Autonomous IT

Maddie Regis (00:00)
Hey everyone, this is Maddie Regis, Paid Media Manager at Automox, and welcome back to another episode of IT Insiders, Automox's podcast that introduces you to the people behind the product. Happy spring—unless you're in the Southern Hemisphere! Today, we’re talking about all things spring cleaning and what that means for IT pros. I’m joined by Adam Whitman, our Manager of Solutions Engineering, to share his best practices and tips. Thanks for joining us, Adam.

Adam Whitman (00:35)
Thanks for having me, Maddie. I’m in Colorado, so spring weather is never consistent—it's been cold, hot, and snowy. Really looking forward to some steady sunshine.

Maddie Regis (00:46)
Same here in Kentucky—sun one day, clouds the next. So let’s jump in. I always check out my guest’s LinkedIn and saw you, like me, have a degree in marketing. How did you go from that to IT?

Adam Whitman (01:21)
Like a lot of college students, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I got my degree in marketing but started my first IT job in 2008. I’ve always loved technology—my brother and I used to build computers and play games on them. When I got the chance to work in IT around 2010, during the rise of virtualization, I took it. It was tough at first, but it really helped me grow.

Maddie Regis (02:13)
Where are you today in your career? What do you do at Automox?

Adam Whitman (02:22)
I’m a Solutions Engineering Manager, working with our major customers and prospects. I help them understand how Automox fits into their tech stack, how we compare to competitors, and support them with integrations and custom workflows. I love that I get to talk about a wide range of technologies—it keeps things interesting and helps me expand my knowledge every day.

Maddie Regis (03:36)
Let’s get into the tech side. What are your top IT spring cleaning tips? Anything goes—servers, end-user devices, audits, etc.

Adam Whitman (03:56)
There’s a lot to cover. First, it’s a great time to audit your IT environment—things admins may have been putting off. Revisit your business continuity plan and maybe simulate a failure to see how the team responds. Also, audit hardware and software to identify unused items—this saves money and reduces clutter. Endpoint hygiene is key: remove rogue or decommissioned devices from management tools. Make sure all workstations and servers are patched. Finally, clean up your physical workspace. IT admins deal with a lot of hardware, so getting organized makes a big difference.

Maddie Regis (06:12)
I’ve seen some scary IT closets—it’s definitely easy to let things pile up! Great point on running fire drills for disaster recovery too.

Adam Whitman (06:23)
Exactly—dust off the cobwebs and make it happen!

Maddie Regis (06:37)
Alright, personal question: What’s your favorite and least favorite spring cleaning chore?

Adam Whitman (06:43)
No one really likes dishes, right? But for me, cleaning the garage and basement is the worst. Stuff gets shoved down there all year and it takes forever to sort through it all.

Maddie Regis (07:37)
Totally agree. The garage can be the IT closet of the house! Now for a fun one—if Automox weren’t called Automox, what would you name it?

Adam Whitman (07:59)
Tough one! Maybe something like Virtual Management Pro or Cross OS Complete. Something that reflects autonomous and cross-platform management.

Maddie Regis (08:47)
I like that—cross-OS is a big part of what we do. Last question: what’s a fun or funny fact from your career?

Adam Whitman (09:05)
I was once at a conference and ended up in an elevator with the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. I planned to say something, but he asked if I was going to push my floor—which I already had. That was the end of the conversation. Super awkward, but funny in hindsight.

Maddie Regis (09:57)
Elevators are always prime spots for awkward moments! Okay, time for our game—spring-themed trivia. First question: True or false—the first full moon of March is called the Worm Moon.

Adam Whitman (10:21)
False?

Maddie Regis (10:35)
It’s actually true! It comes from spring rains drawing worms to the surface. Next: What’s considered the cleanest country in the world according to the Environmental Performance Index—Germany, Canada, or Iceland?

Adam Whitman (11:16)
I’d say Iceland.

Maddie Regis (11:29)
Correct! Last one—true or false: Spring fever is a real syndrome.

Adam Whitman (11:52)
True.

Maddie Regis (12:02)
You got it. Warmer weather improves circulation, making people feel more energized. Science backs it up!

Adam Whitman (12:13)
I definitely feel that way in spring—more energy for sure. It’s the opposite of the winter blues.

Maddie Regis (12:33)
Exactly. Hopefully everyone’s catching a bit of that spring fever—and taking Adam’s advice to tidy up their IT environments. Thanks for joining us, Adam!

Adam Whitman (12:49)
Thanks for having me.