Author Archives: Tori Pazda

CHALLENGE

Aspen Surgical, a leading worldwide manufacturer of surgical disposable products based in Caledonia, Michigan, needed to separate their IT infrastructure from their parent company with a new technology environment that allowed for scaling quickly. Not only did they require new servers, there were also the tasks of migrating approved data, replacing firewalls and implementing security services. Aspen Surgical sought out a partner that could help it’s internal IT team establish this new IT infrastructure, and provide ongoing support and planning services for acquisition activity. The answer: Thrive.

SOLUTION

Thrive’s engineering team met with Aspen Surgical’s internal IT department to develop a highly-detailed plan for the transition to the new IT environment. In addition to migrating servers and data, the plan also included migrating from one Office 365 tenant to a new one – all of which was complete with minimal downtime for the end users. To meet the needs of the organization and the expectations of its clients, Thrive deployed new computers and put into place a wide variety of security features and services including SIEM/SOC, NextGen End Point Security (EDR), Vulnerability Scanning and End User Security Training and Phishing simulation.

RESULT

Aspen Surgical’s newly-deployed IT infrastructure utilizes multiple NextGen services from Thrive, including ThriveCloud, Thrive’s best-in-class Cloud solution, as a scalable solution that it can rely on as the company grows through acquisitions. From advanced endpoint security to 3rd party patching and more, Aspen Surgical takes advantage of Thrive’s comprehensive list of security services to provide thorough coverage against cybersecurity threats. And if ever Aspen Surgical experiences a catastrophic event, the company will be ready with Thrive’s data backup and disaster recovery services to minimize downtime and get up-and-running quickly. Support didn’t end with the deployment of the new servers. Thrive’s team continues to provide Aspen Surgical with multi-site on-premise infrastructure support for the ISP, firewall and switching. When the company’s end users need assistance, Thrive is there via a helpdesk and to provide ongoing Office 365 management. And when Aspen Surgical’s internal IT team needs support, they have full access to The Thrive Platform, powered by ServiceNow to allow Aspen IT and Thrive to ensure fast communication, case sharing, and resolution of any IT issues.

“Our team was faced with a significant migration project and we sought out an experienced partner to help us make the process seamless and be available as an extension of our internal team for support when needed. Thrive ended up being the partner we were looking for – and more.” ~ Christopher Dukes, Vice President of Information Technology, Aspen Surgical

How can Thrive help your business?

Thrive is a leading provider of outsourced IT Infrastructure designed to drive successful business outcomes with our talented engineering teams and suite of Cloud-First, NextGen Managed Services.

To learn more about our services, CONTACT US

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – February 16, 2021 – Thrive, a premier provider of NextGen Managed Services announces today that CRN^®, a brand of The Channel Company, has named Thrive to its 2021 Managed Service Provider (MSP) 500 list in the Managed Security 100 category. The list, released annually, recognizes the leading North American solution providers that have demonstrated innovative and forward-thinking approaches to managed services. These services guide the end user in improving operational efficiencies and navigating the ongoing complexities of their IT infrastructure, while also maximizing their IT management and return on investment.

Combining both industry-leading solutions and proven technical knowledge, Thrive enables organizations to meet and exceed their digital IT demands. The company’s Managed Security Services empowers its clients to maintain a secure and compliant IT infrastructure with our team of technology experts who address regulatory mandates, including SEC, FINRA, PCI, DSS and HIPAA. Additionally, Thrive implements up-to-date cyber security measures to safeguard its clients’ business applications and keep its data safe from cyber criminals.

“In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s now more important than ever to integrate a comprehensive cyber security plan. At Thrive, we have a deep understanding of how to mitigate complex IT security challenges and focus on advancing our clients’ capabilities, by consistently improving both efficiency and security,” said Rob Stephenson, CEO at Thrive. “Being recognized in CRN’s 2021 Managed Security 100 category on the MSP 500 list cements us an industry leader, providing best-in-class security solutions across all industry verticals. Moving ahead, we plan to continue to play a vital role in our client’s IT infrastructure as we revolutionize traditional managed services with our expanded NextGen technology, including ServiceNow, Automation and AI.”

“Effective MSPs enable companies to focus on their core objectives while improving the quality and reliability of their Cloud computing capabilities,” said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. “The solution providers on CRN’s 2021 MSP 500 list deserve recognition for their innovative and forward-thinking approaches to managed services, and the ability to optimize operational efficiencies and systems to maximize return on investments.”

With cutting-edge approaches to delivering managed services, MSPs have become an integral part of the success of businesses worldwide. They help empower organizations to leverage complex technologies, keeping a strict focus on their core business without straining their budgets. CRN’s 2021 MSP 500 list identifies the market’s key managed services players who are setting themselves apart with best-of-breed solutions that provide the business outcomes customers need.

The MSP 500 list is divided into three sections: the MSP Pioneer 250, recognizing companies with business models weighted toward managed services and largely focused on the SMB market; the MSP Elite 150, recognizing large, data center-focused MSPs with a strong mix of on-premises and off-premises services; and the Managed Security 100, recognizing MSPs focused primarily on off-premises and Cloud-based security services.

The MSP 500 list will be featured in the February 2021 issue of CRN and online at www.CRN.com/msp500.

For more information about Thrive, click here.

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About Thrive

Thrive is a leading provider of NextGen managed services designed to drive business outcomes through application enablement and optimization. The company’s Thrive5 Methodology utilizes a unique combination of its Application Performance Platform and strategic services to ensure each business application takes advantage of technology that enables peak performance, scale, and the highest level of security. For more information, visit thrivenextgen.com

Thrive: LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram 

MEDIA CONTACT:

Stephanie Farrell

Director of Corporate Marketing

617-952-0289 | sfarrell@thrivenextgen.com

Over the last year, more and more organizations have opted to migrate their data to the Cloud to make working remote easier for their workers.  One of the most popular migrations has been to Microsoft’s Office 365 stack.  This platform offers a one stop shop for organizations who are looking to collaborate and work smarter.  However, I continuously run into this idea that Cloud services, such as Office 365, include backups of customer data.  While some services provide a level of backup, the truth is most spell it out for you in their service agreements, that you should backup your data via a 3^rd party mechanism.

Microsoft’s Office 365 is no different, and they spell this out in there their service agreement below:

Like a traditional on-premise email or file server there are some built-in retention settings in the service.  For example, if you delete an email, OneDrive file, or SharePoint item you can use the Office 365 version of a recycle bin to retrieve it.  This location stores deleted items for set period of time.  In the scenario where you need to locate that item you deleted, chances are if you realized it is gone quickly enough, and you can locate it you are probably fine.  But let us talk about the more common scenario where you realize you need something that was deleted last month and the recycle bin has already been purged.  In this more real-world example, not even a call to Microsoft support will help.  Your data is now permanently deleted, and you have no way to retrieve it.  While Microsoft Office 365 may have started as an email service, it has grown into an entire ecosystem for personal files using OneDrive and company shared data in Teams / SharePoint sites.  Using a backup solution, you would be able to quickly locate and restore your lost data.  Another often overlooked item, is that many companies had a business requirement to have their data backed up before they moved to the Cloud.  This same business requirement should also apply once you have migrated that data into the Office 365 ecosystem.

In addition to the examples I described earlier, there is a much scarier situation. This past year several of my colleagues wrote about ransomware attacks that have crippled organizations of all sizes, from small businesses, entire hospital systems, and even municipalities.  Organizations that have adopted a backup solution that covers their Cloud data, are able to either roll back all their affected data, or in some cases selectively based on the damage caused by a ransomware attack.

Take it from someone who has had to help restore everything from email data, to complex SharePoint permissions for a company site.  Having a 3^rd party backup solution for your Office 365 not only protects your organization but could also save money in the long run when compared to cost of dealing with situations where there is no back up of the data.

Interested in learning more? CONTACT US TODAY!

Erik Young is responsible for the success of Thrive’s Partner Program from onboarding, client engagement and overall management and success of the channel partner sales and support team.

Thrive acquires Apex IT Group to establish the former’s presence in the Mid-Atlantic corridor.

New research on 2021 cybersecurity trends points to opportunities for managed service providers that are equipped with the right tools and skills; more IT channel news.

Private equity firm Court Square Capital Partners has recapitalized Thrive to further accelerate the MSP’s push into fast-growth areas such as ServiceNow, automation, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, Thrive disclosed this morning.