ASCII EDGE
THE MSP CONFERENCE 2023 IN TORONTO
AUG 30 & 31 - TORONTO, CANADA
FRESH CONTENT FOR GROWING MSPs
20+ BUSINESS STRATEGY SESSIONS
Keynote
"How AI is Disrupting Industries and How it Will Change the MSP Industry"
Making national news, now ex-Google engineer, Blake Lemoine saw first-hand the cutting edge of AI and where it will lead. As AI disrupts industries, it remains an open question how much the daily life of IT professionals will change in the coming years as a result of artificial intelligence. New tools for artistic creation, network planning, customer service and even assistants for writing code are becoming available and offer broad sweeping promises of productivity increases through automation and big data analysis. We’ll separate fact from fiction, highlighting both the incredibly impressive advances being made in some areas as well as the areas in which the promises of automation are likely to be underwhelming. Armed with a little understanding of how to leverage these technologies they will provide many opportunities for growth and prosperity.
for MSPs
Register today
Fresh Content
Content focuses on helping MSPs build a better business and realize any revenue opportunities they may be missing
Discover Opportunities
Meet with over 30 technology providers in a business setting geared to help move your business forward
Expand Your Network
Come together and learn best practices while networking and discovering new revenue streams
Interactive
See how you compare with your peers, as we poll the audience live on key business indicators
For MSPs
Our events are open to all managed service providers, (MSPs), who manage SMBs in North America
Perks
Grab a headshot from our professional photography gratis plus win a chance at over $10K worth of prizes
Speakers
Featured MSP Speakers & Industry Sessions
Brian Johnson
CEO, AVC Technology
MSP Session: “Growth Through Process – Fundamental Building Blocks MSPs Need to Achieve Repeatable Growth YoY"
Ken Wong
Founder & CEO, DragonTek International
MSP Session: “Winning Business Leveraging the Security Conversation"
David Stinner
Founder & President, US itek
MSP Session: “A Blueprint to Solve Talent & Hiring Challenges at 25% of the Salaries Your Competitors are Paying”
Keynote
"Creating Superfans: How To Turn Your Customers Into Lifelong Advocates"
Entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and fan-engagement guru Brittany Hodak shares the proprietary five-step SUPER Fan System she developed running successful campaigns and products for globally known brands including Walmart, Disney, Amazon, Katy Perry, the Boston Red Sox, and more. With her trademark mix of humor and sharp business insights, she combines entertaining stories from her years of working with major stars like Dolly Parton and KISS with case studies of familiar brands and companies to illustrate the effective and easy-to-master system for transforming customers into passionate advocates of your brand.
Agenda
Pre-Day/Wednesday
Aug 30, 2023
Main Day/Thursday
Aug 31, 2023
Located in
Badge Pick-Up & Lunch
Start networking over lunch with MSP peers from all over the region
Jessie Devine
Welcome to ASCII Edge - the MSP Conference
Day 1 kick-off as we discuss our new format and audience interaction
Stan Slimp
True DR versus BaaS
Presented by Probax
Bryan Volzing
Why Hacking is One of the Fastest Growth Industries
presented by Huntress
Morgan McBride
Modernize your MSP: Building a Profitable Cloud Practice
The rapid pace of technology and evolving end user computing needs are significantly impacting the MSP landscape — where some are thriving, and others are struggling to keep up. Learn how any MSP can modernize, automate, secure and cost-optimize their existing practice using native Microsoft technologies including Azure, Intune, Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD), and Windows 365.
Ken Wong
Peer Session “Hacker’s Perspective: Is Your MSP Ready for Me?"
It’s known that smaller businesses have smaller IT budgets, which often leaves little room for IT security. MSPs need to have a closer look at themselves on how to best protect themselves as well as their own customers. Ken Wong, Founder/CEO of DragonTek International and Security Expert, will provide some insights in today’s cybersecurity standards from a hacker’s perspective and key areas MSPs need to focus on to better protect their operations.
Al Alper
Selling Trust; Breaking Down the Sales Barrier.
Let’s face it, to a layman all IT companies are the same. It’s why “traditional” marketing is all about timing; they hurt (a.k.a. their network crashed, or their IT guy isn’t responding, or…) and you happen to be there when they need it fixed. But chance encounters like that are few and far between.
So how can you make it so that it’s YOU they think of when they need help instead of relying on a chance encounter?
In this session, we’ll learn how to create and build trust in the minds of your prospects, so that YOU are the go to person when they need help.
Ryan Bowman
Data Risk and Rubber Duckies
Risk of data loss and operational disruption can stem from more than the ransomware in news headlines. Join Ryan Bowman for a live hacking demonstration of a Rubber Ducky and discussion on methods of control to minimize data exfiltration.
Located in
Break & Networking Time
Refuel time
Interactive
Quiet Quitting - How to Inspire, Motivate and Keep Staff
Industry Expert Panel with Buffalo Americas, Net2Phone, and Synco
Costa Chatjiantoniou
MSP Business Session
Presented by Sherweb
Jennifer Pierce
The Security Conversation and How to Get Client Buy-in
Imagine being handed a sales process and strategy that just worked. Something you could use without having to research, learn, test, and improve? A process that works to get executives on board and investing in the security solutions you know they desperately need. I have that process, and, in this session, I will share my secrets to using third-party security assessments to change the way you connect with executives -imagine 83% close rates. I will also give you a formula to packaging your security stack that will save you time. Plus, learn the one call you need to make this quarter to reinforce your position as a highly valued consultant.
We will even give you a list of CEO’s top 10 objections to investing in security solutions and how to overcome them.
Alireza Kia
Callture
Transitioning to Cloud-Based Office Phone Service
Organizations are increasingly migrating from traditional Private Branch Exchange (PBX) to Voice over Internet Phone (VoIP) PBX systems–leveraging functionality, cost efficiency, and scalability.
Advantages of IP PBX include reduced costs, simplified maintenance, and the flexibility to support remote work. VoIP technology facilitates advanced features like unified messaging, mobile integration, and customer relationship management (CRM) systems integration. However, successful migration requires planning to avoid challenges like network security, quality of service optimization, and toll fraud.
The presentation will highlight the benefits of these technologies, helping attendees enhance their user experience and streamline communication practices.
Osgood Ballroom
Business Card Exchange
Network with your peers and technology solution providers!
Michael Crean
What Organizational Maturity Means Today: Essential Practices and Skills
Organizations large and small struggle to understand what “maturity” means in terms of IT and security operations. In this session, we’ll discuss some case studies about organizations that have varied levels of maturity. This isn’t about CMMC or CMMI, but more of a conversation about steps organizations need to take to implement policy-based and useful architectures and procedures.
Brian Johnson
Peer Session: “Growth Through Process – Fundamental Building Blocks MSPs Need to Achieve Repeatable Growth YoY"
In today’s MSP marketplace if you’re not growing you are losing market share. Growth can solve a lot of problems but is not always easy to achieve in a planned and systematic manner. In this session, Brian Johnson, CEO of AVC Technology will share lessons learned as he reveals key strategies and mistakes to avoid in achieving consistent and aggressive YoY growth. Learn what key methodologies to put into place as well specific KPIs to monitor the health and trajectory of your MSP practice.
Marc Yap
Navigating Managed Security: How to Accelerate Revenue and Deliver Security Outcomes
In a vast landscape of MDR services, it can be challenging for MSPs to determine which vendor is best for them. Join this session with Sophos for tips on navigating the selection process to accelerate revenue and deliver better security outcomes.
Located in
Day 1 Wrap Up, Voting & Vendor Networking
More networking and time to meet with our great sponsors
Located in
ASCII Member Closed-Door Meeting
Private peer meeting of ASCII Members
Located in
Waterfall Garden
Evening Networking Reception
Enjoy food and drink as continue to network
Toronto, Canada
August 30 & 31, 2023
Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel
123 Queen St W, Toronto, ON, Canada M5H 2M9
Sponsors
Official Sponsors
Diamond Sponsors
Platinum Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
Start Up Sponsors
Meal & Technical Primer Sponsors
Media Sponsors & Community Partners
