Cloud 1 Solutions

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the COO and treasurer of Small Business Consulting Inc., an accounting and business consulting firm. I connect clients with the people that they need to talk to.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Cloud 1 Solutions?

We needed IT support at a low cost.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Cloud 1 Solutions helps us with our computers, printers, phones, or any of our technical devices; they make suggestions to help us improve. They were on site when Comcast installed our new Internet and helped integrate our two systems. They also offer hosting services, but we have a server on-site.

What is the team composition?

Bradley (Technical Engineer) is our main IT support contact. Scott (Senior Engineer) is our secondary support person, and Mike (CEO) is the owner. 

How did you come to work with Cloud 1 Solutions?

As an accounting firm, we meet with many small businesses. They came in for a consultation, and we liked what they offered. They became one of our clients, and we decided to proceed with their services.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve probably spent over $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in January 2011, and our relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have many teammates working from other locations, and Cloud 1 Solutions has set up a VPN so we can access our computers remotely. Moreover, we were able to deal with people out due to COVID-19 thanks to the remote desktops. We could work from home and not risk anybody at the office getting sick.

They also added a layer of protection so they could get emails and actively monitor when people signed into our account. Recently, we had an email log from Dubai at 4:00 a.m., and they were able to address it and change the password before anything catastrophic happened.

How did Cloud 1 Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

Their monthly fee is always the same no matter how much time something takes, so they’re always on budget. We mainly communicate through phone calls and in-person meetings. We also use TeamViewer for IT remote support.

What did you find most impressive about them?

First, they differentiate from other IT support companies in their pricing structure. We can pay a monthly rate based on the number of workstations we have instead of an hourly rate. We like that relationship because we get as much time as we need; we don’t feel like we're paying out of pocket for every minute they spend here.

Additionally, they have a high level of service. Each person in their business is a top-notch employee, and we’ve formed a relationship with them because we don’t get someone new every time.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Figure out how many workstations they have and if the pricing structure will work for you. Also, compare it to what you might spend on an hourly rate. If it makes sense, then it’ll be a great fit.