Geek Speak

Harry Brelsford and Jesse Miller discuss the evolution of MSP (Managed Service Provider) events, noting a preference for smaller, interactive workshops over large conferences. Jesse, founder of Power PSA Consulting, explains their "Power Grid VC" operating system for MSPs, which includes go-to-market planning and risk management. Jesse also shares his dual life as a farmer with a hobby farm and a family. They touch on the impact of AI on MSP services, emphasizing the need for MSPs to evolve into business guides and profitably offer VCIO, VCISO, and AI consulting services. Harry concludes by wishing Jesse a safe trip to Orlando.

Harry Brelsford and Howard Cohen discuss the evolving landscape of AI and its impact on managed service providers (MSPs). Howard highlights his Substack, "Agentic MSP," which focuses on AI's practical applications for MSPs, emphasizing the need for MSPs to adapt their pricing strategies to incorporate AI's efficiency. They touch on the challenges of being early adopters, using Nvidia and Intel as examples. Howard plans to cover AI's influence on pricing in his next post, advocating for value-based pricing. Harry suggests the potential for a monthly podcast to delve deeper into these topics, underscoring the importance of personal branding in setting higher prices and delivering greater value.

Harry Brelsford and Tim Golden discuss their experiences at the first official GT iA Channel Con event in Nashville, highlighting the positive feedback about the venue and content. Tim, a former MSP now working as a compliance vendor, shares his career journey and the importance of risk assessments and policy documentation for MSPs. He mentions a recent acquisition that added a Professional Services Division to augment MSPs' capabilities. Tim also outlines upcoming events, including shows in Canada and Tampa, emphasizing the level playing field for vendors at GT iA events.

Houston we have a PROBLEM with the SMB MSP ecosystem.

Last week at NASA Houston the full AI paradigm shift in the MSP community was laid out at the Thread AI Service Unleashed Conference like NASA did eons ago when folks said it couldn’t be done. Thread is arbitraging the opportunity to lean forward into the future for MSPs like NASA did for space travel. FYI - everyone enjoyed the format as a sub-100 attendee gathering that was intellectually intimate. At the same time,

Join Dave Doerre and tech expert Grace Schroeder on Smart Company as they sit down with **Harry Brelsford, the visionary founder of SMB Nation**. Discover Harry's incredible journey from working on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline to **buying an Apple II Plus in 1982 for $3,500 (nearly $14,000 today!)**, getting in early with tech, and building a global community for Microsoft Small Business Server. In this must-watch episode, Harry reveals:

Michelle Hodges, the new Senior Vice President for Global Channels and Alliances at Barracuda, discussed her recent role and the company's strategic direction. Barracuda has been under the radar but has been investing in its portfolio and teams, launching four new products in the past two and a half months, including managed security, vulnerability management, ID backup, and XDR 24/7 managed SOC. Hodges highlighted the importance of consolidating cybersecurity solutions into a single platform, as evidenced by a recent MSP study. She also mentioned Barracuda's global presence and hybrid work environment, emphasizing the importance of in-person engagement with customers and partners.

I’m past mid-point in the book “Far from Home” by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and my lifelong friend dating back to the Alaska daze Charles “Coolie” Wohlforth. The quality of the writing and editing continue to impress me. And, again, I’m compartmentalized reading the book itself and when I finish I’ll have plenty to say about “the vote” that Lisa cast on July 3, 2025. Soon I’ll run a Lisa approval poll and post the results in my final comments after I finish the book) 

Geeks gotta live life to the fullest and have fun where we can find it. As a tech exec, summer was also a fantastic time to participate in festivals, events, reading and (gasp) vacation time. It’s also when a lot of worthy causes deserve your geek love. 

 In the past, myself and family participated in numerous multi-day bikeathons for numerous causes such raising pledges for the National MS Society. Most recently I participated in and completed (see the pic yay!) the American Cancer Society’s July 2025 5-mile Swim Challenge here in the Texas Hill Country outside Austin. 

 The SMB MSP community was built on exactly that: community. Over the epoch from SBS and beyond, we’ve always come together in different ways depending on the need. Here are a few past and present examples. 

 MSP Navy

We rallied the geeks to assist with Hurricanes Katrina and Harvey. In NOLA with Katrina it was legendary SBS MVP Jeff Middleton leading the way in his hometown. So inspired we were that a few SBSers went to New Orleans to assist. 

Mine is “Far From Home” by Lisa Murkowski and Charles Wohlforth. It’s the story of senior US Senator Murkowski’s journey growing up in Alaska to a long-time tenure in the US Senate. I’ve just completed chapter one and will periodically check-in with you from bucolic coffee shops in the Texas Hill Country. Such is life as we recover from the devastating floods in the region. 

Overview

Harry Brelsford and Dux Raymond Sy discuss the latest developments at Avepoint, a global leader in data security, data resilience, and data governance. AvePoint has introduced new features on its Elements platform to help managed service providers (MSPs) scale their business in data security and IT management across various platforms like Microsoft, Google, and Salesforce. Dux, the Chief Brand Officer, highlights the importance of data security for AI and the company's 20-year history. He also mentions AvePoint partner program, launched three years ago, and its success in helping partners build new services and recurring revenue. Dux shares his recent travels to Europe and emphases the growing demand for AI and data security solutions.

Ever wondered what to do with all those Amazon boxes you receive with consumable product goods (CPG) that nearly (ok all) readers receive. Sure the easy answer is to trot them thar boxes to the green recycling receptacle, flat ‘em and toss ‘em in without a second thought. 

But there is another way and I learned it from the smarty PhD pants in Los Alamos, NM (home to the National Labs). Instead of recycling the cardboard boxes, how about reuse? 

Welcome to the Maker Movement 2.0

It’s very simple and I don’t need 800+ words to lay it out. But seeing that a lot of my audience is in Texas and surrounding southern states, I’m going to go REAL SLOW.