Notes On The News  This week, James and Amy discuss the Windows 10 End of Life deadline and marketing campaigns to try. ---  Our upcoming events and more: MASTERMIND LIVE – Denver, CO – Sept 26-27th http://bit.ly/kernanmastermind  Use “EARLYBIRD” as the coupon code to save $200!! SMBTechfest Q4 - Irvine, CA - October 17-18 www.smbtechfest.com Check out Amy’s weekly newsletter!  Sign up now: https://mailchi.mp/thirdtier/small-business-tech-news Kernan Consulting “Weekly Tips”!  Sign up now: https://kernanconsulting.com/

1.) The MSP Question of The Week - Do you have an entry level MSP offering? This week, James Kernan and Amy Babinchak sit down to discuss entry level MSP offerings. Does your company offer one? Hear James and Amy speak about the benefits and drawbacks that an entry-level MSP offering can have on your business. ---  2.) Notes on the News Discussion on Olympics: Athletics abilities Media giant TikTok’s response to the U.S. ban decision.  CNN article:  https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/27/tech/tiktok-response-to-us-ban/index.html --- Our upcoming events and more: MASTERMIND LIVE – Denver, CO – Sept 26-27th http://bit.ly/kernanmastermind  Use “EARLYBIRD” as the coupon code to save $200!! SMBTechfest Q4 - Irvine, CA - October 17-18 www.smbtechfest.com Check out Amy’s weekly newsletter!  Sign up now: https://mailchi.mp/thirdtier/small-business-tech-news  

Host James Kernan sits down with Kevin Lancaster and Matt Solomon of Channel Program, a platform designed to unify the IT Channel industry. Kevin Lancaster and Matt Solomon are the co-founders of Channel Program, a platform designed to unify the IT Channel industry. Kevin Lancaster has a strong background in the channel technology space. He previously served as the CEO of ID Agent, a cybersecurity company, which he grew significantly before its acquisition by Kaseya. Matt Solomon also has extensive experience in the industry. He worked alongside Kevin at ID Agent and later became the Channel Chief at Kaseya. Matt has spoken at over 150 industry events across six countries. Together, they launched Channel Program to create a collaborative, video-enabled platform for IT Service Providers and Vendors. Do you have any specific questions about their work or the Channel Program? Check them out: Channel Program | Home --- Our upcoming events and more: MASTERMIND LIVE – Denver, CO – Sept 26-27th http://bit.ly/kernanmastermind  Use “EARLYBIRD” as the coupon code to save $200!! SMBTechfest Q4 - Irvine, CA - October 17-18 www.smbtechfest.com Check out Amy’s weekly newsletter!  Sign up now: https://mailchi.mp/thirdtier/small-business-tech-news Kernan Consulting “Weekly Tips”!  Sign up now: https://kernanconsulting.com/  Our Social Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-kernan-varcoach/ https://www.facebook.com/james.kernan  

Host Karl got together with Jamie Levy, Director of Adversary Tactics from Huntress.  Jamie is also a longtime researcher, developer and board member of the Volatility Foundation. She has worked over 15 years in the digital forensics industry, conducting investigations as well as building out software solutions.  We got together to discuss the Huntress 2024 Threat Report. Download here: https://www.huntress.com/resources/2024-cyber-threat-report?utm_campaign=CY24-Q2-Threat-Report&utm_source=smb-community-podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=August-2024-threat-report Jamie walks us through some of the major trends, including important "take-downs" and ransomware trends. One interesting finds is that squishing down one threat leaves room for other threats to increase. Her analogy to apex predators in the animal world is excellent.  Karl's favorite quote from this interview (though scary): "The smaller businesses are the testbed" for malware writers. Why have a test network when you can use live machines as your testbed? If feels like we knew that. Now we know it for sure. Thanks to Huntress for their excellent 2024 Threat Report. Check out the full report while you listen. MSPs: Huntress has a great NFR program for professional consultants. Here's a link to their not-for-resale program for MSPs - Neighborhood Watch. This gives MSPs access to Huntress products for internal use to to level up their own protection -- whether they are a partner or not! https://www.huntress.com/neighborhood-watch-program/internal-license-request?utm_campaign=CY22-Q2-NFR-Neighborhood-Watch&utm_source=smb-community-podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=August-2024-threat-report Comments and questions welcome. -- -- --  This is a paid appearance. Thank you, Huntress, for supporting the SMB Community Podcast. :-)

Host James Kernan sits down with Baxter Lanius to discuss automating customer payments using the software tool, Alternative Payments. At Alternative Payments, their mission is to lower the barrier and make smarter payments accessible to one and all. More in-depth, Alternative Payments provides offline businesses the opportunity to participate in online transactions - enabling merchants to accept credit cards, ACH, and B2B PNPL, while accessing powerful reporting and analytics all-in-one. Check them out: Alternative Payments | Payments for service-based businesses --- Our upcoming events and more: MASTERMIND LIVE – Denver, CO – Sept 26-27th http://bit.ly/kernanmastermind  Use “EARLYBIRD” as the coupon code to save $200!! SMBTechfest Q4 - Irvine, CA - October 17-18 www.smbtechfest.com Check out Amy’s weekly newsletter!  Sign up now: https://mailchi.mp/thirdtier/small-business-tech-news Kernan Consulting “Weekly Tips”!  Sign up now: https://kernanconsulting.com/  Our Social Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-kernan-varcoach/ https://www.facebook.com/james.kernan