Precision IT Consulting

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Operations Manager of Reich and Walner LLP

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are a boutique wealth management firm that provides legal and tax consulting as well as tax preparation.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Managed IT
• Security
• Server Conversion

SOLUTION

How did you find Precision IT Consulting?

Online Search

Why did you select Precision IT Consulting over others?

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

How many teammates from Precision IT Consulting were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

After some blatent errors by our previous Managed IT provider, including holes in our security, server crashes, and an overall lack of trust in their abilities, I started researching other firms to take over our contract. I wanted to hire a firm where I was confident in their knowledge and know-how, and who could keep our IT services on the cutting edge. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Migration of on-prem server to Azure, accounting of all firm IT assets and then strategic plan for updating, recommendation of IT improvements that catered to our firm's specific needs.

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

Incredible transparency, I was notified ahead of time of estimated cost and timeframes. We had weekly Teams calls to go over progress and to provide updates. When more information was needed, senior management was called in to provide additional support.

What was your primary form of communication with Precision IT Consulting?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Precision IT Consulting takes incredible pride in their work product. They do quality work and they back it up. They don't nickel and dime you over the small stuff because they believe that if they're doing their jobs correctly, we will have fewer reasons to call them/open help desk tickets. 

When I had my initial informational meeting with Michael, the CEO of the company, there were two main things that impressed me. 1. He does all of the marketing/informational discussions himself instead of hiring someone. I found this to be both fiscally minded on his part and also a positive display of management remaining hands-on. 2. Michael told me an anecdote about how one of his clients had an after hours issue with their server. Instead of waiting until the next day, he drover over himself to fix the issue. I then discovered first-hand that this seems to be commonplace for him -- going above and beyond to make the client happy. For us, it was an after hours installation that had a tight turn around and then delays on our part. Because we couldn't reschedule it for a day where they had the proper staffing to accomodate us, Michael stayed after hours to complete the project himself.

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

The one thing that our previous Managed IT provider did well was getting you connected to a technician right away. However, that technician wasn't always able to solve your problem, or they just put a "bandaid" on the situation instead of fixing the underlying issue. With Precision it takes longer to connect you to a technician, but at least the technician is capabable of actually solving your issue. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of a manufacturing company 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Our company makes a real-time sensing and software platform to improve manufacturing yield and performance of all products that involve micro- or nano-materials, including Lithium-ion batteries, semiconductors, flexible electronics, and many others.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Upgrade from Gmail/Google to Microsoft Office/Outlook
• Upgraded security services

SOLUTION

How did you find Precision IT Consulting?

Referral

Why did you select Precision IT Consulting 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 Precision IT Consulting were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Upgraded ~20 employees from Google/Gmail to Microsoft/Outlook. Installed cybersecurity software and helped us implement cybersecurity protocols. Set up smooth on-boarding process for new employees (e.g., how to set up their computers, etc.). Provided very useful security consulting as well.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They efficiently accomplished all the deliverables we wanted for the project and then some.

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

They were extremely timely and responsive. The response systems involved us sending an email to their help desk. These always were always replied to efficiently. If necessary, they would also set up calls with us.

What was your primary form of communication with Precision IT Consulting?

Virtual Meeting

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

They were nice, professional, and very easy to work and get along with. I learned a lot during the process and got a great result at the end!

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

I don't think our project was particularly hard for them, so I'm probably not the best person to answer this question. I was delighted with their services and have already recommended them to several colleagues.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the executive assistant + employee experience manager for a consulting firm that works with social sector organizations to strengthen their learning culture and practice in service of equity and justice.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Precision IT Consulting?

Continued Managed IT Services for the fiscal years 2021-2023, including remote and onsite support, regular technology reviews, strategic roadmaps, technology lifecycle planning, security services, IT-related vendor management, hardware or software upgrades or migrations, etc.

SOLUTION

How did you select Precision IT Consulting and what were the deciding factors?

We were already working with this vendor when I started at LFA.

Describe the project in detail and walk through their service package.

Precision IT Consulting provides 24 x 7 access to unlimited remote support from their Support Desk team for all of our end-users. They provide a service request ticketing system to create and track all IT related issues and projects as well as reporting metrics.

End-users are offered multiple ways to access the ticketing system. For any priority issues, they provide end-users access to call their Support Desk team, so they can start working on our support requests right away. If an issue can not be resolved remotely, they provide onsite support for any office locations within the San Francisco Bay area.

For any locations outside of the San Francisco Bay Area, they utilize their partner network to provide onsite support at a discounted rate. For all workstations, networking, and server hardware, they deploy agents on our systems that will provide 24 x 7 monitoring, reporting, and alerting for any critical issues that may cause downtime.

IT Security is extremely important part of the ongoing Managed IT Services PITC provides for us. It is a critical part of reducing the amount of downtime we face.

Below are the following security services and technologies PITC offers: - Endpoint Protection: Centrally managed antivirus/malware/ransomware protection - Security Updates: Automated security patch management for applications - Email Security: Anti-phishing, email continuity, and email archiving.

Vulnerability Checks: Annual external network vulnerability scans - Firewall Management: Network security appliance (Firewall) management - Training: End User security training and regular security tips notifications - Policies: Recommendations and management of security policies. - Business Continuity:

They provide and manage our data protection solutions PITC utilizes several platforms to deliver vital services that help make sure we are aligned with best practices and prepare for future technology needs.

These services allow PITC to be more proactive and reduces the amount of downtime we experience. We have been assigned a vCIO, Sam, and a Technology Alignment Manager to deliver Strategic Services.

Sam and I work closely on a variety of projects, including Technology Review audits, which are customized audits that take a look at every aspect of our infrastructure and make sure they adhere to IT standards, and the development of a Strategic Roadmap that helps us plan our technology investments for budgeting purposes.

This allows us to organize initiatives, recommendations, and budgets that are directly tied to findings from the Technology Review Audit. PITC also provides reporting on the age and warranty status for our networking, server, and workstation hardware.

This reporting allows us to implement a technology lifecycle program that decreases the chance that we will face any downtime due to outdated technology. They also keep track of any software licensing so we stay in compliance.

How many resources from the Precision IT Consulting team worked with you, and what were their positions?

I regularly work closely with Sam Calicura, the vCIO, and I've also worked with: Michael Williams, Director of Technical Operations Carlos Penate, Lead Project and Support Engineer Cari Earl, Director of Financial Operations Help desk technicians: Sal P., Shubham, Shay, and Rachel Williams

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Among the many projects we've worked on with PITC, most recently they successfully moved our on-site server to a CoLo when we decided to get rid of our office and become a fully remote company due to the pandemic.

They are currently partnering with us to update our remote and password security practices.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They are generally very responsive to help desk tickets and email correspondence. I meet with Sam biweekly to discuss any issues, updates, or special projects we are working on together.

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

We have been working with PITC for a long time, and they have taken a lot of time to get to know our company, our users, the way we like things to be done, and they are always open and responsive to feedback. I feel comfortable knowing that the team does everything they can to resolve any issues.

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

As I mentioned above, we've been working with PITC for a long time, and they have taken building a relationship with us very seriously. Staff who have been with PITC for a longer period of time are on top of things and provide excellent customer service.

When new staff are hired they sometimes take a while to be onboarded to how LFA works, which can be frustrating, but it's really not their fault, and generally Sam and Michael work with them to get them up to speed on how to best work with us.

For example, sometimes newer staff don't seem to read all the way through a help desk ticket and don't understand what is being asked of them. I advise them to slow down, read the ticket thoroughly, including suggestions for how the issue might be resolved, and then respond.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of operations at Elevate Sports Ventures, a sports consulting agency. We consult professional sports teams in sales, marketing, and other areas of business operations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Precision IT Consulting?

We’re a sister company of the San Francisco 49ers, but since branching off into our own business, we lost the support of our IT team. We were looking for an IT agency that could support us as our business continued to grow.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

When we first brought Precision IT Consulting in, they did assess all of our employees’ equipment, including laptops and phones. They made sure that all of our IT processes were in place, or at least that we were going in the right way. After the assessment, they gave us a report about what we needed to work on and what they could help us with.

Precision IT Consulting has implemented some processes throughout our partnership, including an on-boarding/off-boarding process in our HR team. Additionally, they provide maintenance to our systems.

What is the team composition?

We work directly with two people from Precision IT Consulting: Michael (Director of Technical Operations) and Ron (vCIO). I’ve also talked to Kosta (CEO), and I believe that four other people help us with onboarding and setting up our employees, as well as with working out any IT issues.

How did you come to work with Precision IT Consulting?

Kosta reached out to me a while back, but I don’t remember if it was via LinkedIn or just a cold email. At the time, we weren’t looking for an IT consulting company. However, once we started growing, we looked for IT companies.

We met with three companies, but I really liked Precision IT Consulting. They were local to us, and their pricing was great. Additionally, what they included in our contract and package made more sense than what the other two companies offered.

How much have you invested with them?

We’re on a retainer contract, and we spend around $5,000 per month. Up until now, we’ve invested around $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in October 2020, and our engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Precision IT Consulting has been instrumental in putting together an onboarding process for our new employees. When we first engaged with them, we had 25 employees. Since then, we’ve grown to close to 70 employees.

Now, we have an easy process. My team or I fill out the onboarding form and let Precision IT Consulting know what we need. Then, they receive and process it right away, and they contact our new hire directly.

Everyone on our team works remotely, so we can rely on Precision IT Consulting to easily get our employees set up. They quickly get them ready, so the new people are ready to work by their start date, which has been great for our HR side.

How did Precision IT Consulting perform from a project management standpoint?

Precision IT Consulting has been excellent. They’re very responsive, and if there are any issues or delays, they let me know right away. We’re always informed, and our communication is great.

We mainly communicate via email and sometimes by phone. However, we also use a portal where we can see tickets submitted by our employees about any IT issues.

What did you find most impressive about them?

As Precision IT Consulting is a smaller company, I love working with them for their personalized approach. They know who I am, and I know who they are and who to contact if any issues arise.

Feeling that we’ve been partners for longer than we’ve known each other is great. They’re an extension of our company, and we have a great partnership. I’m very pleased about choosing them to be our IT consulting partner.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t have any constructive criticism for Precision IT Consulting. Our engagement is still a work in progress, but everything has been great.

I think that they hadn’t worked with a company like ours before; we’ve grown very quickly. As we continue to work on the onboarding processes, we will continue to make everything smoother.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure you give Precision IT Consulting all the information that they need, so they can do a very thorough assessment of your company’s IT needs and come back with suggestions for better ways to run your IT services.

Additionally, be good about communicating with them. They’re great at communicating, but if you have current processes in place, make sure to notify them and include them in those processes.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the general manager of a consumer services company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Precision IT Consulting?

They take care of all our IT services.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They provide 24/7 support for our 14–15 users. Each person requires different workstations, desktop, laptop, and tablets. Precision IT Consulting is responsible for accessing our servers and providing both on- and offsite support for all our equipment systems and software.

On top of that, they maintain a detailed list of all the assets that we own and make sure that they’re under warranty. To do this effectively, they keep track of all the license and maintenance support agreements and their expirations.

Finally, they interface with vendors to coordinate all of our future needs. They provide ongoing direction for future planning regarding infrastructure, asset replacement, and related services.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with 3-4 people and the director of technical operations.

How did you come to work with Precision IT Consulting?

We released an RFP for IT services. We had 3­–4 bidders, but Precision IT consulting provided the best service for a comparable price.  

How much have you invested with them?

We spend about $40,000–$50,000 every year (approximately $100,000 in total).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in February 2019 and we have a three-year contract.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Everything has worked well and we haven’t received any error messages, so we’re happy with their work. Our engagement has reduced downtime and improved reliability.

How did Precision IT Consulting perform from a project management standpoint?

They were excellent. When we register an issue, a ticket is created and somebody is assigned to it. Then they work on it to resolve the problem.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They are proactive. They attend to our requests quickly, so we’re happy with their work.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything right now.

Any advice for potential customers?

Follow the workflow that they lay out for you. It's always easier to get a case registered through the ticketing system than it is to call them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the risk and liability claims manager of a city pooling authority. We’re a joint powers association that provides insurance and risk management services.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Precision IT Consulting?

We didn’t have a strong IT infrastructure and needed technical as well as hardware expertise to move us into the digital age. We don’t have a dedicated internal staff focused on IT. I’ve been tasked to liaison with our IT provider to provide direction as to where we want to go.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We needed assistance in all aspects of running our server, email, and answering basic technology questions in terms of network setup, computer hardware administration, programs, software licensing, and any other IT-related functions for our organization.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with about seven individuals including a client liaison, two lead techs, a manager, the owner, and an accounting person.

How did you come to work with Precision IT Consulting?

We placed a request for bids for vendors. One of our cities had worked with Precision IT Consulting before. We selected them based upon their reply in the bid.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing engagement started in May 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We don’t have any sort of written metrics. We define our satisfaction in terms of any downtime for our networks. If the computers are working and there are no issues, we’re happy.

Precision IT Consulting is very responsive to our needs and has been flexible in coordinating efforts for off times to get things done. They’d come to our office after hours or on weekends to shut down our service so it wouldn’t disrupt our business day.

How did Precision IT Consulting perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve been great with communication. I can always reach them through the phone, email, or text message. Their team always meets our goals for timelines.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their knowledge base of the task at hand is impressive. When we asked about the best solutions for security in the cloud, they provided us with options and pricing which made our decision much easier. They have the staff and resources to accomplish those goals. We’ve been very happy with the services we received.

Additionally, they’re very organized. When I call them, everything is very clear as to the status and where the project is headed. They utilize an effective ticket system.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, nothing comes to mind. I’ve been happy.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure you have a good project manager on your side. I have a monthly call with Precision IT Consulting to go over concerns and recommendations.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of operations at Braun Hagey & Borden, a boutique law firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Precision IT Consulting?

We hired them to help us with our IT needs. We initially had a single IT individual, but we outgrew his services.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Precision IT Consulting came on board right before we moved offices. They helped us with our server and moved over all of our IT elements. Since then, they’ve helped us procure new computers and have made sure we’re updated on firewall systems and software.

Additionally, the team assisted us with completing our transition to Office 365 and with converting to Rackspace. We’ve got a new document management system, and they coordinated with that company to us integrate seamlessly.

What is the team composition?

I’ve interacted with several people, but I work regularly with Ron (vCIO). When we were first onboarded, I worked with higher-level technicians. 

How did you come to work with Precision IT Consulting?

We found them online. We interviewed a few other IT companies but decided to go with Precision IT Consulting.

How much have you invested with them?

Monthly, we spend $5,000–$6,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working with them since June 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re very happy with them. Having a professional IT partner has been great.

How did Precision IT Consulting perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management is really good. I worked with a project technician for the document management system who was very responsive. The team is great about being upfront about the cost. So, if anything is outside the normal scope, Precision IT Consulting sends us quotes, which is helpful from a budget standpoint.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Compared to other IT partners we’ve worked with, Precision IT Consulting is great at not just putting a bandaid on something that’s not working. They actually work to fix the source of the issue so that it doesn’t happen again. 

The other IT companies we’ve worked with just wanted to get the work to us quickly instead of actually solving the problem.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Sometimes they’re hard to reach after hours. Because we’re a law firm, we have people working all night sometimes. So, if there are any IT issues, it’s hard to reach them. Besides that, they’ve been great.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Precision IT Consulting has a lot of great technicians, but we found one who we enjoy working with and he’s become our go-to contact. He always comes on-site when we need help. I would advise other customers to do the same. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CFO of a chemical cleaning company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Precision IT Consulting?

They’re our IT services, provider.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They take care of our server and computer needs in California, Texas, and Louisiana. The team helps us with our servers, email, desktops, laptops, communications, and VPNs. They’ll also do maintenance, file documentation, and purchase equipment on our behalf. Currently, everything is done remotely.

What is the team composition?

I work with Ron (CIO), three different service technicians, and other personnel who deal with our server.

How much have you invested with them?

Our contract is roughly $100,000 per year.

What is the status of this engagement?

They were working with our company for 10 years, but I only came on in the past three. I started working with them in January 2018, and our work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They’ve done a great job. Overall, they’ve done a great job. The team is very helpful and responsive.

How did Precision IT Consulting perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicate via email. We have meetings each week and follow-up ones to see how things are going.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re all very friendly, helpful, and willing to give us a hand where we need it.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, if we had to pay one person in-house to do all the things they do, we’d spend at least two-thirds more. We did have some issues with their service when I first came on, and they implemented the necessary changes.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Communicate your needs with them and let them know what they may be responsible for.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the President of Momentum Electrical Contractors

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Electrical Contractor

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• IT security
• Rationalize IT infrastructure
• Assist with ongoing IT issues

SOLUTION

How did you find Precision IT Consulting?

Online Search

Why did you select Precision IT Consulting over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Great culture fit

How many teammates from Precision IT Consulting were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

IT consulting to provide security and help scale infrastructure.  Also, helpdesk support. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Improved IT security and an infrastructure map

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

Very responsive, communicative, and professional. 

What was your primary form of communication with Precision IT Consulting?

• In-Person Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Very organized and communicative.  Also, a high degree of responsiveness. 

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

No, they have been great.  Would highly recommend. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am a Director of XIA LLC

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

XIA designs, manufactures and sells analytic equipment and associated products and services. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Help Desk Support
• IT infrastructure updates and management

SOLUTION

How did you find Precision IT Consulting?

Online Search

Why did you select Precision IT Consulting over others?

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

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

• Physical IT Infrastructure management
  • VPN and firewall management
  • Network maintenance
  • VM infrastructure management
• Help desk support

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our team's IT problems have reduced to just a handful per month. Prior to contracting PITC, our team often had multiple issues per day. 

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

PITC goes above and beyond with every request, regardless of how small it is. They've assisted in identifying updated VM infrastructures, backup applicances, and helped with es combined wih. All work has been completed within a reasonable amount of time. 

What was your primary form of communication with Precision IT Consulting?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

The bang for your buck. It's rare that an MSP offers as many services for such a reasonable price. The team knows their domains stone-cold, but aren't arrogant about it. 

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

Absolutely not. They've outperformed all my expectations given the challenging environment we work in.