AVANT Technology Insights with Ken Presti

In this episode, Rick Mischka, Cybersecurity Engineer at AVANT, sits down with Rob Pollard, Managing Director of Managed Security Services at Fortra, and Matt Sayler, Senior Product Manager at Fortra. Together, they discuss how artificial intelligence is transforming the compliance sector. Compliance isn't just about checking a box—it's an ongoing challenge, especially with new regulations emerging every year. Rick, Rob, and Matt explore the game-changing benefits AI can bring to an organization's compliance efforts by helping businesses cut costs, reduce risks, and navigate new complexities with ease.

APIs are the backbone of modern digital communication, but their increasing adoption comes with rising security challenges. In this episode, Rick Mischka, Security Engineer at AVANT, sits down with Tony Lauro, Senior Director of Security Technology and Strategy at Akamai. Together, they explore the growing importance of API security. They dive into the nitty gritty, discussing how attackers are exploiting common vulnerabilities and how IT buyers can protect themselves with a layered defense strategy. Plus, they cover the role AI plays in enhancing API security. Listen in now to gain insights into the future of API security and learn how organizations can gain visibility and control over their APIs to stay ahead of threats.

Join Drew Lydecker, Co-Founder and President of AVANT, and Ross Artale, CEO of Spectrotel, as they explore the future of connectivity and managed network services. They cover everything from the rise of best-of-breed solutions to AI's impact on telecommunications. Plus, Ross reveals how Spectrotel is delivering modern solutions that can outpace more traditional providers. Listen in and learn from these two industry experts!

To cloud or not to cloud? That's the question many businesses are grappling with when it comes to their communication platforms. While the cloud offers numerous advantages, it also brings risks that may not align with your company's risk tolerance. Fortunately, there's another option. In this episode of AVANT Technology Insights, John Paullin, Sales Engineer and Senior Analyst at AVANT, is joined by Jeremy Wubs, Chief Operating Officer of Sangoma, to explore a lesser-known solution: the hybrid communication model. Discover what this model entails, its key benefits, who's adopting it, and more—all in this insightful discussion.  

Join us as we dive into the future of cybersecurity with Tia Hopkins from eSentire! Explore how resilience in cybersecurity is redefining business continuity. Stephen and Tia discuss the power and purpose behind Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) as more than just tech, but a strategic program that keeps organizations prepared and protected. Perfect for security leaders looking to stay ahead of the rapid evolution of technology, this episode demystifies proactive threat management and resilience strategies that will make a lasting impact for businesses.

In this episode, Andrew Pryfogle, VP of Market Development at AVANT, spoke at length with Mike Tesler, the former CEO of Broadsoft and current Managing Partner at True North Advisory, about how businesses can stay competitive by adopting an agile approach to AI. They explore the layers of AI integration—from boosting productivity to uncovering new business opportunities—and address common fears and challenges associated with AI adoption. Plus, Mike shares powerful insights for leaders on how to set realistic expectations, communicate effectively, and foster a software-focused mindset to unlock the full power of these next-gen technologies. Whether you're just starting the AI journey or looking to refine your strategy, this episode offers valuable guidance for driving innovation in your organization.

In this episode, Sarah Arnstein, Sales Engineer and AVANT's resident SASE expert, sat down with Sangita Patel, Senior Director of Global Product Marketing at CATO to explore the SASE selection process in depth. They dive into key differences among various SASE providers in the market and offer actionable insights for stakeholders starting the conversation to determine the right technology fit for their company.

In this must-listen episode, Stephen Semmelroth, VP of Cyber Resilience at AVANT, teams up with Theresa Lanowitz, Chief Evangelist at LevelBlue! Together, they discuss the exciting changes behind Level Blue's recent rebranding and explore the groundbreaking insights from their just-released State of the Industry report. Want to know what's shaking up executive leadership? Get ready to dive in and discover the game-changing trends that are redefining the industry! Learn more about the news mentioned in the podcast here >> Finance worker pays out $25 million after video call with deepfake ‘chief financial officer' Check out the 2024 LevelBlue Futures™ Report: Cyber Resilience report here.  

Join us for this episode where Rick Mischka, Field Sales Engineer at AVANT, and James Beeson, Executive Cyber Advisor at CloudCom Group, delve into the crucial topics of business continuity and resilience. In their conversation, James guides listeners through the essential strategies for securing an organization. Rick and James also explore how to have impactful cybersecurity conversations that resonate with leadership and align with business goals. Tune in and elevate your understanding of security!

In this episode, Alex Danyluk, AVANT CSO and Managing Director AVANT Analytics, is joined by a true pioneer in the telecom industry. Mike Tessler, the former CEO of BroadSoft and current Managing Partner at True North Advisory, has not only witnessed the transformation of the PSTN network, but he has led the revolution! Throughout his career, Mike's work has made a significant impact on the market. Tune in as he shares his unique insights with Alex and podcast listeners and reveals what he's doing right now to change the game once again - and how Trusted Advisors and customers can participate in this new phase of disruption!

In this episode, Stephen Semmelroth, Head of Security at AVANT, hosts an engaging conversation with Brad Reynolds, SVP of AI and Chief Strategy Officer at Expedient. Together, they discuss the truths about AI that could transform an organization. Listen in as they reveal how AI can unlock hidden potential in organizational data and save valuable time for employees - and why the wrong AI implementation could spell disaster for a business. Plus, they'll explain to listeners how to know if their employees are already using AI, whether you know it or not!   Dive in for a thought-provoking discussion on the strategic business cases for AI and what IT decision-makers need to know to stay ahead.

In this episode of Technology Insights, Chris Werpy, CIO of AVANT, engages in a deep dive with Jason Ness, Founder and CEO of CommandLink. During this 36-minute episode, Chris and Jason dive into a range of topics: they explore all things Channel, Jason's entrepreneurial journey, the evolution of SASE, what the future of AI and machine learning holds, and the impact of the Trusted Advisor movement AVANT has helped power forward.  Join us for what promises to be an insightful discussion!

Listen in as Drew Lydecker, President and Co-founder of AVANT, invites Colby Nish, Head of Americas Sales at Zoom, to discuss Zoom's long journey that has brought them to their current position in the technology landscape! Together, they dive into the future of AI and how Zoom will play a part. Zoom has evolved far beyond meetings to include chat, phone systems, webinars, workplace solutions, whiteboarding, and AI companions — all designed to enhance productivity simply and effectively, and their efforts are helping drive the evolution and innovation in artificial intelligence. Dive in to keep up to date on the latest trends in the communication space!

Listen in as Drew Lydecker, President and Co-founder of AVANT, hosts Frank Fawzi, CEO of IntelePeer and a prominent figure in the communication landscape. Together, they explore the journey towards becoming the next pioneer utilizing AI superpower. Their discussion spans diverse verticals, including healthcare, retail, logistics, and manufacturing, and they highlight how AI and automation are revolutionizing organizational efficiency. Tune in to discover how these technologies streamline contact center operations and elevate customer satisfaction and gain insights on the transformative potential of AI across industries!

In this episode of our Technology Insights, we welcome the Microsoft Security Partner of the Year, BlueVoyant, to the podcast! AVANT Analytics Senior Analyst, Stephen Semmelroth, and Executive Director of the Managed Security Center of Excellence at BlueVoyant, Micah Heaton, discuss the pros and cons of leveraging Microsoft for consolidation.   2024 is the year of consolidation here at AVANT, and BlueVoyant is one of the providers in our portfolio that offers robust support in this area. During the episode, Micah brings both his expertise and experience with Microsoft that he has gained throughout their partnership and offers a balanced view to share both the benefits and potential pitfalls you could encounter as an IT decision-maker for your organization.

In this episode of Technology Insights, we delve into the evolving Broadcom and VMware situation. Listen in as Niko O'Hara, Senior Analyst of AVANT Analytics, and Tony Scribner, CISO & Field CTO of Ntirety, answer important questions regarding the latest VMware updates. Is the situation as dire as it's made out to be? Have we weathered the worst of the uncertainty storm? Tune in to find out as we help listeners navigate this journey!   Looking for more resources on the VMware updates, once you've finished this episode? We recorded another Technology Insights episode, where our host and guest break down the impacts of the VMware changes for those being affected.   Our AVANT Cloud experts have also compiled answers to typical questions we're hearing about the VMware acquisition by Broadcom, as well as a list of helpful qualifying questions for Trusted Advisors to better understand their customers' predicament and open up the Cloud conversation.

In this Technology Insights podcast, the AVANT Analytics team, including AVANT CSO and Analytics Managing Director Alex Danyluk, and Engineering Practice Leads Andy Bird (CX), Chip Hoisington (Cloud/Colo), and Stephen Semmelroth (Security), dive into the state of disruption in technology. Together, they discuss the latest trends in Cloud, Colocation, Connectivity, Security, CX, UX, and much more. Listen in for a fast-paced discussion on how the industry is rapidly transitioning from legacy environments to the future. Get ready, because this episode will be a whirlwind!   Download the State of Disruption 2024 Report >> https://goavant.net/avant-analytics/state-of-disruption-report-2024/

In this episode, Chip Hoisington, Senior Analyst at AVANT Analytics, and James Ochoa, VP of Cloud at Flexential, delve into the VMware situation. Together, they discuss the impacts customers will likely experience as a result of the program updates, as well as the steps organizations can take to better prepare for success amidst these significant changes. Join us for an insightful conversation to understand why this situation has caused such a massive ripple effect for customers and technology advisors alike and what your options are, in response.

Colocation is experiencing a resurgence in popularity! What's behind this renewed interest in popularity? Join Alex Danyluk, Managing Director of AVANT Analytics, and Chip Hoisington, Senior Director of Connectivity, Colo, and Wireless at AVANT, as they delve into the current Colo landscape. Discover why, after a decade of prioritizing cloud strategies, some are returning to data centers and others are venturing into them for the first time. Let's explore together! Listen in to get started.

In this episode, Alex Danyluk, Managing Director of AVANT Analytics, and Brent Wilford, Senior Director of Customer Experience and UCaaS at AVANT, focus on the outlook of the UCaaS industry. The good news? Businesses of all sizes can adopt UCaaS from various providers. So, what's the challenge? With an abundance of providers, determining the best fit for your business can be complicated. They explore what IT decision-makers should keep in mind as they evaluate potential providers. Plus, they discuss the common conception that Microsoft Team is a dominant player with the highest number of voice seats. Is this true? Listen in to find out!

In this episode, Managing Director of AVANT Analytics, Alex Danyluk, interviews our very own John Paullin, Sales Engineer and Senior Analyst of AVANT Analytics! Together, they discuss what enterprise customers are really asking about in regard to AI in the contact center. John shares his experience speaking to hundreds of customers from all walks of life and educating them on the various ways AI can impact not just the customer experience they provide, but also what is often their most expensive asset: their agents!   Listen into this episode to gain smart technology insights, learn how to open up the Artificial Intelligence conversation, and deepen your understanding of AI as it relates to Contact Center solutions.

Recently, one of our podcast hosts, Alex Danyluk was scrolling through LinkedIn and saw that AVANT's resident SASE expert, Sarah Arnstein, was compiling her own write-up on the very first Gartner Magic Quadrant for Single-Vendor SASE Report. From there, this episode was born! Dive into our new episode as Alex Danyluk, Managing Director of AVANT Analytics, and Sales Engineer Sarah Arnstein discuss what is going on in the SASE landscape. Listen in and discover how things have evolved even further since Gartner's SASE report landed, as well as some surprising takeaways our AVANT Analytics experts are sharing from the report!   Follow along with the Gartner report as you listen! Download their full report here >> https://www.gartner.com/en/documents/4639999   Learn more about SASE providers and features with Sarah's blog, “Get SASE with Sarah” >> https://getsasewithsarah.com/

In this episode, John Paullin, AVANT Analytics Senior Analyst, and Todd Cadieux, RVP of Solution Consulting at Five9, are going to talk about everybody's favorite buzzword - you guessed it - AI, AKA Artificial Intelligence. They explore how it fits into today's modern contact center and what capabilities are being sought out first. In other words, where does the buying journey for AI start? Finally, they wrap up by sharing some bold predictions as to where they believe AI is heading. Listen in for all that and more on our latest episode of AVANT Technology Insights.

In today's episode, Stephen Semmelroth, Sr. Director of Security at AVANT, is joined by Greg Vander Gaast, Chief Technologist of Security at CDW, to talk about security strategy. They explore some methods that some might consider blasphemous, while others think to be the real deal when it comes to building a security program. Plus, they guide listeners on how to prevent security problems before they even happen. Join them as they jump into the security strategy conversation!

In this episode of AVANT Technology Insights, Brent Wilford, Senior Analyst of AVANT Analytics, is joined by his colleague and Sales Engineer Sarah Arnstein, to talk about Contact Center Supervisors. How valuable are they in the day-to-day operations of your contact center? What impact can they have for your organization as you evaluate solutions and make the shift from on-prem to Contact Center Cloud technology? Listen in to find out!   Get SASE with Sarah >> https://getsasewithsarah.com/

In our latest podcast episode, Alex Danyluk, Chief Strategy Officer and Managing Director of AVANT Analytics, is joined by AVANT's Cybersecurity guru Stephen Semmelroth! Together, they discuss the whiplash that has been occurring in the cybersecurity space over the past two years, from pre-COVID to present day. Plus, they dive into what's really going on right now in Security, including what they believe is the new North Star of the cybersecurity space!

In our latest Technology Insights podcast, Stephen Semmelroth, Sr. Director of Security at AVANT, dives deep into the new regulations from the SEC (Security and Exchange Commission) on cybersecurity. 'Who does that impact from your board?? How do these regulations affect you and your business? What are the key takeaways you need to know? Stephen is joined by one of the most preeminent on the subject Tia Hopkins, Chief Cyber Resilience Officer and Field CTO from eSentire, and together they are answering these questions and more!   Listen in and learn with these cybersecurity pros!  

This is one episode of Technology Insights you won't want to miss! Host and AVANT Sr. Director of Security Stephen Semmelroth is joined by our guest, Lou Rabon, CEO of CDG. Together, they jump into the cost of a breach to look at how much organizations should actually spend on security. Plus, they explore why it's so important for business leaders to be able to speak security and security leaders to be able to speak business! Don't miss out on the expert insights that will keep your organization secure and financially efficient. Join us - let's get going!

In this episode of AVANT Technology Insights, we are talking about everything that is involved when moving from voice to cloud. Senior Analyst of AVANT Analytics Brent Wilford is joined by industry expert and Senior Director of Solutions marketing from Avaya, Mike Kutch! Together, they discuss moving your PBX, understanding the needs of your entire organization to ensure they'll be met before you make the decision, and properly introducing artificial intelligence and other modern features into your contact center so you can keep and maintain a great customer experience. It's time to listen in and learn - let's go!

 In this episode, Stephen Semmelroth, Sr Director of Security at AVANT, is bringing on Security expert Steve Baer to talk about the history of cybersecurity. Where have we been as an industry? What is the new focus of it? What are some of the things that you need to know about in the world of cybersecurity right now? Listen in to this episode to join us in the cybersecurity conversation!

In this episode, Peter Callowhill, Senior Analyst for AVANT Analytics, is joined by Tom Nevins, Tangoe Vice President, Solution Architects, and Anish Patel, Tangoe Cloud Practice Lead. Together, they talk about Cloud Expenses Mayhem and what it means in the world of cloud. Plus, they explain what the impact is for organizations and how help is now available to get "houses in order" while still reaping the benefits of the cloud! Listen in to discover how you can benefit financially by working with a long-term leader in the expense management field, how to procure a best-of-breed expense management solution and the value of both a competitive expense management market and the availability of advanced cloud strategies.   Let's dive deeper together!

In this episode, Stephen Semmelroth, Senior Analyst of AVANT Analytics, is joined by Theresa Lanowitz, Head of Evangelism at AT&T Cybersecurity, to discuss the AT&T Cybsecurity Insights Report for 2023! This is a phenomenal report that will change the way you do business. Together, Stephen and Theresa dive into the report, exploring budget planning strategies for tech-service organizations and answering the question: should you be an optimist in this space or not?   Find out the answer, and much more, in our latest podcast episode!

Are you looking to move to a CCaaS solution? Interested in learning how many of your peers in the industry are also currently making the CCaaS shift? In this episode, AVANT Analytics Managing Director Alex Danyluk is joined by AVANT CCaaS experts and Sales Engineers, Brent Wilford and John Paullin, to dive into the key takeaways of the latest 6-12 Report, focused on the evolving CCaaS landscape!   For the best listening experience, we recommend you follow along with us as we explore the CCaaS market by downloading the CCaaS 6-12 Report at https://goavant.net/avant-analytics/6-12-report-ccaas-2023/

In this episode of AVANT Technology Insights, Chip Hoisington, AVANT Senior Director of Engineering, and Gabe Sette, Spectrotel Senior Vice President, talk about what exactly is going on with POTS lines! Everybody is calling them about these crazy POTS lines, as costs skyrocket and users receive shut-off notices. To answer all your questions, Chip and Gabe review what's in the POTS line and TDM copper-based kind of connectivity world today and explain how their organizations are helping solve the problem for Trusted Advisors and customers! Listen in to learn more!

In this episode, Niko O'Hara, the Head of Engineering at AVANT, and Derek Siler, the Solutions Architect at Flexential, dive into the NIST cybersecurity framework, focusing specifically on how we can use it to protect critical IT workloads. They talk through the details of the framework itself, as well as each individual category. Lastly, they hit on how you can use this as the foundation for a complete cybersecurity strategy. Click the “play” button to get started!

In this episode of AVANT Technology Insights, AVANT President and co-founder Drew Lydecker is joined by Todd Surdey, Head of Global Channels & Business Development at Zoom. Together, they talk about the absolute disruption they're creating - in unified communications, contact center, video, and AI. Zoom is the definition of everything is changing. Listen in and join the evolution! This one's going to be fun.

In this episode of AVANT Technology Insights, Senior Analyst John Paullin and UC/CC Field Sales Engineer David Watson discuss the importance of mapping CCaaS technologies to Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and explore how the former can positively impact the latter. Don't miss these great insights that will help you and your customers navigate the IT decision-making journey!   To learn more about this topic, download our free e-book, The Connection Between CCaaS Solutions and Your Customer's KPIs, to explore the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and related metrics your prospects are most focused on!

It's the one hundredth episode of the AVANT Technology Insights podcast, and this is one you shouldn't miss. Drew Lydecker, Alex Danyluk, Stephen Semmelroth, and Brent Wilford cover the state of disruption in our industry RIGHT NOW, diving into UCaaS/CCaaS, security, cloud, the as-a-service movement, and MUCH more! This episode provides some great market insights and is a must-listen for those who are focused on growing and evolving their business along with the industry! Check it out!   To Learn More: The Everything-as-a-Service Movement >>  Your Call May Be Monitored by AI >>  People vs. Technology in Security >>  People-Process-WHAT >>  AVANT 6-12 Report: Security NIST >>   

In our latest AVANT Technology Insights episode, Sr. Research Analyst Christopher Brennan is joined by Terry Corder, Fusion Connect's Sr. Director of Solution Engineering! Together, they discuss how to solve the puzzle of using Microsoft Teams for both collaboration and communication. What is the cleanest and easiest way to unpack this for a confused client? What is the Microsoft Contact Center strategy today, as it pertains to Teams and future plans? Listen in to find out!

In our latest episode, AVANT President Drew Lydecker discusses one of the best mergers and acquisitions he has seen in the industry with Duane Barnes, GM of RapidScale, and Ken Ziegler, CEO of Logicworks. How does this acquisition expand on the already powerful suite of managed IT solutions that RapidScale offers today? What are the benefits that end customers can expect as a result? Click the “play” button to find out!

Welcome to another Security-focused episode of Technology Insights, hosted by Stephen Semmelroth, AVANT Sr. Director of Security, and George Just, Chief Revenue Officer of ThreatBlokr. In this episode, Stephen and George take a step back to think about security and the problems in this space that you're facing. For the next 30 minutes, listen in as they guide you on how to tackle those problems and more!

In our latest AVANT Technology Insights podcast, AVANT Senior Analyst Chris Brennan is joined by Marcus Garcia, VP of Sales at NICE CXone! They explore shifting customer tendencies, and what that evolution means for organizations focused on delivering an exceptional customer experience, or CX.

Digital communications between a company and its customers and prospects certainly doesn't feel new. After all, many companies have chat, email, and web forms as "Contact Us" options on their websites. Additionally, several organizations market to their prospects using email and SMS. While these digital mediums were intended to offer convenience and promised efficiencies, many barriers to effective digital communications still exist. Why is that the case? What are the best practices when getting started with a digital communication strategy? Most importantly, what impact will a well-designed digital strategy have on the customer and employee experience? Tune into our latest AVANT Technology Insights podcast and join John Paullin, Senior Analyst at AVANT, and Boris Ginshpun, Vice President of Product Strategy at LiveVox, as we explore the answers to those questions and more!

In this podcast, AVANT President and co-founder Drew Lydecker is joined by Tony Lauro, Director of Security Technology and Strategy at Akamai. They're focusing on educating, entertaining, and sparking thoughtful conversation all around cybersecurity with Akamai, one of its biggest players. They explore what keeps CIOs up at night - and what Akamai is doing to help them sleep better. Plus, they explain how beneficial utilizing the technologies Akamai builds is for leadership visibility. How can you prepare for and understand the world we're living in today, through a cybersecurity lens? Is there any light at the end of that tunnel? Drew and Tony answer all of this and more in our latest episode of AVANT Technology Insights!

In this episode, we talk with Tony Scribner of Ntirety, who challenges the way we think about build-or-buy decisions and how to apply security. Does it really move the needle? Jump in and get ready for the newest episode of the AVANT Technology Insights podcast.

“Find an employer that is going to support you, train you, and give you that opportunity.” All along the cybersecurity side of the house, everyone needs to take best practices and precautions seriously. You should assume someone is attempting to get into every single device you have that is connected to the Internet. Enterprises must make sure they are protected by seeking out talented people who can provide that necessary support. How does Thrive solve the talent balancing problem? They don't just have a single-pronged attack; they actually go through multiple levels. In this episode, Senior Director of AVANT Analytics Stephen Semmelroth and CEO of Thrive Rob Stephenson break into the details of the art of talent balance and offer a helpful guide to finding the right people who can help your organization stay protected.

In this episode, we discuss enterprise technology management and what it can do for your business. Gone are the days of having a small pool of vendors supporting your business. Now, it's dozens of technologies, and brand-new or evolving ones at that! We explore some of the common questions that arise as a result of these changes. How can you keep track of the rapid pace of evolution in technology? How do you know what you're actually spending your money on? How do you integrate new technologies into various businesses? Listen in and learn as we answer these questions and more!

Welcome to a special Veteran's Day podcast hosted by AVANT Sr. Director of Security and Kyle Hall and Adrian Tilston of Resourcive. In this episode, they discuss how they bring on transitioning veterans and explore their own journeys of transition. Join us and learn how to capitalize on talent that can help you move that needle. “It doesn't matter how big or small your organization is if you're hiring right now. There is a program that can get transitioning veterans into that through Skillbridge. There are so many organizations, from Hiring Our Heroes to Shift or a whole myriad of programs, to help transition veterans and get them into your company. You really don't have a reason not to be leveraging this, because it is so easy and it's such a high payoff,” said Adrian Tilston.

This is the very first podcast from AVANT President and co-founder Drew Lydecker. In this episode, he and CEO of Dialpad Craig Walker are covering a lot of ground! Listen in to learn what it truly takes to become an entrepreneur and why it's so important to develop a unique culture that matches your company. Plus, they explain why unified communications in CCaaS are potentially the greatest weapon EVER invented for sales and how they can help an organization evolve from good to great. Put your helmet on, grab your popcorn, and settle in as they explore the journey of becoming the best version of oneself.

In this episode, we're talking about “Everything as a Service” in IT, and it's a game changer for how you consume and manage anything in this ever-changing fast-paced world.

The consumerization of IT continues at a rapid pace and nowhere is that truer than in contact centers and UCaaS solutions. In this episode, we discuss how contact centers are popping up in 20-, 10, and even 5-people environments, departments, or front desk situations. It's all getting integrated as one big solution between CCaaS and UCaaS. Listen in and discover the main takeaways you should know as consumerization changes the game again in IT.