CloudFirst

CloudFirst is a boutique Information Technology Consulting firm,established in 2010. Tagged as “Top 50 Most Valuable Microsoft Solution Providers Companies", CloudFirst provides specialized and personalized IT Managed Services and Cloud Solutions.With over a decade of experience and a team of highly motivated Microsoft cloud experts and programmers, they help their clients in increasing their productivity and performance by efficiently managing their business-critical IT infrastructure and securing their sensitive data. The company developed expertise in executing cutting-edge cloud solutions in Electronic Manufacturing and Engineering Firms located in the USA.

CloudFirst’s range of services includes:

  • Cloud Infrastructure Design, Architecture & Implementation
  • Cloud-based Managed Services
  • Cloud-based PBX Implementations
  • Cloud & Mobile Identity Management & Security

Its technical expertise lies in the following:

  • Microsoft 365
  • Teams
  • SharePoint Online
  • Azure
  • Advanced Cloud Security
  • Dynamics 365 CRM
  • Dynamics 365 ERP
  • Power BI

Journey Since Inception of the Company

CloudFirst is meeting customer expectations from its broad range of cloud solutions.As cloud technology has matured and companies have begun to understand and embrace the idea of digital transformation, CloudFirst has evolved as an organization with deep expertise in building solutions. Its expertise enables the team to assist their clients overcoming challenges to be competitive in a digital-first world.

The team built their organization purely cloud-based. They have used this technology to streamline their internal processes to better focus on their customers' needs. At the same time, they are continuing to improve the services they offer to ensure the provision of measurable value in those offerings.

Besides building the company’s expertise for 'Flexible Hybrid Electronics, Semiconductor and Electronic Components Industry,' they have also served customers from medical, education, legal, government, and many other industries.

The experience of the team has helped their customers through the years and within the organization gives them the confidence to achieve in the current mission:

“To empower our customers with the knowledge, tools, and support they need to embark on and succeed in their unique, continuous journey of digital transformation.”

An Influential Leader

Dennis Gentles, the Founder and CEO of CloudFirst has established a strong partnership with Microsoft. He has led the company in deploying cloud-based and hybrid infrastructure and applications in the most security-conscious environments in a systemized way to ensure success.

Moreover, he has more than 25+ years of entrepreneurial background as a founder with leading-edge companies and technology.Having taken multiple tech firms from IPO to exit, Gentles has demonstrated strong profitable leadership in all economic climates.

Gentles’ interest and passion for information technology began at a very young age, he spent hours and hours on his father’s computer. By the time he turned 18, having learned about computer infrastructure and what it could do for an organization, it led him to launch his first IT company that helped small companies fix their computers and install software into them. After that, he started an IT consulting firm specializing in IT staffing. Later, he built a publicly traded international consumer electronics company that focused on IT-related products for the home. After a successful exit, Gentles founded Cloud First.

He is an active member of organizations such as the International Association of Microsoft Channel Partners, providing input and leadership on a national level while directly overseeing a local chapter. Also, he has been featured in magazines such as Inc and CIO Review.

Beneficial Factors Leading to Growth and Success

CloudFirst has partnered with and supported industry organizations promoting flexible hybrid electronics manufacturing initiatives in the USA. The company designed custom solutions that have benefited its customers, allowing them to lower the compute cost of running CPU-intensive simulations. Additionally, CloudFirst has developed IoT (Internet of Things) infrastructure and systems that its clients have used to implement their products.

Unique/innovative Traits of the Company

In addition to partnering with industry organizations, CloudFirst is a Gold Microsoft Partner. They have leveraged this key partnership to nurture customer-centric solid business relations.

It allows the company to continuously create unique and innovative solutions for its clients and provide education and expertise with the importance of security and protecting intellectual property.

Awards and Achievements

CloudFirst Technology Solutions, apart from achieving Gold partnership with Microsoft, was also honored among “Top 50 Most Valuable Microsoft Solution Providers Companies".

Overcoming the Challenges

When asked about challenges Dennis said, COVID-19 forced organizations to restructure their working procedures, how to be productive, how to collaborate with a primarily distributed workforce, and how to be competitive. It brought opportunities and challenges at the same time.

Providing continuous support to the company’s customers in reimagining how to adapt to a remote workforce and quickly executing technologies in a fast-paced environment without hampering processes and productivity was one of the major challenges it faced and have successfully on!

The Future Ahead

“We are in an exciting industry. When we started CloudFirst, many organizations thought our services would help them manage workloads and data management. As we have seen a dramatic shift in cloud technologies, the trend has changed from ‘cloud-first’ to ‘cloud is king.' Innovation will only continue there,” says Dennis Gentles.

He also mentioned that the company would continue to see more companies embracing digital transformation; therefore, it will see a greater demand for seamless automation in business processes. The market demands that business data be fluid- with the expectation for this data to be available for use anywhere in the enterprise, rather than being trapped in application silos.