Blackink IT

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Director of Operations of ADVISA

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Business consulting firm - Talent Optimization and Training 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Blackink IT to accomplish?

• Move our tech/internet to our new location

SOLUTION

How did you find Blackink IT?

Referral

Why did you select Blackink IT over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Blackink IT were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

We had an excellent experience working with BlackInk during our recent move. Their team was incredibly communicative, ensuring we were always informed and confident throughout the process. They brought a fun and friendly approach, making what could have been a stressful transition surprisingly enjoyable. Their deep knowledge and consulting expertise shone through as they proactively addressed challenges and offered tailored solutions. They truly made the entire process easy for us, and we couldn't be happier with the support they provided. We highly recommend BlackInk for anyone seeking reliable and personable IT expertise. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The measurable outcomes from the project included a seamless IT transition during our move with minimal downtime, ensuring our operations remained uninterrupted. The proactive communication and consulting approach from the vendor enabled us to address potential challenges ahead of time, keeping the project on schedule and within budget. Additionally, their user-friendly solutions improved our overall IT infrastructure efficiency and reliability, positioning us for continued success post-move. These outcomes clearly demonstrate the vendor's impact on our progress and the project's overall success.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Their project management was exceptional, marked by clear communication, organized timelines, and a proactive approach to potential challenges. They consistently delivered items on time and ensured every milestone was met without delays. Their responsiveness to our needs was outstanding—they listened carefully, adapted to any changes or feedback, and went above and beyond to make the process smooth and stress-free. Their ability to anticipate our requirements and offer expert guidance truly set them apart, making the project a success.

What was your primary form of communication with Blackink IT?

Virtual Meeting

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

What impressed us most about BlackInk was their exceptional ability to combine deep technical expertise with a personable and engaging approach. Their team not only possessed extensive knowledge but also communicated complex concepts in an accessible manner, fostering a collaborative and enjoyable working environment. This unique blend of professionalism and approachability set them apart, making the entire process both effective and pleasant. 

Are there any areas for improvement or something Blackink IT could have done differently?

NA

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the VP of IT of Elevate Ventures

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Invest in preseed and seed startups to help make Indiana the innovation capital of the world.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Blackink IT to accomplish?

• Tier 1 Help Desk
• Improve Cybersecurity posture
• Improve governance of IT operations

SOLUTION

How did you find Blackink IT?

Referral

Why did you select Blackink IT over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Blackink IT were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

We wanted Blackink to handle all Help Desk functions, manage network infrastructure, improve support to Apple Mac users, and improve our overall cybersecurity posture. Key deliverables include improved satisfaction of Mac users, decreasing licensing costs, higher quality resolution of issues, and conforming to the CIS v8 Implementation Group 1 security framework.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Reduced number of tickets, quicker resolution of tickets for Windows and Mac users, actual expenses consistently below budget, Incident Response plan published and tested, Data Protection Policies published, no issues renewing cyber insurance, and vulnerability assessments (internal and external) consistently coming back clean. More importantly, when help is needed, help is provided.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Excellent project management, they often waited for me to provide information to move the project along. Strong, clear, consistent communication. Disciplined requirements gathering to ensure appropriate design of scope was always completed. The project was completed ahead of schedule and on budget.

What was your primary form of communication with Blackink IT?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Values and concern for people. Blackink has always had a people first mentality and it shows in the interactions with staff and low turnover.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Blackink IT could have done differently?

None that I can think of.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the HR | IT | Compliance Manager of Capstone Benefits Group, Inc.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Whether you have a trust, trade association, or other type of MEWA, Capstone Administrators is the trusted partner you are looking for.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Blackink IT to accomplish?

• To be our trusted Managed Service Provider for our IT Services.
• To assist us with our IT equipment purchases.
• To advise us on our IT Security needs.
• To help us better manage our sensitive data and risk associated with that data.

SOLUTION

How did you find Blackink IT?

Referral

Why did you select Blackink IT over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Blackink IT were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Capstone Benefits Group, Inc. partnered with BlackInk IT in October 2022 in an effort to move away from our previous MSP. Upon doing so, BlackInk IT was able to assess our setup, assess our equipment needs, our security posture, our overall future goals for where we needed to be with our IT footprint to grow and build ongoing client trust. 

BlackInk IT has been able to deliver on every 'ask' we have had, plus they have suggested platforms to secure our organization and train our staff along the way. We knew we had IT needs, however as our partnership has evolved with BlackInk IT, we keep learning how we can improve our organization security and IT posture that puts us ahead for years to come. 

BlackInk IT has become our trusted business partner in this space and has ensured we reach our business goals. This is an ongoing partnership that we value at a very high level.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The major measurable outcome was to get moved over from our previous MSP to BlackInk IT. That process was seamless and happened without any disruptions to our service. They found opportunities to put processes in place to fix gaps and give the amount of due dilligence they took understanding how we were set up, it seemed all they needed to do was 'flip a switch' to get our company on their platform. 

After we were up and running on their platform and they were providing helpdesk services, we moved into server and cloud structure discussions. We implemented phishing and spam training for our staff. They have been walking beside us as we update our internal documentation on disaster recovery, business continency and breach activities. 

They have truly delivered on every process they are working with us on. We know this is successful because we keep progressing to the next level of accomplisment on our project road map.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

They provided us a detailed outline of the project management approach they would take. They made sure to meet with me on a regular basis to update me on the delivery of the tasks and if there would be any delays. We ran right on schedule and nothing was delayed. Everything they have promised to delivery, they have done. They responded to my needs promptly and without delay.

What was your primary form of communication with Blackink IT?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

The most impressive part about Blackink IT is their follow-up and promptness. They take our matters seriously and they deliver timely service to our company. We never know when a devistating need may arise, but they are incredibly prompt to deliver a fix. When we call for issues, to the helpdesk, they make us feel like we are a priority and they are able to get us the help we need. 

They truly care about our business and we feel the same about theirs. They guide us and we never feel like we are asking too much of them, even if we might be. They are always prepared and have an answer for anything we inquire on.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Blackink IT could have done differently?

No. BlackInk IT has far surpassed my expecations on their delivery of every facet of work we have asked of them. They are doing an incredible job! It is a pleasure to partner with them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Business Development Manager of the company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are a technology company that focuses on developing sustainable food manufacturing equipment.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Blackink IT to accomplish?

• Microsoft 365 Migration

SOLUTION

How did you find Blackink IT?

• Online Search
• Referral

Why did you select Blackink IT over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Blackink IT were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

The scope of work for our engagement with BlackInk involved transitioning everyone in the company from Google drive, GSuite files, and Google email addresses to being entirely on the Microsoft 365 environment. The key deliverables were to migrate all of our mailboxes, migrate all of our files, and establish security protocols like MFA and other security measures.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

All employees migrated email addresses; all files were migrated to OneDrive and the Microsoft Teams environment; and security parameters were established for file access and email access.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

They were incredibly responsive and answered any questions I had immediately. They were accommodating with their time educating and assisting us. We also outlined timelines for deliverables, and they met or exceeded each deadline.

What was your primary form of communication with Blackink IT?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

They were incredibly accommodating and supportive. All of their employees we worked with we professional and pleasant to work with, and I have nothing bad to say about anything that happened with the project.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Blackink IT could have done differently?

Not that I can think of.