Each day, the flood of technology news hits.  In an industry that always changes, those who deliver technology services need to focus on the information that matters to them.  The Business of Tech podcast focuses on the news you need to know.   Covering both the story and why it matters to the way services are created and delivered, channel veteran Dave Sobel brings you up to speed and gives you resources to go deeper.   With insights and analysis, this five minute podcast focuses on the knowledge you need to be effective, profitable, and relevant.

The podcast is hosted by Dave Sobel, a leading expert in the delivery of technology services with broad experience in both technology and business.    He owned and operated an IT Solution Provider and MSP for over a decade, both acquiring other organizations and eventually being acquired.  This firm was a winner of multiple awards, including Kaseya’s Cutting Edge and ConnectWise’s Best New Idea, as well as being a finalist for Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner of the Year in the Small Business Specialist category.    After his MSP experience, he worked for multiple vendors at such companies as Level Platforms, GFI, LogicNow, and Solarwinds, leading community, event, marketing, and product strategies, as well as several M&A activities.

He was named a CRN Channel Chief multiple times, to the CRN UK A-List, as a Channel Futures Circle of Excellence winner, to Channel Pro’s 20/20 Visionaries, and has been an MSPmentor 250 member for multiple years  Dave has been recognized as one of the top virtualization experts globally as a Microsoft MVP for Virtualization. and author of “Virtualization: Defined.  A Primer for the SMB Consultant.” Dave has served on the executive council for Managed Services and Emerging Technologies, the Vendor Advisory Council, as founding Chair for the Mobility Community for CompTIA.

News and commentary delivered daily from experience.

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All Episodes

Thu Feb-1-2024: N-Able’s Global Futurology Study, AI Productivity Reality, SolarWinds Challenges SEC

In this episode, Dave Sobel discusses three important tech news stories. First, N-Able’s inaugural Global Futurology Study reveals insights into the growth of managed services, including the rise of cybersecurity and the use of AI. Next, SolarWinds challenges the SEC lawsuit over the 2020 cyber attack and claims the fraud charges are unfounded. Lastly, Salesforce research highlights the gap between AI productivity promises and reality in terms of data and IT readiness.

Wed Jan-31-2024: Cybersecurity + AI Consulting: 2024 Growth, Automation Growth, Swifties change MSFT

In this episode of “The Business of Tech,” host Dave Sobel discusses the key areas of growth for MSPs in 2024. He highlights the importance of cybersecurity and AI consulting, as well as the need for human expertise in interpreting and responding to complex threats. Sobel also mentions the rise of IT automation and significant investments in AI startups. Additionally, he touches on Microsoft’s response to an AI incident involving Taylor Swift, which led to enhanced safety measures. The episode concludes with insights from a Canalys poll, indicating that channel partners expect significant growth in their managed services businesses, driven by customer demand for cybersecurity management, cloud infrastructure, application development, AI solution consulting, and compliance requirements. The evolving MSP model, increased M&A activity, and vendor consolidation in RMM are also discussed.

Tue Jan-30-2024: MIT says humans cheaper than AI, AWS Courting SMBs, rising cyber costs

In this episode of “The Business of Tech,” Dave Sobel discusses the findings of a study by MIT on the cost of deploying artificial intelligence (AI) technology. The study reveals that currently, it is more economical for employers to keep human workers, as only 23% of workers’ wages for tasks relying on computer vision could be cost-effectively replaced by AI. While AI excels at recognizing patterns and analyzing images, it comes with high installation and maintenance costs and lacks the ability to handle tasks requiring intuition and implicit knowledge. However, industries like banking, marketing, retail, legal services, transportation, and healthcare are still prime candidates for increased automation. The episode also touches on the potential impact of AI on the U.S. economy and job losses in the next decade.

Mon Jan-29-2024:US Growth vs. EU Struggles, AI-generated Deep Fakes of Taylor Swift, AI Oversight

In this episode of “The Business of Tech,” host Dave Sobel discusses contrasting economic trends between the U.S. and Europe. While the U.S. experienced strong economic growth and exceeded GDP expectations, Europe faced challenges with a shrinking German economy and supply disruptions impacting inflation. The episode also highlights the legal and ethical debate surrounding AI-generated deep fakes of Taylor Swift, as well as the examination of AI by the FTC, Copyright Office, and OMB

Insights into Product Management and Revenue Growth with Jessica Nelson Kohel

In this bonus episode of the Business of Tech, the host interviews Jessica Nelson Kohel, the co-founder and president of The Product Consult. With over 18 years of experience in digital product development, Jessica shares insights into product management and how to optimize digital product development teams. She discusses her work with various companies, including Epic Games and Nike, and highlights the importance of revenue growth, product optimization, product strategy, and team development. Listeners can gain valuable knowledge on product management from this episode.

Thu Jan-25-2024: Deepfakes in politics, ransomware tactics, Vision Pro numbers, Outsourcing & GenAI

In this episode of “The Business of Tech,” host Dave Sobel discusses four key topics. First, he highlights the investigation by the New Hampshire AG into a fake robocall impersonating President Joe Biden, which is seen as an attempt at voter suppression. Next, he explores the dark side of AI in politics and its potential for voter manipulation. Sobel also delves into the shifting cyber threat landscape and Symantec’s insights on ransomware gang tactics. Finally, he touches on the initial demand for Apple’s Vision Pro and the apprehension among developers. The episode concludes with a reflection on the parallels between IT outsourcing and generative AI adoption.

Wed Jan-24-2024: AI Governance and the Role of Regulation, Pax8, Atakama, Seceon and Microsoft moves

In this episode of “The Business of Tech,” Dave Sobel discusses the growing risks of AI in finance and politics, and the rise of regulations ahead of the elections. He also covers the compliance requirements for small businesses, who now face the same cyber requirements as larger firms. Additionally, Sobel highlights the launches of Seceon, Atakama, Pax8, and Microsoft. Finally, Sobel delves into the need for legislation and regulation in the areas of AI and deepfakes in political campaigns, urging states to take action as the 2024 election approaches.

Tue Jan-23-2024: IT and Business Services Market Rebound, Nightshade & Glaze, Broadcom & VMWare

In this episode, we discuss the current state of the IT and business services market, which is showing signs of a rebound according to ISG Research. We also explore Nightshade and Glaze, tools developed by the University of Chicago to protect AI data integrity. Additionally, we cover the Channel Turmoil caused by Broadcom cutting ties with smaller VMware partners. Finally, we highlight the global spending on IT and business services, which experienced a slight decline in Q4 but is expected to rebound in 2024.

Mon Jan-22-2024: M365 Add-Ons: 14 to 61 in 4 Years, Horizon IT Fallout, Vision Pro Debut

In this episode of The Business of Tech, host Dave Sobel discusses four important tech news stories. First, he highlights Microsoft’s 365 add-on search and the significant increase in the number of paid add-ons for customers. Next, he mentions the recent email breach by Russian hackers that Microsoft revealed. Sobel then discusses the fallout from the Horizon IT case, where over 700 people were wrongfully convicted due to software errors. Lastly, he mentions the debut of the Apple Vision Pro and the concerns surrounding its availability and repair costs.