Author Archives: Megan Carnes

Striking a Balance Between the Risks and Rewards of AI Tools

With all the recent hype, many may not realize artificial intelligence is nothing new. The idea of thinking machines was first introduced by Alan Turing in the 1950s, and the term “artificial intelligence” was coined nearly 80 years ago. However, the technology has gained new notoriety thanks to the introduction of generative AI. Yet, the buzz has come with hesitations around things like implementation, training, and ultimately, security.

“Nobody Does What We Do”: Thrive’s Growth as a Next-Gen Platform MSP

Thrive, backed by private equity firm Court Square Capital Partners and founded in 2000, sets itself apart from the pack with a security-first mindset.

“There is nobody who does what we do today, end to end,” Bill McLaughlin, president, Thrive, explained to ChannelE2E.

Concord, Massachusetts-based Thrive’s comprehensive approach includes a robust MSSP practice, advisory services with virtual CIOs, and a sizable cloud practice, McLaughlin said. He added that Thrive’s integrated platform, powered by ServiceNow, allows them to offer a unique value proposition, combining traditional help desk services with advanced cybersecurity, cloud solutions, and infrastructure assessments.

Have You Met the SEC’s Cybersecurity and Disclosure Rules?

It’s been a year since the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted its Cybersecurity Risk Management, Strategy, Governance, and Incident Disclosure rules, and about six months since they have been in effect. These mandates require organizations to disclose any material cybersecurity incidents they’ve experienced as well as report material information regarding their cybersecurity risk management, strategy, and governance annually.

Thrive Spotlight: Jonathan Connolly – Director, Service Operations

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

Our featured employee is Jonathan Connolly, Director, Service Operations. Jonathan is responsible for all service delivery PODs in Canada. He leads technical support management and engineering groups to ensure our customers receive exceptional service and effectively address any technical concerns that may arise.

Jonathan is a long-time resident of Ottawa and works out of our Ottawa, Canada office. Outside of work, you can find Jonathan reading a good book. His “to read” list tends to grow faster than he can make it through the books. He also enjoys traveling, movies and staying active by biking, hiking, and playing pickleball or tennis with his wife.

Jonathan is also a mentor for MBA students, allowing him to meaningfully contribute to the academic community and his alma mater. He is able to guide successful generations of business leaders, helping them navigate their educational journey and providing guidance to them along their career preparations. Jonathan is making a tremendous impact on these young professionals’ lives.

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

I have spent nearly 2 decades within the IT and Managed Services industry while holding various technical and leadership roles. In 2014, I began working for GridWay Computing Corp in Ottawa, Canada. In 2019, GridWay was acquired by Storagepipe, which was then acquired by Thrive in 2023.

I successfully led the Service Delivery, Senior Engineering, and Professional Services teams as the Director of Operation at Storagepipe. My journey continued when I seamlessly transitioned into my current role at Thrive.

Where did you go to school or get training?

As an autodidact, I have passionately pursued knowledge through independent learning and practical experience. In 2020, I was accepted to Aston University in Birmingham, England, where I obtained my Master’s Degree in Business Administration with a specialization in Entrepreneurship. The pursuit of knowledge is a lifelong journey and one I enjoy.

Working full-time while pursuing my MBA gave me the unique opportunity to apply what I was learning in my day-to-day work life. For example, after the acquisitions, I played a key role in leading organizational change management initiatives. I was also involved in integrating business systems, processes, and procedures, which proved to be a rewarding experience.

What do you most enjoy about working for Thrive?

The people! The people at Thrive are exceptional. I have had the privilege of meeting and working alongside numerous dedicated, skilled, and like-minded professionals who genuinely care about their work and each other. There is a collaborative spirit and willingness to help each other, which creates a strong sense of camaraderie across the company.

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

I am currently preparing to take on an expanded leadership role where I will be overseeing additional technical support managers and engineering groups. I am excited to continue contributing to the success of our employees, clients, and overall business.

Shortly after the acquisition, I also helped the marketing team rebrand the Ottawa office with Thrive branding. This was a significant step early on in the integration.

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

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

Thrive: Setting New Benchmarks in Proactive Threat Management

By combining the latest edge technology with adaptive security from Fortinet, Thrive has developed multiple offerings to cover the broad needs of its diverse client base. Its unique approach, called ‘Equipment-Based Managed Services’ (EBMS), includes essential components like Fortinet Firewalls within security and WAN Managed Services. This strategy is similar to including a cable box with a cable subscription, offering clients a bundled, long-term solution that ensures top-tier security and operational efficiency.

Thrive Named Top Supplier for Cloud and Managed Services by Telarus

Leading Managed Service Provider Honored for Transformative Solutions that Advanced Channel Success in 2023

Boston, MA, August 8, 2024 – Thrive, a global technology outsourcing provider for cybersecurity, Cloud, and traditional managed service provider (MSP) services, today announced it has been awarded the prestigious Top Supplier for Cloud and Managed Services by Telarus, the leading technology services distributor. The accolade was presented during the Telarus Partner Summit 2024 awards ceremony in Nashville, Tennessee.

Working with mid-sized companies across all industries, Thrive provides critical IT and cybersecurity services and outsourcing so that clients can focus on what they do best: run their business. Through a culture dedicated to superior service, Thrive sets every organization they work with up for success by tailoring their IT and cybersecurity systems to meet their needs and drive business outcomes while also empowering them to digitally transform in a secure manner. Thrive is an essential supplier in the Telarus ecosystem and provides preferred solutions to a large community of technology advisors.

“Telarus has long been a champion for their customers, recommending only premiere solution providers to empower their clients’ digital transformation journeys,” said Rob Stephenson, CEO of Thrive. “Being recognized as the Top Supplier for Cloud and Managed Service by Telarus, a visionary technology advisory platform, is truly an honor. It validates Thrive’s approach of utilizing cybersecurity, cloud & NextGen technologies to deliver favorable business outcomes to their sophisticated SMB and Mid-Market clients.

Over the past year, Thrive has grown its service offerings and solutions to ensure it is delivering the best experiences possible to its clients. Recently, the company added T hrive Incident Response & Remediation and Dark Web Monitoring as new offerings, and completed its acquisition of the Longleaf Network, which will expand the company’s footprint and insights to the southeast.

“For over five years, Thrive has been providing excellent service to our technology advisors and their customers, allowing it to achieve a security-first digital transformation within organizations,” said Richard Murray, CCO of Telarus. “We greatly appreciate Thrive’s NextGen philosophy, partnership, and continued investment in the Telarus team.”

“We deeply value the incredible contributions our suppliers make to the channel and our business,” said Christie Hamberis, VP of Supplier Management at Telarus. “Our strong partnership with Thrive has been instrumental in driving technology advisor sales success through collaborative resources, education, and innovative solutions. We commend Thrive’s dedication and exceptional performance, as well as the outstanding achievements of all our 2023 award winners.”

Click here to learn more about the Telarus award winners. To learn more about Thrive and how it helps organizations solve IT and cybersecurity challenges, click here.

About Thrive

Thrive delivers global technology outsourcing for cybersecurity, Cloud, networking, and other complex IT requirements. Thrive’s NextGen platform enables customers to increase business efficiencies through 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.

About Telarus:

Telarus is a leading global technology services distributor with a singular focus on accelerating partner success. For over 20 years, Telarus has provided comprehensive services, solutions, and tools to support our partner community as they pursue their business objectives. To learn more or become a partner, go to www.telarus.com/become-a-partner.

Contacts

Amanda Maguire

thrive@v2comms.com

Companies Face New AI Risks, Cybersecurity Issues

As AI technology rapidly evolves and is adopted, U.K. businesses are facing a fever pitch of cybersecurity concerns. With no signs of slowing down, the global AI industry is expected to grow in value from $88 billion in 2022 to $411 billion by 2027. This upward tick will dynamically change the AI-generated threat landscape.

Enhancing Legal Security: GRSMB’s Transformation with Thrive Download Now

Gray, Rust, St. Amand, Moffett & Brieske (GRSMB), an Atlanta-based law firm, partnered with Thrive to improve its Microsoft Azure Cloud experience, bolster end-user support, and address cybersecurity and compliance challenges. Thrive’s managed services revamped GRSMB’s IT infrastructure, enhanced security measures, and navigated regulatory complexities. This collaboration fortified the firm’s defenses, ensured data integrity, and positioned it for growth while strengthening client trust in the legal sector

GRSMB encountered cybersecurity and compliance challenges due to increasing client demands, requiring streamlined IT operations for secure data handling and scalability. Dissatisfied with its previous MSP’s lack of transparency and inefficient support outsourcing, which included the management of active but unused virtual machines, the company sought to enhance internal capabilities or partner with a reliable third-party provider like Thrive.

The firm’s IT goals focused on achieving a superior Azure experience, enhancing end-user security and expertise, streamlining Azure storage and backup, and establishing a technology roadmap for NextGen Technology and cybersecurity.

Why Thrive Was Chosen

Upon a colleague’s recommendation of Thrive alongside other MSPs, choosing Thrive was the clear-cut answer. Thrive’s deep expertise, comprehensive services, and reliable approach were immediately apparent. The thorough onboarding process identified critical areas for improvement, solidifying Thrive’s value proposition.

“As I interacted with the Thrive team on some of the discovery calls, we were dealing with getting the quote right and getting the right services aligned for what we needed to meet our business needs, it was just abundantly clear that I could trust these people, and that’s worth more than the money to me,” said Wesley Price, IT Director for GRSMB. “They really seem to care about the things that matter to us.”

Strategic Deployment of Advanced Security Measures

Thrive strategically deployed comprehensive solutions, including managed services for on-premises infrastructure, robust security, and Cloud services. The Thrive team overhauled the firm’s Azure setup while preserving data integrity, addressing challenges with agility, and ensuring optimal deployment of solutions and hardware. Thrive’s proactive approach boosted support and security, exceeding expectations, and enhancing the operational environment. Thrive’s services covered managed Azure, end-user security, Office 365, backup, technical advisory, and network management, significantly improving the company’s IT infrastructure and efficiency.

Thrive’s Impact

Since partnering with Thrive, GRSMB has already seen significant efficiency improvements. Even before fully transitioning to a new Citrix-based virtual machine environment, Thrive enhanced configuration and support, leading to fewer and faster issue resolutions. Previously, the law firm dealt with frequent issues that disrupted workflow, but now, operations are smoother and more productive. GRSMB employees and clients notice the difference, and the company anticipates even more significant improvements once it is fully onboarded in the new environment.

“Thrive’s responsive approach to compliance and regulatory requirements was instrumental during implementation. As a result, Thrive’s support has been crucial in maintaining client trust and ensuring our network’s security meets high standards, safeguarding our business from significant financial and reputational risks,” said Price.

“I trust the people at Thrive. They care about the things that matter to us. The technical components and services are essential, but the people at Thrive make the difference. Thrive is more than just a managed service provider. It is a trusted partner, a part of our team, enabling our organization to operate at its best.” ~ Wesley Price, IT Director, GRSMB

About Thrive

Thrive Spotlight: Tori Pazda – Director, Marketing

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

Our featured employee is Tori Pazda, Director, Marketing. Tori works closely with our EVP, Marketing to create and implement impactful marketing initiatives and strategies to ensure the success of our marketing program. She is also responsible for coordinating and organizing Thrive’s events, managing the sales and marketing budget, overseeing the marketing platforms we utilize, and training employees on how to use them effectively, all while successfully managing a team.

Tori is based in Lakeland, Florida and works out of our Lakeland office. On office days, she loves a midafternoon trip to Black and Brew, a nearby coffee shop, to get a chai latte. Outside of work, Tori enjoys strength training, and recently started running. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, playing games, traveling, and watching a good TV show or movie.

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

After graduating from college, I started working at DSM Technology Consultants in 2014. In 2022, DSM was acquired by Thrive, and I joined the marketing team. I have been working in marketing for nearly 10 years now.

Where did you go to school or get training?

I attended the University of South Florida and got my BA in Mass Communications. I graduated from USF in 2013.

What do you most enjoy about working for Thrive?

THE PEOPLE! And if I could say that one thousand times, I would. I love what I do, but more importantly, I love who I do my job with.

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

We recently implemented a new virtual and in-person events platform that really levels up the way we handle events. I have done a lot of work to learn this platform and get it set up, so events run more efficiently and provide better ROI.