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Topic 1: AI Mayflower to Cross the Atlantic
This is a recreation of the Mayflower voyage with a 100% autonomous ship. Great for research and proof of concept.
The Smithsonian doesn’t talk about autonomous shipping vessels, but that might be an option going forward. There are currently very small crews on shipping vessels, but there might be some advantages with this technology.
Related Link:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/mayflower-england-400-celebrations-exhibit-180975850/
We update our burrito bet.
Topic 2: NFT – Non-fungible Token Artwork
By now you’ve heard of NFTs, particularly artwork stored with Etherium blockchain guarantee of authenticity. Sold on Rarible.com or similar web sites.
New wrinkle: As bitcoin hoarders attempt to invest in NFTs to avoid taxes, any system that helps organize and verify this data becomes a permanent record for governments that seek to tax.
Related Link:
https://www.theverge.com/2021/3/1/22308075/grimes-nft-6-million-sales-nifty-gateway-warnymph
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFD_8oDxw1k
https://www.wired.com/story/digital-currencys-popularity-rises-privacy-fears/
Topic 3: RMM/PSA from Tanium
Salesforce is announcing an RMM to be sold as an add-on to all of their installations. Dave thinks this is a contender for disrupting the MSP market. Is this just an enterprise/mid-market play, or will they be moving into SMB? We shall see.
Related Link:
https://www.channele2e.com/technology/management/tanium-salesforce-it-service-center/
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Note from our Sponsor:
Are you still using on-prem file servers and VPNs to share files with remote workers? Egnyte is a business class cloud sharing solution that works more like your on-prem server than other solutions. With a security first approach to file sharing and collaboration, Egnyte offers multiple options for sharing files and collecting files from outside sources. And do it all addressing data governance and compliance. Want to learn more? Check out Egnyte.com/msp, and when you do, tell them Killing IT sent you.
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Topic 1: What works, works: Big Tech Targets DC via Old-School Media
Facebook, Amazon, and Google ads are blanketing inside-the-Beltway newsletters in a bid to rehab their tarnished reputations.
The big tech companies are getting ready to do battle. So they need to soften up members of Congress. Here’s the interesting part: They didn’t use social media to get the job done. They used good old advertising . . . in newsletters.
Of course we use this to look at the whole “Big Data vs. Congress” debate going on right now.
Link:
https://www.wired.com/story/big-tech-targets-dc-with-digital-charm-offensive/
Topic 2: Security Breach at Security Camera Company
IoT security came under a major attack in March. 150,000 Verkada surveillance cameras compromised by super simple hack. The “victims” were as widespread as you can imagine: Jails, gyms, Tesla, and more.
Never, never sell an internet-connected device without adding an additional layer of cyber security. That’s why “value added” resellers and service providers exist!
Link:
Topic 3: Massive Data Center Fire in Strasbourg, France
OVHCloud, Europe’s largest cloud provider, has massive fire affecting multiple data centers. OVHcloud’s SBG2 data center in Strasbourg France was destroyed by a fire that also damaged SBG1. OVH manages four data centers on the same site, which we think is odd.
We look at several practices across industry and across the world.
Links:
https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/fire-destroys-ovhclouds-sbg2-data-center-strasbourg/
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Sponsor Memo:
Are you still relying on a frustrating patchwork of legacy solutions? Modernize your cybersecurity and data protection with Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud. It’s a single solution that combines backup, anti-malware, and endpoint protection management. As an MSP, you can easily improve clients’ security posture, eliminate complexity, and generate more recurring revenue. Learn more about Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud at Acronis.com.
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Brian talks risk appetite with James Bowers II, CEO and Chief Security and Information Officer with Input Output. James takes the 10,000 ft. view and breaks down risk, both quantitatively and qualitatively and then gives some good insights on determining where you are at and what really is needed for you to become compliant. In many cases we may already be well on our way.
Topic 1: Drone-Killing Drones
Great video from “Drone Hunter.” AI Powered Drone captures and eliminates drones over no-fly zones, concerts, football games, public addresses by politicians, etc. Karl notes that we hope California deploys these to take down drones flying around forest fires, endangering the pilots trying to fight fires.
Video here . . . scroll down a bit:
https://fortemtech.com/products/dronehunter/
Topic 2: Robots save people from drowning
One bot featured in this story. But toward the end you see there are several competitors. Who knew this is a market with growing competition? And that led us to look at robots that don’t save people: They fight!
Related Links:
https://newatlas.com/robotics/underwater-lifeguard-robot/
Topic 3: Microsoft Stumbles on the Vaccine Software Front
Several companies, including Microsoft, have failed to create great, rock-solid software to track vaccines. We wonder how this task is so complicated that the most successful software companies in the world can’t solve it.
Related Links:
Microsoft getting a black eye: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-28/microsoft-says-vaccine-tools-have-fallen-short-after-dc-snags
Using technology without the data: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/02/technology/college-coronavirus-tests.html
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Sponsor Memo:
PC Matic — Endpoint Security built on a zero trust philosophy, allowing only trusted applications and blocking all the rest. Light weight, simple to deploy, easy to manage, find out about PC Matic’s unique lead sharing program for MSPs backed by a prime-time national TV campaign. Together, we bring advanced security solutions combined with more than sales enablement … we bring actual leads. Find out more about PC Matic by visiting PCMatic.com/msp/
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There has been a lot of conversation about the explosive growth and awareness this pandemic has created for the IT channel. The elevation of MSPs to trusted business infrastructure advisor. Taking stock of our businesses as we move into 2021, Amy Luby, Head of Global Community with Acronis, Bill Morgan, Regional Sales Manager at Liongard and Jason Norton, Product Marketing Manager at Vipre Security discuss current pain points with Brian. The panel talks addressing the big picture and give some great insights on building an efficient and effective cybersecurity offering.
Greg Rosenberg, Senior Manager – Sales Engineering with Sophos gives us a clear and structured approach to building out a robust security stack. With Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence at the crux of our security tools conversations, Greg provides clarity on the difference between the two and how you can adopt and have not only valuable but productive conversations with your clients.
Topic 1: ChannelPro State of the Channel survey
Bruised but roaring back? We you bruised in 2020? Is this a real reflection of the real channel? Or is this a sampling issue?
As always, we think research is good. You just need to be careful about what the results mean. We discuss. And we give a few thoughts on eternal optimism – pro and con. We look forward to concrete house mod kits . . . and more.
Related Link:
http://digital.channelprosmb.com/publication/?m=24576&i=691606&p=18
Topic 2: 3D printed home. 1,500 sq feet. $299K
We’re not sure how much the printer cost – but the houses are serious. The story here is from New York, so the price point of $300,000 is a serious value. We haven’t covered 3D printing much, but this is just cool.
Related Link:
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/25/you-can-now-buy-a-3d-printed-home-heres-a-look-inside.html
Topic 3: Paying for news in Australia . . .
News agencies are finally pushing back on letting social media giants redistribute their product for free. Magazines and newspapers have mis-played the Internet opportunity for twenty-five years. Now they’ve decided to try to make money.
Australia passed a law forcing the major social media outlets to pay for news. In response, Google said “okay” and Facebook threatened to pull out of the country.
Social media have been taking advantage of content creators since day one. It may have taken twenty years longer than expected, but a realistic balance is probably on the way. The U.S. is a follower and not a leader on this front. So keep an eye on Australia.
Please see previous episodes: The Splinternet continues to splinter!
Related Link:
https://www.wired.com/story/plaintext-australia-facebook-google/
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Sponsor Memo:
Gozynta Mobius – the easiest way for ConnectWise Manage and QuickBooks online to connect. Keep invoices, expenses, and inventory automatically updated right from Manage to QuickBooks Online, and payments right back into Manage. With simple pricing, set it and forget it auto sync, Gozynta Mobius delivers with no restrictions on the number of invoices, expenses and payments, and plays well with others like ConnectBooster. Trusted by over a thousand MSPs. now introducing a free plan, go to gozynta.com/mobius, and tell them Killing IT sent you.
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Covid is certainly driving both change and growth for IT Service Providers. While scaling your business is always exciting, managing that scale is critical to your long-term success.
IT Channel veteran and Vice President of the Cloud Business Unit at D&H Distributing, Jason Bystrak, chats with Brian about the role distribution plays in cybersecurity and how this can help MSPs grow and effectively manage their offerings. Jason talks about their new XaaS (Everything as a Service) business model and how IT Service Providers can leverage this to not only grow their business but immediately increase their cash flow.
Topic 1: Zoom begins the next wave . . . getting back to the office
We were impressed with Zoom’s announcement of touch-free office connections for receptionist via Zoom. What other emerging technologies can we look forward to as we emerge from the pandemic? Remember: Innovation and technology both affect culture and are affected by culture.
Related Link:
Topic 2: Texas Electricity
You heard about Texas’ problem with electricity. If not, follow the link below. We’re tempted to draw an analogy to the availability question regarding bandwidth. And we are reminded: All this stuff costs money!
On what this means for the bigger picture, tune into Dave’s point at 18:45 . . . There’s a great analogy here to zero trust access to data and security.
Background on the Texas electrical grid and why it’s not connected to the rest of the U.S.: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Interconnection
TXU – Your Texas Electricity Company https://www.txu.com/
Texas Public Utilities Commission https://www.puc.texas.gov/
Topic 3: Episode 1 revisit on Ethics
At Show 100, we harken back to Episode 1, in which we addressed ethics and Artificial Intelligence. It turns out, that’s still a relevant discussion. See the last several shows.
Technologists always have to balance what we can do and what we should do. After all, the technology we love can grow much faster than our understanding of the ethics related to that technology.
. . . And, of course, we give an update on the Drone vs. Robots delivering pizzas and burritos.
What do you think? Give us your feedback.
Sponsor Note:
Are you still using on-prem file servers and VPNs to share files with remote workers? Egnyte is a business class cloud sharing solution that works more like your on-prem server than other solutions. With a security first approach to file sharing and collaboration, Egnyte offers multiple options for sharing files and collecting files from outside sources. And do it all addressing data governance and compliance. Want to learn more? Check out https://Egnyte.com, and when you do, tell them Killing IT sent you.
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This is a replay session from our virtual event last month. Catch the full video presentation at IoTSSA.com
Cybersecurity defenders face unprecedented challenges today. Attacks continue to increase in complexity and destructive power, all while remaining stealthier. Join Sophos Sr. Research Scientist, John Shier, for a talk about the current threat landscape including, the tools, tactics, and procedures being used by cybercriminals at both ends of the skill spectrum. Learn about the key indicators of compromise that can be used to discover active adversaries in the network and provide some insights on how to better protect your organization in the coming year.
