With technology advances rapidly reshaping the business world, companies are increasingly turning to external managed IT services for support to help them remain competitive and keep their businesses running smoothly and securely.
Managed IT Service Providers (MSPs) offer a range of managed services, including network monitoring, data backups, cybersecurity, business continuity and disaster recovery, among many others—all on a predictable, monthly payment schedule.
The trend toward using managed IT services is only expected to grow in the coming years.
If you’re a business owner considering partnering with an outside managed IT company, it’s important that you research several companies thoroughly before choosing one.
We recognize, however, that with so many MSPs to choose from, it can seem a little daunting.
With that in mind, we’re writing this article to help you in your search by giving you useful information about who we think are some of the top MSPs in Connecticut—in no order.
Visit their websites and online learning centers, if they have one, to learn more about the managed IT services they offer, pricing, their team, and business philosophy. Call them up or fill out an online contact form to initiate the process of discussing your IT issues to see which provider might best meet your needs.
We want to be perfectly clear right up front. We don’t have a dog in this fight. We weren’t paid or solicited by the companies included in this list. We also intentionally excluded ourselves from the list in an effort to be as impartial as possible.
It’s our longstanding belief that healthy competition is good for our industry, our business, and our customers.
We’re simply providing this information as a resource you can use as part of your due diligence to find the best provider suited for your specific IT challenges and long-term business goals.
Kate Emery started Balance Computer Support in 1983 in Canton, Conn. In 1986, she teamed up with two other IT professionals to form Soft Industries in Southington. In 1996, the company relocated to Farmington and was renamed as Walker Systems Support, before rebranding to The Walker Group in 2012.
Emery has since shifted the company’s focus to creating social good. Since 2007, the company has earmarked a third of its distributed profits to community causes, with the balance equally split between employees and shareholders.
In 2014, The Walker Group continued in its corporate philanthropy journey by becoming a registered Benefit Corporation (B-Corp).
Emery cemented the company’s social enterprise mission by transferring the company’s ownership into a Perpetual Purpose Trust, a non-charitable trust that allows companies to focus on a specific cause instead of just corporate profits.
Headquartered in Farmington, Conn., with additional locations in Florida and New York
Company CEO Foster Charles started Charles IT during his senior year of high school in December 2006.
Middletown, Conn. and Stamford, Conn.
CompassMSP started in 2002 as IT Direct. Florida-based CompassMSP acquired IT Direct in 2021, and IT Direct subsequently took on the parent company name. CompassMSP has been able to grow its footprint with an aggressive MSP acquisition strategy.
Other MSPs it has purchased include New York-based Tarrytech Computer Consultants, Maryland-based MRW Systems, Florida-based Western Digitech, and Illinois-based Mother Network Guardian (MotherG).
Cooperative Systems (CoopSys) was started in 1993. In 2020, the company purchased Fandotech, a data center and cloud infrastructure provider based in Manchester, Conn. and West Springfield, Mass.
Windsor, Conn., Woburn, Mass.
The company’s website does not list the specific industries it serves.
ADNET was founded in 1991. In May 2023, it acquired Tech II Business Services, Inc., a Saratoga Springs, N.Y.-based MSP.
At the time of the purchase, ADNET said the merger was an outgrowth of its membership in the New Charter Technologies platform, a network of 21 independently owned MSPs across the country.
Rocky Hill, Conn., and Albany, N.Y.
We understand that the thought of turning over the reins of your entire IT infrastructure to an outside managed IT company may bring with it a certain level of apprehension.
That’s why we urge all businesses to do their due diligence and proceed with caution before making such an important decision.
Among the main benefits of working with an MSP is that you gain a team of IT professionals with broad IT, cybersecurity, and industry knowledge who will work to find the best solutions for your current IT needs and long-term business goals.
You’ll get customized support at a predictable monthly cost, without the substantial expense of having to invest in the IT staff, equipment, software, and resources you would need to maintain a comparable in-house team.
Check out this article to learn the true ROI of managed IT support.
Read Planning For The Future: 7 Steps To Create An Effective IT Budget to learn more about effective IT budget planning.
Find out what questions to ask an MSP that you’re considering working with.
Want to get an idea of how much managed IT services will cost your business? Use our pricing calculator below for a free, no-obligation estimate.