Uncle Marv’s IT Business Podcast: Practical Business Advice for MSPs and IT Professionals

Oct 29, 2026

Does Your Client Actually Need 2.5-Gig? (EP 1093)

I’ve been buying more 2.5-gig switches lately, and another MSP asked me a fair question: Why? That sent me down a bigger rabbit hole about what we’re actually solving when we upgrade a client’s network. I’m flying solo for this conversation, sharing where I’m using Ubiquiti switches, why I still put 10G connections on servers and Synology storage, and where plain old gigabit still does the job. The takeaway is purpose. Faster ports can make sense for shared storage, database traffic, backups, and switch uplinks. But if the devices and workloads can’t take advantage of them, we might just be bu

Oct 25, 2026

Vendor Security Is Your Security (EP 1092)

I don’t do websites, so my first reaction to the PHP security headlines was that this probably wasn’t my problem. Then clients started asking what they needed to worry about, and I had to give them an honest answer: I didn’t know yet, but I would find out. This solo conversation follows the questions that sent me digging into vendor notices, client systems, and the applications connected to their Microsoft 365 environments. Between the PHP concerns and the ConnectWise cloud backup incident discussed on the show, the bigger lesson became clear: vendor security is our security. I share what I’m

Oct 22, 2026

Active Directory Isn’t Done Yet (EP 1091)

Are we moving clients to the cloud because it makes sense, or because we decided servers were supposed to disappear? My friend Tom Wyant of Wyant Computers in Traverse City, Michigan, joins me for an honest conversation about on-prem servers, Active Directory, and the applications that keep both relevant. Tom supports clients using a mix of local infrastructure and cloud services, so this isn’t a debate about picking a side. It’s about figuring out what actually works. We talk through recurring costs, application limitations, large files, security responsibilities, and the headaches that follo

Oct 20, 2026

Stop Overthinking AI for Your MSP: With Meredith Payne (EP 1090)

You don’t need to overhaul your MSP to start getting value from AI. You need to find one task your team is tired of repeating. Meredith Payne returns to the show at TD SYNNEX Inspire in Greenville to talk about her work leading digital growth and customer success, what’s changing inside Partner First, and how MSPs can put automation to work without making everything more complicated. I ask Meredith where smaller providers should start, whether human help is sticking around, and how to know if these tools are actually improving the business. Her advice is to start small, learn as you go, and lo

Oct 16, 2026

Can Your Network Handle AI Agents? (EP 1089)

Before you buy another AI tool or help a client deploy agents, take a hard look at the environment supporting them. Recording from Greenville, South Carolina, I talk with Joseph Vlajcic about what happens when businesses chase individual AI use cases without considering how those systems will work together. We discuss why disappointing returns can come from more than choosing the wrong tool. Sometimes the surrounding infrastructure needs attention first. Joseph walks through AI running in the data center, public cloud, and at the edge, with the network connecting all three. That brings up ques

Oct 15, 2026

TD SYNNEX Inspire: Conference Recap (EP 1088)

Saving money on AI does not mean much if you are still using it the wrong way. That was one of my biggest takeaways from TD SYNNEX Inspire in Greenville, South Carolina. Erick Simpson joins me to unpack the announcements that caught our attention, including FinOps Fusion and Agent Bridge. We discuss the potential to better understand AI spending, reduce manual work around quoting and ordering, and spot client opportunities that get buried when we are busy putting out fires. I also explain why I want to see the AI spending conversation go beyond cutting costs to improving prompts, automations,

Oct 14, 2026

TD SYNNEX Builds Its MSP Focus (EP 1087)

Recurring revenue is nice. Recurring profitability is what pays the bills. I sat down with Augie Staab, Director of MSP Sales at TD SYNNEX, at Inspire in Greenville, South Carolina, to talk about the difference. We dug into cybersecurity stack standardization, what makes a vendor offering truly useful to MSPs, and why letting every customer pick a different tool can undermine your business. Augie also explained how TD SYNNEX’s dedicated MSP sales team and new MSP ARC program aim to help partners identify gaps and make better business decisions. Stop building a different stack for every custome

Oct 13, 2026

AI Cost Management Is an MSP Opportunity (EP 1086)

Using fewer AI tokens doesn’t automatically mean you’re saving money. I sat down with Andre Van der Post, Vice President of Cloud Solutions at TD SYNNEX, at Inspire in Greenville, South Carolina, to talk about FinOps Fusion and what it takes to manage AI spending beyond the token count. We get into infrastructure costs, poorly written prompts, governance, and the opportunity for MSPs to help clients make smarter decisions. Andre also gets honest about what’s still being built. The takeaway: managing AI costs means understanding the business value, not just watching usage. === Guest: Andre Van

Oct 5, 2026

From Dentist to MSP: Building a Profitable Dental IT Niche (EP 1085)

Dr. Lorne Lavine, better known as The Digital Dentist, joined me to talk about building an IT business that serves one vertical and serves it well. Before becoming an MSP owner, Lorne practiced periodontics, which gave him a real advantage when he started helping dental offices with technology, software decisions, networks, HIPAA, and cybersecurity. We talked about how he grew through credibility, referrals, writing, speaking, and staying focused on dentists instead of trying to support every kind of business. There are some solid lessons here for any MSP: niche down, understand the customer’s

Oct 1, 2026

The UCaaS Conversation Every MSP Needs to Have (EP 1084)

Charlotte Conroy from Recent Communications joins me for a straight conversation about UCaaS, cloud communications, and why MSPs should stop treating phones like the thing they would rather avoid. Her company works alongside MSPs to help clients move from aging phone systems to supported, reliable communications without turning every phone issue into an internal help desk problem. We talk about competing on value instead of price, the reality of copper-line shutdowns, legacy phone systems that are still out there, integrations with door access and overhead paging, and where AI can actually hel

Sep 25, 2026

What Your RMM, PSA, and CRM Are Trying to Tell You (EP 1083)

Lucas Dowd and Kevin Townsend, co-founders of Catalyst Shift, join me to talk about a problem just about every MSP knows too well: the data you need to run the business is scattered across your PSA, RMM, CRM, email, accounting, and other tools. The result is too much manual digging, too many disconnected reports, and not enough time in front of the customer having the conversations that actually matter. We talk about their idea of a business operating layer that brings those systems together, looks for patterns, and turns the information into practical next steps. That can mean faster QBR prep

Sep 24, 2026

Proofpoint Helps MSPs Secure Microsoft 365 (EP 1082)

I sat down with Andy Syrewicze from Proofpoint MSP Platform to talk about a problem every MSP runs into: Microsoft 365 security looks simple until you start managing it across real client environments. Andy explains how Proofpoint 365 Total Protection, the MSP platform formerly known as Hornetsecurity, brings together email security, Microsoft 365 backup, security awareness training, permission management, DMARC, and tenant standardization. The big takeaway is that security cannot stop at email filtering or MFA. MSPs need layered protection, cleaner SharePoint permissions, better user reportin

Sep 23, 2026

MSP Websites Need AI (EP 1081)

I sat down with Dave Sobel to talk about why too many MSPs are leaving AI out of their websites, client conversations, and service offerings. We dig into AI governance, shadow AI, Microsoft Copilot, and why simply asking better questions can create real business opportunities. AI is everywhere. It is at every conference, in every vendor presentation, and in every customer conversation. Yet Dave’s research found that 68% of roughly 3,600 MSP websites do not mention AI at all. That means a lot of providers may be invisible to prospects looking for guidance, services, or simply a trusted technolo

Sep 15, 2026

MyPCFriends: From Break-Fix To Cybersecurity (EP 1080)

I had a great conversation with Alex and Mariana of MyPCFriends Cybersecurity, a husband-and-wife MSP team based in Kissimmee, Florida. Their story starts with Alex’s computer engineering and break-fix work in Venezuela, continues through the challenges of rebuilding in the United States, and arrives at a business that is more intentional about managed services, cybersecurity, compliance, and serving the right clients. They are now focused on financial services and insurance organizations, with clients extending beyond Florida. === Chapters === Guests: Alex Villamizar and Mariana Arrietta MyPC

Sep 10, 2026

Profitable Small MSP Growth with Tom Bull (EP 1079)

Tom Bull of Two River Computer joins me for a practical conversation about building an MSP around trust, community, and the work clients actually need. Tom shares how his business grew from computer repair and consulting into managed IT, residential technology, Wi-Fi, smart-home projects, and cybersecurity, all while serving smaller businesses that larger MSPs often overlook. We talk about referral relationships, local visibility, Google reviews, and why listening to the customer can matter more than following every piece of conventional channel advice. We also get into the realities of contro

Sep 10, 2026

PitchIT 2026 Finalists Revealed (EP 1078)

Sean Lardo, better known around the channel as Mr. IT Nation, joined me for a special conversation following the announcement of the IT Nation PitchIT 2026 finalists: Lemhi, Synthreo, and Blacksmith InfoSec. After a 16-week competitive cohort built around coaching, refinement, and practice, these three companies are now preparing to take the stage at IT Nation Connect Global in Orlando. === Chapters 00:23 PitchIT 2026 Finalists Announcement01:47 Meet Sean Lardo of IT Nation03:07 Behind the PitchIT Finalist Reveal06:01 How PitchIT Vendors Refine Their Message08:40 Uncle Marv’s PitchIT Rankings

Sep 2, 2026

What NSITSP Is Doing - August 2026 (EP 1077)

I am catching up on the latest NSITSP activity from August, and there was a lot worth paying attention to. From election and governance updates to advocacy around AI, cybersecurity, right-to-repair, and data centers, I wanted to bring these conversations to the podcast because they affect the business environment MSPs are working in every day. What stood out most to me is that the IT industry needs more than good technicians and great tools. We need people who are willing to get involved, educate clients and lawmakers, document what works, and make sure our voices are heard. I also share why b

Aug 27, 2026

Can You Access Everything Your Former IT Company Managed? (EP 1076)

I was riding solo for this Wednesday Live Show, and I had something on my mind that every MSP, IT professional, and business owner needs to consider: Can a client access everything their former IT company managed? I recently met with a prospect who believed they had administrative access, but when we sat down and checked, they did not have the level of access needed to manage their Microsoft 365 environment. They were dealing with other access problems too, including their website, account recovery, and network equipment. My take is straightforward. Our job as MSPs is to manage what needs mana

Aug 25, 2026

When Your Biggest Client Leaves (EP 1075)

I had Chris Miller back on the show, and we started with a topic every MSP owner understands: client service. ATB Technologies has built a reputation around keeping customers happy, but Chris was honest about what that really means. Technology still breaks, Microsoft and Azure still have outages, and users can still be frustrated. The difference is how your team responds, communicates, and works to make things right. One of the things that stood out to me was Chris talking about hiring for soft skills on the help desk, including a certified child psychologist on the team. Patience is a real sk