Author Archives: Megan Carnes

Leading global NextGen 3.0 solution provider maintains strong momentum as year-end approaches

Boston, MA, December 17, 2025—Thrive, a global technology outsourcing provider for cybersecurity, cloud, and IT managed services, today announced that it has continued its strong and steady revenue growth throughout 2025, with positive momentum even before the year’s close. With a proven track record of delivering high-quality services that address critical technology needs, paired with a best-in-class customer experience, Thrive is poised to build on this performance and advance toward its goal of becoming a $1B company by the end of 2029.

“2025 saw rapid technological evolution, changing market dynamics, and increased cyber risks. Through it all, companies still need to operate, sell, and grow,” said Bill McLaughlin, CEO of Thrive. “Thrive comes in to remove the distraction that technology can often cause so that businesses can focus on what they do best. The customer at the center approach, paired with our talented team, has been key to achieving our goals and will carry our success far into the future.”

Growth Through Acquisition

Thrive has completed 27 acquisitions since its founding, making it a key pillar of its growth strategy. In 2025 alone, Thrive bought five companies, expanding both its geographic footprint and depth of services:

• Secured Network Services, expanding Thrive’s New England presence and its ability to address industry-specific needs across healthcare, government, non-profits, and more;
• Abacode, deepening Thrive’s compliance and GRC capabilities;
• Baroan Technologies, strengthening Thrive’s growing footprint in the New Jersey and Tri-state area;
• VitalCORE and Worksighted, establishing multiple locations in the Midwest, as the company continues its westward expansion.

Between organic growth and acquisition, Thrive’s global headcount has increased 15% since the start of the year, and its customer count has increased 10%, serving as a major contributing factor to the company’s record growth.

Expanded Services, Innovation, & Partnerships

Thrive’s capacity to deliver advanced client solutions and security is unparalleled in the MSP/MSSP industry. Over the last 12 months, Thrive has vastly expanded its offerings and doubled down on its commitment to meeting customers where they are and getting ahead of future technology challenges. Thrive invested over $100M building its NextGen 3.0 platform capabilities, ensuring it can provide the most robust and seamless experiences for its customers. In addition, the company continues to invest in innovative technologies, including over $10M in AI alone.

Thrive’s NextGen platform is built on ServiceNow, the leading platform for Enterprise technology service providers, and consistently integrates the latest solutions—including AI, automation, and digital experience (DEX) to support operations and deliver exceptional user experiences. Thrive is one of the few companies aligned with Gartner MESH (CSMA) architecture, allowing for optimal security, visibility, intelligence and effectiveness, ensuring customers are protected from all angles.

Additions made to Thrive’s portfolio of offerings this year include:

• Managed AI Services: Thrive’s Managed AI services support businesses across the entire AI adoption journey. This offering provides customers with a dedicated team of experts to help build and implement AI strategy at scale, including everything from use case identification to security to data and AI Assessment tools.
• Thrive Client Portal: With the new portal—just launched last week—Thrive customers gain access to a central dashboard that shares insight into all the services they are using, where they can renew products, submit security tickets, and more.
• Network Detection and Response: This service uses AI-driven analytics to monitor network traffic in real-time and help clients detect and stop cybersecurity breaches before they cause damage. This offering adds a new layer to Thrive’s existing security portfolio, complementing its Managed Detection and Response (MDR) and Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) services to deliver comprehensive, end-to-end protection for customer IT environments.
• Compliance Center: Thrive’s Compliance Center provides mid-market businesses and public sector organizations with valuable content tailored to vertical-specific needs and international regulations, providing comprehensive support for diverse industries.

New Leadership for the New Era   

Since Bill McLaughlin was appointed CEO in February, he has built a strong leadership team that’s dedicated to Thrive’s mission of delivering exceptional services and support to customers, while focusing on the company’s continued growth and success. Over the past several months, Bill has appointed Nicholas Smolansky as Chief Legal Officer, Kimberly Saturley as Chief People Officer, Ben Reich as Chief Financial Officer, and Kirti Gavri as SVP of Corporate Development to lead the charge on the company’s acquisition strategy. Farhad Jowharsha and Naveen Chodavarapu were also brought on as Regional Vice Presidents to bolster operations and grow Thrive’s presence in the APAC region.

This year also marked recognitions for other key leaders in the organization, including Jonathan Philipsen, EVP of Channel & Alliances, being recognized as a CRN 2025 Channel Chief and Kristina O’Connell, Chief Marketing Officer, being named a finalist for CRN’s Women of the Year.

Industry Recognition

In addition to Thrive’s leaders being recognized by industry groups, the company as a whole took home over a dozen industry awards throughout the year, highlighting its innovative services, impressive growth, and extraordinary partnerships, including:

• Being named Cloud Service Provider of the Year for both Private Equity Wire Awards 2025 and Hedgeweek® Global Digital Assets Awards 2025, showing the power of Thrive’s solutions within a key vertical. Thrive was also shortlisted for the With Intelligence HFM US Services Awards for Best Managed IT Service Provider.
• Placing #10 on the Boston Business Journal’s Fast 50 list and landing on the 5000 list for the ninth consecutive year, both of which require you to show impressive growth over time.
• Landing on Maine’s Best Places to Work list, a nod toward Thrive’s dedication to company culture, both locally and company-wide.
• Receiving partner accolades, such as KnowBe4’s MSP Breakout Partner of the Year and Fortinet’s Security Operations Partner of the Year 2024.
• Securing inclusion on CRN’s 2025 Tech Elite 250 and CRN’s Solution Provider 500 lists, solidifying Channel leadership.
• Recognized at major managed services events, such as Avant Special Forces Summit’s Top Vendor Program and being named Top Supplier for Cybersecurity 2024 at the Telarus Partner Summit.
• Winning the MSP 501/Channel Partners Summit 2025’s MSP of the Year Award.

To learn more about Thrive and its award-winning services, visit the website.

About Thrive

Thrive is a NextGen 3.0 global technology outsourcing provider that empowers small and mid-market organizations to transform their technology into a strategic advantage. Offering a breadth of services from AI and cybersecurity to cloud, compliance, and traditional MSP/MSSP solutions, Thrive’s team of seasoned experts develop strategies that standardize, scale, and automate technology to achieve outsized ROI. From advisory services to a 24×7×365 SOC and NOC, Thrive provides end-to-end IT and cybersecurity management so clients can focus on innovation and growth. With Thrive, your business is always supported and always secure. Learn more at www.thrivenextgen.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

Contacts

Hannah Johnston

thrive@v2comms.com

Last year, many of us were introduced to agentic AI. In recent articles, I shared 50+ AI agents from top-tier SaaS and security companies, as well as another 30 from growing startups.

AI is reshaping business, but it isn’t transformational yet. In the 50+ expert predictions I captured for this article, you’ll see how AI impacts CX, DevOps, and C-level leadership, which will help drive the transformation. Other predictions on AI, data governance, security, and IT Ops outline what businesses must prioritize to enable compliant, safe, and ethical AI.

If the first part of our expert predictions series showed us how fast the threat landscape is shifting, part two shows us what happens when that shift becomes structural. Across this next set of expert insights, a pattern can be seen: the attack surface is no longer something organizations “manage”, it’s something that is growing on its own.

Agentic AI is scaling identities at lightning speed, leaving governance once set by people in the dust. Meanwhile, connectors and integrations are turning into silent backdoors, Zero Trust is buckling under the weight of non-human identities, and AI-driven malefactors are operating in ways that our conventional policy models do not address.

Welcome back to another installment of our “Thrive Spotlight” blog series.

Our featured employee is Michael Delany. As a Director of Project Delivery, he oversees a team of project managers that onboard new clients to Thrive. His role consists of training and mentoring, developing process, and even managing his own projects. Many people at Thrive view Michael as an SME on Thrive’s onboarding process. He also helps with pre-sales conversations, creating timelines and speaking about Thrive’s onboarding process to prospective new clients. He is based out of our Foxboro office.

Michael spends most of his free time at his home in Plymouth, Massachusetts with his wife Nicole and two sons, Colin and Leo. He used to be a gamer but now settles for watching pros play online, with a recent favorite being Age of Empires 4. His current version of gaming is playing or watching a good chess match! Michael enjoys reading sci-fi, fantasy, history, and classics. He also helps teach his son Colin’s Brazilian Jiu Jitsu class. An avid runner for years, he tries to get in at least a few decent runs a week.

Hi Michael!  Can you tell us about your background and how you came to Thrive?

It sounds super cliché, but I promise it’s true – I’ve always wanted to work for Thrive. Growing up in the Boston area, Thrive was well-known in the MSP space. I interviewed at Thrive back in 2020 but did not get the job. I then interviewed again in 2021 for the Project Delivery Lead role and was hired. My dream of working for Thrive had finally come true! I previously worked at smaller MSPs in the Boston area as a Director of Professional Services and a vCIO.

Where did you go to school or get training?

I graduated from Bentley University in 2011 with a major in Finance and a minor in Economics. I received the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification in 2021. Most of my technical knowledge has been attained on the job over the last 25 years in IT but I do hold a few certifications – MCSE, A+, and N+. My MSP training started in 2012 when I founded an MSP called Applied Synergy Group along with a partner. We relied on TruMethods to build our practice.

What do you most enjoy about working for Thrive?

The culture at Thrive is hands down my favorite part about working here. Thrive is very much a team-oriented environment where everyone comes together to discuss and solve problems. No one is ever fully satisfied with the current process, and we are always iterating and making things better. It’s so refreshing to work with team members that are all focused on being the best MSP in the world, driving client satisfaction, and doing it all with a helpful and fun attitude.

Are there any recent exciting projects at Thrive you can tell us about?

I’ve recently been involved in pre-sales conversations with potential new clients describing Thrive’s onboarding process from the PMO’s perspective. I’m really enjoying being in the room and watching our sales team in action, helping frame client’s expectations for their onboarding to the Thrive platform.

Are you interested in learning more about Thrive? Click here! 

Don’t forget to follow us on LinkedIn for the latest news, and continue checking our blog for more in our “Thrive Employee Spotlight” series. Until next time… 

Revamped client portal provides a holistic view of services provided by leading NextGen 3.0 Service Provider

Boston, MA, December 9, 2025— Thrive, a global technology outsourcing provider for cybersecurity, cloud, and IT managed services, today announced its new Client Portal, which provides Thrive customers with a central dashboard and insight into their services and devices with reporting and management tools, simplified case submission, user onboarding, and more. As Thrive doubles down on its commitment to providing exceptional customer service and experience, the new client portal promises to deliver a streamlined, engaging, and trusted experience for customers.

A recent Gartner report (source: Debunking 5 Myths About Customer Self-Service Portals, August 2025) states that customer service and support leaders are expected to make the support portal a cornerstone of their delivery model. The Thrive Client Portal is entirely focused on delivering engaging, trusted, and responsive IT guidance while demonstrating the best-in-class customer experience Thrive is known for. With the Portal, Thrive has brought together the systems, people, and data needed to enable customers to manage their IT services in one place, while also giving them better visibility into how those services map to tangible business outcomes.

The Thrive Client Portal provides customers with:

• Access to robust reporting: Customers can find the reports required to ensure business continuity and ROI.
• Branded dashboard: Customers will be able to brand their dashboard and provide a personal experience.
• Employee onboarding/offboarding: Users can manage user roles, devices, and locations to ensure everyone has access to the correct level of information. Onboarding and offboarding users are simplified and can be managed right from the dashboard.
• Insight into performance: The Client Portal dashboard enables clients to view the performance of all services being used, providing customers with peace of mind that all programs are running smoothly.
• Management of IT lifecycle: The new Client Portal will proactively flag when a service is approaching the end of its contract and outline options for next steps.

“Whether you work on the IT team or you’re presenting to the board, being able to quickly surface relevant information is crucial to decision-making and ultimately business success,” said Bill McLaughlin, CEO of Thrive. “The Thrive Client Portal is designed with this in mind. We want our customers to be empowered to make quick and confident decisions, and benefit from Thrive’s best-in-class support and high-value services that move their business forward.”

“The new client portal’s centralized dashboard gives us a holistic view of all case statuses at a glance. We’re also fans of the improved navigation, which makes moving between assets and services much more intuitive,” said Alyssa Marshall, Director of Digital Strategy & Technology at Soroptimist International of the Americas.

To learn more about Thrive, visit the website. Watch new Client Portal video.

About Thrive

Thrive delivers global technology outsourcing for cybersecurity, cloud, networking, and other complex IT requirements. Thrive’s NextGen 3.0 platform enables customers to increase business efficiencies through AI, standardization, scalability, and automation, delivering oversized technology returns on investment (ROI). They accomplish this with advisory services, vCISO, vCIO, consulting, project implementation, solution architects, and a best-in-class subscription-based technology platform. Thrive delivers exceptional high-touch service through its POD approach of subject matter experts and global 24x7x365 SOC, NOC, and centralized services teams. Learn more at www.thrivenextgen.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

Contacts

Hannah Johnston

thrive@v2comms.com

It might have felt like there was an industry-wide desire to put “a whole AI umbrella over your company” in 2025, but it didn’t work for everyone.

The healthcare sector’s AI ambitions are accelerating, from augmented telehealth and diagnostics to streamlined billing, claims, and scheduling. But as health systems integrate AI deeper into their workflows, one critical question often gets overlooked: How secure are the models themselves?

Blantyre Capital, founded in 2016, focuses on middle market special situations, providing timely solutions for complex capital needs. Operating in over 20 countries and across 19 industries, Blantyre’s dedicated team is based in the UK, with additional offices in Abu Dhabi, Madrid, and the US. The partnership with Thrive is instrumental in leveraging NextGen technology, necessary for maintaining their competitive edge and operational efficiency. By integrating advanced IT solutions, Blantyre benefits from robust infrastructure and seamless global operations, highlighting the value of their collaboration with Thrive.

Evolving with Thrive: Seamless Integration and Growth

Blantyre Capital and Thrive began working together through an acquisition. “It felt completely seamless, if I’m honest,” shared Rebecca Kite, Office Manager at Blantyre, when reflecting on the transition. When asked about the strengths of their partnership, she also highlighted the smooth integration, a commitment to quality service, and her ongoing trust in Thrive’s abilities. As Blantyre expanded, Thrive’s suite of comprehensive services, including cybersecurity, disaster recovery, and end user support, coupled with a dedicated team for advisory and general assistance, proved invaluable.

Thrive’s Global Impact on Blantyre Capital

Thrive’s global presence aligns with Blantyre’s operations, ensuring localized support and enabling efficient operations across time zones and regulatory environments. “With our COO based in Florida, access to Thrive’s worldwide support is essential for maintaining seamless operations,” noted Rebecca, emphasising the strategic advantage of Thrive’s geographical alignment.

Thrive’s expertise in facilitating office moves and telephony transitions ensures operational continuity. “Our recent office move was very well managed,” remarked Rebecca, underscoring Thrive’s efficiency. Their proactive IT approach and advisory services allow Blantyre to focus on core business activities. “I can rely on Thrive to interact with my other external parties, which is an invaluable resource,”said Rebecca.

Building Trust and Relationships

The partnership between Blantyre Capital and Thrive succeeds due to trust and mutual respect, strengthened by regular communication and dedicated account management. “Ultimately, success comes down to effective relationship building,” remarked Rebecca. Thrive’s understanding of Blantyre’s unique needs and tailored solutions solidify their role as a trusted IT partner.

Looking forward, as Blantyre continues to expand its international footprint, the continued integration of next-generation technology will be pivotal. Thrive’s innovative approach and cutting-edge solutions will support Blantyre in navigating new markets and adapting to evolving industry demands. This forward-thinking partnership positions Blantyre to capitalise on emerging opportunities, ensuring sustained growth and success in a rapidly changing global landscape.

“I can tell the help desk, engineers, network team, and the account managers have great relationships with each other. It seems to strengthen the support we receive from Thrive.” – Rebecca Kite, Office Manager at Blantyre Capital

About Thrive

Thrive is a NextGen global technology outsourcing provider that empowers small and mid-market organizations to transform their technology into a strategic advantage. Offering a breadth of services from AI and cybersecurity to cloud, compliance, and traditional MSP/MSSP solutions, Thrive’s team of seasoned experts develop strategies that standardize, scale, and automate technology to achieve outsized ROI. From advisory services to a 24×7×365 SOC and NOC, Thrive provides end-to-end IT and cybersecurity management so clients can focus on innovation and growth. With Thrive, your business is always supported and always secure. Learn more at www.thrivenextgen.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

CrossCountry Consulting is a leading provider of specialized finance, operations, and technology advisory services. The firm is a trusted advisor to Fortune 500 companies, emerging growth market leaders, and private equity sponsors. They create present and future value through accounting and risk, technology-enabled transformation, and transaction solutions.

Since its founding in 2011, the firm has prioritized a culture-first approach. In keeping with that philosophy, CrossCountry Consulting was looking for more than just a vendor to manage its IT needs, they needed a strategic partner. That’s where Thrive came in.

A Small Team Supporting Big Growth

When Adam Fowler joined CrossCountry Consulting in late 2021, he stepped into a rapidly scaling organization. “We were about 600-700 people when I started. Today we’re over 1,200. Just a year before I joined, the team was at 300,” he shared.

The challenge was clear: support a global, technology-reliant workforce with a lean internal IT team — just him and one colleague. Building out a full internal team wasn’t in the budget, and previous experience with Managed Service Providers (MSPs) at other firms had left them skeptical.

“In previous roles, I had bigger IT teams, and the MSPs left a lot to be desired. But I knew I either had to rely on our MSP and make it work, or try to build something that didn’t have leadership buy-in. So, I figured out how to make it work.”

A Partnership, Not Just a Contract

As it turns out, “making it work” became a model of strategic alignment and collaboration. Over time, Fowler came to see Thrive not just as a resource, but as an extension of his internal team.

“The way I describe Thrive is, it’s like a good relationship. You need to be able to have disagreements and work through them together. That’s what we have. It’s not one side dictating to the other. It’s truly a partnership.”

That sense of mutual investment was tested and proven when CrossCountry Consulting’s CFO initiated an RFP process, bringing in three competing providers. Fowler recalled, “I wanted Thrive to win, but it had to be based on merit. Thrive blew the doors off the competition. Pricing was fair, their responses were thorough, and it was clear they understood us. The others didn’t even come close.”

Real Solutions, Global Impact

As CrossCountry Consulting expanded, their needs became more complex and Thrive evolved alongside them.

From the outset, Thrive helped manage the day-to-day, help desk support, systems administration, and security oversight. As the firm expanded to cities across the U.S. and globally into Dublin, Singapore, and the UK, infrastructure and logistics challenges grew more pressing.

The answer? A workstation deployment center (WDC) designed specifically to streamline global device shipping and management. “We ordered 400 laptops ahead of the Windows 10 retirement deadline, and they’re all sitting there ready to deploy anywhere. We didn’t even initiate that conversation, it was Thrive’s idea.”

Whether it’s supporting Microsoft Copilot readiness, testing new security platforms, or simply ensuring help desk personnel align with CrossCountry’s culture, Thrive has earned their trust time and again.

“It works like the internal team I had at my last job of over 12 years,” Fowler said. “I know I can count on my Account Manager, Client Success Manager, Advisory team, and our support POD.”

Culture Fit That Feels Seamless

One of the unexpected wins has been the cultural alignment between the two teams. “Everyone I work with at Thrive, help desk to vCIO, is good-natured, hardworking, and authentic. They feel like old friends or coworkers, not vendors,” shared Fowler.

It’s the strength of these relationships that has proven that the right MSP can do far more than just provide technical support, it can act as a strategic growth enabler and problem solver. Over time, that synergy also helped change internal perception. “When I started, there was a lot of frustration with IT support. But today, leadership openly talks about Thrive as one of our strongest partners.”

Through shared values, proactive solutions, and a deep understanding of the firm’s evolving needs, Thrive has become an integral part of CrossCountry Consulting’s operations. As both organizations continue to grow, their partnership stands as a strong example of how outsourced IT, when done right, can rival and even surpass a traditional in-house team, delivering not just stability and efficiency, but true business value.

“I include Thrive when people ask how big my IT team is, because I wouldn’t get through a week without them.” – Adam Fowler, Cybersecurity & Technology Management Lead, CrossCountry Consulting

About Thrive

Thrive is a NextGen global technology outsourcing provider that empowers small and mid-market organizations to transform their technology into a strategic advantage. Offering a breadth of services from AI and cybersecurity to cloud, compliance, and traditional MSP/MSSP solutions, Thrive’s team of seasoned experts develop strategies that standardize, scale, and automate technology to achieve outsized ROI. From advisory services to a 24×7×365 SOC and NOC, Thrive provides end-to-end IT and cybersecurity management so clients can focus on innovation and growth. With Thrive, your business is always supported and always secure. Learn more at www.thrivenextgen.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

Welcome back to another installment of our “Thrive Spotlight” blog series.

Our featured employee is Manal Khan. As Senior Procurement Manager, she wears multiple hats to keep operations running smoothly. While she’s based in Luton, she spends time at Thrive’s London office, too. Manal ensures that all orders are placed in a timely manner and works closely with distributors and suppliers to meet service level agreements (SLAs). A key part of her responsibility is to help drive revenue for the business through effective procurement and supplier management.

Manal’s team also handles contract renewals—both internal and customer-owned—ensuring continuity and minimal disruption. It’s a fast-paced environment that requires attention to detail, strong coordination, and the ability to adapt quickly, all of which she enjoys!

The proud mother to a daughter who keeps her on her toes, Manal is very passionate about self-development and continuous improvement, both for herself and others. In particular, she cares deeply about helping youth understand the important difference between needs and desires when it comes to spending and financial decisions.

Thriving on energy and adventure—Manal loves activities that bring an adrenaline rush, like ziplining, hiking, skydiving, and high ropes courses. She has travelled quite a bit and continues to explore new places, embracing the experiences that come with it. She is a social person who enjoys spending time with others—and most importantly, she’s a big fan of Nutella!

Hi Manal!  Can you tell us about your background and how you came to Thrive?

Raised in a Middle Eastern country with an Asian heritage and truly a citizen of the world, I’ve moved several times throughout my life. People often ask me where I’m from, but the UK is where I came to study and ultimately made my home.

After graduating, I began my career in sales, procurement, and banking—roles that provided a strong foundation in commercial operations. In 2016, I relocated to Luton and joined Thrive (formerly ONI) as a Pricing Assistant. This opportunity introduced me to the dynamic world of Cisco, distributor networks, and supplier management.

Over nearly a decade at Thrive, I’ve progressed from Coordinator to Team Leader, and now serve as Senior Procurement Manager, where I manage the full procurement cycle end to end. From supplier selection and negotiation to contract management, purchasing, and delivery, I oversee all aspects to ensure operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness. This comprehensive experience has strengthened my expertise in purchasing, procurement strategy, and supplier relationship management.

I thrive on continuous learning and welcome new challenges that drive both personal growth and organisational success.

Where did you go to school or get training?

I completed my schooling in a small country called Kuwait, located in the Middle East. Later, I moved to London for university, where I pursued my higher education. I also studied for my MCIPS qualification independently, complementing it with hands-on, on-the-job training that helped me apply my learning in real-world scenarios.

What do you most enjoy about working for Thrive?

Some of the things I value most are the people and culture at Thrive. We work collaboratively, support one another, and share a strong sense of teamwork. Of course, there are days when things don’t go as planned—but in those moments, we come together, share ideas, and focus on finding solutions. It’s this collaborative spirit that makes the challenges manageable and the wins even more rewarding.

Are there any recent exciting projects at Thrive you can tell us about?

Global transactions are an exciting and ongoing area of focus. We’re working closely with multiple teams to deliver projects across international regions. Whether it’s a client based in the US or setting up operations in the UK or APAC, the process is made possible through strong coordination and the global presence of Thrive.

These projects require close collaboration across departments—from procurement and purchasing to finance and project delivery. It’s a complex process, but one that showcases the strength of teamwork and the value of having a truly connected global operation.

Are you interested in learning more about Thrive? Click here! 

Don’t forget to follow us on LinkedIn for the latest news, and continue checking our blog for more in our “Thrive Employee Spotlight” series. Until next time…