ConnectWise Security 360, Asana's AI Workflows, Raspberry Pi's AI Kit, and Google's AI Overviews

[00:00:00] It's Wednesday, June 5th, 2024 and I'm Dave Sobel.

[00:00:06] Four things to know today.

[00:00:07] AI and Automation, ConnectWise launches Security 360 and Sidekick for MSPs.

[00:00:14] Boosting Tech Efficiency, Asana's AI Workflows, Raspberry Pi's AI Kit and Cisco's Strategic

[00:00:21] AI Investments.

[00:00:22] Cloud Data Protection, N2WS and Axiant enhance AWS, Azure and macOS services and Google scales

[00:00:31] back AI overviews and search results addressing sourcing and trust issues.

[00:00:37] This is the Business of Tech.

[00:00:41] ConnectWise has introduced ConnectWise Security 360, an AI-powered cybersecurity solution

[00:00:46] that allows managed services providers to consolidate and standardize security data

[00:00:51] from different tools.

[00:00:53] This enables MSPs to enhance threat detection, streamline response efforts and optimize their

[00:00:58] client's security posture.

[00:01:02] ConnectWise Security 360 aggregates data from various security tools and provides an MSP

[00:01:07] security score to communicate risk exposure and identify issues for remediation.

[00:01:13] The solution addresses the challenges of managing large volumes of data generated by multiple

[00:01:17] IT security tools, offering a holistic view and minimizing client risk exposure.

[00:01:23] ConnectWise Security 360 also differentiates MSPs by exponating time to remediation and

[00:01:29] scaling for growth.

[00:01:32] ConnectWise has launched Sidekick for Security, an AI-powered digital assistant that enhances

[00:01:36] cybersecurity measures for MSP owners and technicians.

[00:01:41] It allows users to query using natural language prompts, gaining a better understanding of

[00:01:45] overall security posture and identifying high-priority security areas.

[00:01:50] The tool offers advanced AI-driven capabilities, improving security visibility, providing security

[00:01:55] ticket assistance, offering threat intelligence trends and streamlining response actions.

[00:02:02] ConnectWise has expanded its low-code robotic process automation capabilities with custom

[00:02:07] triggers and a custom form designer.

[00:02:10] It also has introduced a custom bots feature.

[00:02:13] Additionally, ConnectWise is launching Managed Detection and Response from Microsoft 365,

[00:02:18] offering a 50% discount to managed services providers until the end of July.

[00:02:25] Why do we care?

[00:02:26] If you're an MSP considering platform investments, ConnectWise has certainly been pushing out

[00:02:30] product enhancements at a regular rate.

[00:02:33] Comparing strategies among the big three providers, Kaseya has leaned in on a pricing change,

[00:02:38] enable on an Eco-verse strategy and ConnectWise on AI.

[00:02:43] Or is it AI?

[00:02:44] For many, AI and automation are swappable, and I'm a bit more intrigued by combining

[00:02:49] those conceptually.

[00:02:51] Again, one can see the value of automation powered by data leveraging AI.

[00:02:56] I'm watching for more investments here.

[00:03:00] Struggling with data sprawl?

[00:03:03] Skycake is here to help.

[00:03:04] Sharing and securing data across multiple platforms can be a challenge, but you don't

[00:03:09] have to face it alone.

[00:03:10] Skycake emphasizes that shared responsibility with your customers ensures Microsoft 365

[00:03:16] data remains safe and secure.

[00:03:19] Here are three quick tips to help get you started.

[00:03:22] First, educate your customers on effective data management practices.

[00:03:26] Second, raise employee awareness to prevent breaches.

[00:03:30] Third, guide customers on future tech investments to minimize risks.

[00:03:35] By emphasizing these principles and leveraging a comprehensive solution like Skycake Cloud

[00:03:40] Backup, you can effectively confront data sprawl and protect your customers' data across

[00:03:45] modern workloads like Planner and Teams.

[00:03:48] Don't let data sprawl hold you back.

[00:03:51] Trust Skycake to keep your data secure and manageable.

[00:03:54] Visit skycake.com slash MSB radio to learn more.

[00:04:00] Asana has introduced AI teammates who can advise and assign work based on historical

[00:04:06] relationships and skill sets.

[00:04:08] The AI model can also gather missing information and proactively reach out to collect data.

[00:04:14] Customers are testing Asana's AI for tasks like creating tailored marketing content and

[00:04:19] standardizing workflows.

[00:04:21] The company has also added a chat interface for users to ask questions about their projects.

[00:04:27] Raspberry Pi is partnering with chipmaker Halio to sell an AI kit for its Raspberry

[00:04:32] Pi 5 microcomputer.

[00:04:35] The kit includes Halio's Halio Dash 8 LM.2 accelerator, allowing the tiny computer to

[00:04:41] run AI-based applications like chatbots.

[00:04:44] The accelerator offers 13 tera operations per second or TOPS and has a power consumption

[00:04:51] below 2 watts.

[00:04:53] This move reflects the trend of bringing AI to portable devices with smaller models and

[00:04:57] processors that require less power.

[00:05:01] Cisco Systems has announced a $1 billion global investment fund for AI startups and new AI-powered

[00:05:07] products and services.

[00:05:09] The company unveiled AI-infused networking products, enhanced security offerings, and

[00:05:13] AI tools for collaboration.

[00:05:16] Cisco also revealed strategic investments in prominent AI startups and introduced training

[00:05:20] programs to support partners and customers in optimizing their infrastructure for AI

[00:05:26] workloads.

[00:05:27] The aim is to fuel the development of AI systems and technologies and create an AI-ready workforce.

[00:05:33] Why do we care?

[00:05:35] Even the Raspberry Pi gets a dose of AI.

[00:05:38] More intelligence into products, it's a good thing.

[00:05:41] But are AI teammates?

[00:05:44] I'm inclined to believe this is a badly named robotic process automation value, so let's

[00:05:49] distinguish between poorly chosen marketing and actual product value.

[00:05:54] Infusion of data intelligence in productivity is an area of interest.

[00:05:59] Scrutinize the actual functionality of AI features beyond their marketing descriptions.

[00:06:04] Focus on how they can practically benefit your workflows and operations.

[00:06:09] Implement AI solutions thoughtfully, ensuring they complement human efforts and do not overpromise

[00:06:14] on capabilities.

[00:06:15] Monitor and adapt these tools to fit you and your customers' specific needs and goals.

[00:06:21] And remember, it's that advice that customers are paying you for.

[00:06:27] And a bit of backup news.

[00:06:29] N2WS has launched Cross-Cloud Volume Restore for AWS and Azure, providing data protection,

[00:06:36] enhancing security, and optimizing costs.

[00:06:38] The update includes cross-cloud BDR capabilities between AWS and Azure, immutability in Amazon

[00:06:45] S3 and EBS, granular backup policy reports, VPC capture and cloning, and ELB enhancement.

[00:06:54] Axiant has announced the addition of macOS file-level data protection.

[00:06:57] The enhancement allows MSPs to serve their clients at higher service levels and expands

[00:07:02] the existing coverage of Windows, Linux, and public clouds.

[00:07:06] With the increasing usage of Apple Endpoints running macOS, the need for data protection

[00:07:10] and disaster recovery services has grown.

[00:07:14] Axiant's X360 Recover for macOS is now available to all partners.

[00:07:18] Additionally, Axiant offers data protection for other non-Windows systems, such as Linux

[00:07:23] servers and provides convenient MSP pricing with flat monthly fees and pooled storage.

[00:07:29] Axiant also offers direct-to-cloud solutions for Microsoft Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud.

[00:07:34] Why do we care?

[00:07:37] Lots of tactical information for you today.

[00:07:40] Axiant should consider leveraging cross-cloud capabilities to enhance data protection and

[00:07:44] their disaster recovery strategies.

[00:07:46] The approach can provide a greater resilience and flexibility in managing IT infrastructure.

[00:07:51] We did just report on Google Cloud losing data.

[00:07:55] Oh, and it's not just you noticing.

[00:07:59] Google's AI overviews, previously known as search generative experience, has seen a significant

[00:08:04] decrease in its appearance in search results.

[00:08:08] Nearly 50% of Google search results now display AI overviews, down from 84% prior to the Google

[00:08:15] IO Conference.

[00:08:16] The feature, which aimed to provide AI-powered summaries of search queries, received criticism

[00:08:21] for its lack of sourcing and potential negative impact on website traffic.

[00:08:25] Oh, and it made stuff up.

[00:08:28] While the data suggested decline in AI-powered results, AI is expected to continue to play

[00:08:32] a significant role in Google search.

[00:08:36] Why do we care?

[00:08:38] In the rush to be ahead, Google may have really stepped in it.

[00:08:41] The initial implementation of AI overviews in search results raised concerns among website

[00:08:45] owners and SEO professionals.

[00:08:48] These AI-powered summaries were criticized for lacking proper sourcing, which could potentially

[00:08:53] divert traffic away from original content creators.

[00:08:56] They also made stuff up and told people to put glue on pizza.

[00:09:01] The reduction in AI overviews should also be seen as an attempt to address transparency

[00:09:05] and trust issues.

[00:09:07] Users need to trust the information provided by AI, and lack of proper sourcing undermines

[00:09:11] the trust.

[00:09:13] By scaling back AI-generated summaries, Google might be taking steps to ensure more reliable

[00:09:18] and verifiable search results.

[00:09:20] But despite the pullback, AI's role in search is far from diminishing.

[00:09:24] The adjustments likely aim to refine how AI integrates into search results without compromising

[00:09:29] trust or creator content equity.

[00:09:33] AI's ability to analyze and summarize amounts of data remains valuable, but its implementation

[00:09:37] needs to be balanced and user-centric.

[00:09:40] For most, I'm going to advise to be prepared to adjust SEO strategies in response to changes

[00:09:46] in how AI is integrated into search.

[00:09:49] Flexibility and adaptability will be key.

[00:09:51] I asked it before, what happens if your Google search traffic goes to zero?

[00:09:58] You're looking for security solutions for your MSP, and Bitdefender has new ones for

[00:10:04] you.

[00:10:05] With advanced protection, simplified management, 24x7 analyst-led security, threat hunting,

[00:10:10] and end-to-end protection options, it's time to check out Bitdefender's new offerings.

[00:10:16] With the ability to customize the security solution for what you and your customers need,

[00:10:20] you'll find a cost-effective selection with adaptive and scalable security.

[00:10:25] Want to check it out?

[00:10:27] Bitdefender would love to schedule a demo for you.

[00:10:30] Just visit Bitdefender.com or the link in the show notes.

[00:10:34] Thanks for listening.

[00:10:37] Today is International Day for the fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated phishing.

[00:10:43] Yep, that one gets a day.

[00:10:46] My apologies to some listeners who'd heard a less-than-stellar set of audio on Monday

[00:10:50] and Tuesday.

[00:10:52] Some setting changed, and I missed it.

[00:10:54] If you weren't aware, I do all the daily production on the news and interview shows

[00:10:58] myself.

[00:10:59] There's no team here, just me.

[00:11:01] So thanks to Chris, Nicholas, and Austin for letting me know quickly.

[00:11:04] Have a question you want answered?

[00:11:06] I do take those listener questions, send them in, ideally as a voice memo or video, to question

[00:11:11] at MSPRadio.com.

[00:11:12] I answer them live each week on the Wednesday Live show on YouTube and LinkedIn.

[00:11:16] And if you've enjoyed the show, make sure to tell somebody.

[00:11:21] Share it specifically and help me grow the audience.

[00:11:23] It means a lot.

[00:11:24] I'll talk to you again tomorrow.

[00:11:53] the next episode of the Business of Tech.