Uncle Marv’s IT Business Podcast: Practical Business Advice for MSPs and IT Professionals
Uncle Marv’s IT Business Podcast: Practical Business Advice…
Running a managed service provider (MSP) or IT services business takes more than technical expertise. You need to win customers, grow revenue, protect profitability, manage vendors, deliver great service, and keep up with a changing IT industry. That’s where Uncle Marv comes in.

Hosted by longtime IT business owner Marvin Bee, aka Uncle Marv, the IT Business Podcast delivers practical business advice, real-world lessons, candid conversations, and industry insights to help MSP owners, IT service providers, IT consultants, system administrators, and technology professionals run their businesses better, smarter, and faster.

Topics include MSP business growth, pricing and profitability, sales and marketing, managed services operations, cybersecurity, compliance, Microsoft 365, cloud services, automation, service desk efficiency, vendor management, technology stack decisions, and customer relationships.

Hear from experienced MSP owners, IT business leaders, industry experts, and technology vendors about what works, what doesn’t, and what it takes to build a stronger IT business. Get an honest look at industry trends, vendor claims, emerging technologies, and the decisions that affect your customers, your team, and your bottom line.

Whether you’re starting an MSP, growing an established IT services company, managing client networks, or looking for better tools and smarter ways to work, Uncle Marv brings the conversation back to what matters: practical knowledge you can put to work.

Run your business better, smarter, and faster.
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April 20, 2026

OpenText's Secure Cloud For MSPs (EP 994)

OpenText's Secure Cloud For MSPs (EP 994)
Uncle Marv’s IT Business Podcast: Practical Business Advice for MSPs and IT Professionals
OpenText's Secure Cloud For MSPs (EP 994)

Michael DePalma, OpenText's VP of Business Development, dives into their massive channel revamp after a full year, covering Secure Cloud upgrades and killer MSP partnerships like Hats AI. He breaks down real MSP pain points from 2025 and how OpenText listens to deliver value without the salesy BS.

Empower 2026

DePalma's been at it a year since jumping from Datto and Kaseya to OpenText's massive operation—25,000 employees, billions in revenue, but they give his team real autonomy to hit numbers without micromanaging. They've streamlined everything into one Secure Cloud portal, fixed Microsoft 365 pains with better UX and 98.7% in-house support, and launched partnerships that enable MSPs, not compete—like Hats AI for managing client LLMs securely. No more competing product silos from the Zix/AppRiver days; now it's one account manager, transparent pricing, month-to-month terms, and focus on filling your stack gaps, especially for N-Able partners.

Chapters:

  • 02:40 Introducing Michael DePalma and OpenText
  • 05:05 OpenText, AppRiver, and Secure Cloud evolution
  • 10:20 Building a modern partner program
  • 13:20 Microsoft 365, support strategy, and N-able alignment
  • 17:45 Pricing philosophy and true partner conversations
  • 19:50 MSP headwinds in 2025 and planning for 2026
  • 21:50 Roadshows, Microsoft workshops, and MSP enablement
  • 24:50 Michael’s Family Feud story
  • 25:58 Rethinking channel events and the power of relationships

Guest: Michael DePalma, OpenText

Shout-outs

Companies / Vendors / Products Mentioned

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🌐 Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/
🎙 Host: Marvin Bee
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☕ Support the show: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcast

If you found value in this episode, share it with another MSP, IT provider, or tech entrepreneur. Your support helps keep practical, no-nonsense IT business conversations coming every week.

Mike DePalma Profile Photo
Mike DePalma

VP of Business Development

Michael DePalma is a seasoned channel leader and VP of Business Development at OpenText Cybersecurity, where he focuses on helping MSPs build profitable, security-first service offerings. With more than a decade in the MSP ecosystem, he previously held senior go-to-market and enablement roles at Kaseya and Datto, giving him deep firsthand experience with the challenges service providers face around security, Microsoft 365, and recurring revenue.

He’s known in the channel for a partner-first mindset: simplifying procurement, removing unnecessary contracts, and prioritizing enablement and education over hard selling. Whether he’s talking about SecureCloud, AI-driven security, or modern partner programs, Michael brings a practical, business-oriented perspective that resonates with MSPs trying to scale in a noisy vendor landscape.

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