Matt Tinney Podcast Transcript
Matt Tinney joins host Brian Thomas on The Digital Executive Podcast.
Welcome to Coruzant Technologies, Home of The Digital Executive podcast.
Brian Thomas: Welcome to The Digital Executive. Today’s guest is Matt Tinney. With over 30 years of IT experience, Matt Tinney serves as Chief of Strategic Growth Partnerships at Windows Management Experts, or known as WME. WME, recognized as a leader in cybersecurity and compliance, offers end to end solutions for IT, specializing in project delivery, staffing, and managed services and licensing.
At WME, Matt and his team pride themselves on their core values of collaboration, integrity, open mindedness, and growth through partnerships. Specializing in Microsoft security and compliance solutions. WME is recognized as leaders and supporting cybersecurity compliance, managed services and solution integrators as the integrator for the integrator and the MSSP for the MSP. They facilitate the delivery of best-in-class professional solutions with highly skilled engineers and project managers.
Well, good afternoon, Matt. Welcome to the show!
Matt Tinney: Thank you. Pleasure to be here.
Brian Thomas: Absolutely. Appreciate you jumping on, making the time, Matt. We’ve, connected fairly recently, had some conversations and we decided it was a good idea to get on a podcast.
So, I really do appreciate that and Matt switching right into your first question here with over 30 years in the industry. Can you share how your journey led to become the chief of strategic growth partnerships at windows management experts? And how has your role of all to meet the changing landscape of cyber security and services?
Matt Tinney: Absolutely. It’s a great question. Thought provoking. So, first of all, thanks for having me and asking this question in particular, you know, it’s been quite the ride. If there’s 1 change or 1 constant in it, it’s actually change you know, when I started at windows management experts as the founder my role was deeply rooted in leveraging relationships.
And expertise to drive growth and innovation and, and as we’ve seen the acceleration of technology with things such as AI and chat GPT and other copilot for Microsoft AI the sophistication of cyber threats has really reshaped our playing field. And so, you know, I really, I really keep up with the face pass environments.
And stay curious and connected at all times. So, it’s more about a mindset of learning and the evolution of my role as systems engineer, you know, working with Microsoft endpoint management. And then now staying ahead of those cyber threats and embracing the technology advancements is kind of my role.
So, what this means is I spend most of my time collaborating with industry leaders, such as yourself. Thank you very much. And diving into emerging trends and forging strategic partnerships. So, these efforts are not just about growth. It’s really about empowering our clients and our partners with cutting edge solutions that protect them, keep them compliant and propel them forward.
So, my approach, you know, and my role have trans, you know, transcend the traditional boundaries. To focus on the innovation and the security side. And so, this is fundamentally about creating a resilient and innovative I.T. ecosystem clearly no 1 company can do everything. So, you have to have partners. We have to have strategic alignment with those partners.
So, the landscape, though, of cybersecurity in particular, and the services space. It’s complex and ever evolving. It’s almost like a puzzle. So, by focusing on the strategic partnership side and staying ahead of those trends, we’re able to respond to changes and anticipate them. And so, the proactive stance is crucial for really not only navigating today’s challenges, but also shaping our industry’s future.
It’s about setting the course to ensure security is at the top of everyone’s mind and efficiency through automation while innovating and being at the forefront. And that’s what we do at Windows Management Experts. So, I just want to, you know, want my insights to be enlightening and I’m, I’m very proud of this journey and it didn’t happen overnight.
It’s a 17-year journey. The world of it and cybersecurity is just as fast paced and ever changing. So, I look forward to continuing to push these boundaries and drive innovation at windows management experts.
Brian Thomas: Awesome. Thank you. And I love your approach, Matt. Obviously, you can’t be an expert at everything, so you leverage your partnerships, but also you have a unique way of connecting and building those relationships, fostering those for the long term.
And again, I think that’s the recipe for success as we’ve seen with your company. So Matt, the next question I have for you as chief of strategic growth partnerships, how do you identify and cultivate partnerships that align with Windows Management Experts’ mission? And what makes a partnership successful in your view?
Matt Tinney: Ah, this is this is one of my favorite questions. All right. Our mission is to empower businesses with top notch I. T. And the cyber security solutions to ensure the protected and prime for growth. So, the mission in guiding our partnerships is really segmented into 3 areas. So, 1st, it’s about the identification process, which really begins with an alignment of vision and values.
Okay. That means cultural values leading by example, we look for partners who are leaders in their domain, but also who share in our commitment to innovation and excellence while being kind and collaborative in the partnership. So, this alignment is crucial because it sets the foundation for a partnership.
That’s built on mutual respect and shared goals. Secondly, we focus on complementary strengths, bringing the sense of omnipresence. So, a successful partnership to me. Is 1, where each party brings something unique to the table. So it’s a bidirectional collaboration, whether that’s technology, innovative technology products, market reach, maybe in an industry where we don’t have you know, the audience, but they do.
Or just pure expertise for scalability. So, this complimentary allows us to create the solutions greater than the sum of their parts. I say the word team of teams. So, it’s about leveraging each other’s strengths to build a stronger team. A unified team is always going to be more secure.
The third thing that is really key in all of these partnerships is cultivating It does require constant communication and collaboration. So, it’s about working closely to identify opportunities that serve each other, solving the problems. Each of our clients have in industry focuses and innovating and providing something different.
We invest time in understanding our partners capabilities up front and their goals. And we expect the same in return. So, this mutual investment does foster a deep sense of trust and cooperation essential for success. So, you know, having said that a successful partnership is really 1 that delivers measurable value to all stakeholders, including our clients and our partners.
You know, oftentimes we will actually refer partners to each other. For example, when we were working with a new partner, they actually said, do you do IOT? And it’s like, at the time we didn’t do IOT Internet of things. So we actually brought in a partner. To the table, and it was a new relationship. I’m happy to say that partner not only knocked it out, but our partnership was strengthened because we were able to leverage our existing partnership.
So, you know, this means creating solutions and, you know, that address current needs and anticipating future challenges. You know, it’s about being agile and responsive. I’m ready to adapt as the market evolves. And also, being transparent. Like I said, you’re not going to be an expert on all things. So, bring another partner to the table.
It’s probably going to best serve you and the partner in a long-term relationship. And keeping the communication lines open where success and challenges can be shared freely are vital. This transparency is probably the most important thing to allow for quick adjustments, improving customer service and delivery.
Fostering innovation. And so, we each learn from each other. And lastly, a commitment to growth and learning is what drives a partnership forward for us at WME Windows management experts. The IT and cybersecurity landscapes are constantly changing. So being willing to grow and adapt together is really what keeps a partnership vibrant and successful.
Brian Thomas: Thank you, Matt. I really just to highlight a few things, your adaptability. Obviously, the constant communication, the collaboration, leveraging partnerships is all key to a successful partnership and continue you know, positive customer experiences with your existing customer base. So, I appreciate highlighting that and Matt W.
M. E. thrives in sectors with significant regulatory and compliance requirements. Can you share a success story case study where W. M. E. made a 1 of these sectors?
Matt Tinney: Absolutely so WME has not only succeeded in the areas of high regulation and compliance, meaning those requirements, but we’ve also established a standard for excellence.
So, I’m eager to tell you about our journey. And an amazing success story that shows our impact. So, we have successfully handled the complicated issues of regulatory and compliance demands for our clients. Windows management experts is a leader in really offering complete I. T. services and solutions. Our goal is simple to help businesses by improving their I.T. infrastructure, securing their cyber security and guiding them through the puzzle of regulatory and compliance obligations with ease. And we really believe in using the technology, not just to satisfy the present needs, but also to foresee and get ready for future challenges. So, I just want to highlight how WME does well in sectors that have strict requirements.
One of the reasons why we succeed in regulated sectors, such as healthcare. Legal, financial and government is our extensive knowledge of the specific difficulties these industries encounter. So, we understand that besides the technical solutions, it’s important that these solutions follow industry specific rules, such as HIPAA and health care and finance, SOX, Oxley or FedRAMP for government services.
Our approach combines rigorous compliance audits, continuous monitoring, and state of the art cybersecurity measures. And so, this ensures that our clients then only meet, but exceed regulatory standards and safeguarding their data and operations against evolving threats. So, 1 standout example is our work with a legal organization that was facing challenges with.
Socks compliance and security threats. This provider was at risk of noncompliant penalties and more importantly, vulnerable to data breaches that could jeopardize your patient data. So, we evaluated their infrastructure thoroughly, finding where they were not meeting compliance and security standards. We then put in a customized solution that involved enhancing their cyber security protection and encrypting confidential data.
And setting up a strong data backup and recovery plan. Moreover, we also train their staff on how to keep up with compliance and security. The impact was immediate and profound. The legal provider not only passed their SOC compliance audit with flying colors, but also strengthened their defense against cyber threats.
This project not only protected the provider from penalties and data breaches, but it also enhanced its reputation for safeguarding patient information. They are now SOCs compliant, and we quickly provided a roadmap for them to become SOC two, type two certified in the parallel process. My goal at WME as being Math Lieutenant is to provide and to placate solutions that go beyond the basic requirements, to go above and beyond, and to improve our customers operational performance and security.
It’s all about creating a base for continuous success and resiliency in the face of challenges.
Brian Thomas: Thank you, Matt. I appreciate that. And highlighting that example with that financial company obviously is, is so important. That’s just 1 of the spaces, healthcare being another, but there’s so many things that we could talk about, but I love sharing examples on the podcast.
It’s very helpful for our audience. And Matt, last question of the day. If you could briefly share looking towards the future, how do you see the fields of cyber security and compliance evolving? And what steps is WME taking to stay ahead of these changes?
Matt Tinney: Awesome question. So, the future of cyber security. And compliance is obviously closely tied to the accelerating pace of technology technological innovation. So, we’re seeing a surge in cloud computing. We’re seeing a surgeon in Internet of thing devices. And a I technologies, which while transformative also introduced new vulnerabilities and compliance considerations.
So, cyber threats are becoming more sophisticated targeting, not just the traditional infrastructure, but also the same emerging technologies. The regulatory landscape is becoming more complex as governments worldwide strive to protect consumer and business data. So, this complexity means that businesses must be more agile and informed than ever to navigate these waters successfully.
So, at WME, we’re taking a multifaceted approach to stay ahead. So first, we’re investing heavily in continuous education and training for our team and training others. So, this ensures that our experts are current and forward looking and their understanding of cyber security and compliance. With a train the trainer mentality.
Secondly, we’re leveraging the power of AGI, advanced generative intelligence, automation, and machine learning to enhance our cybersecurity services. And these technologies allow us to predict and mitigate threats more effectively, providing a more proactive defense for our clients. Thirdly, we’re focusing on building robust partnerships, as we talked about earlier, with leading technology providers.
And this is actually enabling us to offer our clients more cutting-edge solutions that are more compliant and secure by design. And finally, we’re engaging in ongoing dialogue with regulatory bodies. To ensure that we’ve met parents’ standards and anticipating future compliance requirements. This proactive stance helps us to confidently guide our clients through the regulatory needs.
One standout example involves a client in the financial services fintech. Which face challenges with NIST and CSA compliance and cyber security threats. We utilized AI driven analytics to assess their data handling and security protocols, identifying areas where they were at risk of noncompliance and vulnerabilities of cyber-attacks.
And so, by implementing a suite of advanced security measures and compliance tools, we help them achieve full GDPR compliance ahead of schedule and significantly improve their resilience against cyber threats. This project exemplifies how staying ahead of technical and regulatory challenges can benefit our clients.
Brian Thomas: Thank you, Matt. I appreciate that. And you highlighted some great examples, obviously, continually investing in education and training. That’s important working with regulatory bodies. And of course, leveraging some of that advanced technology, you mentioned AGI, which is so important. Now we need to leverage everything we can to stay ahead of our competition, but also provide a really effective service for our customers. So, I appreciate the share on that.
And Matthew, it’s such a pleasure having you on today. And I look forward to speaking with you real soon.
Matt Tinney: Thank you.
Brian Thomas: Bye for now.
Matt Tinney Podcast Transcript. Listen to the audio on the guest’s podcast page.
