New contract will provide state and local governments with modern technology services
Boston, MA, November 19, 2025— Thrive, a global technology outsourcing provider for cybersecurity, cloud, and IT managed services, today announced it has been awarded a contract for Data Storage, Data Communications & Networking Equipment and Related Services by the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR). This latest award adds to the list of state and local governments that trust Thrive to provide them with state-of-the-art technology, including Thrive’s cloud storage services.
DIR delivers technology solutions to state and local government entities, enabling all government levels to access modern and secure technology. Since DIR handles the procurement process and leverages the State of Texas’ purchasing power to negotiate lower rates, government agencies will save time and money by purchasing technology through them. With this contract, DIR customers will have access to Thrive’s cloud storage services under DIR Contract Number: DIR-CPO-5407.
“Thrive is committed to delivering products that meet the high standards necessary for government agencies to function. This new contract with DIR will ensure that more local and state governments will have access to modern technology that will enable them to function more efficiently,” said Bill McLaughlin, CEO of Thrive. “Thrive has more than 20 years of experience working with state and local governments, and we understand the intricate and sensitive nature of their business.”
To enable these organizations to strengthen their cybersecurity and better protect their data, Thrive has an experienced, dedicated public sector team. This team delivers proactive, fully managed security solutions designed to protect state agencies from cyber risk.
To learn more about Thrive, visit the website.
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.
Contacts
Hannah Johnston
Do you know the weakest cyber link of your vendors? The three steps to addressing third-party riskAs cyberattacks and data breaches continue to proliferate, businesses themselves are under increasing pressure to ensure their own cyber resilience and continuity planning in case of downtime. But what about the third-party vendors they work with?
Risk taken on when partnering with third-party vendors must be considered in the context of strong security posture, as the vendor can quickly become the weakest link in the system.
But it’s a threat that is going amiss among many organisations. The Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025 in the UK shows that only just over one in ten businesses have reviewed the risks posed by their immediate suppliers (14%) and only 7% were exploring the risk to their wider supply chain.
Securing the Brain Behind the System: Why AI Governance Is the Next Frontier in Patient SafetyWe’re entering a new frontier in healthcare: One powered by data at every stage, from patient recordkeeping and diagnostics to population health and billing. The use cases and advantages are numerous and well documented. The risks, however, get far less airtime, leaving organizations vulnerable in ways they can’t yet imagine.
Imagine a hospital that relies on an AI-powered triage assistant, celebrated for its quick decision-making and life-saving pattern recognition that catches anomalies too subtle for the human eye. Now imagine a bad actor getting access to that system, inadvertently unlocking the same troves of HIPAA-protected patient records, clinician prompts, and hospital data that powers its intelligence.
Thrive Acquires Strategic IT Services Company WorksightedLeading global MSP/MSSP closes fifth acquisition of 2025 marks expansion into Central US
Boston, MA, November 11, 2025 – Thrive, a global technology outsourcing provider for managed AI, cybersecurity, cloud, and IT managed services, today announced its acquisition of Worksighted, a leading IT company that specializes in personalized IT support from infrastructure and security to ongoing support and training. The company, based in Michigan, marks Thrive’s fifth acquisition of the year and continued expansion into the Midwest following Safety Net and VitalCORE acquisitions.
Worksighted has more than two decades of experience as a trusted MSP and offers tailored solutions that transform IT for businesses. Known for putting “people at the heart of technology,” Worksighted brings a unique blend of vision, empathy, and expertise. The commitment to put the people at the center of the strategy aligns with Thrive’s own priority of culture and excellence.
“As Thrive continues to expand our offerings in this rapidly evolving technology landscape, we are committed to offering not only the best technology to our customers, but the best experience,” said Bill McLaughlin, CEO of Thrive. “By bringing Worksighted’s expertise in a personalized approach, we are enhancing our ability to deliver tailored, high-impact outcomes for our clients.”
Worksighted marks Thrive’s 27th acquisition since its founding, and it builds on its focus on providing a best-in-class experience for its customers. Thrive has also launched new key services to ensure customers get the support they need as security and technology continue to evolve, including its new Managed AI services, Compliance Center, and Network Detection and Response services.
“We are proud of the reputation Worksighted has built for delivering best-in-class technology solutions with a truly personalized touch,” said Mike Harris, CEO of Worksighted. “Joining Thrive allows us to scale that approach and bring even greater value to clients. Together, we will be able to continue to deliver an experience that puts humans at the center of technology.”
To learn more about Thrive, visit the website.
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.
Contacts
Hannah Johnston
Preparation for any eventuality as ransomware grows in sophisticationBy being fully prepared, even the most well-crafted ransomware attacks can be stopped in their tracks or potential damage mitigated in the case of a breach.
In just the past five years or so, ransomware attacks have evolved from niche software created by underground groups into comprehensive software-as-a-service deployments that even the most unsophisticated threats actors can utilise. This availability to almost any nefarious group is pushing ransomware into national security threat territory, rather than just being a corporate issue.
It’s therefore little surprise that, according to the latest figures by the World Economic Forum’s Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2025.ransomware attacks concern businesses the most (45%), well ahead of any other type of threat including cyber-enabled fraud and supply chain disruption.
Prepared for a cyber attack? The three questions that businesses must ask themselvesTo prepare for what now seems to be an inevitable reality, there are three questions that every business needs to ask itself today.
Court Square, Berkshire-Backed Thrive’s NextGen MSP StrategyRapidly growing IT managed services company Thrive Networks Inc. is approaching $400 million in revenue in 2025, and is aiming to become the first $1 billion “next generation” managed service provider in the next four to five years, CEO Bill McLaughlin said.
The September purchase of VitalCore marks the Court Square Capital Partners LP and Berkshire Partners LLC platform’s 26th acquisition, bringing its employee count to 1,600 globally, and more add-ons are on the way.
To date, AI projects have been a big, expensive experiment. Innovators and early adopters jumped on the hype and have shelled out billions collectively to test and stretch AI to see what’s possible.
Thrive Spotlight: Michael Shimkat – Senior Account ManagerWelcome back to another installment of our “Thrive Spotlight” blog series.
Our featured employee is Michael Shimkat!
While Michael lives near the Thrive office in Sarasota, Florida, his work is mainly remote, supporting clients across the country. In his role, Michael values strong relationships with existing clients, helping them achieve their IT and security goals. He uses a consultative approach to ensure that Thrive is helping keep clients’ technology secure within their budgets. He prides himself on doing right by the client and advocating on their behalf within Thrive.
His time away from work is largely focused on his son. Other than that, you might find him watching an action movie, mystery, or comedy, or learning from the newest TV documentary. Everyone needs a break from screen time – especially those in the IT industry! Luckily, Michael enjoys reading, spending time with friends, and boating. When it isn’t too hot or humid, he’s known to get some fresh air during a good bike ride or while hitting the links!
Hi Michael! Can you tell us about your background and how you came to Thrive?
I started out doing bank software support before moving into major telecommunications equipment project management for a multinational manufacturer. Before long, I transitioned into sales for the same company which gave me the opportunity to live in Australia for four years. When I returned, I moved into the Managed Services Provider space, managing a team of project managers in Iowa. Tired of the cold, I was looking to move to Florida, when a Thrive recruiter reached out to me regarding a Senior Principal Consultant role. That ultimately evolved into what is now Thrive’s Technical Advisory Service.
Where did you go to school or get training?
I earned my bachelor’s degree in finance at Iowa State University. I have also earned sales certifications from numerous IT vendors, and professional training regarding sales, project management, and business etiquette.
What do you most enjoy about working for Thrive?
I really enjoy the fact that every day is different and that everyone has a working collaboratively mentality. It doesn’t matter who I reach out to, everyone is willing to step up and help to get the job done and help our clients succeed to the best of our abilities.
Are there any recent exciting projects at Thrive you can tell us about?
I’ve recently been assigned to some exciting clients in hyper growth mode which has broadened my knowledge of the solutions necessary for Enterprise clients. It is very exciting to continuously learn and grow, both personally and professionally!
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…
On-Demand Webinar – From Vision to Value: Applying Gartner’s AI Ambition FrameworkJoin Thrive’s CTO, Michael Gray, Director, AI Services, JR Dawkins, and AI Solutions Developer, Emily Steen as they explore how you can apply Gartner’s AI Ambition Framework to your business strategy. Register now to watch the on-demand version!