Uncle Marv's IT Business Podcast (Products, stories, and tips for the MSP and IT Professional)
Uncle Marv's IT Business Podcast (Products, stories, and ti…
The IT Business Podcast is a show for MSPs (Managed Service Providers) and IT Professionals providing business network support and managed services. Each episode delivers products, stories, and tips that help the MSP and IT Pro run the business better, smarter, and faster, covering everything from pricing and packaging to operations, tools, and service delivery. You’ll hear candid conversations with working MSP owners, system admins, vendors, and industry leaders who share what’s actually working in the field, including hard lessons, success stories, and the occasional “what not to do.” Topics regularly include managed services best practices, cybersecurity and compliance, Microsoft 365 and cloud, automation and documentation, vendor selection and stack building, plus the day-to-day realities of running a modern IT business. Hosted by longtime IT business owner and podcaster Marvin “Uncle Marv” Bee, the show blends real talk, practical advice, and a lighthearted tone so the MSP and IT Pro behind the network can learn, laugh, and get better every week.
Choose your favorite podcast player
Apple Podcasts PocketCasts Overcast Spotify Podcast Addict Amazon Music iHeartRadio PlayerFM TuneIn Audible Castbox Podchaser Goodpods Pandora Audacy Deezer Spreaker
April 21, 2026

Hidden Costs of Changing Your Stack (EP 996)

Hidden Costs of Changing Your Stack (EP 996)
Uncle Marv's IT Business Podcast (Products, stories, and tips for the MSP and IT Professional)
Hidden Costs of Changing Your Stack (EP 996)

Vendors love to pitch “better, cheaper” tools, but Tom Wyant and I break down the real, often hidden cost of changing your MSP stack, from migration and data ownership to client disruption and staff confusion. We talk honestly about when it actually makes sense to switch, why I’ve stuck with my N-Able‑centered stack plus ThreatLocker and Liongard, and how to evaluate tools without blowing up what already works.

I’ve been talking for years about having a stack that works and not jumping every time a shiny new tool comes along, but I’ve never really unpacked how I got there. In this conversation, Tom Wyant from Wyant Technologies joins me to walk through the real‑world impact of switching RMMs, PSAs, documentation tools, security platforms, and even client portals and payment systems. We dig into migrations that looked good on paper but turned into months of cleanup, retraining clients on new portals and payment workflows, and what it actually costs when a tech spends two to three hours a day fixing issues instead of working tickets or projects.

Why Listen

  • Understand why switching your RMM/PSA stack can easily cost a smaller MSP tens of thousands of dollars once you factor in labor, cleanup, and confusion.
  • Hear a real‑world breakdown of migrations from LabTech to Continuum to Ninja, from ConnectWise to Halo PSA, and from IT Glue to Hudu, including what actually hurt and what paid off.
  • Learn practical questions to ask vendors about data ownership, export paths, and how your history, documentation, and tickets will (or won’t) move over.
  • See how client‑facing changes like portals, payment processors, remote access tools, and security awareness training can disrupt users and generate extra support load.

Chapters

  • 00:41 Conference Season Insights
  • 03:07 Housekeeping and Personal Experiences
  • 04:13 Horror Stories of Changing Stacks
  • 08:15 Reasons for Changing Tools
  • 11:32 Data Ownership and Documentation
  • 15:25 Client Facing Disruption
  • 17:35 The High Cost of Switching
  • 20:17 Hidden Costs of Cheap Tools
  • 29:22 All-in-One Solutions Considered
  • 32:48 Evaluating New Tools and Integrations
  • 39:15 Reflections on Past Experiences
  • 40:13 Summary of Hidden Costs
  • 47:09 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Guest: Tom Wyant, Wyant Technologies:

Shout-outs

Companies / Vendors / Products Mentioned

=== SPONSORS:

=== SHOW MUSIC:

=== Connect with Uncle Marv

🌐 Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/
🎙 Host: Marvin Bee
🛒 Uncle Marv’s Amazon Store (gear & tools I recommend): https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZ
☕ 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.

Tom Wyant Profile Photo
Tom Wyant

Tom Wyant is an experienced technology entrepreneur and cybersecurity specialist, currently serving as Co-Founder and CEO of Wyant Technologies in Traverse City, Michigan. He is best known for his leadership in managed IT services and his approachable educational presence as host of The Wyant Cybersecurity Brief.

Wyant Technologies is a private IT service and consulting company based in Traverse City, Michigan, founded in 2003. It provides cybersecurity risk assessments, managed network services, VoIP solutions, and acts as a vCIO and vCSO for businesses with 5–50 employees. The company's philosophy centers on straightforward, worry-free technology solutions, emphasizing responsive support, security best practices, and long-term business planning.

Message