Michael Montecillo, a security practitioner who now works for analyst firm Enterprise Management Associates (EMA) covering the security industry, joins us to talk everything from the undue influence and power of analysts on the market, to promoting Michael in a Brazilian Jujitsu match. How much do vendors influence analysts? Are analysts really independent when vendors hire them as consultants? Can vendors influence the amount and kind of coverage they get? Some analysts have taken to the practice of making predictions, like Gartner’s death of IDS, or Microsoft catering by 2011. We also turn the SSAATY Spotlight on Symantec who’s cannibalizing sales from their channel and the impact to Microsoft’s partners for the new hosted Microsoft Online Services. We record tonight’s podcast in the studios of Medioh thanks to our friend and faithful podcast engineer Scott Converse. Scott also gives an update on Medioh and the new video guide capabilities.