KATALYST

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Vice President Marketing & Digital Operations of MB HAYNES Corporation

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are a 102-year-old, multi-trade construction company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Katalyst Network Group to accomplish?

• Managed Services

SOLUTION

How did you find Katalyst Network Group?

Referral

Why did you select Katalyst Network Group over others?

• Close to my geographic location
• Great culture fit
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Katalyst Network Group were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

We needed a new managed services provider and Katalyst did an amazing job filling this role. From our Account Manager to Project Managers to the Engineers - every person we worked with was professional and made our project a priority.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We've completed multiple projects since starting our relationship. Our most measurable being our successful backups. Due to several factors, we were getting more failed images than successful, and that has significantly improved over time thanks in large part to Katalyst.

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

Project management has been well communicated and well documented.

What was your primary form of communication with Katalyst Network Group?

Virtual Meeting

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

The culture at Katalyst Network Group is one of openness and true partnerships. We are very thankful to have joined up with Katalyst.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Katalyst Network Group could have done differently?

My only complaint is that we've lost some good folks from our Katalyst team to other jobs. Turnover is hard to manage at times, but they have backfilled with equally impressive folks.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Channel Director of Foresite

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Foresite provides cybersecurity and compliance solutions via MSPs.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Katalyst Network Group to accomplish?

• Identify MSP clients who need threat monitoring
• Prepare firewalls for co-management by Foresite
• Assist with onboarding into MSSP services

SOLUTION

How did you find Katalyst Network Group?

Referral

Why did you select Katalyst Network Group over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Katalyst Network Group were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Katalyst had a client who had become unhappy with their existing managed service provider. The client also wanted to outsource the management of both their Cisco and FortiGate firewalls to free up their internal staff. Katalyst identified Foresite's ProVision as a fit, and worked with us to customize an agreement with waived onboarding and a co-term to seamlessly transition the client from the old service.

The Katalyst technical team and our SOC work together through onboarding and the ongoing support of the client to insure that they understand the reporting and recommendations and get the maximum value for their investment.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The client was onboarded seamlessly and on-time to move away from their former managed service without requiring an extension.

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

The Katalyst team is highly responsive and coordinated resources with Foresite's onboarding team, so we always had the information and access required to move the onboarding from start to completion.

What was your primary form of communication with Katalyst Network Group?

Virtual Meeting

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

The culture of creativity to tailor our service to meet each client's particular needs. In this case, waiving onboarding and co-terming an agreement to make it possible for the client to move to ProVision instead of being stuck with a service they were not happy with. Katalyst Network Group always finds a way to help their clients achieve objectives.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Katalyst Network Group could have done differently?

We work together often and continue to align our processes to streamline communication and make the client feel like they are working with a team, not two separate entities.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a director at a nonprofit social enterprise. We work with adults with disadvantages and disabilities and manufacture disposable medical devices. The company was founded 50 years ago, and I have been working here for 18 years. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Katalyst Network Group?

Our company’s IT department started with one teammate, and we needed assistance with bigger IT projects and requirements.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Katalyst Network Group provides our company with remote and on-site managed IT services. They’ve worked on different projects with us. For instance, they’ve helped us replace our backbone network and servers and assisted us in installing the required equipment. 

We plan our projects for the year with Katalyst Network Group and set up a budget. All projects go through our internal budget process to get approved. Katalyst Network Group sends us the quotes for each project and the necessary work documents. Then, we have calls to discuss the budget and make sure there are no questions. 

Once the budget is approved, we work with Katalyst Network Group to schedule each project’s timelines. When we start a project, we have a kick-off call to discuss the work scope and required work documents. Then,  Katalyst Network Group determines if the task can be performed remotely or if they need to visit our office. 

After the project is completed, Katalyst Network Group always has a timeframe of availability for any issues or questions that may arise. After this phase concludes, we close the project. Katalyst Network Group also offers help desk assistance through a ticketing system for minor tech issues.

Katalyst Network Group has recently replaced our network switches, and the new switches offer me a dashboard where I can see all devices connected to our network. This allows us to identify and pinpoint which device is having technical issues.

What is the team composition?

The teammates we work with vary depending on the project. We always work with Blake and around five other specialists from Katalyst Network Group. 

How did you come to work with Katalyst Network Group?

I met a Katalyst Network Group employee while working at a previous company. When I started working at my current company, I noticed most of our infrastructure was from the brand Cisco. I went to Cisco’s website, and some of their partners are listed with a rating. I looked at that list, and Katalyst Network Group had a good rating. I contacted them and told them about our company’s requirements.  

How much have you invested with them?

Our budget for each project is different. We’ve invested around $500,000 with Katalyst Network Group throughout our complete engagement. 

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing partnership with Katalyst Network Group started in August 2015.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our uptime has increased, and our number of tickets has decreased. Our network is stable, and Katalyst Network Group helps us ensure our hardware and infrastructure are supported by our vendor. We don’t let our hardware and software lapse, and since we keep our equipment updated, we minimize downtime and issues. Katalyst Network Group is really good at keeping our technology updated and assisting us when we need to issue a ticket with the original vendor. Although, I prefer to issue tickets with them before going to the equipment manufacturer.  

Working with Katalyst Network Group gives me peace of mind because they’re on top of everything. We’ve worked with three different IT companies, and Katalyst Network Group has been the longest we’ve worked with. 

How did Katalyst Network Group perform from a project management standpoint?

Katalyst Network Group is very organized and structured. Our communication frequency depends on each project. Sometimes we have weekly Microsoft Teams meetings, and sometimes every other week. Katalyst Network Group is responsive through emails, phone calls,  and text messages. They’re prepared for any unexpected issues and work through them quickly. 

We haven’t had budget issues working with Katalyst Network Group — they stay on budget. They’re considerate of our budget since we’re a nonprofit organization. They propose the appropriate equipment and don’t overload us with things we don’t really need.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m most impressed with Katalyst Network Group’s knowledge. Their engineers are also quick to resolve issues. Moreover, if we need to create a ticket with the equipment vendor, they’re also good at assisting with that.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything for Katalyst Network Group to improve. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I recommend communicating with Katalyst Network Group and building a solid relationship with them as we have. If I’m not at the office, anyone can still contact the Katalyst Network Group and ask for assistance. Katalyst Network Group knows our organization, and I trust them completely with our information’s security.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Director of Information Technology for a municipality/local government.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Katalyst Network Group?

We hired Katalyst for our IT Managed Services to do two things. One, to assist with 24/7 monitoring and support of our critical infrastructure. Two, to provide prepaid engineering hours to be used for assistance when expertise was needed.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

I continue to select Katalyst as they offer good service and have become very familiar with my environment. I shop other providers occassionally to make sure that Katalyst is competitively priced.

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

Key network equipment is monitored remotely 24/7 by Katalyst. Equipment includes core switches, routers, server host, virtual environment, and some key server virtual machines.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

Generally four. A couple people as account reps, a primary engineer, and a project manager. Other engineers along the way as needed.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Proactive response to issues is a success, as Katalyst knows if I have problems as soon as I do. They are often working to use better products for monitoring and dial in alerts to minimize any false alarms.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Katalyst engineers manage their projects well, but a project manager can be assigned for larger issues.

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

Appropriately sized! Big enough to handle complex projects but small enough to feel intimate.

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

There isn't anything they need to improve on.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Javara is an emerging organization in the clinical research industry. We partner with large healthcare organizations across the U.S. to bring clinical research as a care option directly to patients at the point of care. As the Director of Technology, my focus was on the technical infrastructure of the entire organization, as well as, end-user services.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Katalyst Network Group?

We were looking for expertise in computer networking and in the cyber security space. We looked to Katalyst to conduct a full network analysis & roadmap, a full security analysis & roadmap, and penetration testing.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

There are two answers to this. 1) Katalyst was strongly recommended to us by a clinical research industry consultant. 2) I worked with Katalyst while employed by a different company in the past. The Katalyst reputation is strong.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

After SOWs were executed, we were assigned a project manager who lead the majority of the project(s) in terms of coordination, communication, milestone tracking, etc. We worked with different individuals based on the segment of the SOW. Network analysis was completed by a network specialist at Katalyst. This individual gained read access to our environment and assessed our infrastructure model, policies, configurations, hardware, and topologies.

After this assessment, the deliverable was a thorough analysis of our infrastructure complete with top-priority recommendations and a strategic roadmap. In parallel to this SOW, Katalyst ran another project aimed at our security posture. This was a much longer assessment mainly because of all of the levels of traditional security, as well as, healthcare regulatory policies, laws, and frameworks. For the security SOW, we had a dedicated security specialist that essentially embedded themselves into our organization for 45 days or so and looked at absolutely everything in terms of security. It was impressive!

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

Project Manager, Account Manager, two Engineers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project was completed and delivered on time, the readout was thorough and detailed. I would say the project was a success and identified areas of improvement.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We communicated at least weekly. We worked together seamlessly and effectively. The engineers even provided guidance on some areas outside of the SOWs.

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

Katalyst Network Group's attention to detail was unmatched. The readout presentation and deliverables were the best I have ever seen and our executive team has echoed that same sentiment. Katalyst created a clear path forward for our organization.

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

Keep those Engineers around. Hold on tight to Uriah! Hire more engineers of his quality.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the IT supervisor for Catawba Valley Healthcare (formerly Catawba Valley Behavioral Healthcare

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Katalyst Network Group?

We needed faster internal speeds to match our faster internet speeds and Katalyst has searched, found and ordered equipment to that end.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We have relied on Katalyst for years. They are professional and cognizant of our being a non-profit healthcare provider, They have served us well and we have no reason to change vendors.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

We got our internet provider to increase our speed not realizing that our switches and firewall would not handle the increased speed. We contacted Katalyst and they went to work in diagnosing our problems and suggested the best solution. That done, they have ordered replacement switches and already have installed a new firewall.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

Patrick C.is our account rep, Josh C.is the solutions engineer who diagnosed and suggested the best solution. Heath Bryson is also a solutions engineer and he has installed phase 1 (the firewall) already.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We don't have enough of the solution installed (back log of equipment as do all IT manufacturers, so we have progress, but not the full success which we are certain to have.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very effective. Katalyst people are professional, caring, and thorough and we have always appreciated their services.

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

Their understanding of our nonprofit status, and equally impressive is their expertise in computer networks.

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

I can't think of anything. No

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am Director of IT for a mid-sized credit union.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Katalyst Network Group?

Katalyst was hired to design and assist with implementation of a more robust network connecting our branches and ITMs back to our data centers. The goal was to improve redundancy, increase bandwidth, and reduce administrative burdens associated with static networks.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We have been a long-time Katalyst customer.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

We requested Katalyst's assistance in engineering a solution to fit our needs. Katalyst reviewed our current infrastructure and proposed a cost-effective solution to upgrade our existing routers to SDWAN routers, then redesign the branch networks to allow multiple redundant connections back to our data centers. Katalyst engineers assisted us with the headend implementation and the initial branch installation. They also provided remote support after handing off the project for our internal engineer to complete.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

Our PM, one engineer and one sub-contracted engineer. Our account exec also kept an eye on the overall project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We currently have 40% of our branches converted over to SDWAN, and plan to have the remaining branches switched by end of year.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

There were project delays on our end due to staff changes and competing internal priorities, but Katalyst rolled with the changed timeline allowing for success of the project.

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

Katalyst took a very hands-on approach to client management. They took the time to build a deep relationship with us, allowing them to gain in-depth knowledge of our systems, resulting in great solutions to whatever challenges we throw at them.

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

None

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the network manager of a worldwide manufacturing company specializing in adhesive tape products. We have several locations outside of the US and 19 locations in the US counting data centers

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Katalyst Network Group?

Upgrading Cisco ISE from 2.6 to 3.1 version had to be done with as little disruption as possible as several of our sites operate 24/7 and can not accept any downtime. We also had to make several policy changes to make the network access more secure.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We talked to several of our existing vendors and Katalyst had the expertise we were looking for. We have also used them for other networking projects in the past and been very pleased with the quality of their engineers.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

We detailed out a step by step process that would allow us to upgrade each individual VM one at a time. This allowed the others to handle the required authentication while each server was upgraded. We have three ISE servers in the US and one in Europe. After all the servers were upgraded 3.1 and patched we looked at making the policy changes needed to lock down the network more securely.

We tested the changes initially in one building with a limited set of users and when we were happy with the configuration - applied it to all locations. The US and Europe have different requirements for access and that was taken into account.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We had one project manager coordinating the project but we primarily worked with one engineer. Before doing the actual implementation we had several meeting with their security staff to make sure what we wanted to do was best practice and asked what could be done long term after the actual upgrade to improve our posture.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Doing this as a project and not time/materials made sure that we had a dedicated resource assigned to us and helped to accelerate the project. Probably the best sign of success is that no one noticed that we had upgraded the system as there was not any downtime. It went very well thanks to the quality of the engineer assigned to us.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Everything was completed in a timely manner. Being able to directly work with their engineer helped to facilitate progress and keep everything on track. The project did take several months but only because of our limited resources and testing of the new policies. The actual upgrade only took 1 day.

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

We have been dealing with Katalyst for many years. We have always found them responsive to our needs. We have had several different account managers over the years and they just seem to keep getting better. One thing I really like is that if they do not feel comfortable helping with a specific technology or have the required expertise then they are not afraid to let you know or help find it outside their company. They have some good partnerships that help to fill in any of the limited gaps that may arise.

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

While I do understand that part of the issue is time (ours and theirs), knowledge transfer could be improved. While the engineers are good with their technical knowledge - not all are as good with documentation.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a network administrator for a city administration.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Katalyst Network Group?

We hired them for cybersecurity.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Katalyst Network Group provides us with cybersecurity and managed IT services. Initially, they did their due diligence and some exploratory work; we provided them with the required information, and they assessed our systems. The team has purchased and installed hardware and software for us. Although they mostly provide offsite support, they also offer on-site support. 

What is the team composition?

I work with several engineers from Katalyst Network Group and a couple of teammates from their sales department. 

How did you come to work with Katalyst Network Group?

Katalyst Network Group works with other state agencies; we found them by seeing their name come up in discussions with IT managers in the state.

What is the status of this engagement?

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

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I’ve been extremely pleased with Katalyst Network Group. Their engineering team is extremely knowledgeable about all the services we’ve requested. 

How did Katalyst Network Group perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re very good at delivering on time and within budget. We communicate through phone calls, email, and Microsoft Teams. Although they use a ticketing system, we don’t interface with it. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Katalyst Network Group’s biggest strength is its responsiveness to our needs. Once we start a ticket, they bring in subject matter experts for valuable discussions. I’m impressed with the depth of their engineering bench — they have teammates for each area we’ve needed to address. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

We haven’t had any issues with their services. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I advise having many discussions before you engage with Katalyst Network Group and ensuring the sales team gets all the necessary information. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Information Technology Manager of a local government

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Local Government providing services for the public.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Katalyst Network Group to accomplish?

• Managed Services
• Project Management

SOLUTION

How did you find Katalyst Network Group?

Referral

Why did you select Katalyst Network Group over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Katalyst Network Group were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Helps the county with different IT projects. Assists with deployment and configurations of firewalls and switches is needed.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Communication was reestablished between sites that needed firewalls configured and deployed.

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

Response to needs were met. Projects are always done professionally. Timeline was met.

What was your primary form of communication with Katalyst Network Group?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Communication with Josh is always well. He's reachable whenever I need him. They always respond in a timely manner and surpass my expectations.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Katalyst Network Group could have done differently?

Unmanaged services can sometimes take a while to get scheduled.