CIO Solutions Recognized on CRN 2024 MSP 500 List

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CIO Solutions Recognized on CRN® 2024 MSP 500 List

Santa Barbara, CA, February 13, 2024 — CIO Solutions, Productivity Enhanced, announced today that CRN®, a brand of The Channel Company, has named CIO Solutions to its Managed Service Provider (MSP) 500 list in the MSP Pioneer 250 category for 2024.

The MSP 500 list is compiled by CRN annually and serves as a comprehensive guide to identifying and recognizing the top Managed Service Providers (MSPs) in North America. The MSP 500 list aims to showcase and celebrate MSPs that are driving growth and innovation in the industry. These service providers not only enable businesses to harness complex technologies but also contribute to maintaining a strong focus on core business goals without stretching financial resources.

The MSP Pioneer 250 section of the annual MSP 500 list recognizes companies with business models weighted toward managed services and largely focused on the SMB market. By providing comprehensive managed strategy, infrastructure, and support services, MSPs like CIO Solutions offer small to medium businesses access to the resources and benefits of a robust IT department without the hassle and cost of building and managing it themselves. Access to these expert services is more important than ever in today’s technology-dependent business landscape. For those businesses, MSPs enhance efficiency, simplify technology management, mature IT solutions, and optimize return on IT investments.

CIO Solutions serves over 300 California businesses ranging in size from 10-500+ employees. Their services include a robust support system designed with a “first contact resolution” support model, strategic technology planning services, a dedicated network operations center, and extensive infrastructure project and management services. Over the past 10 years, they have expanded their geographical reach to better serve clients throughout Central California and beyond, with three locally serving offices and 100 employees overall.

They embrace a forward-thinking approach and offer solutions that are not only proven and tested, but innovative. Among CIO Solutions’ offerings are advanced cloud computing, next-generation managed security, and modern office solutions. They maintain global partnerships including Citrix, Microsoft, Datto, and CrowdStrike.

Jennifer Follett, VP of US Content and executive Editor CRN, The Channel Company, emphasized the significance of managed services for businesses at various scales, stating, “Managed services provide a route for businesses of all sizes to maintain efficiency and adaptability throughout their growth journey. The solution providers featured in our 2024 MSP 500 list are introducing cutting-edge managed services portfolios to the market, enabling their clients to achieve success by optimizing their IT budgets. This allows businesses to allocate resources strategically, concentrating on mission-critical tasks that drive future success.”

Eric Egolf, CEO of CIO Solutions, says “We are thrilled to be recognized as an MSP 500 recipient. It is a reflection of our focus on matching our service offerings with the constantly evolving landscape in the MSP space. It’s fun to remember how different that MSP space was just 6 years ago and how quickly it continues to evolve.”

The MSP 500 list will be featured in the February 2024 issue of CRN and online at www.crn.com/msp500.

About CIO Solutions

CIO Solutions, a leading IT solutions provider based in California, has been delivering expert IT services and exceptional customer service since its establishment in 1986. With offices in Santa Barbara, Fresno, and San Luis Obispo, CIO Solutions offers innovative solutions across a wide range of sectors to ensure clients can maximize their time and resources through effective technology. CIO Solutions continues to grow year after year, driven by their mission to enrich lives through technology. www.ciosolutions.com

About The Channel Company

The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers and end users. Backed by more than 40 years of unequalled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelco.com

Follow The Channel Company: Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

© 2024 The Channel Company LLC. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, LLC. All rights reserved.

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CIO Solutions Voted Top 3 Best Technology Companies

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Thank You Fresno Customers and The Business Journal

CIO Solutions extends our heartfelt gratitude to our esteemed Fresno customers and The Business Journal for recognizing us as one of the Top 3 Best Technology Companies in The Central Valley. This acknowledgment is a testament to our unwavering commitment to serving the Fresno community with excellence.

Being acknowledged among the best companies serving our local business community by The Business Journal is truly exciting. The organization’s commitment to celebrating business achievements and fostering community spirit through engaging events like the annual Best of Central Valley Business Readers Choice Awards is commendable and we’re honored to be acknowledged within such a dynamic group.

(L to R) Derrick Herdewel, vCIO, Kristeen Paraguas, Director of Service, Maniver Sandhu, Customer Success Manager, Michael Barnes, Senior Engineer

(L to R) Derrick Herdewel, vCIO, Kristeen Paraguas, Director of Service, Maniver Sandhu, Customer Success Manager, Michael Barnes, Senior Engineer

To celebrate this achievement, a few members of our top-notch team (pictured above) took a break from behind the screens to celebrate. This gathering reminded us of the strong community ties we share and the collective success we’ve achieved together.

This recognition isn’t just an accolade for us; it’s a reflection of the trust and confidence our customers have in our services. We’re deeply humbled by the fact that our customers and community took the time to cast their votes for CIO Solutions. Your belief in our services motivates us to continually strive for excellence and push the possibilities of what exceptional IT service means.

Our heartfelt thanks go out to our valued Central Valley customers and The Business Journal for this incredible recognition. We remain steadfast in our commitment to delivering top-notch IT services and look forward to continuing our journey of innovation, reliability, and customer satisfaction.

CIO Solutions Acquires Compass Consulting in Ventura

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CIO Solutions Acquires Compass Consulting

July 13, 2023, Ventura, Calif. – CIO Solutions, one of the Central Coast’s leading Computer Consulting and Network Management companies, has acquired Compass Consulting, further expanding its local presence. Compass Consulting is a Ventura County-based Information Technology consulting and managed services firm, providing cloud solutions, managed IT services, software development, and IT consulting to small and medium size businesses.

“We want to assure everyone that Compass Consulting and its employees are not going away, nor is their location changing,” explained CIO Solutions’ CEO, Eric Egolf.  “This acquisition will simply enhance and expand the company’s services. The alignment of our two companies, which share similar values, will provide current and future clients with more security solutions, cloud solutions, more co-managed IT options for customers with internal IT departments, and more growth opportunities for existing Compass employees. This acquisition will also lead to more local job opportunities down the road.”

Headquartered in Goleta, California just outside of Santa Barbara, CIO Solutions has additional offices in San Luis Obispo and Fresno. The company plans to bring Compass Consulting clients an upgrade to Security Operations managed by CIO Solutions Network Operations Center; an advanced network monitoring system and additional manufacturer options for equipment replacements including Datto, Palo Alto Networks, Watchguard, Juniper and more.

Compass Consulting’s name will initially transition to Compass Consulting Powered by CIO Solutions. Eventually, everything will converge under the CIO Solutions name, according to Mr. Egolf.

Darin Selfridge, Compass Consulting’s current CEO, will transition into the position of virtual Chief Information Officer (vCIO) after the acquisition. He said, “We are looking forward to becoming part of CIO Solutions — an industry leader with local roots that has a wider breadth and depth of capabilities to meet our customers’ needs. It’s a win-win for everyone – our company, their company, all our clients, and Ventura County as a whole. Our clients will continue to be serviced by the same world-class Compass technical staff; our service processes will operate the way they always have; and our response times will remain the same. In my new position, I will also still be our clients’ relationship manager.

“There are no current plans to increase monthly pricing or rates. Any changes in pricing will be communicated months in advance. When you’re seeking computer and networking help, there’s nothing that beats having a trusted partner when the capabilities align, because these are the folks who will best understand and be able to respond quickly to your needs.”

In the coming months, CIO Solutions will also add these capabilities and solutions to the Compass team: the availability of a large team of Citrix Experts; additional Security Capabilities around the CrowdStrike Ecosystem; a First Call Resolution Support Department that will address clients’ needs on the first call; a dedicated Network Operations Center; and options for “co-managed tools” which will allow clients’ IT departments to use some of the same tools CIO Solutions uses.

CIO Solutions has been providing IT management and consulting services to Central Coast companies and organizations – large and small — since 1986.  Many of their clients are medium-sized businesses with 10 to 400 employees. Some of their larger clients have included the cities of San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria, Arroyo Grande, Atascadero, Paso Robles, the Santa Maria School District, OK Produce, Teter and EyeQ.

“From day one our goal has been to tailor our services for both small and large businesses and to provide IT options that did not exist before,” explained Mr. Egolf, who has been with the company since 2004. “As we have evolved, so has our ability to meet our clients right where they are in their growth curve, not just where we are. It’s become a win/win solution that works for everyone, one that frankly makes our jobs more interesting, challenging, and fun. Our local locations in Ventura, Santa Barbara/Goleta, San Luis Obispo, and Fresno enable us to provide faster response/resolution times to our clients in these areas and provide each customer with the right mix of remote and onsite support.”

Today, CIO Solutions employs a total of 92 employees, who service more than 250 clients from Fresno to Paso Robles down the coast to Los Angeles, as well as national and global clients.  The acquisition of Compass Consulting will take the company to 100 employees.

To learn more, visit ciosolutions.com or compassconsult.com online or phone  805.692-6700

CIO Solutions Receives SOC 2 Type II Attestation

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CIO Solutions Receives SOC 2 Type II Attestation

Independent Audit Verifies CIO Solutions’ Internal Controls and Processes

Santa Barbara, CA – January 2023 – CIO Solutions, a leading local IT Management and Cloud solution provider, announced that it has again completed its SOC 2 Type II audit. Performed by KirkpatrickPrice, this attestation provides evidence that CIO Solutions has a strong commitment to security and to delivering high-quality services to its clients by demonstrating that they have the necessary internal controls and processes in place.

A SOC 2 audit provides an independent, third-party validation that a service organization’s information security practices meet industry standards stipulated by the AICPA. During the audit, a service organization’s non-financial reporting controls as they relate to security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy of a system are tested. The SOC 2 report delivered by KirkpatrickPrice verifies the suitability of the design and operating effectiveness of CIO Solutions’ controls to meet the standards for these criteria.

“We like knowing our operations, data integrity and data security practices are reviewed by a 3rd party to the highest of standards. Kirkpatrick Price uses the SOC 2 audit to achieve this goal,” said Eric Egolf, CEO of CIO Solutions.

“The SOC 2 audit is based on the Trust Services Criteria,” said Joseph Kirkpatrick, President of KirkpatrickPrice. “CIO Solutions delivers trust-based services to their clients, and by communicating the results of this audit, their clients can be assured of their reliance on CIO Solutions’ controls.”

About CIO Solutions

CIO Solutions provides premium IT management services, including private cloud solutions, to small and large businesses and non-profit organizations across the Central Coast and Central Valley of California. They live out their mission statement “productivity enhanced, lives enriched” by enabling businesses to maximize their time and resources through technology.

They have been around for over 3 decades and continue to grow each year with one goal in mind – to provide their clients with expert custom IT solutions supported by first-rate customer service. Their team of 85+ employees serves clients from their offices in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Fresno, CA.

About KirkpatrickPrice:

KirkpatrickPrice is the leader in cyber security and compliance audit reports. Our experienced auditors know audits are hard, so they take complicated audits such as SOC 1, SOC 2, PCI DSS, HIPAA, HITRUST, GDPR, and ISO 27001 and make them worth it. The firm has issued over 10,000 reports to over 1,200 clients worldwide, giving its clients trusted results and the assurance they deserve. Using its Online Audit Manager, the world’s first compliance platform, KirkpatrickPrice partners its clients with an expert to guide them through the entire audit process, from audit readiness to final report.  For more information, visit www.kirkpatrickprice.com, follow KirkpatrickPrice on LinkedIn, or subscribe to our YouTube channel.

CIO Solutions’ President Russ Levanway Expands His “Reach” in San Luis Obispo

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CIO Solutions’ President Russ Levanway Expands His “Reach” in San Luis Obispo

September 24, 2021, San Luis Obispo, Calif. – Fulfilling a personal mission, CIO Solutions’ President, Russ Levanway, is moving forward with a planned multi-month professional transition from his corporate job to the non-profit world in San Luis Obispo. CIO Solutions, where he has worked for the last four years following the company’s acquisition of TekTegrity, provides premier IT services and IT management solutions to a whole host of companies ranging from 10 to 500 employees in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Fresno Counties — the widest range of IT Management Solutions available for companies who want premier local support.

“When CIO Solutions acquired TekTegrity four years ago, and I remained as President after 12 years with the latter company while Eric Egolf continued his role of CEO, it was with the goal of successfully merging both teams to provide better service to our clients,” Mr. Levanway explained. “TekTegrity moved under the company mantle of ‘CIO Solutions’. Since then, we have successfully completed some major mutual milestones that were key to the success of the alliance between CIO & TekTegrity.  Biggest among those was a true integration of our companies – culturally, as well as merging our leadership teams, operations, and our joint way of doing things. I couldn’t be happier with the outcome and feel that I have completed my combined 16-year mission with both companies. I’m ready to give back to the community in a new way and plan to slowly transition into a new role over several months starting in November – to work on the team of a local nonprofit that is focused on regional economic development. It’s a win-win all the way around.”

“CIO Solutions inherited a strong management team from Russ and TekTegrity,” Mr. Egolf said, “one that merged well with our own team. The group is now one cohesive whole — a unified company of people who share a similar passion for IT Management, with a solid focus on community.  We are thrilled that we have reached a collective point where Russ can now continue the journey he has wanted for a long time — to use his talents in the non-profit world while letting the team he helped develop at CIO Solutions take the company to new heights.”

“We withstood a big test this last year through COVID,” Mr. Levanway added. “Covid had the potential to cause chaos within our organization, but instead we continued to thrive, because our culture was strong enough to weather it.  I’m really proud of what Eric and our entire crew have accomplished, and I feel great that I was able to play a big role in this growing company’s success.

With 85 employees and an eye toward more hiring, CIO Solutions currently has the widest range of IT Management Solutions available for companies who want top-of-the-line, 24/7 local support.

“CIO Solutions, with Eric Egolf’s leadership, has built a strong brand throughout San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Fresno Counties,” Mr. Levanway continued, “by fiercely focusing on customer service, with a simultaneous commitment to building a fun, vibrant office culture with growth opportunities for the team.  With this and certain other key milestones on a very good trajectory, I feel it is time to begin the process of a leadership transition and  hand off, over the next several months, the reins of my day-to-day responsibilities to other members of our CIO team who’ve earned the opportunity to grow their own careers.  I am looking forward to a new personal chapter of increased local involvement in San Luis Obispo.”

Mr. Levanway will slowly transition from CIO Solutions to a non-profit called REACH, a regional economic action coalition uniting public, private and civic leaders with a common vision and mission to increase economic prosperity and quality of life across the Central Coast of California. To learn more, visit www.ciosolutions.com or phone CIO Solutions-SLO at 1.888.662.9084.