Author Archives: Megan Carnes

AI is often perceived as something that can be switched on as easily as any other business tool: Buy a licence, choose the use case and roll out the solution for immediate productivity gains. But in reality, it’s far from a plug-and-play situation.

Boston Consulting Group’s latest global research shows a clear divide between expectation and outcome. Just 5% of organisations claim to be achieving AI value at scale, while 60% report little or no material value from their investment. But why is AI falling flat? In many cases, businesses move too quickly and don’t have the in-house resources to manage data readiness, governance, impact on staff and how success will be measured.

Florida-based Agencies Can Use Thrive’s Texas Data Center Following CJIS CSA’s Approval

Florida, April 7, 2026 – Thrive, a global technology outsourcing provider for AI, cybersecurity, cloud, and IT managed services, today announced the launch of its Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS)-approved hosting capability. Florida’s CJIS CSA approval for Thrive’s Texas data center currently applies only to Florida-based agencies, with additional state-level alignments to follow. CJIS compliance is governed at the state level.

Supporting Mission-Critical Data

The FBI’s CJIS Security Policy sets the standard for how sensitive law enforcement data, including criminal records, biometric data, and other investigative information, is stored, accessed, and transmitted. For state and local agencies, adhering to CJIS requirements is essential not only for maintaining compliance but also for ensuring the integrity, security, and availability of mission-critical data that underpins daily operations and public safety outcomes.

With a long-standing track record of supporting State, Local, and Education (SLED) organizations, Thrive has built this latest capability to address the evolving needs of public safety agencies seeking modern, secure, and resilient infrastructure. Many agencies face increasing pressure to move to the cloud while navigating complex compliance mandates, making CJIS-approved environments a critical enabler of modernization.

“For public safety agencies, downtime is not an option,” said Bill McLaughlin, CEO of Thrive. “They need a partner like Thrive who deeply understands the regulatory landscape, modernization pressures, and the mission at hand. Our CJIS-approved hosting capability reflects our deep expertise working with state and local agencies, as well as our commitment to ensuring they have secure, resilient solutions that enable agencies to operate with confidence and get the job done.”

The Thrive Difference with CJIS

Thrive’s CJIS-approved environments enable public safety agencies in Florida to securely host, access and manage this critical infrastructure in the cloud from Thrive’s Texas-based data center while meeting stringent compliance requirements. The environment is built with security and continuity at its core, enabling agencies to protect sensitive data while maintaining uninterrupted access to critical systems. By incorporating robust backup and disaster recovery capabilities, Thrive helps organizations prepare for and respond to disruptions—whether from cyber incidents, system failures, or natural disasters. Organizations using the solution unlock several key benefits, including:

• The ability to host environments through Thrive Cloud across multiple geographic locations, including the newly approved Texas data center, in addition to its previously approved Winter Haven, FL data center
• Access to geo-diverse backup and disaster recovery to strengthen agency resilience, including dedicated disaster recovery support for current Florida customers
• A streamlined path to expand CJIS-approved capabilities into additional states over time

“CJIS requirements are stringent for a reason. They ensure that the data officers and agencies rely on is protected and always available,” said Joe Holt, AVP of SLED at Thrive. “Thrive’s CJIS-approved hosting capability passed that high bar, giving agencies the flexibility and access they need, while ensuring their data is secure, recoverable, and compliant.”

For more information about Thrive and its SLED capabilities, visit https://thrivenextgen.com/

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.

Six months after launching a suite of managed AI services for enterprises, global services vendor Thrive is now adding a new “Managed AI Workspace,” where enterprises have access to 58 large language models (LLMs) in one destination so they can find the best ones to use for their businesses.

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

Our featured employee is Michelle Canepa, who is based out of Thrive’s Lakeland, FL office. In her role, Michelle leads a team of Client Success Managers (CSMs) serving Florida, Texas, the Southeast, Mid Atlantic, and State, Local and Education (SLED) government entities. The CSM team’s mission is to build meaningful relationships with clients through proactive communication and a deep understanding of their needs. They partner with teams across the Thrive organization, from onboarding and training through ongoing collaboration, to ensure a strong partnership that delivers the best client experience. They help ensure clients are confident using the Thrive Client Portal, and CSMs work closely with internal teams to resolve issues quickly and effectively.

When she’s not working, Michelle likes to explore different places, specifically with the goal of finding new coffee shops. She confesses she buys too many plants… but really, how many is too many?! Michelle also loves painting pottery, which is a great way to save on planters for all those plants!

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

I started my career in hospitality, where I learned the value of putting people first. Along the way, I discovered a passion for technology and its power to drive innovation. I wanted to find an organization that blended these two worlds: a people-first mindset with a commitment to technological advancement. That’s what led me to Thrive. It’s a place where I can leverage my love of customers, while embracing cutting-edge solutions to deliver meaningful impact for clients and teams.

Where did you go to school or get training?

I went to East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania. I have a Master’s Degree in Management & Organizational Leadership and a Graduate Certificate in Change Management.

What do you most enjoy about working for Thrive?

Two things: the culture and the forward-thinking mindset. Thrive feels like a close-knit community where people are always ready to help and support each other. At the same time, we’re constantly looking ahead – innovating and asking, “What’s next?” That balance of collaboration and progress makes Thrive an incredible place to learn and grow.

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

I absolutely LOVE our new client portal. I think it’s an amazing way for clients to have more visibility and stay connected. Also, the way Thrive embraces AI is truly incredible! AI is something that’s only going to grow and Thrive is tackling it head-on. We’re actively integrating AI into our solutions to make client experiences smarter and more efficient.

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… 

MSP 501 executives expect 2026 will be a pivotal year for AI adoption, cybersecurity, resiliency and acquisitions. In some cases, these topics are intertwined. The 2026 predictions also make it clear that earning customers’ trust will be more important this year than ever before.

“For 2026 I see continued consolidation with M&A activity, AI adoption is going to continue to accelerate in the MSP and SMB space, and vCISO and compliance services will continue to be a growth area,” is how Tim Guim, CEO of PCH Technologies, summed up his 2026 predictions.

The Tech Elite 250 includes solution providers in the U.S. and Canada that have the highest partner levels and certifications from the IT industry’s leading vendors including AWS, Cisco, Dell, HPE, IBM, Intel, Nutanix and Nvidia.

New Features Aid Organizations in Secure AI Adoption and Deployment at Scale

Boston, MA, March 10, 2026 – Thrive, a global technology outsourcing provider for AI, cybersecurity, cloud, and IT managed services, today announced the expansion of its Managed AI Services with the introduction of its AI Adoption Model and the launch of the Thrive Managed AI Workspace, a secure AI platform providing organizations with access to all 50+ major AI models within a single governed environment.

While AI innovation continues at a rapid pace, Gartner research shows the market moving beyond peak hype and into a phase of practical reassessment. This reflects what Thrive is seeing across the mid-market: organizations aren’t struggling with advanced use cases; they’re struggling with adoption.

While many companies are already experimenting with AI, these efforts are often informal and siloed, creating risks such as shadow AI, data exposure, and inconsistent outcomes. These informal rollouts also lack a structured path to move from experimentation to measurable business impact.

“AI isn’t a flip-the-switch initiative,” said Mike Gray, CTO of Thrive. “The market is full of tools that assume adoption will ‘just happen’ once a license is assigned. Thrive’s Managed AI Services meet customers where they are, setting guardrails first, proving value quickly, and scaling into production-grade workflows. Affective AI adoption isn’t a sprint, but rather a crawl, walk, run.”

From Model Access to Meaningful Adoption

Thrive’s Managed AI Services provide clients with flexible deployment options across two secure platforms, which can be implemented independently or combined:

• Managed AI Workspace with access to 50 + large language models, multi-model comparison, and secure centralized management
• Managed Microsoft 365 Copilot with controlled rollout, permissions hygiene guidance, and operational support embedded within Microsoft applications

Thrive’s new Managed AI Workspace provides secure access to all 58 major AI models in a single managed environment, allowing organizations to gain flexibility without sacrificing governance. Instead of locking into one ecosystem or managing multiple vendors independently, teams can select the models that best align to their workflows. When combined with centralized oversight and guardrails, that flexibility drives higher confidence, smoother adoption, and long-term, sustainable AI usage.

A Modified Framework for Today’s Mid-Market

Thrive’s AI Adoption Model combines advisory-led alignment, guardrails, training, and managed delivery to move organizations from AI curiosity to secure, scalable, production-ready workflows without overwhelming internal teams.

A crawl, walk, run approach ensures AI adoption happens in a way that aligns technology with human behavior, governance, and measurable outcomes. Rather than overwhelming organizations with broad deployments that often lead to low usage or security risk, this phased model begins with controlled, low-risk use cases that build trust and establish guardrails.

“As users gain confidence, AI expands into everyday workflows where teams begin realizing productivity gains and operational efficiencies. With that foundation in place, organizations can then scale AI across the business with standardized processes and automation, creating a clear path from experimentation to sustainable adoption and measurable ROI. We believe this is the best path forward to becoming an AI-first organization,” said Bill McLaughlin, CEO at Thrive.

By combining secure, model-agnostic platform access with a structured adoption methodology, Thrive transforms AI from a license into a long-term business capability.

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.

Rhone is a performance apparel brand made by and for those in the pursuit of progress. They’re built for momentum, with teams moving fast and staying focused on customer experience. Like many growing organizations, the company’s pace eventually outgrew the way technology had been handled. When Sean Duffy joined Rhone as Director of Infrastructure and Security, he was stepping into a role that many scaling SMBs will recognize, he was “the first technology person in the business.”

Early on, the environment reflected speed and simplicity. “A new employee came in, they got a laptop, they got an e-mail account, they logged in, they went on their way,” Sean observed as he took over. Over time, leadership recognized that the company needed a more intentional approach. It was not about reacting to a crisis. It was about being responsible as the organization matured. They wanted a reliable, repeatable way to protect the organization and support employees without putting everything on one person’s shoulders.

A focused partnership and a drama-free onboarding experience

Rhone approached the search for a technology partner thoughtfully. “Part of the process was going through an RFP,” Sean says. The initial scope was broad, but the
team made a deliberate choice to focus where it mattered most: “We reset ourselves and focused on the security space to make sure that we had a robust security
platform in place.”

Thrive rose to the top because it matched Rhone’s priorities and operating reality. Sean emphasizes that the goal was not just buying tools but gaining depth and coverage that would be difficult to build internally at the same speed. “Thrive really stood out as having the most robust platform,” he says, and the partnership became “that force multiplier of having someone like Thrive come in to be able to help.”

The way the solution was delivered is just as important as the solution itself. Sean highlights the predictability and professionalism of the onboarding experience. “We knew what we were going to be getting into as we started the project. We knew the timelines for everything,” he says. “Everything was up front; there were no gotchas.”

As Rhone’s needs evolved, the relationship expanded naturally into managed infrastructure. Thrive helped modernize the office network with an approach that
balanced speed, reliability, and future growth. Sean’s takeaway is simple, “It’s been great working with the team. They listened to our requirements, and together we built out a robust platform that will grow with the business.”

Clear results without noise, plus trust you can feel

Rhone’s results show up in the places leaders and employees notice most: fewer distractions, fewer worries, and a cleaner, calmer environment. For Sean, one of
the most visible improvements came from email security. Before, he heard familiar complaints about spam and phishing. After implementation, the change was
unmistakable, “Almost all the noise that people were getting in their inboxes has just gone away. It’s disappeared.”

That day-to-day impact also made it easier to communicate progress at the executive level. “It gives a good metric and a KPI to give to the executive leadership to demonstrate this is actually working,” Sean explains, reinforcing that the program is not just “set it and forget it,” but something he can stand behind with confidence.

Beyond the technology outcomes, Sean reflects on what decision makers care about when choosing a long-term partner – responsiveness and trust. He appreciates that Thrive’s team does not leave people waiting and wondering. “They acknowledge messages as they come in to make sure that you’re not just sitting there in limbo,” he says. That consistency and other details are why he characterizes the relationship as a true partnership, and one that feels personal rather than transactional.

“Rhone wanted to build out a security program to secure the business, secure the data, really, to secure everything we have in the organization. Thrive is the partner we needed to make that happen.”- Sean Duffy, Senior Director of Technology at Rhone

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.

Chris Gunner, vCSO at Thrive – a leading NextGen MSP/MSSP, delivering global AI, cybersecurity, cloud, compliance, and digital transformation managed services – on how CISOs can position their cyber strategy to to become part of how a business navigates uncertainty