Geek Speak

Reconnected recently with Austin-based Tim Brown (who I knew back in the SolarWinds days). He’s out and about doing new things as well all do in tech. In my conversation, Brown articulated the clearest actionable strategy for SMB MSPs about making AI “real” beyond ChatGPT cartoon characters. He is suggesting you take a step back, go old school and engage in tried-and-true penetration testing (PEN TESTING) with your clients. This adds real value to the relationship.

Head nerd Marc-Andre Tanguay, Sr. Manager at N-able, shared the history of the nerds program at N-Able. It was created six years ago by Tanguay to help people with troubleshooting and training as examples. The cultural paradigm for the nerds was “when other’s say no we say yes.” Tanguay shared. He said that the nerds program is committed to reinventing itself every year to stay relevant. This program has eight nerds on staff which is a hellva investment commitment to something that can’t be easily measured.

Looking forward to the second half of 2026, the nerds are committed to even more events.

Ed. Head Nerd Chris Massey is keeping the lights on at N-Able driving it’s partners to think beyond bit and bytes and speeds and feeds with its executive programs as part of the business transformation initiative. His five-year effort has resulted in these pillars:

• Executive Roundtable
• Business Transformation
• Operational Benchmark
• Growth Program that includes broader benchmarking and growth surveys.
• And more

I will repeat! This was my first time at Zero Trust World. I learned a thang or three hehe. It focuses on teaching security professionals how to implement Zero Trust security and defend against modern cyberattacks. The event was held in early March 2026 in Orlando at the Rosen Shingle Creek hotel and conference center. 

Harry Brelsford and Danny Obaseki discuss Danny's role at K Zero, a company focused on passwordless authentication for MSPs and their clients. Danny explains K Zero's all-in-one authentication suite, which aims to improve password hygiene, integrate password managers, and eventually eliminate passwords through biometrics. K Zero offers NFR (Not for Resale) licenses to partners, allowing them to use and understand the product better. Harry expresses interest in trying the product, particularly for its mobile support. Danny provides contact information for further inquiries and mentions K Zero's recent activities, including attending a hockey game in Montreal.

Happy New Year! Just several days left to participate in our SMB MSP community survey! We’ve enjoyed a robust response and just need a few more participants to close it out and generate a final report. Why participate? First of all our SMB Nation community and ecosystem needs members and others to go old school and help! Second, you might learn a few things are you complete this. 

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.