Integris

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of network and technology at a sporting goods manufacturer.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Integris?

As the landscape changed, we needed additional network security resources to help with initiatives and projects. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Integris provides us with network security services. Initially, we had on-site meetings to help them understand how we operate and provided them with network diagrams. However, our network has changed as we’ve grown. 

The Integris team works closely with our team back and forth to push projects forward. Integris has also upgraded our security throughout our partnership. The team has vetted new products and integrated them. They’ve also helped us implement Ruckus Networks and Cato Networks.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with Brian and Jay (Security7 Co-Founders) since the beginning of our partnership; Brian works on the technical side of things, while Jay focuses on sales. We’ve also worked with Shannon (Client Success Manager), who acts as our project manager and liaison with third-party vendors. 

How did you come to work with Integris?

I wasn’t involved in their hiring. However, I believe we initially found a security company through a referral. Then, Integris inherited that company’s team.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in 2008, and the engagement is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve worked with Integris for 15 years, in which we’ve been able to implement new products, security projects, and networks. Moreover, we have a good relationship with the team. 

How did Integris perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re very forthright with us and always go above and beyond to meet our needs. Integris is also very prompt whenever we need it. 

Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review?

We’ve worked with Brian and Jay for a long time and think very highly of them. Brian knows our network security inside and out, which has helped us implement many initiatives. Additionally, we also have a good relationship with Shannon.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Brian, Jay, and Shannon are very easygoing and open to bouncing ideas back and forth to come up with the best solution. Integris focuses on doing what’s best for our company instead of their own interests. Overall, they’re heavily geared towards helping their customers to improve their situations. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

There isn’t anything they need to improve at the moment, though my work with Integris has been limited since they inherited the team we hired. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I recommend Integris fully in every capacity. The team is very open, so as long as you’re also open, you can have a good partnership with Integris. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the executive support manager of The Capital Chart Room, a small financial firm that helps business owners integrate their business and personal wealth planning. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Integris?

When I joined the company years ago, we had one IT specialist that did everything related to technology. As the industry grew, we needed more compliance security and cybersecurity services. We outgrew that specialist’s services, so we switched to Integris. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Integris initially assessed our technology and helped us identify where to upgrade things. They asked us about our cybersecurity concerns relative to being a financial company regulated by the FCC. From there, they built a secondary proposal for what we needed to do in the next phase of the engagement. 

They’ve since implemented their prosal. Since then, the engagement has had a wash-rinse-and-repeat pattern — we call them when we need to solve a problem in terms of cybersecurity. Our equipment gets outdated every few years, so they help us replace what needs to be replaced. 

Moreover, they’ve purchased and installed hardware and software for us several times. We made the decision to use a cloud-based system a couple of years ago, and they’ve helped us with that, too. They do both on- and offsite services. 

What is the team composition?

They’ve assigned three teammates to our last big project. We don’t have a major project right now, but they assign 1–2 teammates to help us if something goes wrong. Jorge (vCIO) serves as our account manager.  

How did you come to work with Integris?

We looked around and received bids from several companies. Integris had the best proposal in terms of value.

How much have you invested with them?

Our last big project has been about $15,000, including equipment and working hours. Meanwhile, we pay around $2,000 per month for their services. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the partnership in October 2015, and it’s ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Integris has made it easy for us to transition into a remote work setup. Anecdotally, I enjoy their services. They focus on our needs and do what they need to do to solve a problem — they stay on it until it’s fixed. I particularly like working with Jorge. He understands our company and systems better than anybody else. 

How did Integris perform from a project management standpoint?

They meet timeline and budget requirements for the most part. For communication, we can email a specific support address for any problems. If the issue is urgent, I can call them. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

The friendliness of their services is impressive. They’re dedicated to solving our problems. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I miss their ticketing system. For context, Integris acquired the original company we were working with, and that original company had the ticketing system. Through that system, I could look at my tickets at any time. It was a portal for clients. I don’t know why Integris doesn’t have it, but I wish they do. 

Moreover, I’m not sure what staffing problems they have, but I wish they’d add a few more teammates so we could get faster responses to our problems. That may seem like an unfair request, but I feel the original company has slowed down in response times since being acquired by Integris. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Go with Integris and have Jorge as your account manager if possible. On top of that, communicate clearly about what you need and expect. Everything should work itself out. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the VP of DFW Plastics, Inc. We manufacture underground enclosures. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Integris?

Integris manages our IT hardware. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Integris manages and installs hardware for us. They also install software for us except for our business software, which an independent consultant handles. Moreover, the team provides maintenance and hosting services. They offer both onsite and remote tech support, too. 

At present, we’re in the process of building a new server hosted in our building. We’re looking to expand our bandwidth and make it run efficiently. On top of that, their team keeps us updated on all of our warranties and lets us know which ones are expiring and what needs to be replaced. 

What is the team composition?

They’ve provided us with one account manager and several technical managers that work on our system. We mainly work with Jonathan (Strategic Operations Manager), who recommends what we need to do to improve and secure our system. Meanwhile, Chris (Infrastructure Administrator) deals with hardware installation. 

How did you come to work with Integris?

We found their original company through a referral. Then, they were sold to a different business, which merged with Integris. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested more than $100,000 so far. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Integris in January 2020, and the engagement is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Integris has expanded our bandwidth and doubled our speed; they also deal with the carrier that handles our bandwidth. Since Jonathan has been working for us for many years, he’s truly aware of our entire system, what it needs, and where we’re going. 

How did Integris perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re highly efficient when it comes to managing projects. If there are any budget changes, they tell me about them before they happen. Moreover, they tell us if we truly need a budget change or if it’s unnecessary. 

For communication, we have Zoom calls where they update me on a project’s progress. Apart from that, we generally use the telephone and email. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Integris’ main strength is their knowledge. They’re up-to-date and knowledgeable about what’s in the industry and what new things are coming to the industry. They can implement those and continue to improve their service times. Overall, the knowledge they’ve acquired over the years is outstanding.   

Are there any areas they could improve?

They’ve been improving and growing over the years. However, I can tell what they don’t need to do — they shouldn’t be faceless. If there’s a problem, we should be able to talk to someone immediately. We shouldn’t have to leave messages or create work tickets all the time. If there’s an emergency, we should be able to contact someone. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be honest and straightforward with Integris. Explain your expectations, and then let them do the work and prove themselves. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-owner of a real estate and vacation rental management company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Integris?

I needed desktop support for my office's 45 employees and computers and network administration.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Integris has provided managed IT services for us for about four years. They provide desktop support and administrate our network. 

For a time, I had a representative assigned to my account we would meet once a week. This representative identified that we needed to move our data from a server-based infrastructure to a cloud-based infrastructure. For this project, Integris did an assessment, presented a proposal, and then led us to a transition to SharePoint. 

What is the team composition?

Previously, I worked with Ben (Former Senior Client Success Manager) and another teammate who’s no longer with Integris. Currently, I have another account representative and a technical team.

How did you come to work with Integris?

Integris’ owner came to Galveston, Texas, to speak about cybersecurity. I heard his talk and was so impressed that I met with him about working with our company and invited him to speak to our real estate group about cybersecurity. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in 2018, and our engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Although the transition to SharePoint was painful, it’s been worth it; ever since everything is set up and working, things have been great. Overall, the migration Integris led has been a sea change; we’re thrilled with that. 

We’re in a storm event area, and I used to remove my physical server every time a weather event happened. Once we moved to SharePoint, everything changed dramatically. I don’t fear losing data anymore and no longer have the added hassle of removing a heavy server. 

How did Integris perform from a project management standpoint?

When I worked with Ben and my other former representative, we met once a week, and they kept the program going. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I have a wonderful representative from Integris — she’s amazing. Moreover, the support technicians are terrific; they’re patient and know when to escalate. My realtors and staff all work with them well. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Unfortunately, things have changed since Integris has integrated into their current brand identity. Before, they were very customer and relationship-centric. Now, it’s hard to get anybody from their team to talk about billing. Sometimes, businesses try to make things automatic, but we need someone to talk to when there’s a question. Integris needs to have someone who answers the phone in their accounting department. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

You need an account representative to have one teammate to call who’s watching your back.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a managing director for an economic development consulting firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Integris?

Our previous IT consultants didn’t provide us with the necessary framework for our computers to meet industry security standards. They left us on our own a lot, so we sought another consulting firm to meet our needs.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Integris handles all of our IT needs from top to bottom. They monitor our systems to ensure everything is running smoothly. The team also provides ongoing IT maintenance support, so we call them whenever we encounter issues. Additionally, they manage and host our software and purchase our hardware, including laptops, desktops, phones, and video monitoring systems. Once they purchase hardware, they schedule technicians to set it up. 

They’re also responsible for handling security breaches and confirming that our backend systems are locked down. The team has facilitated training sessions on tackling malware and spam. They also make sure our systems are compliant with industry standards and that we’re continuing to maximize our security.

The team has also implemented our cloud-based system and remote work system. The Integris team primarily works off-site, but they’ve visited our offices to set up video conferencing systems and address ad-hoc issues. 

What is the team composition?

I regularly work with Evan (Senior Systems Engineer), a security consultant, and two others. We also interface with engineers who help troubleshoot IT issues.

How did you come to work with Integris?

I’m not sure how we found Integris initially. I spoke with them a few times while we were still working with our former IT provider. When we were serious about changing providers, I knew to call them. After meeting with the team to discuss our needs, we decided to move forward.

How much have you invested with them?

We spend about $100,000 per year.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing partnership started in January 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Integris implemented such a powerful platform that we had no break in service when our employees had to work from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We weren’t concerned about how to shift to a remote working environment because Integris facilitated a seamless transition. 

Moreover, Integris is so committed to security that they go above and beyond to maintain secure systems. We work with significant corporate clients who require strict cybersecurity systems, and Integris has helped us work with our clients to ensure we’re meeting and exceeding their standards. 

They’re also top-notch when it comes to addressing technical issues. If they don’t know something off the top of their head, they work diligently to identify a solution.

How did Integris perform from a project management standpoint?

Integris is professional and organized, and they communicate extremely well. They’re great collaborators who stay on top of everything. They think of things we normally wouldn’t even consider, so I’m very satisfied. We communicate via phone, and I meet with our security consultant biweekly to discuss our security needs. We also send support requests via email; our support requests are relayed to their ticketing system, and then they call us. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’ve made my life and job easier; I don’t have to think about IT anymore because I know Integris has my back. I call them whenever our clients have questions about our security or when something goes wrong with our systems. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Their biggest weakness is their response time. Sometimes, they take hours, or even a day, to address support tickets. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you need a capable IT provider, hire Integris. They’ll care for your needs from top to bottom, and you won’t have to think about it.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m Chief Operations Officer at Any Baby Can, a nonprofit community-based organization. Our mission is to partner with families to build stability, develop skills, and unlock each child’s full potential. We offer a continuum of services, including:

• Parenting and childbirth classes that give parents the tools, skills, and confidence to raise a healthy family.
• Help children with development delays reach their full potential and increase the parents’ ability to support their child.
• Provide support, medical case management, and resource navigation for children with special healthcare needs.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Integris?

We needed assistance to improve our organization’s IT practices.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Integris provides managed IT services for Any Baby Can. They provide troubleshooting services (on a remote basis) that focus on resolving software and hardware issues through a ticketing system. They also work with us on special projects such as robotic process automation, firewall, and wireless access point upgrades.

When the COVID-19 pandemic started, Integris helped us plan and execute migration of our information to a Microsoft SharePoint site. This helped us transition to a hybrid workplace model.  Altogether their support helped improve our agency operations so that we can better serve our clients.

Additionally, Integris provided in-kind support with some IT projects as well as agency events through their corporate volunteer program. We are grateful for this support!

What is the team composition?

Throughout Any Baby Can’s relationship with Integris, we worked with different Integris teammates on various projects and staff support needs. My primary points of contact, Integris Chief Information Officer and Managed Services Concierge, are accessible, follow through on agreements, and are reliable partners. Integris team of professionals also work diligently to resolve our staff support requests.

How did you come to work with Integris?

I started working at Any Baby Can in 2019, and we were already engaged with them. The Any Baby Can / Integris relationship goes back to 2013.

How much have you invested with them?

The range cost for special projects is usually between $2,000–$8,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Integris in February 2013, and our partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Integris has responded well to our organization’s rapidly changing conditions. They’re reliable and trustworthy.

How did Integris perform from a project management standpoint?

Integris has a ticketing system that we have access to. We can generate the tickets by email or phone call and track the ticket status on their platform. We can also see which teammate from their staff is working on the ticket.

We have great communication with Integris; they’re responsive and accessible. When we contact Integris, they usually get back to us within a couple of hours. We also have in-person meetings and weekly meetings through Microsoft Teams and Zoom to discuss the project’s priorities and status. 

Integris meets deadlines and stays on budget. Whenever there’s an issue with a deadline, they let us know, and we adjust our timeline as needed. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m most impressed with Integris’ accessibility and reliability. They’re good at explaining the technical terms to our team, which has helped us build a strong working environment that has grown over time.

Another aspect I’m impressed with is Integris’ community sense. Some of their staff have volunteered at our organization's events — they’ve gone above and beyond. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

As a nonprofit, we have a shoestring budget. Integris has done a great job at lowering their costs for us, but if they could provide added services, that’d be great. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of technology at Esler Companies.
 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Integris?

We hired Integris for their managed IT services. When we acquired new offices in Texas and Oklahoma, they were already our existing IT services provider, so we just decided to continue our partnership with them.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Integris handles our IT-related needs. They provide help desk support for all our teammates in our new offices. For instance, if somebody locks themselves out of their computer or clicks on a virus, their team is in charge of addressing that. Additionally, they do all the computer builds and ship the computers and other necessary equipment out to different teammates. They also help us identify and implement pieces that we need to improve our IT security. 

We plan to do more security projects in the future with the Integris team.

What is the team composition?

We’re usually in direct contact with two people from their team, Amy (Client Success Manager) and Gino (Virtual CIO).

How did you come to work with Integris?

They were already working with the previous owner of our company when we acquired the new offices.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Integris in September 2020, and our partnership is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

In the beginning, we needed to sort out some transition issues; there were a lot of back-and-forth conversations between Integris and us. However, now that their team is in place, everything has been going well. They adhere to their service-level agreements and manage our support ticket queue very nicely. Also, the quality of their work has been really good.

How did Integris perform from a project management standpoint?

Once their team understands the deliverables for a specific project and gets the right people involved, they’re able to deliver on time and manage everything the way it should be managed. Moreover, we have bi-weekly meetings with them to make sure everything’s on track. They also help us right away whenever we have a problem.

For communication, we mainly interact via email and phone calls.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We like how the Integris team is staffed appropriately — we never have any issues in getting all the work done.

Are there any areas they could improve?

As mentioned earlier, we had some transition and communication issues early on. They’ve already fixed that, and the entire process has been much smoother since then.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Make sure to tell them what you want and how you want your project to be managed. Be receptive to their ideas as well.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the interim executive director of the Spirit Mountain Recreation Area, a four-season resort in Northern Minnesota.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Integris?

Our organization isn’t large enough to have internal IT support. Our previous IT services provider took on another role, so we hired Integris.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Integris provides IT support and helps us purchase IT equipment, providing on- and offsite services. Their purchases have included a server and laptops. The team has also rewired our chalet. More recently, they’ve helped us assess a number of vendors for a POS system.  

What is the team composition?

Initially, we worked with a salesperson. Currently, we have a dedicated point person who handles our tickets when we have issues, though we’ve worked with the VP of sales and about 4–5 teammates from Integris. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them around August 2021, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We're grateful for Integris' help. For example, they provided valuable advice when we were trying to find a new POS system. The VP of sales looked at all our responses from three different vendors, contacted them, and did informational interviews. From there, he shared his opinions with us, which was helpful because we don't have the technical understanding and knowledge he does. On top of that, they provided this support without additional charge. 

The rewiring process also went very smoothly; they were able to identify areas where we had potential issues and address them, which we appreciated. Overall, Integris is a knowledgeable team. 

How did Integris perform from a project management standpoint?

Regarding project management, they're responsive and have good communication. The team lets us know if they run into a problem and get issues resolved. Our communication channel depends on the subject. For example, we send them a ticket through email if we have a technical problem. We also have a lot of email and text message communication. Regardless of the medium, Integris is always very reachable. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I'm impressed with Integris' responsiveness, which can be challenging for service providers. The team is also knowledgeable, and I feel confident they're taking good care of us. Even though I'm not very knowledgeable and don't have a lot of basis for comparison, I know Integris addresses our issues, which is comforting to me. Moreover, they're supportive and want to ensure we're okay. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

In the initial sales process, the salesperson could have taken more time to fully understand our situation in terms of where we were starting. Although the issue has been rectified, that was a bit of a hiccup on their part at the beginning. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don't be afraid to ask them to go beyond what you might traditionally ask from an IT provider. Integris has gone above and beyond the call for us. Although it's not assumed that a provider will do that, I've learned that if you don't ask, they can't help you. Take advantage of the team's expertise because they're willing to share it; it's certainly benefited us. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the legal administrator of Hanft Fride, a law firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Integris?

Due to our company's growth, we wanted to outsource our IT needs to another company.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Integris has been our IT services provider for more than 20 years; we’ve purchased hardware and software from them, and they host our servers, take care of our internet security, and manage our licensing.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with a handful of people from their team, including Erin (IT Client Success Manager), who is my main point of contact.

How did you come to work with Integris?

They reached out to us when we were looking for computers to buy.

How much money have you invested in this partnership?

So far, we’ve spent around $5 million with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 1999, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They’ve kept us running in great shape; we’ve had hiccups along the way like anyone else, but they’ve solved them quickly. Also, the internet service we get from them is great.

How did Integris perform from a project management standpoint?

They perform well with project management; they assign a team to us every time we have a project together, and they manage the logistics and planning of the task. Integris is also good with communication; we use emails, phone calls, meetings, and their ticketing system.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their organization within their team enables them to have experts in all their areas — if I need something, they connect me with someone who knows exactly what I need.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They’ve overcome the challenges that have arisen throughout the project, but everything has been good recently.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Reach out and start a conversation with them and see if what they offer matches what you need; they have a wide spectrum of services, even things people don’t think about.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the VP of finance and administration for Matsuura Machinery USA. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Integris?

Integris has done many things for us, including a long-term business IT strategy that fits our budget and goals. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Integris utilize new technologies at various points in time. For example, they’ve upgraded our network infrastructure in 2016. They’ve also reconfigured our wireless network. In 2020, we switched to a hosted server environment. In between those major projects, they did miscellaneous projects. All of these projects have involved setting up new user PCs. They also do hardware upgrade support as needed. 

Moreover, they offer a combination of on- and off-site services. Initially, they assigned a regular site personnel in our office. As we’ve progressed into new systems, we’ve started using their online support ticketing system on top of their on-site support. 

What is the team composition?

The team composition varies per project, but we often work with senior-level people from their team. We also collaborate with project managers. 

How did you come to work with Integris?

Back in 2013, we were searching for an ERP system and were referred to Mark (Founder). That started our conversations, and they bid for our project at that time. That was the start of our engagement. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested around $1.1 million. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the engagement in August 2013, and it’s ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We don’t use success metrics when it comes to IT, but we’ve held Integris to high standards and measures of performance. In terms of the usability of the systems they’ve proposed, they meet and exceed the goals we set. 

How did Integris perform from a project management standpoint?

Integris’ project management has been great. Whenever they develop a project plan, they collaborate with us and have regular meetings throughout the project, depending on its length. At the end of each project, they create a summary and come back to us to discuss our experience and whether or not we met our objectives. 

To communicate, we send maintenance tickets online. For project meetings, we do video conferences through Microsoft Teams. We talk over the phone as needed. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Integris has become a partner for our company. We’ve had a long-term relationship, and they’ve supported us well over the years. They listen and match their services to our expectations and budgets. For that reason, we’ll most likely stay with them. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’m a firm believer that there’s always room for improvement somewhere. We can always work on having better communication between our teams. On our side, we can work better on defining the project, while their team can work better on defining what our expectations should be. Nonetheless, they’ve done well in all areas of communication with us. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Look at the level of services that Integris offers versus other teams. The professional involvement their staff can offer over the years is also important.