We make IT work for your business: TekLinks

Every high-growth business grapples with decisions around the best I.T. solution to manage its expanding operations. Experiencing growth is great, except when a company isn’t prepared to equally invest in its I.T. infrastructure and consequential maintenance. All too often businesses will find themselves trying to learn how to manage a data center rather than focusing on their actual business. That’s when TekLinks steps in. TekLinks was founded in 2001 as an engineering services

company, providing professional services for businesses. The company soon expanded its focus to become a full-service integrated technology solutions company in order to meet the ever-changing needs of its customers. Focusing on engineering talent, deep relationships with major manufacturers, and investing in data center infrastructure has allowed TekLinks to offer enterprise-class infrastructure and managed/cloud services to a wide range of customers.

To know more about the company we conversed with Don Monistere, President

How does TekLinks stand out from the crowd?

TekLinks has a unique value proposition. We can offer professional services engineering, hardware procurement and managed/cloud services to our customers. We also rank at the top of industry lists for performing all three services and are one of only 16 other companies worldwide with this designation. Our tightly integrated team of engineers, sales and support allow us to seamlessly assess, design, implement, support and optimize all different customer platforms.

For how long have you been associated with Microsoft?

We have been a partner since 2002 and achieved Gold status in 2003. We are currently a Gold Cloud Productivity Partner with Microsoft.

Can you tell us about your Azure cloud practice?

TekLinks has embraced Public Cloud as an extension of its current platform. Microsoft Azure accounts for a large part of our Public Cloud practice. We have dedicated connectivity into Azure, which allows our customers to consume Public Cloud over a physical private connection. With security top of mind for all organizations, a private connection to Azure is a huge advantage for customers. It allows them to use Azure for compute and storage or point solutions such as Office 365, SQL and many others. Add our ability to tie it all together with our Managed WAN products, and TekLinks has the ability to engineer a complete solution for customers that focuses on maximum efficiency and performance.

Why should companies consider Public Cloud?

There are so many reasons to consider Public Cloud. Here are a few that rank at the top of my list:

- Limitless infrastructure

- Pay-as-you-go service model

- Flexibility (customers can move workloads seamlessly by either increasing performance on the fly or finding a more economical way to run certain workloads)

Do you think there are misconceptions about Public Cloud?

A lot of people think their data is not fully secure in Public Cloud. While TekLinks offers a direct connection to Azure and AWS for customers who prefer the extra layer of security, the Public Cloud is actually much more secure than many realize. Security within the Public Cloud relies more heavily on the team designing the network to ensure the design meets necessary security standards than the technology itself. The Public Cloud team at TekLinks had to undergo hours of training and labs to gain the skills needed for cloud architecture and our relationship with Microsoft further enhances our ability to deliver high quality cloud architecture design services.

How is TekLinks leading the way in Public Cloud services?

TekLinks is leading the way in Public Cloud with its highly skilled engineering team who can design in a multi-cloud environment. TekLinks is not a “one trick pony.” We can solve most any business problem through technology, allowing the customer to choose from one of many secure paths to success through the cloud.

TekLinks Earns Two New Rankings

MSPmentor has named TekLinks No. 20 among the world’s most progressive 501 Managed Service

Providers. The 10th annual list includes organizations from around the world and from diverse technology and business backgrounds. Also, the Birmingham Business Journal ranked TekLinks the No. 34 largest private company headquartered in metro Birmingham. The ranking is based on total revenue for 2016.

The 2017 MSP 501 list is based on data collected by MSPmentor and its partner, Clarity Channel Advisors. Data was collected online from Feb. 16 through May 15, 2017. The list recognizes top managed service providers based on metrics including recurring revenue, growth and other factors.

“TekLinks is a thriving business, and we’re thrilled that is evident in both local and world rankings,” says Don Monistere, TekLinks President. “Our dynamic team constantly strives to be better than we were yesterday, which is why ranking in the No. 20 spot among the world’s best MSPs is so rewarding. We are grateful! And we love our Birmingham community – the future is bright here! The companies we are ranked with make us proud to call Birmingham home.”

According to BBJ, key takeaways from the Birmingham list include:

• On average, the top companies on the List reported 2016 revenue of $255.6 million and 185 local employees
• Employment trends were mixed among companies with comparable data; only about 39 percent of the top businesses reported an increase in local employees, while 13 percent reported no changes
• Despite mixed signals for employment growth, most companies are confident that local hiring will improve in the near future. 82 percent of poll respondents confirmed their plans to add new employees to local offices in the next year
• Industrial and construction companies accounted for the bulk of revenue on the List; heavy industry companies reported total revenue of $8.6 billion, while construction and design companies accounted for more than $6.5 billion
• The finance and professional services industry showed the strongest revenue growth in the past year with a total increase of 12.6 percent from our prior List

Backdrop of the ace

A proven leader with roots in information technology, Don Monistere currently serves as TekLinks’ President, providing executive oversight and leadership to all areas of the company. During Don’s tenure, he has been Chief Operations Officer, Executive Vice President of Managed and Cloud Services, and Vice President of Commercial Sales. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Southeastern Louisiana University and a Master of Business Administration from Aspen University. Don is also a competitive bodybuilder, triathlon competitor, martial arts expert, writer, and author. Don is currently focused on the strategic vision of the organization, including becoming the preferred Microsoft partner in the Southeast..

“We actively seek out opportunities to support service projects and not-for-profit initiatives.”