Spring has come in like a lion for us here at Accent – I’m not talking about the weather!
Activity throughout the company has been high, including our onboarding teams who have been getting new clients up and running on our support system. We are so very thankful for the companies who’ve put their trust in us to help with their technology challenges.
We see this arrival of new business as an indication that Southern California companies are feeling confidence in the future and are ready to invest in change. For everyone’s benefit, I hope this trend of recovery continues!
There are a few common themes that have caused this influx of new opportunity to come our way.
1. Overall Dissatisfaction with Their Previous IT Support Provider
During the first three months of 2021, we began our partnership with 11 new companies to provide either supplemental or all-inclusive IT support services. We have not seen this type of Q1 activity in a very long time.
Now more than ever, companies are recognizing that they may need IT services beyond the scope of what they’re currently getting. In a world of work from home (WFH), businesses need a comprehensive team that can handle a magnitude of IT support, security, and compliance-related services.
2. Security Accountability Through Compliance is Mandatory
Companies in the Department of Defense supply chain are facing a relatively new regulation called Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC). This model aims to have cybersecurity as part of a company’s culture. The practices it requires can be difficult to interpret, which is why we began an initiative last year to further support these companies.
Accent has become a Registered Provider Organization (RPO), equipped to consult and assist companies on their path to CMMC compliance. Our Professional Services team is also trained to work alongside our CMMC consultants (who are Registered Practitioners) and implement recommendations that will allow the company to keep their current DoD contracts.
Turns out, most of the requirements in CMMC are around good cybersecurity hygiene, protection of data, and good documentation.
Accountability for security is new to many of the companies that have to comply with CMMC and they need help. This has our phone ringing off the hook, and it has only just begun.
Related: [Video] Getting Started with CMMC: Assessment First Steps That Answer What, Where, & How
3. IT Projects Are Moving Off the Back Burner
Nonessential projects were put on hold by most businesses in 2020. The uncertainty of how long the pandemic would last caused business leaders everywhere to delay improvements and conserve cash.
This month, the conservation mindset began to shift and IT projects that were on-hold are moving forward. For example, we’re seeing cloud migrations like never before.
As many organizations continue to have at least part of their workforce work from home (WFH) in some capacity, they’re rethinking their physical office space – which means space for onsite IT equipment may not be available or convenient. Applications like Azure, Office 365, and Teams are taking the place of many physical file servers, email servers, and phone systems.
I'm encouraged to see what is happening in our business climate now. I’m thankful that we’re able to help those companies that desperately need to get back to full capacity.
Have a great April!
Marty
