In this engaging episode, we sit down with Paul Berndt, the founder of Net V Pro, to talk about his unique journey from military service to becoming a leader in the managed services space. Paul shares how his company has evolved over 15 years, from providing disaster recovery and backup services to becoming a full-fledged IT managed service provider with a keen focus on cybersecurity.

Paul dives deep into the major challenges facing today's MSPs, including the ever-present security threats and the complex world of liability and cyber insurance. He explains his "cloud-smart" and "AI-smart" philosophies and the importance of educating clients on why they need top-tier security. Plus, he shares his passion for mentoring the next generation of IT professionals and offers a glimpse into the future of technology, from the exponential growth of AI to revolutionary advances in computing power.

Episode Highlights:

• 01:00 - A Military to Tech Journey: Paul shares how his experience in the army led him to an electronics degree and a career-defining internship in IT.

• 03:00 - The Mentorship Ethos: He discusses his commitment to paying it forward by helping dozens of young people get their start in the IT industry through internships.

• 04:30 - The Ever-Evolving Landscape: Paul explains what it means to be "cloud-smart" and how the rise of cybersecurity threats, like the need for 24/7 monitoring, has changed the industry.

• 06:00 - The Biggest Challenges: Paul talks about the pressures of being caught between security providers and client expectations, and the need for clear financial liability.

• 07:00 - Pricing and Waivers: He reveals a powerful strategy: making clients sign a security waiver if they opt out of recommended services, a practice that highlights the critical importance of proper protection.

• 10:00 - The Future is AI-Smart: Paul shares his perspective on the next big revolution in technology and why he's excited about the future of AI in the MSP space.

• 12:00 - Beyond AI: He discusses other emerging technologies, including revolutionary advances in computing and how they could impact everything from smartphones to data centers.

Episode Tags/Keywords:

• Managed Services Provider (MSP)

• IT Services

• Cybersecurity

• Cloud Computing

• AI

• Tech Support

• Business Operations

• Entrepreneurship

• Veteran-Owned Business

• Netv Pro

• Disaster Recovery

• Client Services

• Career Advice

• Technology Trends

• IT Security

Call to Action (CTA):

• Subscribe: Follow our podcast to stay ahead of the curve in tech support and cybersecurity.

• Connect with Paul: Visit netvpro.com or find him on LinkedIn to learn more about his company and his approach to IT services.

• Learn More: Visit https://www.aisavants.io to discover how AI can increase efficiencies for your business.

To connect with John Rice and AI Savants:

• Website: https://www.aisavants.io

• Email: john@aisavants.io

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-rice-31329526/

To connect with Paul Berndt and Net V Pro:

• Website: https://www.netvpro.com

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/securitypaul/