We're back for Q3 2024. Quick question of the day ... then onto the topics of the day.

Topic 1: MIT Releases the AI Risk Repository

Thanks to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for a major resource. It's definitely more for you than your clients. But we see great opportunity here.

The public database contains 700+ risks as documented by published papers. It includes many categories, based on severity and other variables.

Check it out here: https://airisk.mit.edu/

You can poke around online and gets some good information. Or download the entire database in Excel format. You can then sort, color code, or do whatever you want with the data.

And that includes providing educationi and training for your clients

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Topic 2: Shocker - Google Has a Monopoly on Search!

Okay, not really a shocker. But does it matter that a judege says so?

Does anyone care (other than other search engines)? Would breaking up Google change anything? What is most likely to actually happen (e.g., Microsoft-like consent decree)? The 1984 AT&T breakup into seven baby Bells may help us see 40 years into the future

As usual, we discuss.

Related Link:
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/13/technology/google-monopoly-antitrust-justice-department.html

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Topic 3: NIST Releases Cryptography for Quantum Computing

See https://www.axios.com/2024/08/13/nist-post-quantum-cryptography-encryption.

Quantum computing has been ten years away . . . for more than forty years. Besides the “no harm to update,” how much attention do we really need to give to quantum computing?

We have three different perspective on how much this "news" matters. As usual. What do you think?

Topic 1: Massive Botnet Network Taken Down

Police coordinated by the European Union's justice and police agencies have taken down computer networks responsible for spreading ransomware via infected emails, in what they called the biggest-ever international operation against the lucrative form of cybercrime.

The European Union's judicial cooperation agency, Eurojust, said that police arrested four “high value” suspects, took down more than 100 servers and seized control of over 2,000 internet domains.

Related Link: https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/massive-international-police-operation-takes-ransomware-networks-arrests-110667670

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Topic 2: AI Update, because We Have To

Are strategies emerging?

Amazon is a brokerage for models
Microsoft is doing CoPilot
OpenAI is everywhere
Apple just announced Apple Intelligence
Cisco announces a pile of stuff

Is there a “killer app” coming soon?

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Topic 3: How is the M&A Frenzy affecting SMB IT?

Google “m&a in it consulting” and you’ll find articles, events, advice, and a whole lot people scrambling for the almighty dollar.

Are the KPIs used in business acquisition really the KPIs you should be using to run a solid, long-term business?

The most common way that small businesses “end” are 1) Walk away, and 2) Sell the client list. None of those people are getting 3x profit or even 3x EBITDA. Should they change their business or just keep doing what they’re doing?

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Sponsor Memo: IT Service Provider University

This episode is Sponsored by Karl’s next big class at IT Service Provider University.

The five-week course, Core Standard Operating Procedures for Small IT Service Providers, starts July 2nd and costs only $399. This class walks through the most important processes and procedures you need to run a successful, profitable IT company. And best of all, you get massive handouts as a "first draft" for your own SOP library.

More information at https://www.itspu.com/all-classes/classes/core-operating-procedures/

:-)

Check out the bonus Killing IT content on MSP Radio's Business of Tech podcast! Today's a great day to subscribe to that: https://www.businessof.tech/subscribe/

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Topic 1: The Current State of Mergers, Acquisition, and MSP Consolidation

Mergers and Acquisitions are alive and well in the MSP channel. Jay McBain from Canalys predicts a growth of M&A of 50% in 2024. In addition to MSPs themselves, he says that we’ll see some major vendors acquired as well.

The promise of these larger organizations is always that they’ll bring efficiency and profit. So far, that hasn’t happened. But that’s the promise.

Karl thinks this is a GREAT marketing opportunity for MSPs.

Related Links:
https://greenwichgp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/MA-Demand-for-Managed-Service-Providers-in-2024.pdf

https://www.channelfutures.com/mergers-acquisitions/msp-m-a-staying-hot-what-to-expect

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Topic 2: The Practical Application for AI in Small Business

Are we there yet?

While AI is the most popular topic in technology, the question remains: what can we use AI for that will produce actual business value? Some industries have made great progress with AI, including manufacturing and medicine. According to a recent study, more than 93% of manufacturers (from start-ups to global giants) are already using AI in some form.

What are the implications and opportunities for MSPs and solution providers to sell their services to manufacturing clients? And what lessons can we learn to accelerate the adoption of AI in other industries?

Related Link:
https://research.aimultiple.com/manufacturing-ai/

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Topic 3: How to best use predictions and analysis from guys like us.

Summary of the Larry Walsh article linked below: “IT spending growth projections should be taken with caution as they are directional and subject to change. While major analyst firms forecast healthy growth, the market is not uniformly strong, with several countries experiencing recession. Partner confidence is also dampened due to negative macroeconomic trends. Despite fluctuations in forecasts, investors, vendors, and partners rely on them for strategic planning. Channelnomics predicts conditions in the first half of 2024 to resemble 2023, with substantial improvement in the second half. Robust growth in IT spending is expected in 2025 and potentially 2026, driven by investments in artificial intelligence, data management services, and infrastructure refreshes.”

Article by Larry Walsh, Channelnomics:
https://channelnomics.com/taking-it-spending-forecasts-with-grain-of-salt/

See also:
"With a projected 6.8% surge in global IT investment in 2024, organizations are positioned at the brink of transformative growth. According to Gartner, worldwide IT spending it expected to total $5 trillion in 2024. This represents a 6.8 percent increase over 2023. And while this is an increase, it’s down from the previous forecast of 8 percent."
https://www.teamdynamix.com/strategic-it-spending-in-2024-navigating-growth-and-innovation/

:-)