Overview:

In this episode of the SMB Community Podcast, hosts James and Amy delve into best practices for conducting employee reviews, emphasizing regular feedback and separating reviews from raises. The hosts also cover recent cybersecurity news, highlighting a ransomware attack on Ingram Micro and the ongoing saga with TikTok's ownership changes and cybersecurity compliance.

---

Chapter Markers:

00:00 Introduction

00:32 4th of July Weekend Recap

04:20 MSP Question of the Week: How Often Should You Conduct Employee Reviews?

12:13 Ingram Micro Ransomware Attack

17:30 TikTok's New US App

19:59 Upcoming Events and Announcements

21:51 Conclusion

---

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

Overview:

In this week's episode of the SMB Community Podcast, hosts Amy and James discuss the value of peer groups for MSP business owners, emphasizing their role in solving operational challenges. They highlight how different peer groups focus on various aspects like sales, marketing, and technical support. The duo also covers recent news including the Iranian-Israeli cyber conflict's implications for MSPs, Nvidia's stock performance, and Canada's trade tax developments. Additionally, they discuss a significant decline in Windows desktop use and Reddit's stance against AI-generated content. To wrap up, they share details on valuable promotions from industry experts and remind listeners to sign up for relevant newsletters and mastermind groups.

---

Chapter Markers:

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

01:37 Question of the Week: Peer Groups for MSP Business Owners

08:01 Book Recommendation: Unreasonable Hospitality

12:19 Event Highlights: Mastermind Event in Omaha

15:08 Current Events: Iranian-Israel Conflict and Cybersecurity

17:18 Tech News: Nvidia Stock and Canada-US Trade Talks

19:37 Industry Trends: Decline of Windows Desktops

24:42 Reddit's War Against AI

27:11 Promotions and Free Offerings for IT Professionals

29:06 Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks

---

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

Overview:

In this episode of the SMB Community Podcast, hosts James and Amy have a jam-packed agenda. They start off discussing the ongoing heatwave affecting various parts of the country before diving into critical cybersecurity concerns related to the U.S.'s recent conflict with Iran. They emphasize the importance of securing critical infrastructure against potential cyberattacks. They then tackle the challenge of attracting and retaining top talent, highlighting the importance of work-life integration, competitive compensation, and a strong company culture with unique perks. Additionally, they stress the urgency of upgrading Windows 10 machines to Windows 11 to ensure security and compliance. The podcast concludes with announcements about upcoming industry events and a giveaway featuring valuable resources for MSPs.

---

Chapter Markers:

00:00 Introduction and Hosts Welcome

02:22 Cybersecurity Alert: US-Iran Conflict

04:16 MSP Question of the Week: Attracting and Retaining Top Talent

13:00 Windows 10 to Windows 11 Upgrade Urgency

16:52 MSP Upcoming Events

19:44 Conclusion and Farewell

---

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

Overview:

In this episode of the SMB Community Podcast, hosts James and Amy are back to delve into a series of key topics for IT professionals and managed service providers (MSPs). They discuss the recent CloudFlare outage and its relatively minimal impact on businesses, emphasizing the importance of adaptability. The episode's main focus is on how MSPs can stand out and provide value in a competitive and commoditized market by emphasizing unique selling propositions and customer-centric strategies. They also touch on the implications of leadership changes at Southwest Airlines and their potential impact on the airline's unique value proposition. Economic updates and their effects on business growth are reviewed, along with the continued significance of robust marketing efforts. The episode wraps up with lighter discussions about wildlife challenges in gardening and wishes for a happy Father's Day.

---

Chapter Markers:

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:44 CloudFlare Outage Discussion

02:20 MSP Question of the Week: Standing Out in a Low-Cost World

11:54 Southwest Airlines Changes

15:59 Economic Update and Marketing Tips

18:26 Community Announcements and Freebies

22:26 Father's Day Reflections and Closing Remarks

---

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

Overview:

In this episode of the SMB Community Podcast, hosts James and Amy discuss various topics relevant to the IT and MSP community. The hosts delve into a listener's question on the advisability of borrowing money for business growth, discussing potential pitfalls and safer investment strategies, particularly in mergers and acquisitions. The episode also covers significant industry news, such as the surprising appointment of Rania Sukar as the new CEO of Kaseya, speculating on what changes she might bring to the company. Amy and James share further insights into differentiating MSPs through AI, business direction, and technical leadership, emphasizing the importance of tailoring services to clients' specific business goals. They also discuss financial planning, highlighting trends in 401k savings and offering advice on retirement planning for business owners.

---

Chapter Markers:

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:24 Weekend Catch-Up

03:18 MSP Question of the Week: Should a business borrow money for business growth?

06:35 Industry News: New CEO for Kaseya

11:22 Differentiating MSPs in 2025

18:58 Financial Health and Retirement Planning for MSP Owners

27:34 Upcoming Events

29:31 Conclusion and Sign-Off

---

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

Overview:

In this episode of the SMB Community Podcast, hosts Amy and James discuss how to retain key employees during company acquisitions, sharing real-life experiences and effective strategies such as retention bonuses and clear role definitions. They also delve into the benefits of a four-day workweek, the importance of NFR programs for software vendors, and advancements in AI for ad generation and management. Additional topics include the emotional impact on employees during an acquisition and recent tech industry news, including AI adoption and its governance challenges.

---

Chapter Markers:

00:00 Introduction and Host Greetings

00:35 Weekend Recap

02:04 MSP Question of the Week: Key Employee Retention During Acquisitions

08:53 Listener Questions and Contact Information

09:34 News Highlights: AI and IT Industry Updates

17:08 Discussion on Four-Day Work Week

26:21 Upcoming Event: Ask Anything on Mergers and Acquisitions

27:35 Closing Remarks

---

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

Overview:

In this episode of the SMB Community Podcast, hosts James and Amy discuss their Memorial Day experiences before diving into a deep discussion about the future of Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and the impact of AI on the industry. They examine predictions for 2026, including the staggering forecast that 75% of MSP services will be delivered by AI within the next few years. They emphasize the importance for MSPs to innovate and adapt to stay relevant. The episode also covers recent news, including a significant partnership between Qualcomm and Dell, updates on legal issues faced by Delta Airlines and CrowdStrike, and an overview of the Gartner Magic Quadrant for 2025 in the security sector. The hosts also share personal updates and upcoming events, including James Kernan's Mastermind live event and Amy's new portable Starlink Mini for connectivity on the go.

---

Chapter Markers:

00:00 Introduction and Hosts Welcome

01:25 MSP Question of the Week: Predictions for 2026

02:40 Impact of AI on MSP Services

04:55 Challenges and Opportunities for MSPs

14:24 CrowdStrike and Delta Airlines Incident

16:40 AI in the News: Qualcomm and Dell Partnership

20:42 Gartner Magic Quadrant for 2025

22:37 Upcoming Events and Announcements

24:21 Starlink Mini Purchase and Plans

26:01 Conclusion and Farewell

---

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

Overview:

In this episode of the SMB Community Podcast, hosts James and Amy discuss the viability of selling small MSP practices, emphasize the growing market for small MSP sales, and suggest dual strategies for business growth through acquisitions and marketing. The conversation covers Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett's step down and the impact of AI on the job market. They also highlight updates in Microsoft Windows 11 and new features in the Office suite. Lastly, the hosts introduce 'Fizz,' a new party planning app by Instacart, tailored for shared orders and delivery, aiming to simplify gatherings.

1. Warren Buffet is stepping down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway – will remain chairman

Berkshire Hathaway is preparing for its first leadership change in 60 years after 94-year-old Warren Buffett announced that he will step down as CEO at the end of 2025

2. AI Trends -- 95% CIOs increasing spend on AI tools

39% let go employees and 55% regret it…

This is a HUGE opportunity for MSP’s to learn/market AI as a service

3. Microsoft updates: Windows 11 update and Office a after book

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/microsoft-to-preload-word-minutes-after-boot/ar-AA1E0qSB

---

Chapter Markers:

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

02:18 MSP Question of the Week

08:36 Warren Buffett Steps Down

12:02 AI Trends and Impacts

17:47 Microsoft Updates

20:24 Fun with New Apps

23:08 Conclusion and Sign-Off

---

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