Fortified Data

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the senior database manager for Loews Hotels & Co. We own and operate upscale hotels and resorts across major US cities, providing hospitality services focused on guest comfort and care as a subsidiary of Loews Corporation.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Fortified Data?

We needed help with our IT database support.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Fortified Data provides database administration and technical support services for us, serving as an extension of our internal database administration function and as a secondary DBA resource when additional expertise or assistance is required. Their scope of work includes supporting the management, maintenance, troubleshooting, and overall health of our database environments.Fortified Data assists with database-related incidents, performance issues, upgrades and patching, configuration changes, and other database administration activities as needed. They also provide additional expertise and coverage for projects or issues that require escalation or additional DBA resources.

Main deliverables include:

* Database administration and operational support

* Troubleshooting and resolution of database-related incidents

* Performance analysis and tuning assistance

* Support for database upgrades, patching, and configuration changes

* Backup, recovery, and database availability support

* Technical guidance and recommendations based on database best practices

* Additional DBA coverage and expertise for projects, maintenance activities, and escalated issues

Overall, Fortified Data provides Loews Hotels with an additional layer of database expertise and support, helping ensure the reliability, performance, and availability of our database environments.

What is the team composition?

We work with 2–5 teammates from Fortified Data.

How did you come to work with Fortified Data?

We found them through a referral. We chose them because they had high ratings, and their pricing fit our budget.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2017, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We don’t track specific performance metrics for Fortified Data’s services. Still, the strongest measure of success has been the consistency and reliability of the support they’ve provided us for nearly 10 years. Throughout our partnership, we’ve worked together on numerous database-related incidents, technical challenges, upgrades, and projects.Whenever their assistance has been needed, we’ve consistently been able to identify the issue and reach a successful resolution. The longevity of our relationship, combined with their responsiveness, technical expertise, and consistent ability to help resolve database issues, has provided valuable continuity and an additional level of support for our database environment. Their team has become a trusted resource that we can rely on when additional DBA expertise or assistance is required.

How did Fortified Data perform from a project management standpoint?

Fortified Data has been very reliable and responsive throughout our partnership. Their team has consistently been available when we need assistance, whether for planned database work or unexpected issues requiring immediate support. They communicate effectively, respond in a timely manner, and work closely with us until the issue or project is successfully completed.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their reliability is impressive.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing they need to improve.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Senior Database Administrator/Developer of Cornerstone United

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We sell and administer 3rd party warranties for autos, RV's Boats, Powersport vehicles, HVAC systems, etc. thru dealer and agent networks.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Fortified Data to accomplish?

• Regular backup and maintenance on our SQL servers.
• Monitoring and performance improvements on our SQL servers.
• Assistance with development on our SQL servers when needed.

SOLUTION

How did you find Fortified Data?

Other

Why did you select Fortified Data over others?

Referred to me

How many teammates from Fortified Data were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

We partnered with Fortified for ongoing support, not a specific project.  They handle the day to day backups, monitoring and maintenence of our SQL servers freeing us up to do development.  They have also proven to be great help with our development on SQL server when we have needed them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Fortified has accomplished everything we have asked of them on time or ahead of time.  They have freed up substantial amounts of time for our DBA's to concentrate on development/upgrades by handling day to day administration/maintenance/monitoring tasks for us.

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

They are great to work.  They understand our needs/requests and always deliver in a timely manner.

What was your primary form of communication with Fortified Data?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Fortified Data is extremely knowledgeable and has great people to work with.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Fortified Data could have done differently?

I really don't have any area where I could have expected more.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Infrastructure Engineer of a janitorial and security services company.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Janitorial and Security Guard services

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Fortified Data to accomplish?

• Provide database administration
• Provide database monitoring
• Provide database optimization

SOLUTION

How did you find Fortified Data?

Referral

Why did you select Fortified Data over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Fortified Data were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Setup multiple databases in Ag mode.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Met all project milestones on time

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

Team consistently met deadlines ontime

What was your primary form of communication with Fortified Data?

Virtual Meeting

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

Fortified Data has a quick response time and provides efficient solutions.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Fortified Data could have done differently?

None. Very satisfied as is.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

 I am the Software Development Manager of an automotive company 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are a race team that competes in professional motorsports.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Fortified Data to accomplish?

• 24/7 support for our databases
• Expert advice on database projects
• Resources to complete data projects

SOLUTION

How did you find Fortified Data?

• Online Search
• Referral

Why did you select Fortified Data over others?

Referred to me

How many teammates from Fortified Data were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Fortified Data continues to provide comprehensive SQL Server administration and support services, including database performance optimization, index and table compression analysis, backup monitoring and recovery, availability group troubleshooting, and database refresh and restore operations.
Ongoing deliverables include evaluating and implementing compression opportunities, investigating and resolving backup-related issues, improving backup processes and reliability, supporting database maintenance and recovery activities, and providing proactive production support.
Their team consistently communicates technical findings clearly, responds quickly to emerging issues, and offers practical recommendations that help improve the performance, stability, and reliability of our SQL Server environment.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Fortified Data has delivered measurable improvements in database storage efficiency, backup reliability, and overall SQL Server stability. Key outcomes include successful implementation of index compression with no reported performance issues, restoration and validation of failed backup processes, identification and resolution of infrastructure-related issues, and implementation of process improvements to reduce the risk of future outages.
Their proactive monitoring, detailed troubleshooting, and ongoing support have contributed to a more reliable and resilient database environment.

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

Fortified Data has managed the project very effectively. They are responsive, communicate clearly, and provide timely updates on work in progress. Requests are addressed quickly, and their team does a great job explaining technical issues, identifying root causes, and recommending solutions.
Deliverables have been completed on schedule, and they have been proactive in resolving issues and supporting our evolving database needs. Overall, they have been a reliable partner and have consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to maintaining and improving our SQL Server environment.

What was your primary form of communication with Fortified Data?

Email or Messaging App

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

The most impressive thing about Fortified Data is how easy they are to work with. Their team is highly responsive, communicates clearly, and is quick to engage when we need assistance. They combine deep SQL Server expertise with a customer-focused approach, providing timely updates, thorough problem analysis, and practical solutions that make them feel like a true extension of our team.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Fortified Data could have done differently?

No significant areas for improvement come to mind. Fortified Data has been easy to work with, responsive to our needs, and consistently delivers high-quality support. Their accessibility, technical expertise, and willingness to take ownership of issues make them feel like an extension of our team rather than an outside vendor.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm an IT project manager at Shaklee, a wellness company that develops nutrition, home, and body products using natural ingredients and scientific research to support healthy living.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Fortified Data?

We needed help with database performance.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Fortified Data has been responsible for finding deadlocks and performance issues in our database and recommending solutions. The team has also implemented those solutions, including eliminating redundant indexes and changing the database settings to improve performance.

What is the team composition?

We've been working with one teammate from Fortified Data.

How did you come to work with Fortified Data?

Fortified Data was referred to me.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Fortified Data in April 2026, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

Fortified Data's work has resulted in significantly shorter processing times. For example, the team has reduced a long-running job by half, and the improvement has been sustained over time.

How did Fortified Data perform from a project management standpoint?

Fortified Data's project management is reliable, and the team delivers on time. We communicate via virtual meetings.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Fortified Data's communication is great.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don't think there's anything Fortified Data can improve on.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the COO of a SaaS company that depends on data.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Fortified Data?

We needed help solving a mission-critical data problem that was causing user dissatisfaction and costing our company a significant amount in tech spending.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Fortified Data has helped us with our overall data estate health, including line-of-business systems and analytics workloads. Business continuity and app performance have been key considerations throughout the project. The team has been responsible for ground-to-cloud data estate migration, capacity planning and optimization, and the ongoing management of systems with their stellar Core Health offering.

What is the team composition?

We've worked with 2–5 teammates from Fortified Data.

How did you come to work with Fortified Data?

Someone referred Fortified Data to me. I chose them over other options because they had high ratings, pricing that fit our budget, a great culture fit, good value for the cost, and company values that aligned with ours.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in April 2025, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

Fortified Data has successfully migrated and optimized our cloud and maintained ongoing system health with adherence to SLOs and SLAs.

How did Fortified Data perform from a project management standpoint?

Fortified Data has great project and program managers. We communicate via virtual meetings and email or messaging apps.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Fortified Data has great people who are personally invested in our success.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The project has been surprisingly smooth for this type of project.