Podcast appearances and mentions of Doug Green

Molly Weis, Vice President of Marketing & Communications at Numeracle, spoke with Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News during the HIMSS conference about the growing challenge of trust in voice communications and how verified calling technologies are becoming increasingly important for healthcare organizations. Weis explained that healthcare providers depend heavily on phone communication to reach patients, yet many calls now go unanswered due to widespread robocalls and spoofed numbers. This creates real challenges for hospitals and clinics trying to deliver critical updates, appointment reminders, or care coordination messages. “If patients don't trust the number calling them, they simply won't answer—even when it's their healthcare provider trying to reach them,” she said. Numeracle focuses on restoring trust in voice communications through call authentication and branded calling solutions that help organizations ensure their calls are properly identified and verified. These technologies help healthcare providers increase answer rates and improve patient engagement while protecting their brand identity. During the conversation, Weis noted that healthcare organizations attending HIMSS are increasingly aware that communication trust is now a strategic issue. With fraud and spam calls continuing to rise, providers must find ways to ensure legitimate calls reach patients reliably. As healthcare continues its digital transformation, trusted voice communications will remain an essential component of patient engagement and care delivery. Learn more about Numeracle: https://www.numeracle.com/

Ashley Marcotte, Senior Manager of Project & Enablement at Numeracle, spoke with Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, during the HIMSS conference about the growing need for trusted voice communications and the role of verified calling technologies in enterprise environments. Marcotte explained that organizations across industries—particularly healthcare—are facing increasing challenges with call authentication and spam filtering. As consumers become more cautious about answering unknown numbers, legitimate business calls are often ignored or blocked entirely. “Organizations need to ensure that when they call a customer or patient, the recipient can clearly see who is calling and trust that the call is legitimate,” she said. Numeracle helps enterprises address this challenge by providing visibility and verification tools that allow businesses to register and authenticate their phone numbers across the telecommunications ecosystem. These capabilities help organizations protect their brand identity, reduce call blocking, and improve answer rates for critical communications such as appointment reminders, patient outreach, and customer service interactions. Marcotte also noted that many enterprises attending HIMSS are recognizing that trusted voice communications are now a strategic requirement rather than a technical afterthought. With increasing regulatory scrutiny and growing consumer awareness around fraud and spoofed calls, organizations must ensure that their outbound communications are both secure and transparent. As digital transformation continues across healthcare and other sectors, solutions that restore trust and accountability in voice communications are becoming an essential part of modern customer and patient engagement strategies. Learn more about Numeracle: https://www.numeracle.com/

Vincent Gianfrancesco, Channel Account Manager for Cloud Service Providers and MSPs at Snom Americas, spoke with Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, during the Enterprise Connect conference about how Snom is helping partners expand opportunities in the rapidly evolving communications market. Gianfrancesco discussed the growing importance of channel partnerships as MSPs and cloud providers look to deliver reliable, scalable communications solutions for businesses of all sizes. As organizations continue to migrate to cloud-based collaboration platforms, the role of high-quality IP phones and endpoint devices remains essential for delivering a consistent and professional communications experience. “Snom has always focused on providing reliable, partner-friendly solutions that help MSPs and service providers deliver real value to their customers,” Gianfrancesco said. By working closely with channel partners, Snom aims to simplify deployment and ensure that partners have the tools they need to support modern cloud communications environments. The conversation also highlighted how Snom's device portfolio integrates with a wide range of UC and collaboration platforms, giving partners flexibility when designing solutions for enterprise, SMB, and vertical industry deployments. As companies gathered at Enterprise Connect to explore the next generation of communications technologies, Snom emphasized its continued focus on supporting MSPs and cloud providers with dependable devices and strong channel partnerships. Learn more about Snom Americas: https://www.snomamericas.com/

Charlene Ignacio of Fornix Marketing spoke with Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, during the Enterprise Connect conference about Beyond the Box, a CRM platform designed to help MSPs and channel partners better manage customer relationships and business operations. Ignacio explained that many service providers struggle with fragmented tools and processes when managing sales pipelines, customer engagement, and service delivery. Beyond the Box addresses this challenge by providing a platform tailored specifically to the needs of the channel, allowing MSPs to manage leads, automate workflows, and maintain better visibility into their business performance. “Beyond the Box was built with the channel in mind, helping partners streamline operations while maintaining strong relationships with their customers,” she said. The platform is designed to integrate CRM capabilities with operational workflows, helping organizations align their marketing, sales, and service functions more effectively. This integration can help partners improve customer engagement while simplifying the management of ongoing client relationships. During the conversation, Ignacio emphasized that effective CRM systems are becoming increasingly important as MSPs grow their customer bases and expand their service portfolios. By adopting tools that are purpose-built for the channel, partners can improve efficiency and scale their operations more effectively. As conversations at Enterprise Connect continue to highlight the importance of digital transformation and operational efficiency, solutions like Beyond the Box are helping channel partners build stronger, more organized customer engagement strategies. Learn more about Fornix Marketing: https://fornixmarketing.com/ Learn more about Beyond the Box: https://www.btbcrm.ca/

Risa Eldridge, AVP of Product Management & Integrations at CallMiner, spoke with Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, during the Enterprise Connect conference about how conversation intelligence is helping organizations better understand customer interactions and improve operational performance. Eldridge explained that enterprises are increasingly looking to AI-driven analytics to extract meaningful insights from the vast volume of conversations taking place across contact centers and customer engagement channels. By analyzing voice and digital interactions, organizations can identify patterns, detect compliance risks, and uncover opportunities to improve both customer satisfaction and agent performance. “Conversation intelligence allows organizations to turn everyday interactions into actionable insights that drive better outcomes for both customers and employees,” she said. CallMiner's platform applies advanced analytics and artificial intelligence to help companies monitor and evaluate interactions at scale. These capabilities enable organizations to identify emerging trends, improve quality management programs, and provide more targeted coaching and training for agents. The conversation also highlighted how the rapid adoption of AI across the contact center is creating new expectations for visibility and data-driven decision making. As organizations adopt automation and AI-assisted workflows, understanding what is happening inside customer conversations becomes increasingly critical. As Enterprise Connect continues to highlight the role of AI in enterprise communications and customer experience, CallMiner's approach to conversation intelligence demonstrates how organizations can leverage communications data to improve performance, compliance, and customer engagement. Learn more about CallMiner: https://callminer.com/

Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, interviewed Scott Eivers, CEO of Datatonic, about the rapid evolution of AI in telecommunications and why the next phase of innovation depends on building strong data foundations. Datatonic, a leading Google Cloud partner, works with telecom operators and enterprises to modernize their data architectures so they can fully leverage advanced analytics and AI-driven automation. Eivers explained that the telecom industry is entering a new phase where agentic AI—autonomous systems capable of taking action and executing workflows—will play a growing role in operations, customer engagement, and network management. However, he emphasized that AI success depends heavily on the quality and accessibility of underlying data. “AI is only as good as the data it's built on,” Eivers noted, pointing out that many organizations still struggle with fragmented data environments that limit the effectiveness of their AI initiatives. A key focus of Datatonic's work is helping telecom providers unify and modernize their data infrastructure using cloud-native platforms. By bringing together operational, customer, and network data into a consistent architecture, service providers can unlock new capabilities such as predictive analytics, intelligent automation, and real-time decision-making across their organizations. The conversation also explored how AI is moving beyond experimentation into production use cases across the telecom sector. From improving customer service to optimizing network performance and detecting fraud, AI-driven systems are increasingly becoming embedded in core telecom operations. Eivers stressed that companies that invest early in scalable data platforms will be best positioned to deploy these capabilities effectively. Ultimately, the discussion highlighted a broader shift in the industry: AI is no longer just about models and algorithms—it is about data strategy, governance, and operational readiness. As telecom providers pursue digital transformation, the organizations that succeed will be those that treat data as a strategic asset and build the infrastructure needed to support intelligent, automated systems. More information about Datatonic is available at https://datatonic.com/.

Matt Bramson, Chief Revenue Officer at Spearfish, spoke with Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, during the Enterprise Connect conference about how AI is transforming workforce intelligence and performance management in the contact center. Bramson explained that Spearfish focuses on helping organizations better understand and support their frontline customer service teams by analyzing real conversations between agents and customers. Using AI-driven insights, the platform identifies coaching opportunities, highlights best practices, and provides managers with actionable data that can improve both agent performance and customer experience. A key theme of the discussion was the importance of turning conversational data into practical intelligence. “Every interaction between an agent and a customer contains insights that can help improve performance,” Bramson said. By analyzing those interactions at scale, organizations can identify patterns that help supervisors coach agents more effectively and optimize service operations. Bramson also emphasized that many organizations struggle with the complexity of managing large contact center teams while maintaining consistent service quality. AI-powered analytics can surface key moments in conversations, helping managers focus on the interactions that matter most rather than manually reviewing thousands of calls. As enterprise communications leaders gathered at Enterprise Connect to explore the future of AI in collaboration and customer engagement, Spearfish highlighted how conversation intelligence can help organizations improve agent effectiveness, strengthen customer relationships, and create more data-driven contact center operations. Learn more about Spearfish: https://spearfish.ai/

Matt McGinnis, VP of Product, Industry, and Solution Marketing, and Tim Richter, Senior Director of Product Marketing at Five9, spoke with Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, during the Enterprise Connect conference about how artificial intelligence is reshaping the contact center and redefining how organizations think about workforce management. McGinnis explained that contact centers are entering a new era where AI is becoming a core member of the workforce rather than simply a support tool. “AI is now capable of handling a meaningful portion of customer interactions, allowing human agents to focus on more complex and high-value conversations,” he said. This shift enables organizations to improve response times while maintaining high-quality service experiences. Richter emphasized that the successful adoption of AI requires companies to rethink their approach to workforce strategy. “The future of the contact center is about blending human expertise with AI capabilities to create a more intelligent workforce,” he noted. Organizations that effectively combine automation with human insight can manage higher interaction volumes while delivering more personalized customer experiences. Five9's platform is designed to help enterprises deploy AI-driven capabilities without disrupting existing operations. These tools assist agents in real time, automate routine requests, and provide deeper analytics into customer behavior and performance trends. As enterprise leaders gathered at Enterprise Connect to explore the next phase of communications and customer engagement, the conversation underscored how AI-powered workforce transformation is quickly becoming a defining element of modern contact center strategies. Learn more about Five9: https://www.five9.com/

Susy Liem, AVP of Product Management for Conferencing at Shure, spoke with Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, during the Enterprise Connect conference about how organizations are rethinking conference room audio to better support hybrid collaboration. Liem explained that as enterprises continue adapting to hybrid work environments, the quality of audio in meeting spaces has become increasingly critical. Clear, reliable audio ensures that both in-room participants and remote attendees can fully engage in meetings without technical barriers. “Audio is often the most important part of the meeting experience—if people can't hear clearly, the entire collaboration breaks down,” she said. Shure has focused on developing conferencing solutions that simplify deployment while delivering professional-grade audio performance. The company's microphone and conferencing systems are designed to integrate seamlessly with modern collaboration platforms while supporting a wide range of room sizes and meeting configurations. Liem noted that organizations are moving beyond basic conferencing setups toward more advanced systems that automatically manage audio pickup, noise reduction, and speaker clarity. These capabilities help create a consistent experience for participants regardless of where they are located. As enterprise communications leaders gathered at Enterprise Connect to explore the future of collaboration technology, Shure highlighted the growing importance of high-quality audio infrastructure in enabling effective hybrid meetings and improving overall workplace communication. Learn more about Shure: https://www.shure.com/en-US

Charlene Ignacio of Fornix Marketing spoke with Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, during the Enterprise Connect conference about how technology vendors can better plan, execute, and measure the success of their trade show participation. Ignacio explained that many companies invest heavily in conferences but often fail to fully capitalize on the opportunity because they lack a clear strategy before, during, and after the event. Effective trade show marketing begins well before the event itself, she noted, with outreach campaigns, meeting scheduling, and clear messaging designed to attract the right audience to a booth or presentation. Another key factor is having a structured approach to engagement during the show. Vendors should focus not only on product demonstrations but also on meaningful conversations that identify potential customer needs and partnership opportunities. “Trade shows are about building relationships and starting conversations that continue long after the event ends,” Ignacio said. Post-event follow-up is equally important. Companies that quickly organize and act on leads—while continuing conversations through email, social media, and content marketing—are far more likely to convert trade show interactions into real business opportunities. As industry professionals gathered at Enterprise Connect to explore the future of enterprise communications and collaboration, Ignacio emphasized that a thoughtful event strategy can transform conferences from simple brand exposure into powerful drivers of sales pipeline and long-term industry relationships. Learn more about Fornix Marketing: https://fornixmarketing.com/

David Danto and Dave Michels of TalkingPointz joined Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, for a discussion recorded at the Enterprise Connect conference, where they reflected on the major forces reshaping enterprise communications, collaboration platforms, and the growing influence of AI. The analysts noted that while artificial intelligence dominated the conversation at Enterprise Connect, the real challenge for enterprises is turning AI from a headline into a practical business tool. Organizations are experimenting with AI across collaboration platforms and contact centers, but many are still determining how to deploy it effectively. As Danto observed, “The industry is moving quickly toward AI-enabled communications, but enterprises still need to figure out how to apply it in ways that deliver measurable business value.” Michels added that the communications ecosystem continues to grow more complex as enterprises evaluate multiple cloud platforms, integrations, and emerging capabilities. “Companies aren't just choosing a phone system anymore,” Michels explained. “They're choosing an entire communications ecosystem that has to integrate with business applications and support evolving workplace needs.” The discussion also highlighted the role of industry gatherings like Enterprise Connect in helping enterprises and technology providers evaluate these changes. Events bring together analysts, vendors, and enterprise leaders to assess emerging technologies and understand how they fit into broader IT and collaboration strategies. As enterprise communications continues to evolve through cloud platforms, AI, and new collaboration models, insights from TalkingPointz analysts like Danto and Michels help organizations navigate a rapidly shifting landscape and make more informed technology decisions. Learn more about TalkingPointz: https://talkingpointz.com/

Gautam Vasudev, SVP of Product Management for Agentforce Service at Salesforce, spoke with Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, during the Enterprise Connect conference about Salesforce's vision for agentic AI and its role in transforming customer service operations. Vasudev explained that Agentforce Service represents Salesforce's next step in bringing autonomous AI agents into the contact center and customer experience environment. These AI-powered agents are designed to handle routine service requests, assist human agents in real time, and orchestrate workflows across enterprise systems. “Agentic AI allows organizations to move beyond simple automation and into systems that can actually reason through customer issues and take action,” Vasudev said. The goal is to improve both efficiency and customer satisfaction by enabling AI agents to resolve common service requests quickly while allowing human agents to focus on more complex interactions. By integrating AI directly into the Salesforce platform, Agentforce Service can connect customer data, workflows, and communications across the enterprise. Vasudev noted that enterprises are increasingly looking for AI solutions that go beyond chatbots and scripted automation. Agentic AI systems are designed to understand context, interact with multiple systems, and assist human workers in delivering more personalized customer experiences. As industry leaders gathered at Enterprise Connect to explore the future of enterprise communications and AI-powered collaboration, Salesforce highlighted how agentic AI platforms like Agentforce Service could redefine how organizations manage customer engagement and service delivery. Learn more about Salesforce: https://www.salesforce.com/

Jeff Pulver of the vCon Foundation spoke with Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, during the Enterprise Connect conference about the growing importance of structuring conversational data as enterprises deploy AI across communications platforms. Pulver explained that vCon—short for “virtualized conversations”—is a framework designed to capture and structure conversations from voice, video, and messaging systems into standardized data objects. These conversation records can then be analyzed, stored, and integrated into enterprise workflows. “Conversations are one of the richest sources of enterprise data, but historically they've been unstructured and largely lost once the interaction ends,” Pulver said. As AI becomes embedded across unified communications, contact centers, and collaboration tools, structured conversation data becomes increasingly valuable. The vCon framework enables organizations to treat conversations as durable digital assets that can support analytics, compliance, training, and automation initiatives. Pulver emphasized that enterprises already generate vast amounts of conversational data every day through calls, meetings, and messaging platforms. By capturing those interactions in a structured format, organizations can unlock insights that improve customer engagement, operational efficiency, and decision-making. As discussions at Enterprise Connect increasingly center on AI-driven communications platforms, Pulver believes structured conversation frameworks like vCon will play an important role in enabling organizations to transform everyday communications into actionable data that powers the next generation of intelligent business applications. Learn more about the vCon Foundation: https://www.pulver.com/vconfoundation

Jeff Pulver of the vCon Foundation joined Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, for a conversation recorded at the HIMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition, where the focus was on how structured conversation data could play a critical role in the next phase of healthcare innovation. Pulver explained that the vCon framework—short for “virtualized conversations”—is designed to capture and structure human interactions such as voice calls, video meetings, and messaging exchanges into standardized digital records. These structured conversation objects can then be analyzed, stored, and integrated into enterprise workflows. “Conversations are some of the most valuable data organizations have, but historically they've been unstructured and difficult to use,” Pulver noted. In healthcare environments, that challenge is especially important. Hospitals, clinics, and care providers rely heavily on voice interactions between clinicians, patients, and support staff. By structuring those conversations, organizations could unlock new opportunities for analytics, compliance, and AI-driven insights while maintaining governance over sensitive information. Pulver emphasized that as AI becomes more deeply embedded in enterprise and healthcare systems, structured conversational data will be essential for training models, improving operational decision-making, and creating more responsive digital workflows. Rather than treating conversations as disposable communications, the vCon approach treats them as durable, actionable data assets. As healthcare leaders gathered at HIMSS to explore AI, interoperability, and digital transformation, the discussion highlighted how frameworks like vCon could help bridge the gap between human communication and machine intelligence—turning everyday conversations into meaningful data that can support better outcomes across healthcare organizations. Learn more about the vCon Foundation: https://www.pulver.com/vconfoundation

Kevin Nethercott, CEO of Tresic, spoke with Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News at the Enterprise Connect conference about how organizations can turn everyday business conversations into actionable intelligence that improves performance and revenue outcomes. Nethercott explained that Tresic focuses on analyzing conversations across voice, video, and messaging channels to uncover insights that help organizations understand customer needs, sales performance, and operational gaps. Rather than treating conversations as disposable communications, Tresic's platform captures and analyzes them as valuable business data that can drive better decision-making. A key theme of the discussion was how conversational intelligence can empower service providers, MSPs, and enterprises to improve customer engagement and internal collaboration. By identifying patterns and key moments within conversations, companies can surface opportunities to coach teams, refine messaging, and better align with customer expectations. Nethercott emphasized that many organizations already possess an enormous amount of conversational data but lack the tools to turn it into meaningful insights. “Conversations are one of the richest sources of business intelligence, but most companies have never had a way to analyze them at scale,” he said. As industry leaders gathered at Enterprise Connect to explore AI, communications platforms, and the future of work, Tresic highlighted how conversation intelligence is emerging as a powerful tool for enterprises seeking to transform communications into measurable business outcomes. Learn more about Tresic: https://www.tresic.cloud/

Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, interviewed Dan Novaes of Mode Mobile to discuss a new approach to smartphones that allows users to generate income through everyday mobile usage. The conversation centered on Mode Mobile's vision of transforming the smartphone from a device that costs money into one that can potentially earn money for the user. Novaes explained that Mode Mobile developed the EarnPhone, a smartphone platform designed to reward users for engaging with the device in normal ways—such as interacting with content, apps, and mobile experiences. “We believe the phone should work for the user, not just the other way around,” Novaes said, describing the company's goal of turning everyday smartphone activity into a monetizable experience. The concept is built around the idea that consumers spend significant time on their smartphones each day, generating value for digital platforms through engagement and advertising. Mode Mobile's platform shares a portion of that value directly with the user. According to Novaes, this model reflects a broader shift toward what the company calls the earn-as-you-go mobile economy, where users are rewarded for the digital attention they already provide. Novaes also discussed how the model could resonate in both consumer and emerging market environments where affordability and access to mobile technology remain important issues. By offsetting device costs through engagement rewards, the platform aims to lower barriers to smartphone adoption while also creating new opportunities for digital participation. Ultimately, Mode Mobile's strategy represents an attempt to rethink the economics of mobile devices and digital engagement. Rather than viewing the smartphone purely as a consumer expense, the company is positioning it as a productivity and earning platform that reflects how central mobile technology has become to everyday life. More information about Mode Mobile and its EarnPhone initiative is available at https://invest.modemobile.com/.

Digital Tide on the Cloud PBX Opportunity for Telcos, Podcast, Digital Tide enables telecom operators and MVNOs to launch carrier-grade, white-label Cloud PBX platforms quickly, allowing them to provide advanced business communications services under their own brand without the time and cost of developing the technology internally “Telcos need to stop selling lines and start selling business solutions.” That was the central theme of a recent Technology Reseller News podcast conversation with Roman Zahidi, Content Marketing Manager at Digital Tide, and Anna Gonzales, Marketing Team Lead at Digital Tide, who spoke with Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, about the rapidly emerging market for Cloud PBX and AI-driven voice services. Speaking after a busy week at Mobile World Congress Barcelona, Zahidi and Gonzales described how telecom operators worldwide are under pressure to evolve beyond traditional connectivity services. As voice revenues flatten and competition intensifies, operators are looking for new ways to deliver value to business customers. According to the Digital Tide team, Cloud PBX represents one of the most immediate opportunities for telecom providers to move up the value chain and offer complete communications solutions to enterprises and SMBs. Digital Tide enables telecom operators and MVNOs to launch carrier-grade, white-label Cloud PBX platforms quickly, allowing them to provide advanced business communications services under their own brand without the time and cost of developing the technology internally. The approach allows operators to move rapidly into enterprise markets while leveraging their existing network infrastructure and customer relationships. The discussion also explored how AI-driven voice capabilities are becoming an important differentiator in modern communications platforms. By integrating AI features into Cloud PBX environments, operators can deliver new productivity tools, advanced analytics, and smarter communications workflows for business users. For telecom operators facing a changing communications landscape, Zahidi and Gonzales emphasized that the opportunity is clear: those who expand from connectivity into business communications services can unlock entirely new revenue streams while strengthening relationships with enterprise customers. Learn more about Digital Tide at https://www.digitaltide.io/

Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, interviewed Will Morey, Managing Director of Gamma Business, to discuss the next phase of the global PSTN switch-off and what it means for service providers, partners, and enterprise customers. The conversation focused on the transition from legacy copper networks to IP-based communications and the growing importance of execution as the deadline approaches. Morey explained that the industry has moved beyond awareness of the PSTN shutdown and is now firmly in the execution phase. For many partners, the challenge is no longer understanding that migration must occur, but rather how to transition large numbers of customer sites without disrupting services or damaging long-standing relationships. Businesses still rely on traditional lines for critical applications such as alarms, payment terminals, and other infrastructure that cannot always be moved quickly to IP. To help partners manage this complexity, Gamma developed Edge Migrate, a platform designed to analyze customer estates, plan migrations, and coordinate transitions across both Gamma and third-party services. The goal is to simplify the operational burden for partners while protecting recurring revenue streams and ensuring continuity of service during the migration process. Morey also highlighted an often overlooked aspect of the PSTN transition: some environments are not yet ready for full IP voice. In those situations, interim connectivity solutions can keep essential services running while organizations address network readiness and modernization requirements. By providing these transitional capabilities, partners can continue supporting customers while guiding them toward long-term digital infrastructure. Ultimately, Morey emphasized that the PSTN switch-off represents both a challenge and an opportunity. Partners that act early, leverage migration tools, and maintain close engagement with their customers will be best positioned to turn the copper sunset into a moment of growth rather than disruption. Visit https://gammagroup.co/

Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, interviewed Dayton Turner, VP of Solutions Engineering, and Chris Burgy, SVP of Corporate Development at Ooma, to discuss the accelerating transition away from legacy copper lines and the growing opportunity for partners to address the POTS replacement market. The discussion focused on the ongoing retirement of the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and the operational challenges organizations face as they migrate critical services from traditional analog lines to modern connectivity solutions. Turner explained that many businesses still depend on POTS lines for applications such as elevators, alarm systems, fire panels, and point-of-sale terminals—systems that were originally designed around the reliability of copper infrastructure. As telecom providers continue phasing out these legacy networks, organizations must identify alternative technologies that maintain reliability while supporting modern connectivity requirements. Burgy emphasized that the transition represents a significant opportunity for channel partners and service providers. Many enterprises and small businesses are only beginning to understand the scope of the copper shutdown and the operational impact it will have on their infrastructure. This creates demand for partners who can evaluate existing deployments, recommend migration strategies, and implement replacement solutions that ensure continuity of critical services. The conversation also highlighted how wireless and IP-based solutions are increasingly being deployed to replace traditional analog lines. These technologies enable businesses to maintain connectivity for essential systems without the limitations of legacy copper infrastructure, while also improving manageability and scalability. For partners, the key is combining technical expertise with proactive engagement to help customers navigate the transition before service disruptions occur. Ultimately, Turner and Burgy stressed that the copper sunset is not simply a network upgrade—it is a structural shift in telecommunications infrastructure. Organizations that begin planning now will be better positioned to maintain operational resilience, while partners who guide customers through the migration will play a critical role in the next phase of enterprise communications. Visit https://www.ooma.com/

“When you're dealing with life-safety systems, power failure simply isn't an option,” says Jake Jacoby, CEO of TELCLOUD. In the latest episode of the TELCLOUD POTS and Shots Podcast Series, Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, speaks with Jacoby about one of the most important but sometimes overlooked elements of modern POTS replacement deployments: reliable backup power. As legacy copper networks disappear, organizations are replacing traditional POTS lines used by elevators, fire alarms, emergency phones, and security systems with modern IP and wireless solutions. While the new technologies provide flexibility and cost savings, Jacoby emphasizes that power resilience must be engineered into every deployment. Historically, copper lines delivered their own power from the central office, allowing analog phones and emergency systems to continue operating during local power outages. Modern replacements must replicate that reliability through battery backup systems and redundant power strategies. Jacoby explains that a properly designed POTS replacement solution must ensure that critical communications remain operational even when a building loses electricity. Backup batteries, remote monitoring, and system alerts are all part of the architecture needed to meet regulatory requirements and maintain life-safety compliance. The discussion also highlights the role of channel partners and MSPs in helping customers navigate this transition. As copper lines are retired worldwide, partners have an opportunity to modernize infrastructure while ensuring that the essential communication path for safety systems remains intact. For organizations deploying POTS replacement, Jacoby advises that reliability should always come first. “You're not just replacing a phone line,” he explains. “You're protecting the communication path for systems people rely on in emergencies.” The episode concludes with the series' signature Shots segment, where Jacoby continues the podcast's tradition of highlighting exceptional sipping tequilas—pairing conversations about mission-critical telecom infrastructure with a lighter moment for listeners. For more information, visit https://www.telcloud.com/ or call 844-900-2270.

Jim LaRoe, CEO of Symphion, joined Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, for a podcast discussion ahead of the upcoming HIMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition, focusing on a frequently overlooked cybersecurity vulnerability in healthcare environments: networked printers and print infrastructure. LaRoe explained that while hospitals and healthcare organizations invest heavily in protecting servers, endpoints, and applications, print fleets often remain unmanaged from a security perspective. “Printers are connected devices on the network, and they can represent a real vulnerability if they're not properly secured,” LaRoe noted. In highly regulated healthcare environments, these devices often handle sensitive patient data and must meet strict compliance requirements. Symphion addresses this issue with a managed service designed to deploy and maintain security certificates across large print fleets. The company's platform automates the process of installing and renewing digital certificates that authenticate devices and encrypt communications between printers and the broader network infrastructure. By automating certificate lifecycle management, Symphion helps organizations reduce administrative overhead while maintaining consistent security policies across thousands of devices. For healthcare organizations preparing for audits or strengthening their cybersecurity posture, the solution can also support compliance frameworks tied to patient privacy and data protection. LaRoe emphasized that healthcare IT teams often lack the resources to manually manage certificate deployments across hundreds or thousands of printers, making automation essential. As healthcare leaders gather at HIMSS to discuss cybersecurity, AI, and digital transformation, Symphion is highlighting the need to extend security strategies to every connected device on the network—including the print infrastructure that continues to support critical clinical workflows. Visit https://symphion.com/

Brian Peterson, Cofounder and CTO of Dialpad, joined Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, for a podcast conversation ahead of the upcoming Enterprise Connect 2026 and HIMSS 2026 events to discuss how enterprises are moving beyond AI experimentation and beginning to deploy agentic AI at scale. Peterson explained that many organizations have spent the past year exploring AI pilots but are now facing the harder challenge of operationalizing those experiments in production environments. “The real question now isn't whether AI works—it's how you deploy it safely, measure its impact, and scale it across the organization,” he said. Dialpad's approach focuses on helping enterprises identify high-value use cases, build AI agents around those workflows, and validate outcomes before deployment. A key advantage for Dialpad is its access to large volumes of real conversational data from voice, messaging, and contact center interactions. By analyzing these interactions, the platform can identify friction points in customer experience and operational workflows. Those insights then guide the creation of AI agents designed to resolve specific tasks—such as assisting contact center agents, automating routine processes, or surfacing real-time insights during live conversations. Peterson also emphasized the importance of governance and measurement when deploying AI agents. Organizations must ensure that AI systems are transparent, measurable, and aligned with business objectives. By validating performance before production rollout, enterprises can reduce risk while demonstrating clear ROI—an important step in transitioning from experimental pilots to enterprise-wide adoption. As the industry prepares for major discussions at Enterprise Connect and HIMSS, Peterson believes the next phase of enterprise AI will be defined by practical deployment rather than experimentation. Organizations that can effectively turn conversational data into actionable AI workflows will be best positioned to unlock the real value of agentic AI. Visit https://www.dialpad.com/

Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, sat down with James Cadman, Chief Customer Officer at Luware, to explore how organizations can modernize customer engagement and contact center operations in an era of digital transformation. Cadman explained that Luware specializes in cloud-native customer service and contact center solutions that integrate seamlessly with platforms like Microsoft Teams, helping enterprises deliver unified, efficient support at scale. He emphasized that customer success is central to Luware's mission and that people—more than processes or metrics—are what drive exceptional outcomes. In his words, “People drive excellence, not just KPIs!” (from industry sessions delivered by Cadman). The discussion highlighted how customer experience must evolve beyond siloed channels to truly omnichannel engagement, ensuring consistency, personalization, and responsiveness across voice, chat, email, and digital touchpoints. Cadman noted that customers today expect seamless journeys and that companies must architect their contact center technologies and organizational structures to support frictionless interactions. Luware's approach blends technological innovation with dedicated customer support. Cadman shared examples of how personalized service—such as assigning customer success specialists to guide onboarding, environment setup, and issue resolution—can make a material difference in adoption and satisfaction. This focus on support excellence helps organizations achieve rapid time to value and high levels of trust in outcomes. Finally, Cadman spoke to the importance of aligning technology with business goals, including digital transformation, compliance, and analytics. Luware customers across sectors like government and finance have leveraged solutions such as Luware Nimbus to simplify communications, scale on demand, and gain deeper insights into operations. More about Luware's solutions and customer success resources is available at https://luware.com/.

Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, interviewed Ethan Ouyang, Head of the U.S. Department of Atoms at DeepWisdom, to discuss a new class of AI innovation: autonomous AI teams capable of building, launching, and operating real businesses from a single prompt. Ouyang described Atoms as a next-generation AI business solution designed to move beyond copilots and task-based agents. Rather than assisting humans with discrete workflows, Atoms functions as a coordinated, multi-agent system that can plan, execute, iterate, and grow revenue-generating products. The platform leverages open-source models and modular architecture to deliver enterprise-grade performance while maintaining cost efficiency and flexibility. A central theme of the conversation was the shift from “AI tools” to “AI organizations.” Ouyang explained that Atoms is structured to simulate functional teams—product, engineering, marketing, and operations—working collaboratively to bring an idea to market. This approach enables faster experimentation, shorter development cycles, and measurable business outcomes. For telecom, MSP, and channel audiences, the implication is significant: AI is no longer just about automation within existing businesses—it may also become a mechanism for creating entirely new lines of revenue. Ouyang also addressed the economics of AI deployment. As infrastructure costs and model usage scale, enterprises are increasingly seeking performance-per-dollar advantages. Atoms is positioned to deliver competitive output quality while reducing operational expense through optimized model orchestration and autonomous workflow design. The result, he suggested, is a more sustainable path toward AI-driven growth. Looking ahead, Ouyang framed Atoms as part of a broader transformation in how organizations think about productivity and entrepreneurship. As AI systems gain the ability to operate with greater autonomy, the competitive advantage will shift toward those who can effectively deploy and govern these digital teams. For technology providers and partners, that represents both a strategic opportunity and a call to rethink traditional business models. More information about Atoms and DeepWisdom's autonomous AI initiatives is available at https://atoms.dev/.

Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, interviewed Roger Brown, Vice President of Mobile North America at Allstate Protection Plans, to discuss new consumer research examining how Americans think about smartphone upgrades, trade-ins, and sustainability—and what it means for carriers and the broader mobile ecosystem. Allstate Protection Plans, a division of Allstate, works globally with carriers and retailers to provide device protection, upgrade, and second-life solutions for smartphones and other connected devices. Brown shared findings from a recent survey of more than 1,000 U.S. consumers. The first major takeaway: upgrade cycles continue to lengthen. Consumers are keeping their smartphones longer, driven by higher device prices, extended financing terms, and slower perceived innovation. The second key finding was that practicality now outweighs novelty. For the first time, battery performance ranked as the most important feature—above price or camera improvements—signaling that dependability now trumps incremental feature upgrades. A third headline centered on sustainability. While more than half of consumers say environmental impact matters, only about 20% actually recycle their old phones, and just 16% purchase refurbished devices. Brown noted that lingering concerns about personal data security remain a barrier, even though industry safeguards are strong. “There's still a lack of confidence,” he explained, particularly around handing over devices containing personal photos, financial data, and contacts. The survey also has strategic implications for carriers. Longer device life cycles improve retention but make customer acquisition more difficult and expensive. As Brown observed, simply offering the latest device is no longer enough to differentiate. Instead, carriers are exploring bundled and subscription-style offerings—combining connectivity, device access, and protection into a single monthly solution—to simplify the consumer experience and create stronger value propositions. Building confidence in refurbished devices by backing them with warranties comparable to new products may also help close the sustainability gap. Ultimately, Brown emphasized that flexibility is key. Consumers have different upgrade appetites, and solutions must allow them to upgrade, repair, protect, or recycle on their own terms. The full survey and additional information about Allstate Protection Plans are available through the Allstate website. Visit https://www.squaretrade.com/

Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, interviewed Kotryna Ragaisyte, Head of Content & Brand at Decodo, to spotlight a growing threat many businesses underestimate: digital squatting—fraudsters registering lookalike domains to impersonate brands, steal customers, and damage reputations. Ragaisyte explained that Decodo (formerly Smartproxy) is a web data collection infrastructure provider offering proxy and scraping solutions—“the backbone of the businesses that need publicly available data” for functions like price comparison and information gathering. Her team encountered digital squatting firsthand when attackers registered a country-code domain using their former brand name, forcing them to confront how difficult it can be to shut down impersonators even when you discover the scam quickly. The business impact, she said, is immediate and severe: reputational harm from fraudulent “service,” negative reviews, lost revenue, and significant legal and operational costs. “It impacts the whole business,” Ragaisyte noted, adding that fighting squatters becomes a cross-team crisis involving legal, marketing, customer support, and security—not a problem any one department can solve alone. Ragaisyte tied the surge in squatting to the post-COVID acceleration of online commerce and habit-driven clicking behavior—warning that top search placement doesn't guarantee legitimacy. She outlined why legal remedies can help but aren't a silver bullet: disputes may require proof of bad faith, can take a long time, must often be handled case-by-case, and don't stop future registrations. Her advice emphasized proactive defense—broad trademark coverage, building a robust domain portfolio beyond “.com” (including misspellings and country-code domains), and maintaining monitoring and internal readiness. Finally, she stressed that response requires disciplined evidence gathering, fast coordination with registrars/hosting providers and legal counsel, and transparent customer communication. Rather than hoping the issue will “go away,” Ragaisyte urged brands to clearly publish official domains and warn customers across email and social channels so scams don't define the narrative. Visit https://decodo.com/

TWR Wednesday | The Groyper To Troon PipelineOn this packed and unapologetic Wednesday edition of The Whitfield Report, Sam Whitfield and the crew dive headfirst into some of the most controversial stories dominating the cultural and political landscape.The show opens with a discussion on the disturbing rise in mass shootings, including recent attacks carried out by transgender-identifying individuals. The hosts examine media framing, political narratives, and the broader societal implications of these tragedies. A clip from Gothics, a left-leaning content creator from Pawtucket, Rhode Island, is also featured as she responds to a recent hockey rink shooting in her district and the political fallout that followed.From there, the conversation widens into cultural critique, with strong commentary on what the hosts describe as overt occult and Satanic symbolism in entertainment and public life — including a look back at Beyoncé's Super Bowl halftime performance as a cultural flashpoint.At the halfway mark, Sam provides an exciting update on his upcoming novel, American Inferno, Book Five in the Shadows of Deception saga. Listeners get a preview of the audiobook introduction, narrated by Doug Green, and details on the March 10th paperback and e-book release. If you've been following John Ryder's journey, this is a must-hear segment.The conversation then shifts to the long-anticipated Epstein Files and the online frenzy over who is named. The hosts clarify an important distinction: being mentioned in documents does not automatically imply wrongdoing. They break down the case of “Grim Jim” as an example of how online speculation can spiral out of control.Other topics include:The role of AI in modern content creation — and why human creativity still matters, even when using tools like ChatGPT and Canva.Ongoing tensions with controversial figure Johnny Fox and allegations of “review bombing” targeting Sam's work.Minnesota's government fraud crisis and its impact on taxpayers and vulnerable communities who rely on public assistance programs.As always, The Whitfield Report blends culture, politics, media analysis, and independent publishing updates — all through the lens of free speech and the Right To Offend.Buckle up.Please Support The Show:Sam's Substack: https://samwhitfield.substack.com/Rumble: https://rumble.com/user/TheWhitfieldReport2nd YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@WhitfieldReportReloadedKick Channel: https://kick.com/whitfieldreportSam's Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sam-Whitfield/author/B00M1DNU88?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=trueSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4DIcoDO0BIDyuH7SWIsAB8?si=8c06106f817d4eebAmerican Instinct Pulp Adventures: https://americaninstinct.substack.comFollow Sam on X and Instagram @SamW_NGCFollow Right To Offend Media on X @RTOMediaBuy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/whitfieldreport

At ITEXPO / MSP EXPO in Fort Lauderdale, Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, spoke with Lloyd Tjom, Director of Sales at Transaction Network Services (TNS), about the growing importance of RCS and the future of trusted messaging. TNS is also a member of the Cloud Communications Alliance (CCA). TNS operates at the center of the communications ecosystem, providing numbering, routing, authentication, and identity services to carriers and communication service providers (CSPs) worldwide. As messaging evolves beyond SMS and MMS, TNS is focused on helping the industry deliver secure, reliable, and commercially viable Rich Communication Services (RCS). “RCS is the evolution,” Tjom explained. Originally introduced by the GSM Association in 2007, RCS has gained new momentum with broad device support—including adoption by Apple—bringing both Android and iOS into alignment. With that shift, RCS is positioned to become a mainstream messaging channel capable of supporting richer interactions and higher trust. Unlike traditional SMS, RCS enables branded messaging, verified sender badges, logos, read receipts, and interactive features such as carousels and embedded actions. “If they're a vetted partner that has got the branding as well as the verified mark, then you know you're dealing with the right party on the other end,” Tjom said. In an era of phishing and spoofing, verified identity and “know your business” (KYB) vetting are essential components of restoring trust in messaging channels. Tjom emphasized that the phone number remains central to digital identity. For many consumers, a single mobile number has followed them for decades, becoming a stable anchor of trust across carriers and geographies. As RCS scales, however, CSPs must address fragmentation, infrastructure inconsistencies, and bad actors within the ecosystem. Broader adherence to standards, stronger onboarding controls, and rapid mitigation of vulnerabilities will be critical for unlocking RCS's full commercial potential. Looking ahead, Tjom sees RCS becoming the default channel for trusted business communications—enabling full conversational commerce, customer service workflows, flight changes, purchases, and more within a verified, branded environment. “It really has got so many different potentials out there,” he noted, “but it all comes back to trusted communications.” Visit https://tnsi.com/

At ITEXPO / MSP EXPO in Fort Lauderdale, Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, spoke with Jon Brinton, Chief Revenue Officer at Crexendo, about the company's latest announcement: the launch of the Crexendo Marketplace. Crexendo is also a member of the Cloud Communications Alliance (CCA). Crexendo, a unified communications service provider, merged with NetSapiens five years ago, bringing together a robust UCaaS platform now powering approximately 240 service providers globally. That ecosystem supports nearly 7.5 million users—a number that has grown more than fourfold since the acquisition. The new Crexendo Marketplace builds on that momentum by delivering a centralized, frictionless application store for certified integrations and third-party solutions. “What we've now released is a Crexendo Marketplace,” Brinton explained. “If you think about it like the Google Play Store or the Apple Store, it's an application store that somebody can go to download, activate or integrate with applications that are certified for our platform.” Through one-touch provisioning, service providers can enable integrations such as mobile dialer support, analytics, Microsoft Teams connectivity, and Crexendo's AI-powered receptionist and orchestrator, Cairo—all without complex implementation paths. The Marketplace reinforces Crexendo's sessions-not-seats licensing model, which allows MSPs and service providers to own their customer relationships while building equity in their businesses. Brinton noted that AI-driven add-on applications are driving significant incremental revenue, often far exceeding traditional per-user UCaaS pricing. “Some of these AI applications… may be worth four to five to ten times that in monthly revenue to our partners,” he said, underscoring the opportunity for higher-margin growth. As innovation accelerates across the cloud communications landscape, Crexendo continues to invest heavily in platform development and ecosystem expansion. With its annual NetSapiens user group meeting scheduled for Austin later this year, the company remains focused on empowering partners with tools, integrations, and community support to compete—and win—in an evolving market. Visit https://www.crexendo.com/

At ITEXPO / MSP EXPO, Jim Gurol, CEO of California Telecom, joined Doug Green to discuss NetVerge, a modern software platform designed to address a persistent challenge for MSPs: SaaS sprawl and operational inefficiency. NetVerge was born from Gurol's own experience running an MSP. Faced with juggling multiple ticketing systems, monitoring tools, and documentation platforms, his team found themselves “swivel chairing” between applications that didn't integrate cleanly. Rather than accept outdated workflows, they built their own platform from the ground up. “We wanted to build something from scratch, from the ground up, from our pain,” Gurol explained, emphasizing that NetVerge evolved directly from real-world MSP feedback. The platform consolidates core MSP functions into a modern, AI-enabled environment. Its ticketing interface resembles real-time chat, allowing technicians to collaborate through mentions and threaded conversations rather than traditional form-heavy systems. NetVerge also incorporates AI workflow agents that assist with troubleshooting, pen testing, and other operational tasks. MSPs can even design their own AI agents to automate repetitive processes—helping firms scale without proportionally increasing headcount. Gurol believes this practitioner-driven design is a key differentiator. “We live it,” he said, noting that firsthand MSP experience informs how the platform handles alert management, ticket flow, and day-to-day operational realities. For MSPs looking to reduce tool fragmentation, modernize workflows, and deploy AI in practical ways, NetVerge aims to offer a unified alternative. Visit https://californiatelecom.com/

At ITEXPO / MSP EXPO, Ty Richardson, CEO of One Global Business Financing Corporation, joined Doug Green to discuss one of the most consequential realities facing MSP owners: at some point, you will either acquire—or be acquired. Richardson outlined how today's M&A environment has expanded beyond large “behemoth” firms, enabling even $1–$5 million MSPs to pursue viable exit strategies or strategic acquisitions. One Global Business Financing Corporation operates as a capital advisor and intermediary, working between MSPs and a broad network of lenders, private credit firms, family offices, SBA providers, and private equity sources. “We do the work so that you don't have to,” Richardson explained. Rather than forcing MSPs to navigate banks and paperwork alone, his firm evaluates financial positioning, collects documentation, surveys more than 6,000 capital providers, and returns with structured options tailored to the owner's goals—whether that means a line of credit, equipment financing, a term loan, real estate acquisition, or full M&A funding. Richardson emphasized that financing strategy begins years before a sale. MSPs planning an exit in three to five years must structure recurring revenue, strengthen contracts, build leadership teams, and maintain solid financial reporting. “If you are structuring yourself for a sale, the one thing you should be thinking about is how do I make this easy for a buyer to qualify?” he said. That preparation can significantly impact valuation and buyer confidence. The conversation also highlighted alternative deal structures, including partial acquisitions, staged buyouts, and SBA-backed transactions for smaller firms. Richardson noted that many MSPs initially assume they simply “need a loan,” when in reality more tax-efficient or strategically structured financing solutions may exist. The firm often works in consultation with tax professionals and legal advisors to optimize long-term positioning. Finally, Richardson advised MSP owners to begin networking early if a sale is on the horizon. By cultivating relationships over several years, owners may find qualified buyers privately—avoiding the noise and unqualified interest that often comes with broadly marketing a business for sale. Visit https://oneglobalfinancing.com/

At ITEXPO / MSP EXPO, Jon Arnold, Principal of J Arnold & Associates, joined Doug Green to share his perspective on the event's evolution, the growing dominance of AI in conference programming, and the escalating fraud challenges facing the communications industry. A long-time analyst and contributor, Arnold participated in four sessions during the show, primarily focused on cybersecurity, mobile communications, and fraud mitigation. Arnold noted that while ITEXPO continues to feature its traditional telecom and MSP programming, AI now permeates nearly every track—from agentic AI discussions to vertical-focused sub-events. At the same time, he observed a visible shift on the show floor, with fewer hardware vendors and more companies centered on cybersecurity and risk mitigation. “There's a steadiness to this show that I kind of like year after year,” Arnold said, while acknowledging that the exhibitor footprint and attendee mix are evolving. Across his moderated sessions, a central theme emerged: fraud is accelerating, and AI is amplifying the challenge. Topics included branded calling, RCS, KYC/Know Your Customer frameworks, and the persistent vulnerabilities within mobile networks. Arnold emphasized that fraud has become a multi-layered ecosystem problem. “Before AI, the bad guys were maybe half a step ahead. With AI, they're three or four steps ahead,” he observed, highlighting how rapidly attackers are leveraging automation and generative tools. A standout moment for Arnold was a presentation by ethical hacker Jesse “Hackajack” Tuttle, who illustrated the pervasiveness of fraud from a former attacker's perspective. The session reinforced the need for stronger regulatory frameworks, greater carrier coordination, and increased industry urgency around consumer protection. As the communications industry balances innovation with risk, Arnold's takeaway was clear: the fraud problem is worse than many assume, and solving it will require deeper collaboration across the ecosystem. Visit https://www.jarnoldassociates.com/

At ITEXPO / MSP EXPO, Simon Bradbrook, Senior Sales Engineer BSG at Snom, joined Doug Green to discuss why hardware reliability, mobility, and voice infrastructure still matter in a cloud-first world. Snom, a member of the Cloud Communications Alliance (CCA), was one of the original IP phone manufacturers, launching one of the first commercially available IP phones in 2001. Today, Snom operates under the global manufacturing strength of VTech, one of the world's largest electronics manufacturers, with additional portfolio depth through the acquisition of Gigaset. Bradbrook highlighted Snom's wireless DECT solutions as a major differentiator for MSPs. Unlike Wi-Fi-based voice devices, DECT was purpose-built for voice communication, providing secure, encrypted, and highly reliable connectivity—especially critical in healthcare, assisted living, and large campus environments. “When I need to make an emergency call, I want to rely on a product that's actually going to complete that call,” Bradbrook noted, underscoring the importance of dependable voice in mission-critical settings. The Snom M900 multi-cell DECT system, which was used live during MSP Expo for staff communications, supports use cases ranging from hospitals and retirement facilities to warehouses. Features such as encrypted voice channels and optional accelerometer-based emergency alerts—capable of detecting a fall and automatically triggering assistance—expand the value proposition for MSPs serving vertical markets with safety and compliance requirements, including HIPAA-sensitive environments. Through VTech's global manufacturing footprint and distribution network, Snom is able to offer a three-year advanced replacement warranty. If a hardware issue is confirmed, a replacement unit is shipped immediately—without waiting for return processing—providing operational continuity for MSP partners and their customers. For MSPs seeking to expand beyond standard desk phones into scalable mobility and enterprise-grade wireless solutions, Snom and Gigaset offer complementary portfolios designed to fit environments from SMB retail to large enterprise campuses. Visit https://www.snomamericas.com/

At ITEXPO / MSP EXPO, Zack Schwartz, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Trustifi, joined Doug Green to discuss a critical but often overlooked reality: while AI dominates headlines, email remains the primary attack vector for cybercrime. Trustifi delivers a full-suite email security platform purpose-built for MSPs, enabling easy deployment, centralized management, and advanced protection against next-generation AI-driven phishing attacks. Schwartz emphasized that over 91% of cyberattacks still originate from inbound email—and the sophistication of those attacks has grown dramatically with AI tools. “Cyber criminals are leveraging AI to create extremely nuanced attacks,” he explained. Trustifi addresses this by combining high-efficacy inbound phishing detection with innovative AI-driven training tools. One standout feature allows MSPs to convert a real phishing attack into customized security awareness training, generating targeted video content based on an incident that actually occurred within a customer's environment. A key differentiator is Trustifi's “journal-only mode,” which allows MSPs to deploy the platform without interrupting live email flow. The system produces a full report showing how Trustifi would have responded to threats, creating what Schwartz described as a powerful “aha moment” for customers. According to Trustifi, this approach converts over 80% of opportunities and requires only minutes to set up—at no cost to the partner or end client. Beyond inbound threats, Trustifi also addresses outbound risk and compliance requirements, including HIPAA, PCI, GDPR, and broader data loss prevention (DLP) concerns. Many organizations underestimate how much sensitive information leaves their network via email. “It's a big issue of not knowing what you don't know,” Schwartz said, highlighting how classification and encryption tools expose hidden vulnerabilities. With no minimum requirements, free NFR licenses for MSPs, and strong momentum away from legacy email gateways, Trustifi is positioning itself as a high-margin opportunity within the channel. The message to MSPs: start internally, see the exposure firsthand, and then extend protection across your customer base. Visit https://trustifi.com/

At ITEXPO / MSP EXPO, Paul Daigle, Senior Managing Partner and Founder of BizAdvisoryBoard, introduced a new free resource designed to help MSPs grow more strategically: the MSP Business Growth Marketplace. In his conversation with Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, Daigle positioned the platform as a response to a common challenge in the channel—MSPs working in their business rather than on it. Unlike vendor-led marketplaces that focus on extending product reach, this marketplace takes what Daigle calls a holistic approach across eight operational focus areas: sales, marketing, legal, CPA, HR, coaching, services, and support. “We're the only marketplace in the world that specializes in the holistic approach within the eight operational focus areas of an MSP,” Daigle said. “It's like an eight-cylinder engine—you need all those pistons working together.” The platform is vendor-agnostic and designed to match MSPs with vetted resources aligned to their size and growth stage. Whether an MSP needs specialized legal counsel, HR guidance, financial expertise, or operational coaching, the marketplace aims to connect them with providers who understand the MSP model. The goal is to streamline access to trusted partners at the precise moment MSP executives are actively seeking solutions. The concept emerged from BizAdvisoryBoard's executive coaching and M&A advisory work, where Daigle's team consistently fielded requests for qualified referrals. With strong interest from vendors and service providers at MSP Expo, the MSP Business Growth Marketplace is positioned as a centralized growth engine for MSP leaders focused on scaling with structure, discipline, and long-term value creation. Visit https://bizadvisoryboard.com/

In a podcast recorded at ITEXPO / MSP EXPO, Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, spoke with Krishna Balusu of Meta Platforms about how large-scale digital platforms are using AI agents to improve reliability, performance, and operational resilience behind the scenes. Balusu explained that Meta is actively deploying internal AI agents—designed not for end users, but for developers and operations teams—to identify and troubleshoot platform issues automatically. These agents, part of an internal system known as Opsmate, monitor performance signals such as slow load times or degraded user experiences and work to identify root causes without requiring immediate human intervention. “It's almost like hiring an employee whose job is to retrace the steps a human engineer would take to find the root cause of a problem,” Balusu said, describing how the system reduces operational load on engineering teams. Rather than being self-healing in a purely heuristic sense, Balusu noted that modern platforms face constant change—from weekly application updates and operating system revisions to sudden spikes in traffic driven by global events. AI agents provide a flexible way to reason across many possible variables in real time, proactively isolating issues and accelerating resolution. These agents are already in use on Facebook and Messenger, with broader expansion planned over time. Looking ahead, Balusu suggested that this operational use of AI represents an early stage of a broader shift in software development. As AI systems take on more coding, diagnostics, and analysis tasks, engineers increasingly act as orchestrators and decision-makers rather than line-by-line developers. “We're moving toward a world where engineers manage AI agents instead of writing and reviewing code themselves,” he said, highlighting how agentic AI is reshaping the future of large-scale platform engineering. Visit https://www.meta.com/technologies/

In a podcast recorded at ITEXPO / MSP EXPO, Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, spoke with Tomas Sjostrom, CISSP and President of Technology Services at James Moore Co., about how cybersecurity and compliance priorities are evolving for small and mid-sized businesses. Sjostrom explained that James Moore is a long-established CPA firm with more than 60 years of experience serving Florida-based organizations, and nearly three decades delivering IT managed services alongside traditional financial and audit work. As cybersecurity threats increase and regulatory requirements expand, SMBs are showing greater interest in both protecting their environments and demonstrating compliance—often driven by cyber insurance requirements, customer demands, or new business opportunities. A key theme of the discussion focused on how organizations assess and manage cybersecurity risk. Sjostrom emphasized that the process begins with understanding what is motivating a customer's concern, whether it is insurance questionnaires, data protection issues, or compliance mandates tied to industries such as defense contracting. From there, James Moore leverages onboarding and automated discovery tools to establish a baseline and support continuous compliance. “Customers want to meet new requirements as fast as possible, reliably, and without spending excessive time or money,” Sjostrom noted, highlighting the need for scalable and automated approaches. The conversation also touched on AI adoption and compliance readiness. Sjostrom observed that less mature organizations often start with questions around data protection and privacy, while more advanced companies already understand where their critical assets reside and can move more quickly toward compliant AI deployments. As cybersecurity, compliance, and AI increasingly intersect, Sjostrom positioned proactive risk monitoring as a strategic advantage for SMBs working with trusted MSP and advisory partners. Visit https://www.jmco.com/

At ITEXPO / MSP EXPO in Fort Lauderdale, Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, spoke with Corey Moullas, Founder & CTO of EMAK Telecom, about a bold thesis: in the age of generative AI, voice will not be a side channel—it will be central to how businesses communicate and brand. EMAK Telecom, a VoIP and UCaaS provider founded a decade ago, built its own platform from the ground up with a focus on improving internal workflows and elevating the caller experience. Moullas emphasized that for EMAK, voice has always been about more than dial tone. “What can we do to make the caller experience amazing?” he said, describing a decade-long commitment to refining how customers interact with businesses through voice channels. Now, with the rise of generative AI and voice-to-voice agents, EMAK is integrating advanced AI capabilities directly into its telecom stack. While much of the industry conversation around AI centers on chat interfaces and automation dashboards, Moullas argues that the real transformation will occur in human conversation. “Voice is a very comfortable channel for a lot of people,” he noted. “Humans have a voice. We use it to communicate. It's not going away.” AI-powered voice agents, when implemented responsibly, can dramatically accelerate problem resolution, enrich brand presence, and create more natural customer interactions. Importantly, Moullas acknowledges the industry's legacy frustrations with earlier voice recognition systems. The difference today, he says, is the maturity of AI models capable of delivering empathetic, context-aware responses. “With the new technologies rolling out today, it's actually extraordinary,” he explained. At the same time, he stressed the responsibility that comes with such power. “We have to be very responsible about how we use these tools… they can be used for good or used for evil.” EMAK's internal philosophy—“do the right thing”—guides product decisions and long-term vision. As AI becomes embedded in enterprise communications, EMAK's strategy positions voice not as an afterthought but as the primary interface between humans and technology. In Moullas' view, when AI enables voice interactions that feel seamless and human, businesses will discover new ways to differentiate, connect, and deliver value. Visit https://emak.tech/

At ITEXPO / MSP EXPO, Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, spoke with Tejas Patel, Software Engineer at Amazon, for a technical deep dive into how one of the world's largest platforms manages scale, reliability, and the growing role of AI in operations. Amazon operates in an environment defined by extreme traffic variability—from daily fluctuations to massive surges during Prime events. Patel explained that the company relies on distributed systems and microservices architecture to scale every layer of the stack, including databases, caching layers, and application servers. “We scale everything at a massive scale,” he noted, adding that AI-driven traffic prediction models help prepare systems for anticipated spikes, ensuring elasticity and resilience under pressure. Even with rigorous lower-environment testing and simulated traffic, real-world production environments introduce unpredictable behaviors. When outages or functional errors occur, the first priority is customer impact mitigation. “The short-term goal is to make our functionalities available for customers as soon as possible,” Patel said. After stabilizing services, engineering teams conduct root cause analysis and implement long-term fixes to prevent recurrence. On-call teams remain a core part of this model, though that may evolve. AI is increasingly part of that evolution. Patel described how AI systems can detect latency drops, identify anomalies, trigger workflows, and begin root cause investigations—sometimes before engineers are alerted. While still in a supervised phase, AI is gradually moving from passive support to more autonomous operational roles. “AI has a lot of protocols built where it can talk to all the systems,” he explained, envisioning a future where AI mitigates issues proactively while engineers oversee the broader architecture. For MSPs and channel professionals looking to understand large-scale technology environments, Patel emphasized the foundational importance of distributed systems. “Distributed system is everywhere,” he said. “It's the backbone of a large-scale product.” As AI models and inference platforms continue to expand globally, scalable distributed infrastructure will remain essential to delivering reliable, uninterrupted user experiences. Visit https://www.amazon.com/

At ITEXPO / MSP EXPO, Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, spoke with Mahen Gundecha, Broker at Bristol Group, about mergers and acquisitions activity in the MSP and cybersecurity markets—and what business owners should be thinking about long before they decide to sell. Bristol Group is an M&A advisory firm focused on small- and mid-sized companies across multiple industries, with Gundecha concentrating on IT and managed services. Drawing parallels between biotech and the rapidly evolving MSP and cybersecurity sectors, he emphasized that today's environment is knowledge-intensive, fast-moving, and increasingly shaped by consolidation and private equity activity. For MSP owners dreaming of an eventual exit, Gundecha offered practical guidance rooted in three core areas: personal goals, financial readiness, and market risk. “Ask yourself what you want personally, what your financial situation looks like, and what risks are coming your way,” he advised. Many owners assume aggressive growth will dramatically increase valuation in a short period, but in reality, sustained, realistic growth—and careful timing—often determine the outcome. Understanding whether there is a gap between retirement goals and current valuation is a critical first step. He also highlighted the growing impact of consolidation. As private equity-backed platforms acquire regional MSPs, competitive pressure increases—bringing stronger capabilities, deeper cybersecurity stacks, and potentially lower pricing. This can affect both customer retention and employee retention, particularly for highly skilled cybersecurity professionals. For owners nearing retirement, a dip in valuation due to lost accounts or talent may be difficult to recover from within a limited time horizon. Importantly, selling does not have to mean walking away entirely. Gundecha described partial exits where owners retain equity in a larger acquiring platform. This approach can reduce customer concentration risk, provide immediate liquidity, and potentially deliver greater long-term upside if the buyer scales aggressively. “You've cashed out part of your risk, diversified the rest, and positioned yourself for additional wealth creation,” he explained—while underscoring that selecting the right buyer is the key strategic decision. Visit https://bristolgrouponline.com/

At ITEXPO / MSP EXPO, Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, spoke with Lyle Pratt, CEO of Vida, about the company's latest release: an expanded AI Agent Operating System designed for enterprise scale and built specifically for MSPs and channel partners. Vida provides AI-powered phone agents that integrate directly into existing UCaaS and telecom environments. With native SIP registration, Vida's agents can register back to an MSP's current UCaaS platform and appear just like any other VoIP endpoint. The new release enhances omnichannel capabilities, centralized control, observability, billing integrations, and reseller management—allowing MSPs to deploy, monitor, and monetize AI agents at scale across multiple customers. Pratt emphasized that the platform was architected from a telecom channel background. “We've designed the OS specifically for MSPs,” he said. “We make it extremely easy to roll those out to all your customers using our AI Agent OS.” Vida supports a multi-tier model—partners, resellers, enterprises, and agents—enabling white-label deployments where MSPs retain brand control and pricing authority. The platform also includes built-in billing and reporting capabilities to streamline recurring revenue operations. A key opportunity lies in redirecting call traffic that traditionally flows to third-party call centers or BPOs. Vida's AI phone agents can handle first-tier interactions at approximately 15 cents per minute, enabling MSPs to capture revenue streams that previously bypassed them. “Software is going to begin to eat into the labor market,” Pratt noted. “And that actually is great for MSPs because they sell software solutions—now they can collect those margins for themselves.” As AI continues to reshape communications infrastructure, Vida is positioning its platform as the backbone for next-generation IVRs, auto attendants, and voice-driven automation. With SOC 2 and HIPAA compliance, flexible integrations, and omnichannel automation capabilities across voice, SMS, and email, the company is aiming to simplify AI deployment for MSPs while opening new, high-margin revenue paths. Visit https://vida.io/

At ITEXPO / MSP EXPO, Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, sat down with Rick Mancinelli, CEO of C3 Complete, along with Tim and Tasha of Nerds To Go, to discuss a new partnership designed to accelerate MSP growth and expand service capabilities across a national franchise network. C3 Complete, a multifaceted technology, telecom, and cybersecurity provider with 16 years of industry experience, has partnered with Nerds To Go to help strengthen and scale its managed services model. Nerds To Go, a franchise-based IT services brand that evolved from a break-fix concept into a managed services provider, is focused on expanding both its B2C and B2B footprint. The partnership brings additional backend support, broader product offerings, and operational depth to franchisees looking to move upstream into larger, more complex accounts. As Mancinelli explained, the goal is to “complete their product portfolio and allow them to bring a total solution to each and every one of their customers.” Through C3's telecom, data center, and advanced services capabilities, Nerds To Go franchisees can now pursue opportunities that previously exceeded their internal bandwidth. At the same time, the franchise network provides C3 with boots-on-the-ground coverage in markets where local presence is critical. The collaboration reflects a broader industry trend toward partnership-driven growth. By combining franchise scalability with enterprise-grade backend support, both organizations aim to increase margins, enhance recurring revenue streams, and enable franchisees to confidently say “yes” to larger opportunities. As the group emphasized during the conversation, this is not a vendor-client relationship but a mutual growth strategy built on shared opportunity. Visit C3 Complete: https://c3-complete.com/ Visit Nerds To Go: https://www.nerdstogo.com/

In a podcast recorded at ITEXPO / MSP EXPO, Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, spoke with Gregory Tellone, CEO of Cloud IBR, about simplifying disaster recovery (DR) testing and turning recoverability into a practical, recurring revenue opportunity for MSPs. Cloud IBR is a SaaS platform designed for organizations using Veeam backups. With a single click, the system provisions dedicated bare-metal cloud servers, installs operating systems, restores encrypted backup repositories, configures networking, VPN access, firewalls, and hands off a fully operational environment for either a live disaster or a scheduled recovery test. “Most backup products are great at backup,” Tellone explained. “The problem is knowing whether your backups are actually good and being able to test recovery easily.” The platform addresses a longstanding gap in the SMB market: the complexity and cost of maintaining secondary DR sites and conducting realistic recovery testing. Traditional DR requires duplicate infrastructure, bandwidth, replication management, and ongoing maintenance—often making full testing impractical. Cloud IBR automates that entire process in approximately 20 minutes of onboarding time, enabling monthly recovery testing by default and generating detailed PDF reports documenting every recovered server and recovery time objective (RTO). For MSPs, the opportunity is strategic. Starting at $299 per month, the service provides a low-barrier entry point into customer accounts while strengthening trust and expanding monthly recurring revenue. Tellone described it as a relationship builder: “It's always easier to sell to a customer than to a prospect. You start with something simple that works, and from there you grow.” With automated reporting suitable for cyber insurance applications and RFP responses, Cloud IBR transforms disaster recovery from a checkbox exercise into a demonstrable operational advantage. Visit https://cloudibr.com/

In a podcast recorded at ITEXPO / MSP EXPO, Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, spoke with Mike Wehrs, CTO of TieTechnology, about the upcoming launch of Genie 1.1 and the company's broader mission to reposition voice as a fully integrated component of modern IT infrastructure. TieTechnology focuses on making voice a “first-tier partner” within business systems rather than a disconnected afterthought. Genie, the company's SMB product family, provides a backend softphone capability for PCs along with applications that connect voice into tools such as Slack, CRMs, and EMRs. With Genie 1.1, the company is deepening its ability to capture, transcribe, summarize, and structure voice interactions so that the most valuable customer data—what was actually said—flows directly into business systems. “AI is not magic,” Wehrs noted. “If you don't have good data going into the system, you're not going to get the results out of it that you want.” He emphasized that many organizations layer AI on top of incomplete infrastructure, resulting in underperformance. Genie addresses that gap by cleaning audio streams, identifying speakers, summarizing conversations, and delivering structured data—often in JSON format—into CRM environments. The result, according to Wehrs, can represent as much as a 40 percent increase in high-quality CRM data, driving better customer support, marketing automation, and operational insight. For MSPs, the opportunity is twofold. First, Genie simplifies voice integration through straightforward APIs, eliminating the need to understand complex SIP stacks or telecom architecture. Second, it opens new revenue potential by allowing MSPs to modernize dated phone systems and embed voice-driven intelligence directly into client workflows. As Wehrs framed it, voice should become as native to the PC environment as networking did in the Windows 95 era—fully integrated, flexible, and foundational to digital operations. Visit https://tietechnology.com/

In a podcast recorded at ITEXPO / MSP EXPO, Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, spoke with Federico De Faveri, founder of De Faveri Consulting, about the growing demand for highly technical, hands-on consulting that bridges gaps between business needs and complex software systems. De Faveri Consulting focuses on what Federico describes as “tech enablement consulting”—hands-on work that includes software development, system integrations, automation, and custom tooling. Rather than operating through large consulting layers, De Faveri works directly with clients to design and implement solutions that remove bottlenecks, reduce manual processes, and create more auditable, data-driven workflows. “I like going into a company with a real problem and building something that saves time, improves visibility, and just works,” De Faveri said. During the discussion, De Faveri explained that clients engage him both reactively and proactively—either to fix broken or inefficient systems or to bring new ideas to life. His interest in attending MSP Expo centered on identifying emerging challenges faced by MSPs, enterprises, and channel partners, particularly as AI-driven tools and integrations reshape operations. While based in South Florida, De Faveri emphasized that most projects are delivered remotely, allowing him to support clients nationwide while still prioritizing trust-building and occasional in-person collaboration. As a newer independent consultant, De Faveri highlighted the freedom and focus that come with running his own firm, along with a core piece of advice for organizations evaluating technology solutions. “Always get multiple technical opinions,” he noted. “Sometimes the best solution isn't another platform—it's a smart integration or a custom script that connects what you already have.” Visit https://df.consulting/

In a podcast recorded at ITEXPO / MSP EXPO, Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, spoke with Rick Bekers, CEO of Channel Sales Pro, about how MSPs and technology vendors can design effective channel programs that accelerate growth while avoiding common pitfalls. Bekers brings more than four decades of experience to the conversation, including 35 years as an MSP owner, time leading a Technology Services Distributor (TSD), and years as a consultant helping vendors and service providers enter and scale through the channel. He emphasized that channel programs—whether built by vendors or MSPs evolving into “master MSPs”—require specialized expertise. “Trying to build a channel program on your own can slow you down by 18 months to three years,” Bekers said, noting that missteps and trial-and-error often delay revenue and partner momentum. The discussion focused on how Channel Sales Pro engages with MSPs seeking to expand. Bekers described a structured discovery and gap analysis process designed to align channel strategy with business goals, followed by execution that leverages established industry relationships. Drawing on his own experience running an MSP, he stressed the importance of solid operational foundations—repeatable processes, PSA and RMM tools, and consistent onboarding—to prevent burnout and customer churn as firms scale. “You don't want to try to scale a program on broken processes,” he explained. Bekers also delivered a direct message to MSP founders who feel stuck managing growth alone. By standardizing operations and seeking experienced guidance, MSPs can move from reactive, exhausting growth cycles to predictable, repeatable expansion. His confidence in the model is underscored by a performance guarantee tied to measurable revenue outcomes, reinforcing his belief that disciplined channel strategy can deliver returns within months. Visit https://www.channelsales.pro/

In a podcast recorded at ITEXPO / MSP EXPO, Rob Allen, Chief Product Officer at ThreatLocker, joined Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, to discuss why MSPs must rethink traditional cybersecurity approaches. Allen outlined how ThreatLocker's zero-trust platform flips the conventional detect-and-respond model by blocking everything by default and allowing only explicitly approved activity. Allen explained that detection-based security tools inevitably fail against unknown threats, leaving MSPs exposed to ransomware and lateral network attacks. ThreatLocker's approach combines application allow-listing, behavior control, and dynamic network restrictions to dramatically reduce attack surfaces. By limiting not only what applications can run—but also what they can do once running—ThreatLocker prevents common techniques such as “living off the land” attacks and remote encryption scenarios that bypass traditional endpoint protection. From a channel perspective, Allen stressed that cybersecurity is not optional and should never be positioned as an add-on. “If the thought of your customers getting hacked doesn't keep you up at night, you're not doing it right,” he said. “MSPs need to be confident in their advice and willing to make security mandatory, not negotiable.” That confidence, he noted, is what separates trusted advisors from providers who inherit blame after an incident. The discussion concluded with a call for MSPs to adopt balanced security stacks that combine detection with proactive control. By implementing zero trust as a foundational architecture rather than a reactive measure, ThreatLocker enables MSPs to protect customers more effectively while reinforcing long-term trust—an outcome Allen described as both a technical and business win for the channel. Visit https://www.threatlocker.com/

In a podcast recorded at ITEXPO / MSP EXPO, Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, spoke with Julie Thiel, Founder of Thiel Talent Strategy, about the growing complexity of human resources, compliance, and people management for MSPs and technology-driven businesses. The conversation highlighted why HR has become a critical—yet often underestimated—risk area as service providers scale. Thiel pointed to employee classification as one of the most common and costly mistakes business owners make. “The one decision people keep getting wrong is employee status,” she explained, referring to missteps around contractor versus employee classification and exempt versus non-exempt roles. With employment laws varying widely across states and even municipalities, she noted that well-intentioned decisions can quietly create compliance exposure over time, especially for MSPs operating in multi-state or hybrid work environments. The discussion also covered additional HR pain points, including background checks, hiring practices, and increasingly complex time-off policies driven by local regulations. Thiel emphasized that many owners underestimate how quickly these issues compound as headcount grows. “You can't Google your way into good judgment when it comes to people,” she said, underscoring the limits of ad hoc approaches to HR in a fast-changing legal landscape. Thiel concluded by encouraging MSP owners to view HR as a strategic partnership rather than a necessary burden. By working with experienced advisors, MSPs can reduce risk, protect their teams, and free leadership to focus on growth. Her core message to MSPs at the event was clear: you don't have to carry the weight of people issues alone. Visit https://thieltalentstrategy.com/

In a podcast recorded at ITEXPO / MSP EXPO, Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, spoke with Steven Hess, Co-Founder and CEO of Deep Fathom, about the rising importance of compliance—particularly CMMC—and why it represents a significant opportunity for managed service providers. Hess explained that Deep Fathom is an AI-native compliance platform designed to help organizations not only achieve compliance, but maintain it over time. A central focus of the discussion was the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), the U.S. Department of Defense's enforcement framework for securing the defense industrial base. “CMMC is the regulatory enforcement layer the federal government put in place to secure the defense industrial base,” Hess said, emphasizing that without certification, suppliers can lose their ability to do business with the Department of Defense. A key takeaway for MSPs is that CMMC extends far beyond large defense primes. Hess noted that the defense ecosystem includes hundreds—sometimes thousands—of downstream suppliers, many of which may not even realize they are part of the defense supply chain. “You might actually have defense customers and not even know it,” he said, highlighting why MSPs are often the first call when compliance questions arise and why preparedness can unlock new, recurring revenue streams. Hess concluded by encouraging MSPs to approach compliance as a dedicated, strategic practice rather than an add-on service. By leveraging automation and AI-driven platforms, MSPs can scale compliance services without dramatically increasing headcount. “Compliance is not something you should just spin up on the side,” he cautioned, adding that the right tools and commitment can turn regulatory pressure into long-term growth. Visit https://www.deepfathom.ai/

In a podcast recorded at ITEXPO / MSP EXPO, Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, spoke with Pierre Donyegro, CEO of CyberFortPro, about why penetration testing is becoming a necessary—and often overlooked—part of cybersecurity for small businesses. Donyegro explained that CyberFortPro focuses on delivering penetration testing services to smaller organizations such as law firms, medical offices, and restaurants. Penetration testing, he noted, is a short but intensive process that analyzes a customer's network traffic and configurations to uncover vulnerabilities before they are exploited. “Even when you feel healthy, a doctor runs tests—this is the same idea, but for cyber health,” Donyegro said, framing penetration testing as preventative cybersecurity rather than a reaction to a breach. While certain industries face higher risk due to sensitive data, Donyegro emphasized that cybersecurity is not limited to regulated verticals. Any business with a network, outdated firmware, or misconfigured equipment can be exposed. The value of penetration testing, he said, lies not only in identifying weaknesses but in clearly explaining them to business owners and outlining remediation steps—from firmware updates to infrastructure changes—so risks can be addressed proactively. For MSPs, Donyegro positioned CyberFortPro as a natural partner rather than a competitor. “For every technology, you need experts to explain to the customer what their exposure really is,” he said. MSPs can bring CyberFortPro into customer engagements to provide specialized penetration testing, creating additional value, strengthening client trust, and opening new revenue opportunities tied to security assessments and remediation. Visit https://www.hellophello.com/hi/pierredonyegro