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Welcome to the MSP Radio newsletter, catching you up on some stories you might have missed! Each week we'll pull a few stories from the podcasts, give you highlights and insights, and make it easy for you to catch up on the latest news and commentary.
Share the newsletter and podcast with your colleagues, and help change the conversation around delivering technology services.
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Tech Lessons Post Brexit
From Thursday, Feb 20th's Business of Tech Podcast: Google has announced that it is changing the data controller for its UK Data to Google LLC, which places it under the jurisdiction of US regulators. This is coming after the UK’s exit from the EU. According to Reuters, the change does potentially remove GDPR protections for US citizens, and could allow the US’s recent Cloud Act to make it easier for British authorities to access data. However, the story also notes that UK privacy rules will still apply regardless of the fact that requests for data are now handled in the US rather than Ireland, where they were previously managed.
The Verge contacted the UK’s data oversight group, the Information Commissioner’s Office, and confirmed that any UK data is still covered by the UK’s existing regulations.
At the same time, data from the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency claims that 140 companies have moved to the Netherlands, and 78 did so in 2019. The agency claims it is talking to another 425 businesses from the UK, US and Asia about shifting their operations or expanding into the Dutch market as a result of Brexit.
Why do we care?
This is the “so it begins” moment for Brexit and the changes to laws.
Didn’t take long for Google to start moving data control around. I certainly don’t expect this to be the last. If you’re an international company doing business across these boundaries, these are the decisions you’ll be making.
Additionally, if you used the UK as your base of operations for Europe, you’re moving. That’s to be expected. The Netherlands is a logical place to relocate. This is just the beginning.
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That Dark web hack? Turns out it was an inside job
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Turns out the discovery of a MSP's details on the Dark Web was an inside job. What can we learn from that?
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The Coronavirus impacts tech conferences
From Friday, Feb 21st's episode: Mobile World Congress was cancelled due to the coronavirus, and continuing that are a number of updates.
IBM has pulled out of RSA due to concern over the virus… making a total of eight sponsors or exhibitors having now withdrawn.
Intel has postponed briefing sessions at its San Francisco tech summit on the 12th and 13th of March, and is cancelling its partner event in Milan which was scheduled for 3-5 March. Facebook has cancelled its global marketing gathering, scheduled for San Francisco next month.
Fortinet cancelled its partner event in Barcelona, Extreme Networks cancelled its partner conference in Asia, and a Fintech conference in India this month was cancelled.
Sony’s Playstation group and Facebook Gaming/Oculus have withdrawn from this year’s Game Developers Conference, and Facebook is planning to make announcements around the same time via digital formats.
Why do we care?
I talked about the impact to the supply chain this week as week, and here’s another impact.
I want to offer a thought. What if these companies find out they didn’t need all of these events? Often times there’s a FOMO to event choices – you fear not being there. But if the events go away… will you find another way? And will it be cheaper, or more effective?
Will strategies change based on this string of events? In many cases, it’s not as if revenue targets or sales targets or business directions will change – and so companies will be innovative and try new things.
What if those are more effective?
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Lessons from UI Designers
From Friday, Feb 21st's episode: This comes from UX Design, and is by designer Michal Malewicz with the title “I redesigned the infamous IOWA App in 30 minutes”
This article is a really good analysis of UI design.The app includes UI design flaws right from the start, including the label needing to be above the login field, text being too small to avoid the zoom effect, the button being too small for touch, misformatted screens and misaligned buttons, spacing being too large or too small.
The article is a five minute read, and it’s insightful.
Why do we care?
The author offers that bad UI often means a bad product, and there is some real intelligence to that. If you deliver technology solutions, you should ensure you’re thinking about the UI design of the products you both use and those you implement, because a hard to use app or system is going to drive up support costs.
Or is indication of poor design, and is likely going to fail in multiple ways. Like in Iowa.
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Upcoming events!
Catch these upcoming educational events!
- Making Ethics Pay in a World of Distrust and Big Tech
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March 9-12, 2020 at the Venetian & Sands Expo in Las Vegas, I'll be presenting this unique keynote address, as well as participating on another panel and moderating a third. Use promo code SOBEL to save on your registration. Would love to have you there.
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