With IT Nation Connect Global only a week away, we wanted to share some of the workshops and the value frameworks play in helping shift the conversations about cybersecurity from speed and feeds to Risk. Josh Hohbein of CentrixIT to get his perspectives and why he is so passionate about helping other MSPs and their clients better understand how frameworks help and the importance of the GTIA Cybersecurity Trustmark.
First ever monlogue with CJ... I recap some of the things I found to be of interest over the past few weeks with Pax8 EMEA and ChannelCon EMEA... Tell some stories and then looking forward to MSP Global. This one is short and sweet and I hope you find some entertainement in it.
Incident Response Planning and tabletop exercises have been discussed on the show several times. However, how do you get culture adoption and buy-in from all staff? I sit down with Amanda Lachapelle of Auvik to talk about IR Games, how to do them, and the importance of doing them, not just internally but also with your clients.
A Discussion around the global proliferation of cybersecurity and technology events, noting regional differences, the heavy concentration of events in October, and the increasing overlap in topics and audiences. Chris and Henry Timm of Phantom Technology Solutions also reviewed the agendas and standout features of key events they plan to attend—PAX8 Beyond, Channel EMEA, and MSP Global—highlighting session themes, notable speakers, and unique elements shaping the month’s cybersecurity dialogue.
Pax8 Beyond EMEA 2025 is less than a week away, and I wanted to take a minute to talk about the cyber sessions. What Matt Lee, of Pax8, is doing (today's guest), specifically his AI and CTF session. We might drift a bit in our conversation and go down a deep rabbit hole when setting up a home lab on the cheap. Enjoy!
Using a framework to assess a client is a great way to baseline security and compliance. We explore the challenges, hurdles, and best outcomes when you look at who is responsible for different pieces. Some safeguards can only be implemented or addressed by the MSP. Other safeguards require the participation of both MSP and the client. Lastly, some safeguards require the client to lead. Jim Harryman of Kinetic Technology Group shares their approach to get the desired outcome.
At Channelcon25, I was able to capture a few of our members in some in-person interviews on different topics. Dustin Bolander of Beltex Insurance had some really interesting insights that I wanted to share before we get to cybersecurity month.
Identity is who we are, and it is constantly being subjected to many different threats. I sat down with Kristen Costagliola CTO at Syncro, to talk about the challenges and some of the solutions to help MSPs and their clients make good decisions about protecting their identity.
In the current threat landscape, one can easily become overwhelmed. I sat down with Noam Morginstin, founder of Exigence, to talk about realistic ways MSPs can begin building their Incident Response Plan and how to tackle successful Tabletop Exercises and prepare for resilience.
If you are an MSP, there is probably at least one tool in both the physical space and the digital space that you were just awestruck when you finally got your hands on it. I sit down with Charles Love of ShowTech Solutions to talk about some tools from the wayback days and how the tools today are in some ways truly transformational in how they save us time, make us more accurate, and help us take better care of our clientsIf you are a Managed Service Provider (MSP), you likely have experienced a moment of awe when you finally got your hands on a tool—whether it was in the physical realm or the digital space. I recently sat down with Charles Love from ShowTech Solutions to discuss some of the tools from the past and how today's tools are truly transformational. They save us time, enhance our accuracy, and allow us to provide better care for our clients..
How do you get your clients to take cybersecurity seriously? I sat down with Ann Westerheim of Ekaru to discuss strategies for helping MSP clients improve their cybersecurity posture.
Getting to compliance... Do you end up with more to do because you have the GTIA Cybersecurity Trustmark Assured? I sit down with Chase Griffin with ShowTech Solutions to talk about their experience and what has transpired since achieving Assured status and how that changed their outlook on improving their compliance to a standard and setting them up to be resilient.
When a client is hit with ransomware, it can be paralyzing. After the tabletop exercises carried out at #ChannelCon25, Jason Comstock of Clarity Technology Solutions explored ransomware and the path to recovery. Stay tuned to the end for Jason's after-action report.
With more than 100 attendees for a full day of networking and learning. The TD preday and another 30+ next door for MSP-Ignite peer group facilitated discussions, it was a learning and growing experience for all. I sat down with Roddy B. of ShureWeb to get his take and perspective. We went off script a few times, and I'll be sure to bring some more insights in future episodes. Insights to be had for sure all the way around.
Charles Love of ShowTech Solutions and I sit down to discuss Channelcon25. Why you should attend and a preview of some of the sessions. From MSP-Ignite and their peer group style conversations to Tech Degenerates and many other communities coming together for a Monday Pre-day and then rolling into the daily agenda, centered, of course, on sessions that pertain to Cybersecurity and perhaps a path to developing the skills to help you on your GTIA Cybersecurity Trustmark journey.
With some of the recent events in the ransomware space, I had a chance to hear firsthand from Dave Alton of Strategic Integrated Resources. I asked the question, "What is concerning you today?" This discussion has some action items that you can do with your own clients. Whether you are dealing with business email compromise, wire fraud, or are just worried about a vendor, you will want to listen in as Dave shares. Also, stay tuned to the end. ChannelCon and the Tech Degenerates preday is less than 2 weeks away.
Cybersecurity Insurance and Risk Management are generally conversations we avoid in the ITSP space, but with recent events, Matt Lee and I sit down to talk about how the two complement each other, the pitfalls, and some tips for protecting yourself through both.
With more than 30 ITSPs through their first assessment cycle, I wanted to take some time to get feedback on why it is an important process for any ITSP. A raw conversation with someone who will pull no punches on providing feedback as it pertains to the Trustmark and the history of what Trustmarks have come out of GTIA for its members. Charles Love of ShowTech Solutions provides significant insights that allow everyone to find at least one nugget.
The challenges and opportunities facing Managed Service Providers (MSPs) in 2025 are ever-changing, and the twists and turns keep any MSP on their toes. As I sat down with Brian Rodgers of Aeko Tech, we discussed several topics and found ourselves hitting on a recurring trend: the ever-evolving role of AI in business operations. Here are the four areas we covered: Client Education - If they don't understand the why, they tend not to comply. Entrepreneurial Resistance - You have heard it before, "I got this." Compliance misunderstandings - Attempting to check a box when asked to have a risk mitigation strategy, and last... Customization over productization - which translates to compliance solutions, must be tailored: one-size-fits-all packages often fall short.
Where does my data go? What data was sent across the API? How do we separate the signal from the noise? Pedro Castillo of Onum and I sit down to talk about what might be the subsequent transformation of data processing since Akamai came on the scene. Onum's mission is to address the challenges in data management and cybersecurity. Enjoy our raw conversation, which just got captured; we agreed to share it immediately.
