MSP Unplugged

Hosted by Paco Lebron

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100

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Nov 2026

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About the show

MSP Unplugged is the weekly podcast for growing MSP owners running shops under $1M with 10 or fewer techs. Each week, our hosts sit down with MSP owners, operators, and the vendors who serve them for real, unfiltered conversations about what's actually working: growing revenue and landing better clients, cybersecurity, AI and automation, sales and marketing, and leading a team without burning out. Watch on YouTube or listen wherever you get podcasts.

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November 12, 2026Episode 31833 min

From Security Tools to Security Outcomes | Dor Eisner, Guardz

Dor Eisner is back on MSP Unplugged. Paco Lebron welcomes back returning guest Dor Eisner, Co-founder and CEO of Guardz, to talk about why growing MSPs don't have a security tool problem, they have an operational one. Dor has spent about 25 years in cybersecurity. Before Guardz, his previous company built a threat intelligence and dark web monitoring platform, where he watched "attack as a service" take off. Guardz launched about three and a half years ago to give MSPs a unified, automated way to protect the businesses they serve. He and Paco cover: - Why enterprise security tools built for massive SOC teams create alert fatigue and hidden costs for lean MSP teams - Why identity, not just the endpoint, is now the center of the attack surface across Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, email, browser, and devices - The difference between bolting AI onto an older product and an AI-native platform built on a shared data fabric - Why vibe coding can work for one-off projects but is not enough for production-ready security systems - How to move from buying more security tools to buying security outcomes, and what the future of the SOC looks like when you have to fight agents with agents - Dor's three takeaways: audit your stack, start with identity, and automate before you hire Links: Guardz: https://guardz.com/ Guardz for MSPs: https://guardz.com/managed-service-providers-msp/ 2026 State of MSP Threat Report: https://guardz.com/blog/attackers-arent-breaking-in-anymore-theyre-logging-in/ Dor Eisner on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dor-eisner MSP Unplugged: https://mspunplugged.com This episode is brought to you by Guardz, a unified cybersecurity platform built for MSPs. Book a meeting or start a two-week free trial at https://guardz.com/, with one-click deployment, no commitment, and no upfront charge. More episodes: https://mspunplugged.com/episodes/ Vendors, partner with us: https://mspunplugged.com/sponsor-with-us/ MSP Unplugged is the weekly podcast for growing MSP owners, under $1M with 10 or fewer techs.

November 5, 2026Episode 31743 min

4th Quarter Living: Score the Year, Set Up the Next | MSP Unplugged

Before you plan 2027, score 2026. In the first chapter of our 4th Quarter Living series, Paco Lebron welcomes Rick Smith and Nancy Henriquez as co-hosts for the rest of 2026 and into 2027. Together they take inventory of the year: the wins, the plays they would not run again, how AI changed the way they work, and how each of them plans to unplug before the new year. Nancy shares what she is learning from her first acquisition, Rick talks about starting a new company from scratch, and Paco opens up about standardizing systems across an MSP roll-up. They cover: Why spending your first 30, 60, or 90 days on product learning instead of execution can slow you down How to plan without overplanning, and why perfectionism is a mask for procrastination Why profit is the heartbeat of your business and how cash flow makes or breaks you How Rick and Nancy are using AI this year, from research and admin help to an AI digital twin that checks processes against agreements Why getting more out of your existing client relationships beats always chasing new leads How to unplug, take time off, and build a business that does not own you Hosts: Paco Lebron, Rick Smith, Nancy Henriquez More episodes: https://mspunplugged.com/episodes/ Vendors, partner with us: https://mspunplugged.com/sponsor-with-us/ MSP Unplugged is the weekly podcast for growing MSP owners, under $1M with 10 or fewer techs.

November 4, 2026Episode 31635 min

Cutting the Vendor Tax with OpenFrame | Michael Assraf, Flamingo

In this episode of MSP Unplugged, Paco Lebron talks with Michael Assraf, Founder and CEO of Flamingo, about tool sprawl, the vendor tax, and how an open-source foundation plus AI agents can change the economics for growing MSPs. Michael has spent 20 years in tech, mostly in startups. At his previous company, Vicarius, a vulnerability remediation platform, most of the traction came from MSPs, and he saw them keep adding tools and losing margin. He and Paco cover: Why tool sprawl and add-on pricing keep eating into MSP margins How AI-driven roll-ups and rising tool prices are squeezing growing MSPs How OpenFrame hosts open-source tools as one platform, with AI agents Mingo (for techs) and Fae (for end users) Why moving AI from suggestions to real ticket reduction is a business process decision What a three-person MSP should expect when AI starts closing tickets How to start testing AI by building with tools like Claude Code, and why brokering AI projects for clients may be the future of the MSP Links: Flamingo: https://www.flamingo.run OpenFrame: https://www.flamingo.run/openframe OpenMSP community and vendor directory: https://www.openmsp.ai Michael Assraf on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelassraf/ MSP Unplugged: https://www.mspunplugged.com This episode is brought to you by Flamingo, makers of OpenFrame: one platform instead of eight tabs, with AI assistants Mingo and Fae that actually fix things with your approval. $1 per device per month. Try it free for 14 days, no card needed, at https://flamingo.run Chapters: 00:00 Intro and welcome 03:34 Michael Assraf's path to the MSP space 05:57 Tool sprawl and the vendor tax 08:06 From technician to business owner with AI 13:22 AI roll-ups and the margin squeeze 15:22 Open source, OpenFrame, Mingo and Fae 19:13 Moving AI from suggestions to ticket reduction 22:41 What a three-person MSP should expect 27:17 Rapid fire: AI myths, vibe coding, and AI projects More episodes: https://www.mspunplugged.com/episodes/ Vendors, partner with us: https://www.mspunplugged.com/sponsor-with-us/ MSP Unplugged is the weekly podcast for growing MSP owners, under $1M with 10 or fewer techs.

October 29, 2026Episode 31533 min

From MSP to MIP: Pax8's Ryan Walsh on AI and Staying Relevant

🎙️ In this episode of MSP Unplugged, we sit down with Ryan Walsh, Channel Chief and Chief Strategy Officer at Pax8, to talk about where small MSPs actually go next. Ryan has spent years helping partners clean up messy stacks, scale through the marketplace, and rethink what "managed services" even means as AI changes client expectations. This conversation is built for owners running lean shops — under $3M and under 20 employees — who need a practical path, not a enterprise slide deck. What You'll Learn: Why Pax8 frames the shift from MSP to Managed Infrastructure Provider (MIP) What AI actually changes for small MSPs (and what it doesn't) How to clean up a messy vendor stack without blowing up delivery Leadership and culture moves that help a small team adopt new services How marketplace, partnerships, and product expansion can drive growth without a huge sales org Practical first steps for MSPs who feel behind on AI and strategy 👉 Resources & Links: Pax8: https://www.pax8.com Ryan Walsh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanmwalsh1/ MSP Unplugged: https://www.mspunplugged.com What's one thing in your stack you'd rip out tomorrow if you could? Drop it in the comments. 🔥 Like, subscribe, and hit the bell for weekly real-talk MSP strategy. #MSP #Pax8 #RyanWalsh #AI #MSPStrategy #SmallMSP #MIP #Channel #MSPUnplugged

September 1, 2026Episode 31337 min

Why Annual Security Training Fails — and How usecure Helps MSPs Fix Human Risk

🎙️ In this episode of MSP Unplugged, we sit down with Nihil Morjaria, Chief Revenue Officer at usecure, to talk about human risk management — the biggest gap in most small MSP security stacks. usecure helps MSPs automate security awareness training, phishing simulations, dark web monitoring, and policy management so lean teams can reduce client risk and sell a measurable security service without adding headcount. What You'll Learn: Why traditional annual training no longer works How MSPs can automate human risk management across clients Using Human Risk Reports as a sales and prospecting tool How to package, price, and deliver awareness as recurring revenue Practical first steps for MSPs under $3M with small teams Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro & Welcome Nihil Morjaria [Add actual timestamps here] 👉 Resources & Links: usecure: https://www.usecure.io MSP Unplugged: https://www.mspunplugged.com If your clients keep clicking phishing emails — or you want a security service that's actually manageable — this episode is for you. Drop your biggest human-risk challenge in the comments. 🔥 Like, subscribe, and hit the bell for weekly MSP growth and security conversations. #MSP #Cybersecurity #HumanRiskManagement #usecure #SecurityAwareness #Phishing #SmallMSP #MSPUnplugged

September 1, 2026Episode 31232 min

AI Email Security for MSPs: How Cambrient Cuts "Is This Safe?" Tickets Without MX Changes

🎙️ In this episode of MSP Unplugged, we talk with Cambrient AI about a different approach to email security: agentic AI that investigates every message instead of just scoring or filtering it. Cambrient was built for MSPs — multi-tenant, fast to deploy (no MX record changes), and designed to cut the "is this email safe?" ticket load that eats small-team margins. What You'll Learn: Why signature-based email tools still miss modern phishing and BEC How AI agents inspect links, redirects, attachments, and intent Why 5-minute, no-MX deployment matters for MSPs managing many tenants How self-service false-positive release and plain-English explanations reduce tickets How a lean MSP can add stronger email security without extra analysts 👉 Resources & Links: Cambrient AI: https://www.cambrient.ai MSP Unplugged: https://www.mspunplugged.com Armaan Chakrabarti Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/armaan-chakrabarti-1659201b6/ If email tickets are eating your day, this one is worth the watch. What's your current email security stack? Tell us in the comments. 🔥 Like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more real-talk MSP security and operations content. #MSP #EmailSecurity #Phishing #BEC #AI #Cambrient #SmallMSP #Cybersecurity #MSPUnplugged

July 31, 2026Episode 31133 min

Ryan McGill on Scaling MSP Operations & Turning Challenges into Growth

🎙️ In this episode of MSP Unplugged, we sit down with Ryan McGill to discuss his journey and practical strategies for running and scaling a successful managed services business. Ryan shares real-world insights on improving operations, streamlining delivery, and helping small MSP teams overcome common challenges. Whether you're looking to tighten processes, boost efficiency, or prepare for growth, this conversation delivers actionable takeaways tailored for MSPs under $3M in revenue and with lean teams. What You'll Learn: Ryan's background and path in the MSP industry Key operational lessons for small and growing MSPs Practical ways to improve service delivery and team efficiency Strategies for handling scaling challenges without losing quality Advice on turning operational friction into competitive advantages Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro & Welcome Ryan McGill [Add actual timestamps here] 👉 Resources & Links: Connect with Ryan McGill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-mcgill-30927b31/ MSP Unplugged Community: https://www.mspunplugged.com What's one operational challenge your MSP is facing right now? Drop it in the comments! 🔥 Like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more real-talk MSP growth and operations content every week. #MSP #MSPOperations #SmallMSP #MSPGrowth #RyanMcGill #ManagedServices #MSPUnplugged Purchase your tickets at https://techconunplugged.com

July 20, 2026Episode 31037 min

Business Outcome Conversations: The Next Phase of MSP Customer Penetration with Luis Giraldo

🎙️ In this episode of MSP Unplugged, Luis Giraldo, Chief Evangelist at ScalePad, shares his journey and powerful strategies for turning around struggling MSPs — with a special focus on QBRs (Quarterly Business Reviews) and why business outcome conversations are the next evolution in customer penetration. Luis explains how moving beyond technical check-ins to real business discussions can dramatically improve retention, expansion, and client relationships — especially for small MSP teams. What You'll Learn: Luis's path from MSP owner to helping hundreds of providers scale How to turn around a struggling MSP with better client engagement Why traditional technical QBRs are no longer enough — and how to run business outcome QBRs that drive real value Practical marketing and conversation frameworks that help you penetrate accounts deeper and become a trusted advisor Actionable tips for small MSPs (Less than $3M revenue, Less than 20 employees) to implement outcome-focused reviews without adding overhead Timestamps: 👉 Resources & Links: ScalePad: https://www.scalepad.com Connect with Luis Giraldo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luisgiraldo/ MSP Unplugged Community: https://www.mspunplugged.com Purchase your tickets to TechCon Unplugged at https://techconunplugged.com If your QBRs feel like checkbox exercises, this episode will change how you approach client meetings forever. Drop your biggest QBR challenge in the comments! 🔥 Like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more MSP growth strategies. #MSP #QBR #BusinessOutcomes #CustomerSuccess #ScalePad #MSPRetention #SmallMSP #MSPMarketing #LuisGiraldo

July 20, 2026Episode 30935 min

MSP Revival Guide: Marketing Help, Leadership & Growth with Cynthia Schreiner (Pax8)

🎙️ In this powerful episode of MSP Unplugged, Cynthia Schreiner — Senior Manager of Channel Engagement at Pax8 — joins us to discuss her journey and proven strategies for reviving struggling MSPs. Drawing from her hands-on experience as a former MSP Business Administrator and her current role empowering partners at Pax8, Cynthia dives deep into the real challenges of turning around underperforming businesses. She shares practical marketing tactics, operational pivots, community-building approaches, and leadership insights that help MSP owners break out of stagnation and drive sustainable growth. If your MSP is struggling with client acquisition, visibility, retention, or overall momentum, this conversation offers actionable revival strategies tailored for small teams. What You'll Learn: * Proven methods for reviving struggling MSPs — from diagnosis to full turnaround * Marketing help that actually works for lean MSPs: positioning, lead generation, and differentiation * Operational and leadership shifts that reignite growth without burning out your team *The role of strong vendor partnerships (like Pax8) in recovery and scaling * Mindset and community tactics that prevent future struggles 👉 Resources & Links: Connect with Cynthia Schreiner on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthia-schreiner/ Pax8 for MSPs: https://www.pax8.com MSP Unplugged Community: https://www.mspunplugged.com What's one marketing or revival challenge your MSP is facing right now? Share in the comments! 🔥 Like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more real-talk MSP revival stories and growth strategies. Buy your tickets for TechCon Unplugged! https://www.techconunplugged.com #MSP #RevivingMSP #MSPMarketing #BusinessTurnaround #Pax8 #SmallMSP #MSPGrowth #MSPUnplugged #CynthiaSchreiner

July 6, 2026Episode 30834 min

From Struggling Business to Thriving MSP in Salt Lake City – Ed Lukacs of 2Fifteen Tech

🎙️ In this honest and inspiring episode of MSP Unplugged, we sit down with Ed Lukacs, CEO of 2Fifteen Tech in Salt Lake City, Utah. Ed opens up about his real journey building and turning around a struggling managed service provider. From early challenges and tough pivots to creating a thriving MSP that specializes in supporting creative agencies, PR firms, Apple-centric environments, and Google Workspace — this conversation is packed with practical lessons for any MSP owner feeling stuck. If you're running a small MSP (under $3M revenue, less than 20 employees) and looking for motivation + actionable strategies to reset, refocus, and grow, this episode delivers. What You'll Learn: The raw realities of turning around a struggling MSP business Key pivots that helped 2Fifteen Tech find its niche and scale Leadership lessons for MSP owners in tough times Serving creative and Apple-focused clients effectively Mindset shifts and operational changes that drive real results Advice for MSPs in any market (including Salt Lake City and beyond) 2Fifteen Tech: https://215.tech Connect with Ed Lukacs: [LinkedIn Profile] MSP Unplugged Community: https://www.mspunplugged.com Drop your biggest takeaway or current business challenge in the comments — Ed and the community are here to help! 🔥 Like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more real-talk stories from MSP owners just like you. #MSP #MSPJourney #BusinessTurnaround #SmallMSP #2FifteenTech #SaltLakeCity #ManagedServices #MSPSuccess #EdLukacs