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Local Teams.

Regional cybersecurity experts with federal clearance delivering CMMC Compliance and rapid-response.

Tampa

Our hub delivering 24/7 security ops and managed it for bosses and businesses throughout Tampa Bay, Westshore, Midtown, Hyde Park, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater.

Miami

Miami’s financial district’s trusted cyber security team delivering CMMC compliance, zero trust architecture and managed IT services to tech visionaries, hospitality, and healthcare providers.

Atlanta

Georgia’s cybersecurity defense specialists delivering no-nonsense rapid breach response from Buckhead to Alpharetta. Military-grade protection with Southern efficiency.

Battle-Tested Cybersecurity

Federal cybersecurity hub for agencies and contractors across the DMV. Specialized in CMMC compliance and classified environments from Bethesda to Arlington.

Common Questions

What’s the best Microsoft 365 roadmap for a growing business?

Implementing everything at once overwhelms users and IT resources. Our strategic implementation roadmap follows our proven four-phase framework: foundation (core email, document storage, identity), collaboration (Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive), automation (Power Platform, workflow optimization), and advanced security (Defender suite, compliance tools). This phased approach typically spans 6-12 months based on organization size and complexity, with each phase building on previous success. Our methodology includes user adoption metrics, security validation, and ROI analysis at each phase to ensure measurable business outcomes. This structured approach has successfully guided over 700 organizations through Microsoft 365 transformations with a 96% satisfaction rate.

Is CrowdStrike FedRAMP Certified?

Yes. CrowdStrike holds full FedRAMP authorization, trusted by federal agencies and defense contractors. Our CMMC compliance framework leverages CrowdStrike's government-grade protection. Beyond FedRAMP, the platform maintains critical certifications including CMMC compliance alignment, NIST framework compatibility, HIPAA certification, and PCI DSS validation - delivering complete compliance coverage for regulated industries.

How Fast is CrowdStrike’s Response Time?

While basic antivirus just sends alerts, our managed services include complete incident response in 15 minutes or less. Last month, we contained a potential breach in 8 minutes - before it could spread beyond a single endpoint. This rapid response combines 24/7 monitoring with automated containment, expert investigation, guided remediation, and thorough root cause analysis to stop threats fast.

What Makes CrowdStrike Different?

Traditional security depends on updating signatures. CrowdStrike's AI-powered protection stops unknown threats by spotting suspicious behavior. One Tampa manufacturer blocked 22 novel attacks in their first month - threats their old antivirus would have missed completely. The cloud-native platform uses a single lightweight agent to deliver behavior-based blocking, integrated intelligence, and automated hunting - all without complex infrastructure.

Is CrowdStrike Good for Small Business?

Basic antivirus leaves gaps that cost small businesses $200,000 on average per incident. Our military-grade protection scales to any size while staying simple to manage. With no hardware required, simple deployment, automated management, and complete visibility, small businesses get enterprise-grade protection without enterprise complexity or cost.

What is Microsoft Intune and how does it differ from traditional MDM?

Microsoft Intune is a cloud-based endpoint management solution that goes beyond traditional MDM by integrating device management, application control, and security policies in a single platform. Unlike legacy solutions, Intune manages Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android devices without on-premises infrastructure. Our managed IT services leverage Intune's advanced capabilities for comprehensive endpoint security.

How much does Microsoft Intune cost and what licensing is required?

Microsoft Intune is available standalone ($8/user/month) or included in Microsoft 365 E3/E5, Business Premium, and Enterprise Mobility + Security subscriptions. Most organizations with existing Microsoft 365 business or enterprise plans already have Intune licenses. Our licensing optimization services help you maximize existing investments without unnecessary costs.

What are conditional access policies in Intune and how do they work?

Conditional access policies evaluate multiple factors (device compliance, user identity, location, risk signals) before granting resource access. These policies enforce zero-trust principles by requiring appropriate authentication based on context rather than assuming network trust. Our zero trust implementation builds on conditional access for comprehensive security.

Can Intune manage both company-owned and personal devices effectively?

Yes, Intune offers comprehensive management for corporate devices while providing application-level protection for personal devices (BYOD) without controlling the entire device. This flexibility protects corporate data without compromising personal privacy. Our BYOD security services implement the right balance between security and user experience.

What is the difference between Intune and Microsoft Endpoint Manager?

Microsoft Endpoint Manager is the unified management platform that includes Intune (cloud-based), Configuration Manager (on-premises), and co-management capabilities. When accessing the admin center, you're technically using Endpoint Manager, while Intune refers specifically to the cloud component. Our endpoint management solutions leverage both platforms for optimal management.

How does Intune handle application deployment and management?

Intune deploys applications through direct assignment, Company Portal availability, or required installations across various app types (Microsoft Store, Win32, mobile apps). The platform offers sophisticated deployment options with custom installation requirements and configuration policies. Our application management services streamline deployment while ensuring security compliance.

What security features does Intune provide for mobile devices?

Intune secures mobile devices through encryption enforcement, passcode requirements, jailbreak detection, and application-level protections. The platform creates separate work profiles on Android and leverages native iOS security capabilities while preventing data movement between managed and personal apps. Our mobile security solutions build on these features with additional threat protection.

What are the most common challenges when implementing Intune?

Common Intune implementation challenges include policy conflicts, limited testing environments, user communication issues, and legacy management migration complexities. Successful implementations require phased approaches with proper testing environments. Our Intune specialists overcome these challenges with proven methodology and experience.

What certifications and compliance standards does Intune support?

Microsoft Intune maintains numerous compliance certifications including FedRAMP High, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and PCI DSS. The platform provides security baselines aligned with NIST, CIS, and industry-specific frameworks with customizable policies for regulatory requirements. Our compliance services ensure Intune configurations meet your specific regulatory requirements.

How Does CrowdStrike Stop Ransomware?

Traditional security tools rely on signatures - like looking for known criminals. CrowdStrike's AI hunts for suspicious behavior - like spotting someone casing your building. Our advanced ransomware protection blocked over 30,000 attacks last quarter alone. The multi-layered defense combines AI behavior analysis with automated response capabilities, enabling real-time blocking and instant containment backed by expert threat hunting teams.

How can we build a true security operations center using Microsoft tools?

While most providers treat Microsoft security tools as standalone products, our military-grade security operations framework integrates Microsoft Defender, Sentinel, and Purview into a comprehensive security ecosystem. We implement our three-tier security architecture with automated threat intelligence sharing, cross-platform correlation, and our proprietary incident response automation. This approach transforms disparate Microsoft security tools into a unified security operations platform that delivers 24/7 protection with 15-minute response times. Most importantly, our implementation includes our specialized alert tuning methodology that reduces false positives by 85% compared to standard deployments – ensuring your team focuses on real threats rather than alert fatigue.

How does Ridge IT simplify Microsoft 365 licensing for businesses?

Most IT providers make licensing unnecessarily complex, leading to overspending on unused features or risking compliance issues. Our military-grade managed IT approach starts with a comprehensive license audit to identify waste, then implements our proven license optimization framework. By right-sizing your subscriptions and consolidating duplicate licenses, we typically reduce Microsoft 365 costs by 20-30% while enhancing security. Our Microsoft licensing specialists continually monitor usage patterns to ensure you're only paying for what you need.

What are the most common causes of Microsoft 365 performance issues?

While most providers blame Microsoft's cloud for performance problems, our diagnostic data shows that 82% of Microsoft 365 performance issues stem from local configuration or network problems. Our performance optimization service uses our comprehensive assessment framework to identify the real culprits, from suboptimal DNS configurations and proxy interference to network congestion and client-side resource limitations. We then implement our military-grade optimization protocol that includes targeted network configuration changes, TCP optimization, and our proprietary caching framework – delivering consistent performance improvements of 30-50% for applications like Teams, SharePoint, and OneDrive. This systematic approach has resolved performance issues for organizations ranging from 20 to 5,000 users.

How should we integrate Microsoft 365 with our legacy systems?

Most integration attempts create fragmented experiences that frustrate users and create security gaps. Our strategic integration approach begins with our comprehensive systems assessment to map data flows and user journeys across platforms. We then implement our three-phase integration methodology: authentication unification through our advanced identity federation framework, data synchronization using our customized API integration approach, and workflow orchestration through our proprietary process automation framework. This structured approach creates seamless user experiences while maintaining security boundaries and compliance requirements – eliminating the common pitfall of creating new security vulnerabilities during integration.

What’s the true cost difference between Microsoft 365 Business Premium and Enterprise E3/E5?

The sticker price is just the beginning. Business Premium ($22/user/month) appears cheaper than E3 ($36/user/month) or E5 ($57/user/month), but the security limitations can cost you more long-term. Most Tampa businesses we audit are either overpaying for Enterprise licenses they don't fully utilize or facing security gaps with Business plans that lack critical protections. Our Microsoft 365 license optimization identifies the perfect mix for your specific needs, sometimes implementing hybrid licensing models that deliver Enterprise-grade security without the enterprise price tag.

How can we reduce our Microsoft licensing costs without sacrificing security?

Most organizations waste 15-30% of their Microsoft budget on unused licenses, redundant services, or over-licensed users. Our license optimization process first identifies these waste areas through our comprehensive audit, then implements our proven three-tier optimization framework: user-role alignment (matching license types to actual usage patterns), security-feature isolation (moving advanced security to where it's needed most), and automated license management (preventing license sprawl). This approach typically saves our clients $120-$300 per user annually while actually strengthening their security posture.

How does Ridge IT leverage Microsoft Defender for comprehensive protection?

Unlike basic Microsoft 365 setups that leave security gaps, our military-grade implementation of Microsoft Defender provides unified protection across endpoints, email, identity, and cloud apps. We configure Defender using our zero-trust architecture framework, activating often-missed features like attack surface reduction rules, tamper protection, and network protection. Most importantly, our 24/7 security operations center monitors your Defender alerts with 15-minute response times – turning Microsoft's tools from passive alerting into active protection. This comprehensive approach has helped our clients achieve a 98.7% threat prevention rate.

What Microsoft compliance tools should we be using for CMMC 2.0 requirements?

Microsoft's compliance tools are powerful but often misconfigured. For CMMC Level 2, our Microsoft compliance implementation leverages Purview Information Protection for CUI management, Defender for Endpoint for threat detection, and Intune for device compliance – all critical components for meeting NIST 800-171 requirements. However, out-of-box configurations won't satisfy auditors. Our military-grade implementation includes custom compliance policies, automated documentation workflows, and specialized CUI handling procedures that provide the evidence package needed for successful certification. This approach has helped defense contractors reduce compliance preparation time by up to 40%.

How can we fully utilize Microsoft Intune for zero-trust security?

Most organizations use less than 30% of Intune's security capabilities, missing critical protections. Our zero-trust Intune implementation activates these overlooked features, including application-level conditional access policies, custom compliance scripts, and automated remediation actions. We configure security baselines aligned with frameworks like CMMC and NIST, then implement our proprietary compliance verification system to provide continuous documentation. Most importantly, we integrate Intune with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint to enable automatic isolation of compromised devices – a critical capability that 78% of organizations miss in their configuration.

What’s the fastest way to migrate from on-premise Exchange to Microsoft 365?

Traditional migrations that take weeks or cause downtime are outdated. Our accelerated migration methodology leverages military-grade project management and our proprietary hybrid Exchange approach to complete migrations with zero downtime, typically 40-60% faster than standard methods. Our process begins with our comprehensive pre-migration assessment that identifies potential issues before they cause delays, then implements parallel synchronization with our specialized cutover framework. This methodology has successfully migrated over 500,000 mailboxes with an average client satisfaction score of 97%.

How do we implement Azure Virtual Desktop for our hybrid workforce?

Azure Virtual Desktop implementations often fail due to poor architecture decisions that lead to performance issues or excessive costs. Our military-grade AVD implementation starts with our workload assessment framework to determine the optimal configuration for your specific applications. We then implement our three-tier architecture with dedicated management, user session, and application host pools to optimize both performance and cost. Our auto-scaling framework automatically adjusts resources based on actual usage patterns, typically reducing Azure compute costs by 30-40% compared to static deployments while maintaining enterprise-grade performance and security.

What’s the best approach for deploying Microsoft Teams across our organization?

Simply turning on Teams leads to chaotic deployments, redundant team creation, and security gaps. Our strategic Teams deployment begins with our governance framework that establishes clear naming conventions, retention policies, and security parameters before deployment. We then implement our phased adoption strategy with department champions, targeted training modules, and usage analytics to drive proper adoption. This structured approach prevents the "Teams sprawl" that plagues most organizations while ensuring proper security configurations for external sharing, guest access, and data protection – critical areas where default settings create significant security risks.

What Microsoft 365 features are most businesses missing that could improve productivity?

Most businesses use less than 40% of the Microsoft 365 capabilities they're already paying for. Our feature optimization process identifies these missed opportunities through our comprehensive workplace analytics assessment. Common overlooked features include Power Automate for workflow automation (saving an average of 5-7 hours per employee monthly), SharePoint document workflows with automated approval routing, and Microsoft Planner for cross-team project management. Our Microsoft specialists configure these tools based on your specific business processes, then provide targeted training through our microlearning platform to ensure successful adoption and measurable productivity gains.

How do your Tampa IT services help with cybersecurity?

Our Tampa IT Services businesses trust go beyond basic antivirus with military-grade zero trust architecture that validates every access request, reducing your attack surface by 90%. Unlike traditional IT providers, we integrate advanced threat detection, 24/7 monitoring, and automated incident response through our ONE Platform. This comprehensive approach results in 98.7% threat prevention rates, protecting Tampa businesses from the ransomware and phishing attacks that bypass conventional security.

How do you integrate your security tools infrastructure and cloud?

Rather than managing multiple security tools independently, our managed IT creates a unified security fabric. We integrate identity management with network and endpoint security, so one tool's detection triggers automated responses across your entire security stack. This integration provides Fortune 500 protection without Fortune 500 complexity.

How do you reduce our attack surface?

Instead of endless security tools, our managed IT starts by making your business harder to target. We use advanced scanning and remediation to eliminate exposed services, while hiding critical assets behind multiple security layers. By "going dark" to attackers while maintaining business operations, we reduce your risk of becoming a target.

What if we already have existing security contracts?

Our managed IT adapts to your company. We can integrate existing tools into our security architecture while adjusting our pricing to accommodate current contracts. This lets you transition to better security without paying twice or disrupting operations.

How do you handle security incidents?

Unlike providers that just alert you to problems, our managed IT includes complete incident response. Our rapid response team isolates threats, prevents spread, and restores operations - all while maintaining detailed documentation for compliance and insurance requirements.

What’s the real difference between MSP and MSSP services?

Our managed IT integrates security from day one. While traditional MSPs focus on uptime and helpdesk tickets, we prevent breaches by building security into every service. When you split MSP and MSSP providers, you risk security gaps and finger-pointing during incidents. Our integrated approach delivers compliance with 15-minute response times - all through a single provider.

What makes Zero Trust architecture worth the investment?

Traditional security assumes everything inside your network is safe - that's why 94% of breaches start with compromised credentials. Our managed IT implements Zero Trust to verify every access request, reducing your attack surface by 90%. By preventing lateral movement through segmentation and continuous monitoring, we stop basic breaches from escalating into six-figure disasters.

How do managed services actually ensure compliance?

We transform compliance from annual firefighting into continuous validation. Our managed IT automatically maps your controls to frameworks like CMMC, NIST, and HIPAA. Instead of scrambling before audits, our continuous monitoring and remediation maintains audit-ready documentation, with monthly reports showing your exact compliance status across every framework. Managed services, done right.

What makes the ONE Platform different from basic managed IT?

The ONE Platform eliminates the complexity of juggling multiple providers and tools. Our managed IT integrates security, compliance and infrastructure management into a single pane of glass. With automated security validation and 15-minute response times, we deliver military-grade protection without enterprise complexity or cost.

How does CrowdStrike compare to other endpoint security solutions?

Our managed IT leverages CrowdStrike's 99.9% breach prevention rate and user-friendly incident response interface. During an attack, you get clear visibility of affected systems and one-click isolation of compromised devices. Unlike competitors, CrowdStrike's advanced AI detection spots threats other tools miss, making it ideal for businesses without large security teams.

MSP MSSP: The Essential Difference That Impacts Your Security

MSP stands for Managed Service Provider - companies that handle your IT infrastructure, networks, and technical support. MSSP stands for Managed Security Service Provider - specialists focused on cybersecurity, threat detection, and incident response.

Our managed IT combines both functions - delivering infrastructure management with proactive security through the ONE Platform. This integration prevents the security gaps and finger-pointing that occur when separate providers handle your technology and security needs. You get enterprise-class infrastructure with advanced threat detection, 15-minute response times, and complete compliance coverage - all through a single provider with clear accountability for both reliability and security.

What makes Ridge IT different from other IT services in Tampa?

Unlike traditional Tampa IT services that focus on fixing problems after they occur, Ridge IT's military-grade managed IT prevents issues before they impact your business. Our ONE Platform integrates IT services Tampa businesses need - from zero trust security to 24/7 monitoring with 15-minute response times. As Tampa's #1 ranked MSSP on the Inc 5000, we protect over 500,000 users with battle-tested cybersecurity operations.

How quickly can your Tampa IT services team respond to issues?

Our IT services Tampa response time is guaranteed at 15 minutes, 24/7/365. Unlike traditional providers that simply alert you to problems, our security operations center takes immediate action to contain and remediate threats. This military-grade response time has prevented numerous ransomware attacks from spreading beyond a single endpoint, saving Tampa businesses millions in potential damages and downtime.

What types of businesses do you provide IT services for in Tampa?

We deliver IT services Tampa businesses across all industries rely on, with specialized expertise in healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, and defense contractors. Our scalable ONE Platform works for Tampa organizations from 25 to 1,000+ employees, providing enterprise-grade security without enterprise complexity. Our military-grade protection is particularly valuable for businesses handling sensitive data or facing compliance requirements.

How do you prevent tech debt in IT infrastructure?

Most providers let technical debt accumulate as you grow. Our managed IT starts with architecture that scales from 50 to 1000+ users without rework. We design and implement solutions that grow with you, preventing the costly rebuilds and security gaps that come from outgrowing your infrastructure.

What do your IT services cost for Tampa businesses?

Our IT services Tampa businesses can access typically save 40-60% compared to maintaining in-house IT teams, while delivering superior protection and response times. Rather than the industry's common per-device pricing model, our intelligent architecture focuses advanced security only where it's needed, reducing per-user costs by $20 - $60 on average. We offer flexible service tiers based on your specific needs, with transparent pricing that eliminates surprise charges for "extra" services.

How do your IT services in Tampa help with compliance requirements?

Our IT services in Tampa lead with compliance by automating documentation, monitoring, and controls validation for frameworks including CMMC, HIPAA, PCI, and SOC 2. Unlike traditional IT providers that treat compliance as annual projects, our continuous compliance approach ensures you remain audit-ready year-round. This automated documentation has reduced preparation time by 80% for small, enterprise and government interfacing businesses facing regulatory requirements.

Can your Tampa IT services integrate with our existing systems?

Absolutely. Our IT services Tampa implementation process begins with a comprehensive assessment of your current environment. Our ONE Platform integrates seamlessly with your existing infrastructure, whether you're using Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, or proprietary systems. This integration approach preserves your technology investments while enhancing security and performance, creating a unified environment without disruptive rip-and-replace projects.

How do your Tampa IT services handle cloud migration and management?

Our Tampa IT Services team specializes in secure, phased cloud migrations that minimize disruption while maximizing security and performance. We've helped hundreds of Tampa businesses transform their infrastructure with our cloud-smart approach, which right-sizes cloud resources to your specific needs. This prevents the common pitfalls of cloud waste and security gaps that plague DIY migrations, while our continuous optimization ensures your cloud costs remain predictable.

What makes your IT services better than having an in-house IT team in Tampa?

While in-house IT staff provides familiarity with your business, our IT services Tampa deliver enterprise-level expertise and round-the-clock coverage that would require a team of 8-10 specialists to match internally. Our military-grade security operations center, advanced threat intelligence, and specialized compliance expertise provide capabilities that most Tampa businesses simply cannot afford to build in-house. This comprehensive approach typically delivers 40-60% cost savings while providing superior protection and responsiveness.

How quickly can you implement Picus?

As part of our managed IT services, we deploy Picus with full military-grade configuration in as little as 72 hours. Our rapid deployment team handles everything from initial setup to continuous tuning.

What’s the ROI for Picus with Ridge IT?

Our clients typically see 60% reduction in security costs through tool optimization and zero successful breaches after implementation. Learn more about our security ROI and cost optimization approach.

How does Picus support CMMC compliance?

Picus helps validate CMMC controls through continuous monitoring and threat detection. Our CMMC compliance experts ensure findings translate into audit-ready documentation.

Why use Picus through Ridge IT instead of directly?

Our managed IT services transform Picus from a testing tool into complete protection. We provide 15-minute response to threats, full remediation, and seamless integration with our military-grade security stack.

How does Picus fit into a managed IT strategy?

We integrate Picus into our ONE Platform for continuous threat validation. This powers our automated security validation and ensures gaps are fixed before attackers find them.

What does Picus actually do?

Picus continuously validates your security effectiveness by simulating real-world threats. Our ONE Platform leverages Picus to test defenses against 24,000+ attack scenarios, while our security operations team fixes vulnerabilities within minutes of detection.

What is Picus in cybersecurity?

Picus is an award-winning Complete Security Control Validation Platform that powers our military-grade managed IT. While Picus provides the breach simulation engine, our 15-minute response team turns those insights into real protection.

What is CrowdStrike Falcon?

Unlike traditional antivirus that waits for known threats, CrowdStrike prevents breaches before they happen. Our military-grade security platform combines AI-powered prevention with 24/7 human expertise. The platform delivers next-generation antivirus through Falcon Prevent, advanced endpoint detection and response capabilities, automated threat hunting, and integrated threat intelligence - all with guaranteed 15-minute response times.

Bosses love
our platform

5/5

The City of Asheville was extremely impressed with the depth of knowledge and the project management capabilities of Ridge IT Cyber. Their engineers presented solutions to our issues while educating our team along the way. They excel in both their technical expertise as well as their customer service skills. It was a pleasure to work with Ridge IT Cyber.

Jessica Nash
The City of Asheville

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