Head Nerds On AI Strategy (EP 995)

This conversation with Ben Lee and Marc‑Andre from the N-Able Head Nerds team gets right into the questions MSPs are really asking at Empower 2026: how to approach AI strategically, what the new AI management tab actually does, and how to wrap governance and compliance around all of it. We also get into the evolution of automation inside the MSP space, why it’s shifted from “hours of scripting” to more of a teaching and idea-generation role, and how the Head Nerds are helping partners turn those ideas into scalable services.

We talk about AI as more than just embedded features: in‑product AI, building your own agents and automations off the platform, and deciding when to use N-Able’s tools versus rolling your own. Ben and Marc‑Andre share what they’re hearing from more mature MSPs—concerns about governance, edge‑case risks, and how to create AI offerings that sit alongside resiliency and security packages—while still keeping things practical and grounded.

Chapters:

• 00:45 Meet The N-Able Head Nerds
• 02:10 The Importance of the Nerd Lounge
• 04:40 Handling Tough Partner Questions
• 06:30 Travel, Conferences, And Nerds Community
• 08:20 New AI Management Tab Interest
• 09:30 Real AI Use Cases And Roadmap Ideas
• 10:45 From Scripting To AI‑Driven Automation
• 12:20 What Mature MSPs Are Asking About AI
• 13:30 Governance, Compliance, And AI Guardrails
• 14:40 Closing Thoughts From Fort Lauderdale

Guests

• Ben Lee, N‑able (Head Nerd, Microsoft): https://www.linkedin.com/in/benleeuk/
• Marc‑Andre Tanguay, N‑able (Sr. Manager, Head Nerds): https://www.linkedin.com/in/automationnerd

Companies / Vendors / Products Mentioned

• N‑able: https://www.n-able.com
• Head Nerds Team: https://www.n-able.com/team/head-nerds
• Empower 2026: mpower.n-able.com/

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