Episode 79 – Dark Web Arrests, Underwater Servers Update, and Microsoft RMM

Thanks to Sherweb for sponsoring this episode! (Details below.)

Topic 1: 179 Arrested in Massive Global Dark Web Takedown

“Operation Disruptor” is an unprecedented international law enforcement effort, stemming from last year’s seizure of a popular underground bazaar called Wall Street Market. This more than a US-centric law enforcement effort since the dark side of the Internet is international. So, this was a major, successful, multi-national undertaking.

Clearly, this is something you should be talking to you clients about. They don’t need the details, of course, but they need to know that the threat is real!

https://www.wired.com/story/operation-disruptor-179-arrested-global-dark-web-takedown/

Topic 2: Microsoft’s underwater server experiment resurfaces after two years.

Turns out, dunking data centers is a great idea! About 1/8th as many failures, compared to data center up here with oxygen and temperature variations. It’s also a good test for data centers in space or on other planets.

Next up: Placing data centers offshore . . . near you.

https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/14/21436746/microsoft-project-natick-data-center-server-underwater-cooling-reliability

Topic 3: Microsoft Lighthouse: An RMM.

We tackle this straight on. Does the new MS Lighthouse with MSP dashboard compete with you? Or is it simply competing for your attention and money?

Announcement: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/small-and-medium-business-blog/announcing-microsoft-365-lighthouse-for-managed-service/ba-p/1698181

Note, also that T-Mobile is offering Microsoft 365 and support services.

https://www.bloomberg.com/press-releases/2020-09-21/t-mobile-gets-down-to-business-for-small-business-launches-new-small-business-plans-with-microsoft-365

And HP is offering managed services . . .

https://www.channelpronetwork.com/news/hp-introduces-subscription-hardware-and-services-program-smbs

And Lenovo is offering managed services . . .

https://www.channelpronetwork.com/news/lenovo-introduces-microsoft-365-managed-services-smbs

Should you be afraid? Energized? Should your clients be warned about these changes? We discuss from many different angles.

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Today’s Sponsor is Sherweb’s Accelerate 2020:

The MSP event of the year is back. This time, it’s virtual and free to attend!

Sherweb’s Accelerate 2020 offers a comprehensive online program to help you gear up for the future of managed services. Industry experts will deliver thought leadership sessions and hands-on workshops on sales, marketing, financials, strategic business planning and customer engagement. Also available will be 1:1 meetings and fun virtual networking.

Want to stay relevant in a disrupted world? Join us from anywhere on October 21st and 22nd. Registration is open at accelerate.sherweb.com.

🙂

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