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In Memory of Charles Edge: A Conversation Revisited

Beloved Author and Apple Authority Passes Away

The Apple community mourns the loss of Charles Edge, a renowned author and expert who dedicated his career to empowering users with knowledge.

Charles was a cornerstone for many Apple enthusiasts. His acclaimed book series, "Take Control of OS X Server," provided users with clear and comprehensive guidance on managing their server environments. He was also known for his ongoing work on a historical chronicle of computing, showcasing his passion for technology's evolution.

Beyond his publications, Charles was admired for his genuine kindness and willingness to share his expertise. He leaves behind a legacy of not only valuable resources, but also a spirit of helpfulness that enriched the Apple community.

Command Control Power remembers Charles Edge, a friend and expert we had the pleasure of speaking with. This conversation from 2014 is a testament to his knowledge and enduring legacy. We miss him dearly.

Sincerely,

Joe, Sam, and Jerry

563: The Cloud is Cloudy: Why On-Premise Backup Might Be Your Sunshine

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How do you protect domains that do not have email? Here are the key points:
-Email addresses can be spoofed to appear as if they are coming from a different domain. This can be used for phishing attacks.

There are several ways to protect domains without email addresses:
* DMARC record: This tells email servers what to do with emails that claim to be from the domain but don't come from an authorized source.
* DKIM record: This helps to verify the sender's identity for emails.
* SPF record: This specifies which email servers are authorized to send email for the domain.

Jerry recommends looking into Cloudflare.

* Whois privacy: This service hides the contact information for the domain owner. It can prevent ethical hackers from reaching out to report vulnerabilities, but it doesn't prevent spoofing.

Joe talks about creating a separate global admin account that is not used for regular email and has a strong password. MFA (multi-factor authentication) should also be enabled for this account.

Phishing campaigns and training is a great add on to protect clients from the weakest link…the user.

-Some users won’t see the value of services until something goes wrong.

-Sam is concerned about being locked into a cloud backup service once enrolled.

* Challenges of selling security services: Some clients may be resistant to paying for security recommendations, especially if they don't see the immediate benefit. We need to explain the risks and the potential consequences of not taking action.

Let clients say no to additional services, especially with relation to security.

* Synology vs Backup Service: There's a good discussion in the chat between on-premise backup using Synology and cloud-based backup services like Datto or Barracuda. Synology requires an upfront cost but offers more control and potentially lower cost in the long run, while cloud backups are easier to manage but can be more expensive.

Backup Considerations:
* Legal holds: Legal requirements to retain data for a certain period (e.g., 7 years) need to be considered when choosing a backup solution.
* Migration:** Moving between backup solutions can be difficult and expensive.

Synology Management:
* Active Backup can be used for backups.
* Active Insight can be used for monitoring backups and servers.
* Email notifications can be configured for Synology alerts.

Ultimately, choosing a Backup Solution depends on factors like the number of users, the amount of data, budget, technical expertise, and desired level of control.

Joe brings up Genie by Norton as a free scam detector.

561: UniFi-ed by Chaos: Adventures in Ubiquiti Network Warfare

  • Discussing the new MacBook Air M3 and its migration process

  • Highlighting the improvements in data transfer speeds

  • Network hardware lifespan and how to recommend upgrades to clients

  • Signs to look for to determine if network hardware needs to be upgraded

  • Discussing the benefits of Wifi 7

  • Common challenges faced during network upgrades and how to address them

  • Exploring Ubiquiti UniFi products including the Flex Switch and Switch Ultra

  • The client needed to replace an access point with a switch and an access point.

  • The client also had a builder working on their house who reset the network devices, causing additional problems.

  • The issue was resolved after the network devices were reconfigured.

  • Learned that the client should not touch the network devices and to label them accordingly.

  • Unifi devices were discussed. There are pros and cons to pre-configuring the devices on site vs on location. ░

560: Interview with Justin Esgar of ACES Conference - May 15th - 16th 2024

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Topics:

-Today we welcome Justin Esgar of Virtual Computers and The ACES Conference.

-Justin gives us his full review of Vision Pro.

-Joe gets practical about flying with a Vision Pro.

-Justin recommends a book called MSP Secrets Revealed (he happens to be in it as well).

-He does not recommend crying while wearing a Vision Pro.

-Our show now uses Streamyard, which Justin highly recommends.

-ACES Conference is back live!

-This is not a technical conference. Rather, it’s more about improving the ways we run and profit from our MSP practices.

-Justin tells us about many of the great names that will be in attendance, as well as Apple and other sponsors.

-Super Ops is giving away an Apple Vision Pro at ACES Conference!

-There will be great swag given away and, as Joe mentions, the hallway sessions.

-This is the 10th ACES Conference!

-Justin tells us why he started, and continues to run this conference.

-All sponsors have some requirements from Justin - no roadmaps.

-Make yourself accountable when you are there. Make the best use of your time.

-We talk about the ACES Mastermind Program. They group meets regularly to help each other accelerate growth of their businesses.

-Use the code commandcontrolpower for 10% off the ACES Conference!

-They are also offering a travel stipend. If your cost of travel is $650 or more ACES will help make it more accessible to be there.

-If the content doesn’t draw you in, come for the skiing!

-Both Joe and Adam Rice have their anniversaries during ACES.

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