CLOUDSKOPE

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the owner of Harman Rogowski & Associates and we are a CPA firm in McKinney, Texas. We are a small firm with 14 employees.

Right now, all 14 employees are working from home which puts a unique challenge onto our server and our technology.

What challenge were you trying to address with CloudSkope?

We hired them initially to help us with certain problems getting VPN.

What was the scope of their involvement?

CloudSkope came on board to handle our IT issues such as our cybersecurity, our onboarding, and all-around IT needs. 

Starting with cybersecurity, the team analyzed our system. They came in and did a full analysis, determining the points that were most crucial to our business. These included things like our phone switch and internet, which, if they go down, will leave us unable to do business. They suggested getting a backup internet provider, which we can switch to in the event our main one goes down. 

The team also takes care of our everyday server concerns, such as what to do if it goes down and how effective the security is. They work to keep our system free of viruses and ransomware. The team has also taken control of the cybersecurity of our PCs at home and in the office. 

What is the team composition?

We work with two people from CloudSkope. Right now, since we had a connection prior to hiring him full-time, and the fact that he is located very close to us, Dipan (CEO) is our main point of contact.

How did you come to work with CloudSkope?

We’ve provided bookkeeping, accounting software, and tax return services to several IT firms, including CloudSkope. We called them when we were having issues, and they proved they were up to the job, so we started working with them more and more. 

How much have you invested in them?

We have spent around $30,000. It was cost beneficial for us to work with them on a monthly fee, versus only hiring them when needed.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in April 2019, and the work is ongoing.

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

We measure success in response time and downtime. We would notice when they are not successful. We don’t actually notice when they are successful because it is normal, and when they are unsuccessful it is abnormal. 

In the last year or so, we’ve gone down several times because of electrical failure and or problems with the internet provider, and they were always quick to respond to identify what the issue was. They’re usually able to latch onto it and resolve it very quickly. They’re an incredibly responsive team. 

How did CloudSkope perform from a project management standpoint?

From the start of the engagement, CloudSkope put together a proposal with certain critical deadlines and necessary steps to get us up to speed and to make sure we’re secure. We follow those guidelines, and they’ve always been right on schedule. 

Dipan is very project-oriented and believes in the deadlines he sets. He knows our business and what is critical, and he is able to plan what needs to be done when. He is a good project manager.

What did you find most impressive about them?

CloudSkope is very customer-focused and understands the cost of being down. They’re also extremely knowledgeable, and they keep up with technology. Their stability, knowledge, and customer service are key aspects of our collaboration. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing comes to mind.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you are hiring them, listen to and trust Dipan. He brings a wealth of knowledge and will save you time. We have not had a problem that he was not familiar with. Someone might know a little about servers, or a little about VPN, but his company has a wide breadth of knowledge and he always keeps up with technology. To put it bluntly, he is just extremely smart.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I was the CEO of an oilfield technology company. We did automation and real-time data collection for the industry.

What challenge were you trying to address with CloudSkope?

We needed to move our system from a single on-site server into the cloud. That included a full-scale review of the code, and ultimately a complete rebuild to modernize it.

What was the scope of their involvement?

This started as a fairly standard project. By the time we finished, CloudSkope was a borderline management member. They helped us redesign the entire platform and helped with day-to-day management. They added a lot of functionality, updated the client-facing aspects of the platform, and were hugely helpful in moving the project forward.

The system was connected hardware on a remote physical location in West Texas. It recorded important real-time data, including line pressure, temperature, and anything happening within the oil wells we monitored. That information was relayed back to the owner and manager at regular intervals through a webpage. The old system was reaching the end of its useful life, and was no longer supported.

CloudSkope completely overhauled the system and brought it up to modern standards. They created a new operations dashboard and made the client interface look much more professional. We used AWS for the cloud-based system. The system couldn’t have any downtime, and we had to iron out all the kinks before we initiated the transition. They put in considerable time and effort to correct any bugs before we made the change. In the end, the upgrade was completely seamless and the client had constant access.

What is the team composition?

My primary point of contact was their CEO. Other than him, I interacted with four to six people, but the overall team size may have been much bigger. All of them were technology experts, but I’m not certain of all their roles.

How did you come to work with CloudSkope?

We were introduced through a recruiter. He thought CloudSkope would be a perfect solution for us, and he was right.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $50,000–$75,000 on the initial project. We were a small company, so it was a meaningful investment.

What is the status of this engagement?

The work started in December 2016. I left the company in April or May 2017, as we were wrapping up the initial project and moving into an ongoing engagement.

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

This was critical infrastructure for us, but I wasn't with the company to witness the full impact of their work. The information I received from the remaining team sounded like the technology and operations ran smoother, and the internal team was pleased with the functionality and reliability of the new system.

How did CloudSkope perform from a project management standpoint?

They were very good project managers. We were in fairly constant communication with them through phone and email, and we occasionally met with them in person.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The biggest takeaway was their ability to really understand the business and financial aspects beyond just the technology. They’re the most globally-minded technology vendor I’ve worked with, and they took time to understand our needs. They were concerned with our end goals and made sure they built the platform appropriately.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Not really. Their CEO is a trusted partner, and I consider him a friend. They did a really great job, and I’m completely satisfied with the way the project worked out.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Leverage their CEO and make him one of your trusted advisors. Outline your technology needs, but also explain your ultimate goals. That’s where their real value lies; they will help you solve any issues you face.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of a software development company.

What challenge were you trying to address with Cloudskope?

One of the core components of being a software development firm in the era of GDPR and security compliance is having a sound security backbone. We needed a stable infrastructure and a cybersecurity plan that encouraged compliance.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Cloudskope helps with our overall security profile and policy. They search for potential threats and find areas in the system that could be better protected. Their team provides strategic thinking around security and works hand in hand with our customer engagement. They act as a virtual CISO, assisting with HIPAA compliance.

What is the team composition?

We worked directly with Dipan (CEO, Cloudskope) and his team.

How did you come to work with Cloudskope?

Cloudskope was referred through our network. I worked with them on another product and knew that their team had excellent business sense.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $25,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with Cloudskope in March 2017, and the services are ongoing.

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

We’ve worked with Cloudskope on and off for about a year and a half. It’s been fantastic. Dipan reviewed the security policy and helped us implement with our team. Our company has grown exponentially within the last two years. It wouldn’t be possible for our team to support customers without Cloudskope.

How did Cloudskope perform from a project management standpoint?

Dipan is engaged and knowledgeable. He’s a safe pair of hands and delightful to work with. Our project management relationship was quite strong. We communicated through phone, e-mail, and video.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Finding exceptional strategic thinkers at that level is hard. Cloudskope’s skilled expertise makes them a trustworthy asset. Their team exhibits strong integrity and business sense. Dipan is also laser-focused on his marketplace, which is an added benefit.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I wouldn’t highlight anything that they could’ve done differently. I’ve been pleased with our relationship over the last couple of years.

Any advice for potential customers?

Reach out to Dipan and share everything you can. He’s a fantastic resource to connect with.