Lubbock, TX – September 2024 – Blue Layer is proud to announce the launch of an innovative staff verification system designed to enhance trust and security in all customer interactions. As one of the first Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to offer this cutting-edge solution, Blue Layer is setting a new standard in ensuring that our customers can confidently verify the identity of our technicians—whether on the phone or in person.
How It Works
At the core of this system is our secure ID Token technology. Each of our technicians is assigned a unique identity token that can be verified by our customers at any time. These tokens are refreshed every few minutes, ensuring that the identity provided is always authentic and up-to-date. This continuous refresh guarantees that the person you are speaking with is backed by Blue Layer and is fully authorized to assist you.
A New Level of Trust
By implementing this token-based verification, Blue Layer provides a seamless way for customers to verify the identity of our team. Whether interacting with a technician over the phone or meeting in person, you can trust with complete confidence that the individual is a verified representative of Blue Layer.
Leading the Industry in Security
As one of the first MSPs to deploy a staff verification system, we are taking proactive steps to build stronger relationships with our customers by ensuring trust at every point of contact. This initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to security and innovation in the IT industry.
Looking Ahead to 2025
As we move into 2025, Blue Layer is focused on strengthening security measures between our technicians and customers. Our goal is simple: to make sure every interaction you have with us is secure, verified, and trusted.
For more information about our verification system or how it works, please contact us at [email protected] or call 806.687.4765.
Blue Layer, a leading technology solutions provider, has announced its acquisition of Texas Computer Works, a well-known computer repair and support service provider in Central Texas.
The acquisition will enhance Blue Layer’s ability to provide comprehensive technology solutions to its customers, including hardware and software support, network design, installation, and managed services. Texas Computer Works has a strong reputation for its customer service and technical expertise, and the acquisition allows Texas Computer Works to expand its service under Blue Layer throughout the Central Texas area.
“We are excited to welcome Texas Computer Works to the Blue Layer family,” said Jeromy Mallory, CEO of Blue Layer. “Their expertise in computer repair and support will be a valuable addition to our services, and we look forward to working together to provide even better technology solutions to all our customers.”
Blue Layer plans to merge Texas Computer Works into Blue Layer’s existing business by retaining the company’s existing staff, leadership, and clientele. The acquisition is expected to be complete in the coming weeks.
“Joining forces with Blue Layer will allow us to better serve our customers and expand our capabilities,” said Steven Youngman, CEO of Texas Computer Works. “We are excited to be part of a leading technology solutions provider and look forward to the opportunities this acquisition brings.”
The acquisition is the latest in a series of strategic moves by Blue Layer to enhance its position in the Managed Services, Co-Managed Services, and Advisory Services technology consulting space. As a customer service company focused on technology, this strategic acquisition strengthens Blue Layer’s commitment to customer service and our client’s success.
For the ninth consecutive year, Blue Layer has been selected as one of the world’s premier managed service providers in the prestigious 2022 Channel Futures MSP 501 rankings.
For the past 16 years, managed service providers (MSPs) from around the globe have submitted applications to be included on this prestigious and definitive listing. The Channel Futures MSP 501 survey examines organizational performance based on annual sales, recurring revenue, profit margins, revenue mix, growth opportunities, innovation, technology solutions supported, and company and customer demographics.
MSPs that qualify for the list must pass a rigorous review conducted by the research team and editors of Channel Futures. It ranks applicants using a unique methodology that weighs financial performance according to long-term health and viability, commitment to recurring revenue and operational efficiency.
Channel Futures is pleased to name Blue Layer to the 2022 MSP 501.
This year’s list once again attracted a record number of applicants, making it one of the most competitive in the survey’s history. Winners are being recognized on the Channel Futures website and will be honored at a special ceremony at the Channel Futures MSP Summit + Channel Partners Leadership Summit, Sept. 13-16, in Orlando, Florida.
Since its inception, the MSP 501 has evolved from a competitive ranking into a vibrant group of innovators focused on high levels of customer satisfaction at small, medium and large organizations in public and private sectors. Today, many of their services and technology offerings focus on growing customer needs in the areas of cloud, security, collaboration and support of hybrid work forces.
“The 2022 Channel Futures MSP 501 winners are the highest-performing and most innovative IT providers in the industry today,” said Allison Francis, senior news editor for Channel Futures. “The 501 has truly evolved with the MSP market, as showcased by this year’s crop of winners. This is also the fifth consecutive year of application pool growth, making this year’s list one of the best on record.”
“We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the 2022 winners, and gratitude to the thousands of MSPs that have contributed to the continuing growth and success of the managed services sector,” said Kelly Danziger, general manager of Informa Tech Channels. “These providers are most certainly driving a new wave of innovation in the industry and are demonstrating a commitment to moving the MSP and entire channel forward.”
Click here to see Blue Layer’s award-winning line of managed services at work for you.
Background
The 2022 MSP 501 list is based on confidential data collected and analyzed by the Channel Futures editorial and research teams. Data was collected online from Feb. 1-April 30, 2022. The MSP 501 list recognizes top managed service providers based on metrics including recurring revenue, profit margin and other factors.
About Blue Layer
Blue Layer was founded in 2002 following years of experience in the computer and networking industry, where we learned how to best meet the unique needs of businesses. As our company continues to evolve, we make it a priority to propel ourselves and our clients forward with innovations in business technology. With our focus on responsible and right-sized technology consulting, our clients benefit from our expertise in Managed Services, Cybersecurity, Disaster Recovery, Mobility and Unified Communications.
About Channel Futures
Channel Futures is a media and events platform serving companies in the IT channel industry with insights, industry analysis, peer engagement, business information, and in-person events. They are a part of Informa Tech, a market-leading B2B information provider with depth and specialization in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector. Every year, they welcome 7,400+ subscribers to their research, more than 3.8 million unique visitors a month to their digital communities, 18,200+ students to their training programs, and 225,000 delegates to their events.
CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, has named Blue Layer to its Managed Service Provider (MSP) list in the Pioneering 250 category for 2022. CRN’S annual MSP 500 list identifies the leading service providers in North America whose forward-thinking approaches to managed services are changing the landscape of the IT channel, helping end-users increase efficiency and simplify IT solutions while maximizing their return on investment.
With many customers still recovering from the impact of the ongoing pandemic, MSPs have become a vital part of the success of businesses worldwide. MSPs not only empower organizations to leverage intricate technologies but also help them keep a strict focus on their core business goals without straining their budgets.
“In addition to having to adjust their own business operations to account for the changed conditions during the pandemic, MSPs have also seen increased demand for their managed communications, collaboration and security services,” said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. “The solution providers on our 2022 MSP 500 list deserve credit for their innovative and game-changing approaches to managed services in these unpredictable times, as well as their ability to optimize operational efficiencies and systems without straining IT budgets.”
2022 marks the third year in a row that Blue Layer has been recognized on the MSP 500. Our spot in the Pioneering 250 category recognizes companies with business models weighted toward managed services and primarily focused on the SMB market and confirms our ability to deliver leading managed services worthy of industry recognition.
“We are thrilled and honored to be a part of CRN’s Pioneering 250 list for the third year in a row,” said Blue Layer COO Michael Strong. “Industry recognition is one of the most shining indicators of our experience, superior performance, and an unrelenting dedication to providing customers with right-sized managed services they can count on around the clock. I’m proud of our team for this achievement and thankful for our customers’ lasting trust.”
The MSP 500 list was featured in the February 2022 issue of CRN and online at www.crn.com/msp500.
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 30 years of unequaled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelcompany.com
About Blue Layer
Blue Layer was founded in 2002 after years of experience in the computer and networking industry and learning how to best meet the unique needs of businesses. As the company evolved, it became a priority to propel the business and its clients forward with innovations in technology. With a focus on responsible and right-sized technology consulting, Blue Layer’s clients benefit from expertise in Managed Services, Cybersecurity, Disaster Recovery, Mobility, Unified Communications, and more.
Inc. Magazine has revealed that Blue Layer is No. 3571 on its annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economy’s most dynamic segment—its independent small businesses.
“Every year, the Inc. 5000 gives the world a rigorously-vetted glimpse into what it takes to rank among our country’s fastest-growing private businesses,” said Michael Strong, Blue Layer COO. “Inclusion on this year’s version of the Inc. 5000 proves another level of resilience, and we are proud that our success with our clients has allowed a position on it once again.”
This year’s list proved especially resilient and flexible given 2020’s unprecedented challenges. Among the 5,000, the average median three-year growth rate soared 543%, and median revenue reached $11.1 million. Together, those companies added more than 610,000 jobs over the past three years.
“The 2021 Inc. 5000 list feels like one of the most important rosters of companies ever compiled,” says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. “Building one of the fastest-growing companies in America in any year is a remarkable achievement. Building one in the crisis we’ve lived through is just plain amazing. This kind of accomplishment comes with hard work, smart pivots, great leadership, and the help of a whole lot of people.”
Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found here.
Methodology
Companies on the 2021 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2017 to 2020. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2017. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2020. (Since then, some on the list may have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2017 is $100,000; the minimum for 2020 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Growth rates used to determine company rankings were calculated to three decimal places.
About Inc. Media
The world’s most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels, including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Vision Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com or http://conference.inc.com/.
For the eighth consecutive year, Blue Layer has been selected as one of the technology industry’s top-performing providers of managed services by the editors of Channel Futures.
For the past 15 years, MSPs from around the globe have submitted applications to be included on this prestigious and definitive list. The Channel Futures MSP 501 survey examines organization performance based on annual sales, recurring revenue, profit margins, revenue mix, growth opportunities, innovation, technology solutions supported, and company and customer demographics.
Managed services providers that qualify for the list must pass a rigorous review conducted by the research team and editors of Channel Futures that rank applicants using a unique methodology that weighs financial performance according to longer-term health and viability, commitment to recurring revenue, and operational efficiency.
This year, Channel Futures has named Blue Layer #99 on the 2021 MSP 501, a 45-spot climb from the 2020 MSP 501 ranking, and our first appearance in the Top 100.
“Year after year, our unwavering commitment to quality of service and customer care have enabled us to continue climbing the MSP 501 rankings list,” said Blue Layer COO, Michael Strong. “And now, after moving up 45 spots from last year’s list, we could not be more proud to appear in the Top 100 for the very first time at #99. We’re honored to represent West Texas on this list and look forward to providing our award-winning services for new customers throughout the region and the state.”
Since its inception, the MSP 501 has evolved from a competitive ranking into a vibrant group of innovators focused on high levels of customer satisfaction at small, medium, and large organizations in public and private sectors. Today, many of their services and technology offerings focus on growing customer needs in the areas of cloud, security, collaboration, and support of hybrid workforces.
This year’s list attracted a record number of applicants and was one of the most competitive in the survey’s history. Winners are being recognized on the Channel Futures website and will be honored at a special ceremony at the MSP Summit held on November 1st and 2nd in Las Vegas as part of the Channel Partners Conference & Expo.
“The 2021 Channel Futures MSP 501 winners are the highest-performing and most innovative IT providers in the industry today. They stand head and shoulders above the competition,” said Robert DeMarzo, vice president of content for the Channel Futures and Channel Partners Conference & Expo division of Informa Tech Channels. “Coordinated by Channel Futures MSP 501 editor Allison Francis, this year’s list was clearly one of the best ever on record.”
“Vendors that are aligned with the Channel Futures MSP 501 are driving a new wave of innovation in the industry. Through their partnerships they are demonstrating a commitment to moving the MSP and entire channel forward,” said Kelly Danziger, general manager of Informa Tech Channels. “We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the 2021 winners and gratitude to the thousands of MSPs that have contributed to the continuing growth and success of the managed services sector.”
Click here to view the full 2021 MSP 501 list and click here to see Blue Layer’s award-winning line of managed services at work for you.
Background
The 2021 MSP 501 list is based on confidential data collected and analyzed by the Channel Futures editorial and research teams. Data was collected online from March 1st – May 24th, 2021. The MSP 501 list recognizes top managed service providers based on metrics including recurring revenue, profit margin, and other factors.
About Blue Layer
For 19 years, Blue Layer has been using superior customer service and a fair pricing model to provide West Texas companies with comprehensive, “Right-Sized” IT solutions designed specifically to meet their needs. We specialize in addressing the many, ever-changing landscapes of technology, including managed services, cloud solutions, cybersecurity, networking, and monitoring.
About Channel Futures
Channel Futures is a media and events platform serving companies in the IT channel industry with insights, industry analysis, peer engagement, business information, and in-person events. They are a part of Informa tech, a market-leading B2B information provider with depth and specialization in the Information and Communications (ICT) Technology sector. Every year, they welcome 7,400+ subscribers to their research, more than 3.8 million unique visitors a month to their digital communities, 18,200+ students to their training programs, and 225,000 delegates to their events.
Inc. Magazine has revealed that Blue Layer is No. 220 on its second annual Inc. 5000 Regionals: Texas list, the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing, Texas-based private companies. Born of the annual Inc. 5000 franchise, this regional list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the Texas economy’s most dynamic segment—its independent small businesses.
The companies on this list show stunning rates of growth across all industries in Texas. Between 2017 and 2019, these 250 private companies had an average growth rate of 210%. In 2019 alone, they employed more than 44,000 people and added more than $9 billion to the Texas economy, with companies based in the largest metro areas—Dallas, Houston, and Austin—bringing in the highest revenue overall.
“Being recognized on the Inc. 5000 Regionals list for the state of Texas is a tremendous honor,” said Blue Layer COO, Michael Strong. “For decades, the Inc. 5000 has been the global standard for industry exclusivity and credibility. Now, with the regional list, Blue Layer has earned the unique opportunity to be considered among our state’s very best and fastest-growing privately-held companies.”
Methodology
The 2021 Inc. 5000 Regionals are ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2017 and 2019. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2017. They had to be U.S.-based, privately-held, for-profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2019. (Since then, a number of companies on the list have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2017 is $100,000; the minimum for 2019 is $1 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons.
“This list proves the power of companies in Texas no matter the industry,” says Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. “The impressive revenues and growth rates prove the insight and diligence of CEOs and that these businesses are here to stay.”
Complete results of the Inc. 5000 Regionals: Texas, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, metro area, and other criteria, can be found at https://www.inc.com/inc5000/regionals/texas.
Want to learn more about Blue Layer’s right-sized IT services? Contact our team to learn more about West Texas’ most recognized, award-winning MSP.
About Inc. Media
The world’s most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels, including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent.
Now a leading MSP, Blue Layer originally began in 2002 to answer the need for responsible, customer service-based, right-sized technology solutions.
Today, we’re getting to know Michael Strong, one of the brains behind Blue Layer and the industry-recognized Managed Services we’re known for providing.
Tell us a little bit about your background. What did you do before co-founding Blue Layer, and how does that contribute to what you do now as COO?
In college, I was the network and server administrator for an internet service provider based in Lubbock. I gained a lot of experience during that time working with employees and clients and also managing a wide variety of systems.
In your own words, how does Blue Layer distinguish itself as a leader in the MSP space?
We are a customer service company that just happens to do IT work for our clients. It’s been our goal from day one to provide responsible and right-sized technology consulting.
Blue Layer doesn’t shy away from its deep Lubbock roots. What does it mean to you to be a business from and operating in West Texas?
Lubbock is a community where relationships and trust go a long way in building a business and taking care of people. We’ve been fortunate to do both with the trust and support from the Lubbock community.
What has been your proudest accomplishment during your time as Blue Layer COO?
I get to see firsthand how building a business impacts not only our clients and local community, but also our team members who make everything possible. I feel like we have the best team members who go the extra mile and truly put the needs of our clients first.
Outside of the work you do at Blue Layer, what else is important to you? Where could we find you when you’re not helping businesses find right-sized IT solutions?
You’ll find me busy at home spending time with family. I’m married to my wife of 15 years with three kids: twins Kennedy and Landon (9), and Savannah (6).
What do you see in Blue Layer’s future? What are your biggest goals for the business? How (if at all) has the past year affected how you see, and are working toward, those goals?
While the past year was certainly challenging for every business, Blue Layer was impacted by the needs of our clients to work remotely and be more agile in how they complete their work both in the office and at home. Our goals are simple: to continue to care for our clients in the best possible way.
Finally, what would you say to someone who isn’t sure what they’re looking for in a partner in technology or isn’t sure of what their business needs in terms of technology?
With technology, and certainly in Managed Services, there are a lot of options. We feel that choosing the right partner for your business is all about relationships and earning trust. We work with our clients to help them raise the bar in ways that are impactful to their business. Unlike most other Managed Service Providers, Blue Layer is MSPV Certified which is a designation held by less than 2% of Managed Service Providers. With our focus on right-sized technology consulting, we have solutions to offer any business of any size.
Click here to get in touch with our team about becoming your Managed Service Provider.
We are proud to announce that Blue Layer successfully completed MSPAlliance’s MSP Verify Program (MSPV) certification process, the oldest certification program for cloud computing and managed service providers. The MSPV is based on the Unified Certification Standard TM (UCS) for Cloud and Managed Service Providers and is developed by the International Association of Cloud and Managed Service Providers. Blue Layer is now among the less than 2% of MSPs to obtain this prestigious certification.
The UCS consists of 10 control objectives and underlying controls that constitute crucial building blocks of a successful managed services (and cloud computing) practice. Once the provider’s organization has completed all MSPV documentation on all applicable control objectives (with the assistance of MSPAlliance’s readiness assessments, gap analysis, and consulting), the results are then examined by an independent third-party accounting firm for verification and signing of a public-facing report.
“The MSPV certification is a rigorous process that benchmarks and verifies the quality of the company providing cloud and/or managed services,” said Celia Weaver, MSPAlliance ® president. “We are very proud to have Blue Layer as a member of this elite community of MSPs and cloud providers.”
As with any other certification of this type, the MSPV certification must be renewed annually. The MSPV was the first certification created specifically for the managed services and cloud industry. It has been reviewed by governmental agencies and regulatory bodies worldwide, and it is used and accepted on five different continents.
“By completing the MSPV certification, we have joined the less than 2% of all MSPs on the market with this recognition,” said Blue Layer COO, Michael Strong. “The MSPV certification’s specificity when it comes to the analysis and certification of cloud and managed service providers indicates our constantly-evolving ability to provide our clients with right-sized IT services that meet standards that are even more rigorous than SOC analysis.”
As an MSPV-certified provider, Blue Layer customers can rest assured that the company has met and exceeded the following standards:
- Objective 1: Governance
- Objective 2: Policies and Procedures
- Objective 3: Confidentiality and Privacy
- Objective 4: Change Management
- Objective 5: Service Operations Management
- Objective 6: Information Security
- Objective 7: Data Management
- Objective 8: Physical Security
- Objective 9: Billing and Reporting
- Objective 10: Corporate Health
Ready to get started? Contact us today and experience our award-winning, industry recognized services for your business.
About MSPAlliance
MSPAlliance ® is a global industry association and accrediting body for the Cyber Security, Cloud Computing, and Managed Services Provider (MSP) industry. Established in 2000 with the objective of helping MSPs become better MSPs, MSPAlliance has more than 30,000 cloud computing and manage service provider corporate members across the globe and works in a collaborative effort to assist its members, along with foreign and domestic governments, on creating standards, setting policies and establishing best practices. For more information, visit http://www.mspalliance.com.
For the second consecutive year, CRN®, a brand of The Channel Company, has named Blue Layer to its 2021 Managed Service Provider (MSP) 500 list in the Pioneering 250 category. The list, released annually, recognizes the leading North American solution providers that have demonstrated innovative and forward-thinking approaches to managed services. These services help end users improve operational efficiencies and navigate the ongoing complexities of IT solutions while maximizing their return on IT investments. This is the third time Blue Layer has made the Pioneering 250 list after being recognized in 2018 and 2020.
With cutting-edge approaches to delivering managed services, MSPs have become an integral part of the success of businesses worldwide. They help empower organizations to leverage complex technologies, keeping a strict focus on their core business without straining their budgets. CRN’s 2021 MSP 500 list identifies the market’s key managed services players who are setting themselves apart with best-of-breed solutions that provide the business outcomes customers need.
The MSP 500 list is divided into three sections: the MSP Pioneer 250, recognizing companies with business models weighted toward managed services and primarily focused on the SMB market; the MSP Elite 150, recognizing large, data center-focused MSPs with a strong mix of on-premises and off-premises services; and the Managed Security 100, recognizing MSPs focused primarily on off-premises and cloud-based security services.
“Effective MSPs enable companies to focus on their core objectives while improving the quality and reliability of their cloud computing capabilities,” said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. “The solution providers on CRN’s 2021 MSP 500 list deserve recognition for their innovative and forward-thinking approaches to managed services, and the ability to optimize operational efficiencies and systems to maximize return on investments.”
“We’re honored that Blue Layer has been named to CRN’s MSP 500 list again this year, and to represent the best West Texas has to offer,” said Blue Layer COO, Michael Strong. “We’re passionate about providing custom, Right-Sized IT solutions to each of our clients with the most innovative and forward-thinking approach. I’m grateful for and proud of our team that provides this superior service each and every day.”
The MSP 500 list will be featured in the February 2021 issue of CRN and online at www.CRN.com/msp500.
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 30 years of unequaled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelcompany.com
About Blue Layer
Blue Layer was founded in 2002 after years of experience in the computer and networking industry and learning how to best meet the unique needs of businesses. As the company evolved, it became a priority to propel the business and its clients forward with innovations in technology. With a focus on responsible and right-sized technology consulting, Blue Layer’s clients benefit from expertise in Managed Services, Cybersecurity, Disaster Recovery, Mobility, Unified Communications, and more.
Blue Layer Ranks Among World’s Most Elite 501 Managed Service Providers for 7th Consecutive Year
For the seventh year in a row, Blue Layer has been named one of the world’s premier managed service providers on the prestigious 2020 annual Channel Futures MSP 501 rankings at #144. Blue Layer is the only MSP provider in the West Texas area to consistently appear on the list.
MSPs from around the globe completed an exhaustive survey and application this spring to self-report product offerings, annual total and recurring revenues, profits, revenue mix, growth opportunities, and company and customer demographic information. Applicants are ranked on a unique methodology that weights revenue figures according to long-term health and viability, commitment to recurring revenue, and operational efficiency.
“We’re incredibly proud to have ranked on the MSP 501 for the seventh year in a row,” said Blue Layer COO, Michael Strong. “Our quality of service and dedication to customer care has helped us achieve the MSP 501’s increasingly strict ranking metrics year after year, including jumping from #327 in 2019 to #144 this year. We’re honored to represent West Texas as the only provider with this consistent recognition and look forward to continuing to provide our superior services throughout the region and all across Texas.”
In the 13 years since its inception, the MSP 501 has evolved from a competitive ranking list into a vibrant group of service providers, vendors, distributors, consultants, and industry analysts working together to define the growing managed service opportunity. This year’s applicant pool grew for the third year in a row, making 2020 the most competitive list to date.
“These benchmarks are what local businesses should examine when choosing a managed service provider with the experience, skill set, business knowledge and defined strategy to help them succeed in this fast-changing digital landscape,” says Kris Blackmon, Senior Content Director, Channel Partners and Channel Futures. “In all of the managed service providers that Texas has to offer, Blue Layer stands as a shining example of excellence.”
The data collected by the annual MSP 501 program drives Channel Partners’ and Channel Futures’ market intelligence insights, creating robust data sets and data-based trend reports that support our editorial coverage, event programming, community and networking strategies, and educational offerings. It serves as a lynchpin to dozens of programs and initiatives.
The complete 2020 MSP 501 list is available at Channel Futures.
Click here to see Blue Layer’s award-winning line of managed services at work for you.
Background
The 2020 MSP 501 list is based on data collected by Channel Futures and its sister site, Channel Partners. Data was collected online from Mar. 1 through June 30, 2020. The MSP 501 list recognizes top managed service providers based on metrics, including recurring revenue, profit margin, and other factors.
About Informa Tech
Channel Futures, Channel Partners Online, Channel Partners Conference & Expo and Channel Partners Evolution are part of Informa Tech, a market-leading B2B information provider with depth and specialization in the Information and Communications (ICT) Technology sector. We help drive the future by inspiring the Technology community to design, build, and run a better digital world through our market-leading research, media, training, and event brands. Every year, we welcome 7,400+ subscribers to our research, more than 3.8 million unique visitors a month to our digital communities, 18,200+ students to our training programs, and 225,000 delegates to our events.
About Blue Layer
For 18 years, Blue Layer has been using superior customer service and a fair pricing model to provide West Texas companies with comprehensive, “Right-Sized” IT solutions designed specifically to meet their needs. We specialize in addressing the many, ever-changing landscapes of technology, including managed services, cloud solutions, cybersecurity, networking, and monitoring.
Blue Layer Ranks Among Fastest-Growing Private Companies on 2020 Inc. 5000 List
Inc. magazine has revealed that Blue Layer is #3402 on its annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economy’s most dynamic segment—its independent small businesses.
“The Inc. 5000 represents a comprehensive snapshot of growing ingenuity and innovation in America’s private business sector, and we could not be more proud to be a part of this year’s list,” said Michael Strong, Blue Layer COO. “We believe this recognition is a testament to the quality of products and services that we provide for our customers and what they can expect from us in the future.”
Not only have the companies on the 2020 Inc. 5000 been very competitive within their markets, but the list as a whole shows staggering growth compared with prior lists as well. The 2020 Inc. 5000 achieved an incredible three-year average growth of over 500 percent, and a median rate of 165 percent, with Blue Layer’s three-year average resting at an impressive 110.49%. The Inc. 5000’s aggregate revenue was $209 billion in 2019, accounting for over 1 million jobs over the past three years.
Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000. The top 500 companies are also being featured in the September issue of Inc., available on newsstands August 12.
“The companies on this year’s Inc. 5000 come from nearly every realm of business,” says Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. “From health and software to media and hospitality, the 2020 list proves that no matter the sector, incredible growth is based on the foundations of tenacity and opportunism.”
The annual Inc. 5000 event honoring the companies on the list will be held virtually from October 23 to 27, 2020. As always, speakers will include some of the greatest innovators and business leaders of our generation.
Methodology
The 2020 Inc. 5000 is ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2016 and 2019. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2016. They had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2019. (Since then, a number of companies on the list have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2016 is $100,000; the minimum for 2019 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Companies on the Inc. 500 are featured in Inc.’s September issue. They represent the top tier of the Inc. 5000, which can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000.
About Inc. Media
The world’s most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels, including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc.
Blue Layer COO, Michael Strong, Accepted Into Forbes Technology Council
Forbes Technology Council Is an Invitation-Only Community for World-Class CIOs, CTOs, and Technology Executives.
Blue Layer COO, Michael Strong, has been accepted into Forbes Technology Council, an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs, and technology executives.
Michael was vetted and selected by a review committee based on the depth and diversity of his experience. Criteria for acceptance include a track record of successfully impacting business growth metrics, as well as personal and professional achievements and honors.
“We are honored to welcome Michael into the community,” said Scott Gerber, founder of Forbes Councils, the collective that includes Forbes Technology Council. “Our mission with Forbes Councils is to bring together proven leaders from every industry, creating a curated, social capital-driven network that helps every member grow professionally and make an even greater impact on the business world.”
As an accepted member of the Council, Michael has access to a variety of exclusive opportunities designed to help him reach peak professional influence. He will connect and collaborate with other respected local leaders in a private forum. Michael will also be invited to work with a professional editorial team to share his expert insights in original business articles on Forbes.com, and to contribute to published Q&A panels alongside other experts.
Finally, Michael will benefit from exclusive access to vetted business service partners, membership-branded marketing collateral, and the high-touch support of the Forbes Councils member concierge team.
Forbes Councils is a collective of invitation-only communities created in partnership with Forbes and the expert community builders who founded Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC). In Forbes Councils, exceptional business owners and leaders come together with the people and resources that can help them thrive.
For more information about Forbes Technology Council, visit forbestechcouncil.com.
Blue Layer Achieves Dell Partner Program Gold Status
We are pleased to announce that Blue Layer has successfully completed the required credentials and competencies to become a GOLD Solution Provider member of the Dell Partner Program.
What, exactly, does that mean for Blue Layer and our clients? Let’s break it down.
For Us, Recognition for Excellence
In the Dell Technologies Partner Program, Dell recognizes its partners for their outstanding performance and ongoing commitment to Dell Technologies. Members of this program “…show a high level of commitment in selling Dell Technologies products or offering as-a-service cloud solutions powered by Dell Technologies, often with strong regional and/or market-specific expertise and customer relationships.”
For You, The Best Products and Solutions
As a GOLD Solution Provider member of the Dell Partner Program, Blue Layer provides our clients with strategic consulting services regarding Dell’s vast portfolio of products to help ensure our clients select the best products and solutions for their businesses.
By obtaining the required credentials and competencies, our team has proven that we have extensive knowledge in, and skilled resources for, providing right-sized IT solutions for all clients, regardless of what their obstacles may entail. That means more experience, better leadership, and more innovative IT being put to work for you.
Blue Layer Recognized as Top Managed Service Provider on CRN’s 2020 MSP 500 List
CRN®, a brand of The Channel Company has named Blue Layer to its 2020 Managed Service Provider (MSP) 500 list in the Pioneer 250 category. The MSP 500 list identifies North American solution providers that deliver operational efficiencies, IT system improvements, and a higher rate of return on investments for their customers. The accomplished MSPs included work tirelessly to guide their customers and create solutions for complex IT issues.
The annual list is divided into three categories: the MSP Pioneer 250, who are focused primarily on the SMB market; the MSP Elite 150, who are large data center-focused, both on and off-premises; and the Managed Security 100 made up of off-premise-focused, cloud-based IT security services.
“MSPs are the critical bridge for customers looking to assess, implement and migrate their IT and cloud solutions to drive efficiencies, lower costs and secure your environment,” said Bob Skelley, CEO of The Channel Company. “On behalf of our team at The Channel Company, I want to congratulate the accomplished companies on CRN’s 2020 MSP 500 list and thank them for their commitment to finding innovative solutions that move the IT channel forward.”
”This is the second year we have been recognized by CRN’s MSP 500 list, and we could not be prouder to have been mentioned alongside such an exceptional list of Managed Service Providers,” said Michael Strong, COO of Blue Layer. “As one of only two companies from our area that were recognized, we have cemented our position as a leading, consistent provider of innovative technology solutions in West Texas.”
The MSP500 list will be featured in the February 2020 issue of CRN and online at www.crn.com/msp500.
Click here to learn what industry-leading managed services look like.
Blue Layer Cybersecurity Seminar Recap
Blue Layer recently invited customers and local business leaders to attend our inaugural Cybersecurity Seminar hosted at the Funky Door in Lubbock, Texas. Several members of our team talked about today’s threats and how to protect your business and employees. Guest speakers included Erich Kron from KnowBe4 and Dylan Riley from RingCentral who spoke on a variety of topics from security awareness training and the technology involved in securing your phone systems.
“The challenge we find is a lot of businesses here locally in West Texas think these issues about cybersecurity are not here,” Michael Strong, Blue Layer COO said. “The fact of the matter is criminals don’t care. It’s so easy to target businesses, target users, or social engineer somebody that everybody can be a victim.”
The human factor
Kron shared his research into the psychology and strategies of attackers and how to defend your business. Today’s cyber threats focus on the people as a point of entry for opportunities to breach your company. Educating your team to understand your business and the potential weaknesses can better protect your data from the harmful threats out there.
“The thing about security in the modern-day is it has to be layered. Different layers to deal with different problems. There is no single solution for everything, so it’s important to understand where your holes are and be able to apply the correct technologies,” Kron said.
Securing phone communications
Phone systems can be a weak spot in company security if not installed and operated securely. Businesses can fall victim to cyber threats and even be charged thousands of dollars in long-distance, toll-free phone calls when attackers hack into their systems. RingCentral offers a secure platform to eliminate this threat.
“Blue Layer is actually one of our premier partners,” Riley said. “They do an excellent job on the implementation and really making that transition from your old on-premise phone system to the cloud a seamless transition.”
Blue Layer’s partnership with RingCentral has provided successful and secure communication services and transitions for many business owners in our community.
Everyone can be a victim
Many small business owners don’t think they could ever be a target to these cyber threats. However, the reality is that everybody has the potential to be hacked. Cybercriminals will take any opportunity to attack your weak spots, regardless of your location or business size.
“Cybersecurity has no borders,” Strong says. “We all need to raise the bar. We all need to be better human fire-walls and do our part to protect ourselves and protect the places in which we work.”
Click to learn more about Cybersecurity Services from Blue Layer
RingCentral Partner Spotlight: Conversation with Unified Communication Leaders
Blue Layer’s Chief Operating Officer, Michael Strong, recently sat down with our friends at RingCentral for a partner conversation in their ongoing Partner Spotlight series. Continue reading to learn more about the partnership between Blue Layer and RingCentral.
“I can get an executive that doesn’t know anything about IT, I can get him to understand that the money he spends on RingCentral today is going to work for him a year from now, that it’s not going to have to be replaced or ripped out, that if he wants to add on, bolt on, or whatever, we can get another little piece and snap it onto what he already has.”
–Michael Strong, COO of Blue Layer IT
A Partner Conversation with Michael Strong, Chief Operating Officer at Blue Layer IT
Success with RingCentral isn’t just reserved for those channel partners that are headquartered in your traditional major metropolitan areas. Day in, day out, Blue Layer IT proves that when it comes to building an exceptional book of business, the skill of the partner is far more important than the zip code in which the company operates. Michael Strong, the COO of Blue Layer IT, was kind enough to sit down with us to shed some light on how they do it.
Blue Layer IT is one of RingCentral’s more successful partners, regardless of size. How do you keep reeling in these big deals?
[Laughs] That’s the million-dollar question, right? Look, we’ve always operated with a right-sized consulting mantra in that it never made sense to use a sledgehammer to drive in a nail. We never go to clients and tell them that they have to use these specific products to do business with us. We make suggestions. We’re transparent. We keep things simple. We don’t gold plate things that don’t need to be gold plated. People are already hiring us because they don’t particularly understand everything that goes into communications technology anymore. Phones aren’t just about telephones these days; they’re about software, video, networking, bandwidth, and all these other moving parts. It’s easy for technology to quickly overwhelm a client. If you as the partner get too complex, you lose the customer. At the end of the day, we just try to have an honest conversation about how we can Company profile Blue Layer IT’s mission is to make sure a business functions at its highest potential through providing quality IT resources. They offer solutions including fully managed 24/7 IT support, unified communications, disaster recovery, cybersecurity, and security awareness training. Website bluelayer.com Headquarters Lubbock, TX “I can get an executive that doesn’t know anything about IT, I can get him to understand that the money he spends on RingCentral today is going to work for him a year from now, that it’s not going to have to be replaced or ripped out, that if he wants to add on, bolt on, or whatever, we can get another little piece and snap it onto what he already has.” –Michael Strong, COO of Blue Layer IT help, what the client’s pain points are, and go from there. Keep it simple. Deploy it right the first time. Support it for a long time. Make measurable improvements along the way. Do that, and everybody’s happy.
What about selling RingCentral specifically? Could you provide us with some insight into that?
With RingCentral, we avoid having conversations about dial tones with clients. Instead, we focus on communications, compliance, security, collaboration, functionality, teams, and mobility. We compare RingCentral to Legos for your business. You can start small and snap-on pieces later. If a client wants to dip their toes in the water and start with RingCentral Meetings, they can. They can see how it works—see how they like it—then graduate to the phone system. If they want to start with the phone system and later graduate to the contact center, they can do that too. We say it’s a solution for anybody. Whether you’re a two-person retail shop, a boutique of some sort, or a multi-branch bank with all sorts of technical issues, it’ll work for you. It gives the same two-person shop the same bells and whistles as the 300-person shop. I can get an executive that doesn’t know anything about IT, I can get him to understand that the money he spends on RingCentral today is going to work for him a year from now, that it’s not going to have to be replaced or ripped out, that if he wants to add on, bolt on, or whatever, we can get another piece and snap it onto what he already has. The money the customer spends today needs to keep working for that customer two years from now. You don’t ever want to have that conversation where you have to call up a customer and say, “Hey, remember that great thing I sold you two years ago? Yeah, now we’re going to have to rip that thing out and put this other thing is because it’s obsolete.” With RingCentral, you don’t have to worry about having those conversations. That’s why it’s the only phone option we offer. That’s why we use RingCentral in our own business.
You’ve had a lot of success with Contact Center, could you also tell us a bit about that?
From the contact center side, those conversations take longer. There are a lot more moving parts. You really have to get more buy-in from more people in the organization about how it will impact other aspects of the organization. The last RingCentral Contact Center deal we did, we had one system playing the role of the phones and another playing the role of the contact center. We introduced RingCentral as an option that would eliminate those two separate systems and combine into one platform.
What convinced you to partner with RingCentral in the first place?
Like any IT company, we have tiers of support and engineering, but I wanted everyone in our organization to be capable of supporting the unified communications platform. We didn’t want to be heavily focused on managing on-prem communications, with a lot more engineers on the ground. You need engineers physically at the customer’s site to manage the phone systems, implement configurations, et cetera. For our operation, that just didn’t work. We couldn’t care for all of our clients in other aspects of the business if we had all of our super technical people sitting in a call center answering questions. Instead, we needed something cloud-managed, so that when a client called us, my frontline help desk could offer the same level of support that my engineers could. That way, my hyper-technical engineers could be freed up to focus on actual engineering things. So yeah, I think a big part of why we partnered with RingCentral was trying to level set customer expectations with my help desk. That’s probably not your typical response, but it’s true.
What would you say is the best part about partnering with RingCentral?
I have to give you credit: RingCentral treats partners well regardless of size. Your folks are always willing to get on a plane and come out to meet a client to give them the rah-rah-rah. I mean, we’re in West Texas, Lubbock—350 miles west of Dallas. There are plenty of states where you could drive 350 miles and go from one side to the other. Texas is not one of them. In terms of markets, Lubbock’s population is about 300,000 people. We’re not really talking about opportunities for 10,000 seats in our market. And yet, one of our more recent deals— north of 300 seats—RingCentral flew in three or four people to help. We might be in West Texas, but RingCentral treats me like I’m in a metropolitan market. You give us the same TLC as someone 10 times our size. That goes a long way in helping to win clients — when a vendor will actually sit down and show the client that they’re real people. That matters.
Company profile: Blue Layer IT’s mission is to make sure a business functions at its highest potential through providing quality IT resources. They offer solutions including fully managed 24/7 IT support, unified communications, disaster recovery, cybersecurity, and security awareness training.
Website: bluelayer.com
Headquarters: Lubbock, TX
Click Here to Learn More About Blue Layer’s Unified Communications Services
Blue Layer Earns Sixth Consecutive Spot on Channel Futures List of 501 Top Managed Service Providers Worldwide
For the sixth consecutive year, Blue Layer has been named to the Channel Futures 2019 MSP 501, a list of the top Managed Service Providers (MSPs) from around the world. Companies on the list are recognized as a top MSP company for showing commitment to strategic business decisions, dedication to customer support, and intuitive knowledge of the market.
Blue Layer is the only IT provider in the West Texas area to earn this honor for six years running. According to Channel Futures, these MSPs have distinguished themselves among the largest pool of applicants the MSP 501 has ever received. 2018 was a record-breaking year for the number and quality of submissions, and 2019 increased by 35%. In the 2019 listing, Blue Layer ranks 327 out of 501 reputable businesses worldwide.
Blue Layer’s commitment to serving across all industries and providing technology consulting and support services to fit each customer’s unique needs has set us apart as a superior MSP. We are proud to serve West Texans and represent our area as a hardworking business with continual growth to be the best that we can be.
Channel Futures Ranks Blue Layer in 2018 List of Top 501 Managed Service Providers Worldwide
For the 5th year in a row, Blue Layer has been recognized on Channel Futures’ annual list of the world’s 501 top managed services providers (MSPs). This list (which is celebrating its 11th anniversary this year) serves as the ultimate guide for MSPs, ranking companies according to their “forward-thinking business strategies and ability to anticipate and act upon trends in the fast-evolving IT channel market.”
Inclusion in the MSP 501 is a prestigious honor for those that are, and Blue Layer is very proud to have once again been acknowledged alongside so many reputable managed service providers. For the first time, all 501 winners will be recognized at this year’s Channel Partners Evolution event in Philadelphia this October.
“This year’s applicant pool was the largest and most diverse in the history of the survey, and our winners represent the health and progressivity of the managed services market,” said Kris Blackmon, Channel Features content director and editor of the MSP 501. “They’re growing their revenue, expanding their customer influence and exploring new technology that will propel them for years to come.”
This year, Blue Layer ranks at number 251 of 501 businesses, moving up an impressive 65 spots from last year’s rankings. Our continuous climb toward the top of the list is indicative of the hard work we deliver to our clients every single day and our commitment to providing them with the best right-sized IT solutions in West Texas.
For more information regarding the managed services that we provide, contact us today.
Blue Layer Office Expansion Completed
On Wednesday, February 28th, Blue Layer celebrated our completed office expansion with a ribbon-cutting and reception. Five new office spaces were added including two additional executive suites, a patio, and an expanded support operations center. In addition to the expansion, we renovated areas of our existing office space with improvements to our conference room, new floors throughout the building, and some functional updates to existing offices.
Check out some of the photos below!
Blue Layer IT Recognized for Excellence in Managed IT Services
Blue Layer IT announced today that CRN®, a brand of The Channel Company, has named Blue Layer to its 2018 Managed Service Provider (MSP) 500 list in the Pioneer 250 category. This annual list recognizes North American solution providers with cutting-edge approaches to delivering managed services. Their offerings help companies navigate the complex and ever-changing landscape of IT, improve operational efficiencies, and maximize their return on IT investments.
In today’s fast-paced business environments, MSPs play an important role in helping companies leverage new technologies without straining their budgets or losing focus on their core business. CRN’s MSP 500 list shines a light on the most forward-thinking and innovative of these key organizations.
The list is divided into three categories: the MSP Pioneer 250, recognizing companies with business models weighted toward managed services and largely focused on the SMB market; the MSP Elite 150, recognizing large, data center-focused MSPs with a strong mix of on-premises and off-premises services; and the Managed Security 100, recognizing MSPs focused primarily on off-premise, cloud-based security services.
“Managed service providers have become integral to the success of businesses everywhere, both large and small,” said Bob Skelley, CEO of The Channel Company.
“Capable MSPs enable companies to take their cloud computing to the next level, streamline spending, effectively allocate limited resources and navigate the vast field of available technologies. The companies on CRN’s 2018 MSP 500 list stand out for their innovative services, excellence in adapting to customers’ changing needs and demonstrated ability to help businesses get the most out of their IT investments.”
Blue Layer is honored to be named to the Pioneer 250 List by The Channel Company and CRN. We strive to provide our clients with most trustworthy and right-sized IT. It is truly our pleasure to serve West Texas, we are very proud to represent the South Plains. With the loyalty of our clients and the team we assembled, we strongly believe that Blue Layer is the best in the business.
“At Blue Layer, our focus is to be a responsible and right-sized consulting provider for our clients, and being named to CRN Pioneer 250 is an honor for our company and would not be possible without the trust our clients have in our abilities, and the hard-work and diligent customer service provided by our team every single day.” – Michael Strong, COO
The MSP500 list will be featured in the February 2018 issue of CRN and online at www.CRN.com/msp500.
Follow Blue Layer: Twitter & Facebook
Follow The Channel Company: Twitter, LinkedIn & Facebook
Blue Layer IT
Michael Strong
Blue Layer IT
806.687.4765
The Channel Company Contact:
Melanie Turpin
The Channel Company
508.416.1195
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Staff Verification System, Ensuring Trusted and Verified Interactions
Lubbock, TX – September 2024 – Blue Layer is proud to announce the launch of an innovative staff verification system designed to enhance trust and security in all customer interactions. As one of the first Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to offer this cutting-edge solution, Blue Layer is setting a new...
Blue Layer Celebrates Office Expansion with Ribbon Cutting
For over 15 years, Blue Layer has been serving the Lubbock and South Plains communities with right-sized IT consulting.
Throughout this past year, we expanded our office by adding almost 3,000 square feet. Through this addition, we added a larger network and support solutions center, several more offices, restrooms, and an outdoor patio. We made current renovations to our existing office space as well with a renovated conference room and new floors throughout. As our team and our business continues to grow, we are honored to be a part of the Lubbock business community and working with and for the people of West Texas.
“To come from a spare bedroom to an 8,000 sq. ft. facility is exciting for us as a company, but even more so for our team of dedicated professionals and our clients.”
Michael Strong, COO
To commemorate this exciting milestone, the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce will host a Ribbon Cutting for Blue Layer on Wednesday, February 28th.
Blue Layer Hosts Food Drive to Benefit the South Plains Food Bank
Blue Layer is honored to help the South Plains Food Bank celebrate 35 years of operations and the U Can Share Food Drive!
The U Can Share Food Drive was one of the first events that the food bank held to benefit the community. Founded in 1983, the food bank aims to provide food to those within a 20-county wide area with the help of over 220 non-profits, charities, and churches. With the generosity of the Lubbock and South Plains communities, Blue Layer is thankful that we are able to be apart of feeding the hungry and creating hope for those who need it most.
From now through December 15th, Blue Layer invites the Lubbock community to help support those in need by donating non-perishable items. The donation boxes will be available in our lobby at 6119 79th St. in Lubbock. Our office is open Monday – Friday, 8am to 5pm.
“Many families in the community struggle with where their next meal comes from and Blue Layer is blessed to be able to help. We are fortunate to live in a community where people are willing to help those in need. ” – Michael Strong, COO.
Please contact us if you have any questions and we hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season!
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Staff Verification System, Ensuring Trusted and Verified Interactions
Lubbock, TX – September 2024 – Blue Layer is proud to announce the launch of an innovative staff verification system designed to enhance trust and security in all customer interactions. As one of the first Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to offer this cutting-edge solution, Blue Layer is setting a new...
Blue Layer to add 2,800 Sq Ft to Lubbock Headquarters
This will include additional offices well as new executive suites. The main feature will include an expanded network operations center as well larger dedicated spaces for new project preparations and repair areas. This will increase the amount of volume our support and break-fix teams will be able to handle as well as productivity by increasing their workspace and resources.
We began this process with the addition of a generator, making Blue Layer the only IT managed service provider in Lubbock to ensure it will have power at all times. We can power our servers as well as our existing and soon-to-be expanded network operations center to better serve our clients.
Blue Layer has been providing reliable technology consulting in the South Plains and beyond for 15 years. This expansion is aimed to better serve our clients as well as continue to grow our company and support what we believe in as a business and providing right-sized IT solutions to our customers every day.
Construction will continue throughout the summer and is expected to conclude in late fall.
“We’re excited about the future of our company and how we will be able to better serve our clients. This expansion will not only provide our growing team more space, but also strive to improve the overall customer service experience for our clients.” Michael Strong – COO
Blue Layer is honored to serve the West Texas community and we look forward to sharing this experience with you. Please contact us at bluelayerit.com if you have any questions.
Once Equifax discovered the breach in the access to their website, they enlisted the services of an outside computer security forensic firm, Mandiant. An employee of Mandiant purchased equihax.com and other domains that may have looked appealing to phishers in order to keep it off the market.
Coincidentally or not, Equifax executives managed to sell millions of dollars-worth of stock. This happened between the time when the intrusion was discovered and when the public became aware. Stocks are now down by 13 percent, from when the breach was announced versus the price on the market Thursday. The executives claim to have no knowledge of the breach prior to the sales.
Equifax should have been aware of the technological ramifications of not being adequately protected. Without the protection that a company such as Equifax should have had, a data breach was likely in only a matter of time. Apache Struts is a program for building web applications in Java and is believed to be the open-source software package where the vulnerability was discovered. According to reports, the vulnerability had existed since 2008. Apache Struts is a very popular framework utilized every day by over 50 percent of the Fortune 100 companies such as Lockheed Martin, Office Depot, even the IRS and more. In this case, the vulnerability was exploited and malicious code imbedded inside the data. When the Apache Struts program attempted to convert the data, it was executed at that time causing the breach. Meaning, hackers had easy access to establish malware onto the company’s webservers, as well as steal and delete confidential data.
New developments indicate a class action lawsuit has been filed. The civil action suit accuses the company of lacking security standards and guaranteed protection for its users in an effort to save money. The lawsuit is requesting compensation and costs for the potential 143 million Americans affected.
Customers should immediately put in place a freeze on all accounts that were associated with Equifax. For customers signing up with Equifax, all are required to acknowledge the terms of service. However, those terms appear to include legalese suggesting that by acknowledging the terms or terms of service you are waiving all rights to be a part of a class action lawsuit in the future, if that situation were to arise. Equifax has since provided an update on this verbiage addressing those terms. “In response to consumer inquiries, we have made it clear that the arbitration clause and classaction waiver included in the Equifax and TrustedID Premier terms of use does not apply to this cybersecurity incident.”
How this affects you?
All consumers have rights, mandated by congress, to access their credit report via annualcreditreport.com. This gives consumers one free report from each of the “big three” Experian, Trans Union, and Equifax. If you sign up with a company like Equifax, the most that they can do for you is to alert you once your information and identity has been stolen, they cannot prevent it.
Consumers can request that the bureaus “freeze” their credit information. This prevents anyone from accessing the credit files. Consumers can temporarily or permanently remove the hold if they wish.
Always be aware of where your confidential data and personal information is. Do not provide personal information such as social security numbers or credit card numbers via email, unless the emails are encrypted, or to people you do not know. Hackers and phishers are getting smarter every day. Cybersecurity is becoming increasingly more important, not just for organizations and corporations, but for individuals as well.If you have questions or concerns regarding your cybersecurity and data protection, contact Blue Layer to learn more.
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Staff Verification System, Ensuring Trusted and Verified Interactions
Lubbock, TX – September 2024 – Blue Layer is proud to announce the launch of an innovative staff verification system designed to enhance trust and security in all customer interactions. As one of the first Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to offer this cutting-edge solution, Blue Layer is setting a new...
Cattle Barrons Ball Celebrates 35 Years
Cattle Baron’s Ball will be celebrating its 35th anniversary this year with “Ain’t Our First Rodeo” this Saturday, July 22nd.
Fundraising efforts from Cattle Baron’s events in 2016 raised $95 million for cancer research grants. Since 1991, there has been a decline of 23 percent in the death rate from cancer, which equates to 1.7 million lives saved. In addition, there has been $4.5 billion invested in research alone. These are just a few examples of the positive impact that the Cattle Baron’s Ball has on the American Cancer Society and providing hope for families.
Blue Layer has been a sponsor of the Cattle Baron’s Ball for many years. Cancer is something that has impacted us all in one way or another, and Blue Layer is honored to be a part of the fundraising effort to save lives and bring an end to cancer. Blue Layer also donates items to the silent auction.
“Blue Layer is proud to be a member of the Lubbock community and support this terrific organization. Being a part of the American Cancer Society’s efforts is something that is special to all of us.” says Michael Strong, COO.
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Staff Verification System, Ensuring Trusted and Verified Interactions
Lubbock, TX – September 2024 – Blue Layer is proud to announce the launch of an innovative staff verification system designed to enhance trust and security in all customer interactions. As one of the first Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to offer this cutting-edge solution, Blue Layer is setting a new...
Blue Layer Ranked Among the Top Managed Services Providers in the 2017 MSPmentor 501 Global Edition
MSPmentor, the ultimate guide to managed services, has released their list of the industry’s most respected managed services providers, and Blue Layer is honored to be on the list. The 10th anniversary of the rankings raises the bar for grading service providers in terms of quality, transparency, and relevance. Each company who appears on the list is also analyzed by their technologies, business models, as well as customer segments and vertical markets.
Blue Layer checks in at number 316 of 501 businesses on this year’s 2017 global rankings, and has moved up 25 spots compared to last year’s 2016 results. This is the fourth time Blue Layer has been honored by MSPmentor.
Our continued movement toward the top of the list illustrates our dedication to our clients and our commitment to providing right-sized technology solutions. Blue Layer is the only West Texas managed services provider named to this prestigious list 4 years in a row. We believe that our personal attention to our clients, hard work and quality of service is what sets us apart.
“We devote special attention to each client to ensure that we are providing responsible and right-sized services tailored to each client’s specific needs. The attentiveness of our team and their hard work every day is what makes this recognition possible. We are proud to be based in West Texas, and it’s an honor to be the only West Texas managed services provider ranked 4 years in a row” Michael Strong, COO, said
For more information on our managed services or if you have any questions please contact us.
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Staff Verification System, Ensuring Trusted and Verified Interactions
Lubbock, TX – September 2024 – Blue Layer is proud to announce the launch of an innovative staff verification system designed to enhance trust and security in all customer interactions. As one of the first Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to offer this cutting-edge solution, Blue Layer is setting a new...
Lubbock Avalanche Journal Best of Lubbock Nominations 2017
Blue Layer would like to ask the Lubbock community to nominate us for the best of Lubbock 2017. We pride ourselves on being West Texas based and a strong representative of the South Plains community. With clients across Texas and the United States, we are proud to be based in Lubbock. Below is the link to nominate Blue Layer to the Best of Lubbock 2017. Nominations will end on June 28th and voting for finalists will begin on July 30th.
VOTE HERE NOW! On the nomination page, type “Blue Layer” into the box and you will enter your email, name, and a phone number. This is only to validate your entry and to ensure people are not forging nominations. Thank you!
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Staff Verification System, Ensuring Trusted and Verified Interactions
Lubbock, TX – September 2024 – Blue Layer is proud to announce the launch of an innovative staff verification system designed to enhance trust and security in all customer interactions. As one of the first Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to offer this cutting-edge solution, Blue Layer is setting a new...
Blue Layer Featured in Datrium Customer Testimonial
Datrium is changing the way managed service providers look at storage solutions. Blue Layer learned first hand that in this industry, “slow” is the new “down” as we began experiencing unacceptable response times that interfered with our efficiency and ability to run critical applications.
With the Datrium DVX Open Convergence platform, we gained the capacity needed to grow, increase IOPS considerably and ease management – all in a more economical package. We are now better equipped to keep up with our growing business and provide greater support and performance to our clients.
The services provided by Datrium exceeded our expectations and their customer support is unmatched. Read more about Datrium’s impact on our business.
“Prior to Datrium, the conversation I had with prospects was about leveraging our world-class data center for business continuity and taking care of everything for them. But because of the governor on our speed, we could not always promise better performance. Now with Open Convergence, it’s more resilient and faster, so I can add more benefits to the conversation. Ultimately, that means more revenue for us, and greater performance for our clients.”– Michael Strong, COO
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Staff Verification System, Ensuring Trusted and Verified Interactions
Lubbock, TX – September 2024 – Blue Layer is proud to announce the launch of an innovative staff verification system designed to enhance trust and security in all customer interactions. As one of the first Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to offer this cutting-edge solution, Blue Layer is setting a new...
Blue Layer Named Best IT Company in KCBD’s Best of the West 2017
For the second year in a row, Blue Layer has been awarded KCBD’s Best of the West 2017 for Best IT Company. We are honored to serve and be a part of the South Plains community!
Being able to provide responsible and right-sized IT consulting to the West Texas community is something we are proud to do every day. We offer our clients the dedication to continue to advance their businesses toward success.
“Without the loyalty of our clients and the confidence in our team, this honor would not be possible,” said Michael Strong, Blue Layer COO. “We devote ourselves to being the best and strive to meet your IT expectations every day.”
We want to thank our clients for believing in us and our team for their commitment to being the best IT company in the Lubbock and South Plains area.
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Staff Verification System, Ensuring Trusted and Verified Interactions
Lubbock, TX – September 2024 – Blue Layer is proud to announce the launch of an innovative staff verification system designed to enhance trust and security in all customer interactions. As one of the first Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to offer this cutting-edge solution, Blue Layer is setting a new...