10.31.07
Useful Podcasts For SMB
I’ve really been enjoying listening to the podcasts over at www.sbsshow.com. Where do I find the time, you might ask. What works for me is downloading and syncing them with my Zune Player (Microsoft’s portable music player), then listening to them when I’m on the road.
When sitting there driving on auto-pilot, I’m a captive audience, which can leave many brain cycles unused and idling. Not really 
sometimes I get my best thinking done in the car.
Check them out – interviews with experts in many relevant subjects such as disaster recovery, Web 2.0, computer security, building MSP practices, etc. Be sure to click the Previous Shows link at the top of the page.
Have you found other podcasts useful to SMB IT consultants? Feel free to leave a comment!
10.07.07
SMB Nation 2007 Wrap-Up
Highlights from Day 2 included ISA MVP Amy Babinchak delivering a great presentation to a packed room on Common ISA Server 2004 SMB Scenarios. ISA is such a great fit for SMB that I hope Microsoft comes out with a better alternative if they cut it out of SBS 2008.
Also, Dana Epp demo’d his SMB-focused security offerings for dual-factor authentication – very interesting! One example of a useful scenario was for IT service providers to use AuthAnvil and the security tokens as an effective process to easily administer domain admin-level access to clients’ networks (for employees and subcontractors), instead of having to change all the passwords whenever staff changes.
Among others, Day 3 had a really informative session on Leveraging Virtualization. The quality of the presentation was really enhanced by the presenter demonstrating the technologies and walking through actual scenarios, as opposed to working with just a PowerPoint deck. Virtualization is truly a white-hot technology and already has many real-world applications in SMB.
All in all, SMB Nation 2007 was an excellent conference with qualified and competent presenters who spoke to the business and technology issues facing the SMB IT Service Provider. The opportunity to network with industry peers, user group leaders, Microsoft MVPs, executive-level vendor contacts, Microsoft Partner program employees, and others always brings a wealth of perspective, industry vision, and business value that continue to reward with benefits as time goes on.
Thank you SMB Nation, Dana, Arlin, and all those who participated in making this conference worth-while!
Work Hard, Play Even Harder
That’s what another friend and client of mine from Louisiana tells me is the way of life in the southern state. And Jeff Middleton, recognized as an expert in disaster recovery and almost as well known for his parties, might be Louisiana’s official culture representative to the SMB IT community.
Here are a couple of pics from the party he threw on the second night of SMB Nation 2007 conference. The band was amazing, as the guitarist jammed out whaling sax solos, keyboard runs, and even trombone and trumpet parts on an electronic instrument that looked like a guitar.
