For Immediate Release
Inc. Magazine Ranks NSK Inc Part of the Fourth Annual Inc. 5000
Boston IT Consulting Firm on Exclusive List of America’s Fastest Growing Private Companies
Boston, MA, August 30, 2010 – NSK Inc has been selected by Inc. magazine for its fourth annual Inc. 5000, an exclusive ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. NSK Inc ranks among some the most prominent brands in America including: Pandora, 7-Eleven, Brooklyn Brewery, and Radio Flyer. This recognition is evidenced by NSK’s commitment to excellence in business.
According to Inc. President, Bob LaPointe, “The leaders of the companies on this year’s Inc. 5000 have figured out how to grow their businesses during the longest recession since the Great Depression.” Despite the fact that this year’s measuring period of 2006-2009 took place during the latest recession, the aggregate revenue among the companies on the list actually increased to $321.6 billion, up more than 50 percent from last year.
The Inc. 5000 at a Glance
The New York City metro area has the largest group of Inc. 5000 companies (410), followed by Washington D.C. (363), Los Angeles (262), Chicago (203), and Boston (189). “Despite the current economic conditions, NSK has been able to see double digit growth year after year thanks to our commitment to our customers,” says Tim Lasonde, President of NSK Inc. “We as a company feel privliged to be among the 189 Boston based companies recognized for their fast paced growth and development.”
On the national level, Business Products and Services had the most companies on this year’s list with 640, followed by IT Services (607), Advertising and Marketing (410), Health (396), and Government Services (336). With roughly 8% of the Inc. 5000 companies focused on IT Services, NSK Inc is part of an elite selection of some of the nation’s fastest growing companies.
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 on www.inc.com/5000.
Methodology
The 2010 Inc. 500|5000 is ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2006 to 2009. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by June 30, 2006. Additionally, they had to be based in the United States, privately held, for profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2009. (Since then, a number of companies on the list have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2006 is $80,000; the minimum for 2009 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. The top 10 percent of companies on the list constitute the Inc. 500, now in its 29th year.
About Inc. Magazine
Founded in 1979 and acquired in 2005 by Mansueto Ventures LLC, Inc. (www.inc.com) is the only major business magazine dedicated exclusively to owners and managers of growing private companies that delivers real solutions for today’s innovative company builders. With a total paid circulation of 712,647, Inc. provides hands-on tools and market-tested strategies for managing people, finances, sales, marketing, and technology. Visit us online at www.inc.com.
About the Inc. 500|5000 Conference
Each year, Inc. and Inc.com celebrate the remarkable achievements of today’s entrepreneurial superstars—the privately held small businesses that drive our economy. The Inc. 500|5000 Conference & Awards Ceremony brings together members of the Inc. community, both a new class of Inc. 500|5000 honorees and the list’s alumni, for three days of powerful networking, inspired learning, and momentous celebration. Please join us September 30–October 2, 2010, at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland, located minutes from downtown Washington, D.C. For more information about the 2010 Inc. 500|5000 Conference & Awards Ceremony and to register, visit www.inc500conference.com or call 866-901-3205.
About NSK Inc
NSK Inc is a leader in information technology consulting, with a focus on IT management for SMB companies. Headquartered in Boston, MA the company offers a wide array of IT services for business driven information challenges. They provide service and support for small and medium-sized businesses and groups working within large organizations. NSK Inc also creates custom software products for investment banks, equity management organizations, and other specialized industry areas. For more information, please visit http://www.nskinc.com.
Press Contact
For more information, please contact:
Cathie Briggette
NSK Inc.
(p) +1 617 303-0480
(e) cathie@nskinc.com
(w) http://www.nskinc.com
For Immediate Release
NSK Inc Offers Summer Support for Tufts
Tufts Health Care Institute hires NSK Inc for development work while in-house staff on leave of absence.
Boston, MA, July 26, 2010 – NSK Inc, a Boston-based IT Consulting firm has been hired by the Tufts Health Care Institute (THCI) for an eight-week project to assist with IT and web support. The in-house developer for THCI is on paternity leave this summer, and the Institute contacted NSK Inc about filling in for two months.
The relationship between the two organizations is incredibly convenient as both share office space at 75 Kneeland Street, in Boston’s Chinatown neighborhood. Currently, NSK is providing four hours of development each week. Tasks have included entering and posting HTML content in online learning resources, updating scripts, and general IT support for THCI’s courseware and registration systems.
Project manager, Steve Papaccio says, “I’m excited to continue the relationship between NSK and Tufts Health Care. THCI has developed a strong set of web resources for their users and NSK is looking forward to contributing to and supporting that effort.” THCI Director of Content Development Ralph Halpern finds contracting with NSK to be an efficient and effective way to meet the Institute’s short-term need for IT support. “The NSK staff is both highly qualified and responsive to our requests. NSK offered flexible contract terms and did a good job of coordinating the handoff of work from our staff to their experts.”
About Tufts Health Care Institute
Tufts Health Care Institute (THCI) is a not-for-profit educational organization established as a collaborative venture of Tufts University School of Medicine (TUSM) and Tufts Health Plan (THP). Located in Boston, Massachusetts, the Institute develops and coordinates a variety of accredited educational activities, including live workshops and online courses, for practicing and prospective health care professionals. The primary content focus of THCI’s training is the cross-disciplinary competencies of Systems-based Practice, Practice-based Learning and Improvement, Interpersonal and Communication Skills, and Professionalism. THCI also provides administrative and infrastructure support to the educational activities of other groups and organizations. For more information, please visit http://www.thci.org.
About NSK Inc
NSK Inc is a leader in information technology consulting, with a focus on IT management for SMB companies. Headquartered in Boston, MA with an additional office in Palo Alto, CA, the company offers a wide array of IT services for business driven information challenges. They provide service and support for small and medium-sized businesses and groups working within large organizations. NSK Inc also creates custom software products for investment banks, equity management organizations, and other specialized industry areas. For more information, please visit http://www.nskinc.com.
Press Contact
For more information, please contact:
Cathie Briggette
NSK Inc.
(p) +1 617 303-0480
(e) cathie@nskinc.com
(w) http://www.nskinc.com
NSK Inc Receives Woman-Owned Business Certification
Massachusetts State Office of Minority and Women Business Assistance recognizes Nancy Keddy as a woman business owner, opens doors for opportunities
Boston, MA, March 26, 2010 - NSK Inc, a leading IT Consulting Firm has just received the Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) certification from the State office of Minority and Women Business Assistance (SOMWBA). As a result, NSK Inc will be listed in both the SOMWBA Directory and in the Massachusetts Central Register. As a member, NSK Inc is now eligible to better compete for government contracts as well as garner better connections through the services available as a WBE certified business.
Nancy Keddy, a veteran of the Information Technology industry, is now recognized by the Massachusetts Government for her achievements as a female CEO. Keddy, founded NSK Inc in 1996 and the company has grown into a leading IT consulting firm for small to medium businesses in the Greater Boston Area. "Since I am a woman-owned IT Service company, I am a minority in this industry," states Keddy. "Having the WBE certification opens up a window of opportunities that otherwise may not have been available to NSK Inc."
NSK Inc's broad range of services include:
- Backup Disaster Recovery
- Networking
- Project Management
- Hosting
- Managed Care
- Custom Application and Web Development
The SOMWBA provides resources and referral services for certified firms with opportunities at the federal, state, and municipal level as well as in the private sector. The agency also provides contracting, financial resources, and business membership and networking opportunities. NSK Inc can now take advantage of these benefits to build the company's network outside of the Greater Boston Area as the agency works throughout the state of Massachusetts.
About SOMWBA
The State Office of Minority and Women Business Assistance is an agency within the Massachusetts Department of Economic Development which promotes the development of certified minority business enterprises (MBE), women owned (WBE) business enterprises, and minority non-profit (M/NPO) and women (W/NPO) non-profit organizations. It does this by facilitating their participation in Massachusetts business and economic development opportunities. Specifically, SOMWBA offers services in certification, enforcement, business assistance and advocacy. For more information, please visit: http://www.somwba.state.ma.us.
About NSK Inc
NSK Inc is a leader in information technology consulting, with a focus on IT management for SMB companies. Headquartered in Boston, MA with an additional office in Palo Alto, CA, the company offers a wide array of IT services for business driven information challenges. They provide service and support for small and medium-sized businesses and groups working within large organizations. NSK Inc also creates custom software products for investment banks, equity management organizations, and other specialized industry areas. For more information, please visit http://www.nskinc.com.
Press Contact
For more information, please contact:
Cathie Briggette
NSK Inc.
(p) +1 617 303-0480
(e) cathie@nskinc.com
(w) http://www.nskinc.com
The Benefits of Public Cloud Computing
Simplicity and efficiency are the overarching benefits of having a public cloud. Public clouds are offered as a service, usually over an Internet connection. An off-site third party provider hosts and manages the system. Users connect to the system via web applications or services. Public clouds usually charge a monthly usage fee per gigabyte and bandwidth transfer charges.
Cost: Having a cloud computing model in place, organizations can trim their IT budgets because they don't have to purchase physical hardware (which also saves on energy costs), as the servers are virtual - hosted at a third party. Organizations can customize their clouds with specific storage parameters, applications, and security options so that they only pay for what they need. Since the cloud is hosted by a third party, the organization doesn't need to spend money to have an employee monitor the system; it is taken care of by the host.
Time: In house servers take time to maintain. If hardware or software configurations need to be altered, or if a server crashes or needs to be restarted, the process can often take a couple of hours or a couple of days depending on the situation. With cloud computing, because everything is virtualized, reconfiguring the cloud takes minutes.[1]Also - because the servers are hosted on the cloud, if one server fails, another can instantly be activated, reducing down time.
Maintenance: Due to the fact that the public cloud system is hosted off site, internal employees are not responsible for maintaining the system. The design lets users update or introduce technologies into the system at a much faster rate as everything is managed at the host company. Having a virtualized public cloud means never having to deal with a physical server; it can be maintained from a simple configuration screen.[2]
Disadvantages of a Public Cloud
Lack of Control: Due to the fact that third party providers are in charge of storing and maintaining the data systems, many feel as if they don't have enough control over their personal data.
Speed: Public Clouds are based on internet connections, meaning the data transfer rate is limited to that of the Internet Service Provider (ISP), which is usually no more than 10mbps. If an organization is storing and transferring large amounts of data (high definition video for example), a public cloud may not be the best bet.
Lack of Investment: Although a great cost saving method by reducing the need to invest upfront, renting the service from an outside provider also means that there is little capital gained. Having items such as servers and network equipment can pay off in the long run as assets and tax advantages.
The Benefits of Private Cloud Computing
Private clouds are built from software that runs on a piece of hardware at the organization. The difference between a public cloud and a private cloud is that a private cloud is controlled by the organization. The benefits of this system are that although an investment due to the fact hardware is required, it costs considerably less than traditional data management systems. The cost savings is due to virtualization in which one physical server acts as host to several virtual servers, each of which runs on a layer of software.[3]
Control: Due to the fact that the hardware is on-site, organizations have more control over their data. The organization is in charge of monitoring and maintaining the data giving them complete oversight of their data.
Performance: The private cloud is deployed inside the firewall on an organization's intranet, meaning that transfer rates are dramatically increased. Read access off of private clouds can be as fast as 100mbps, or even more if the organization has a gigabit Ethernet connection. Storage capacity is also higher with a private cloud. Private clouds usually start with a few terabytes and can be increased by adding additional disks.[4]
Disadvantages of a Private Cloud
Cost: Private clouds are more expensive than public because they require both hardware and maintenance personnel. To build a private cloud, an organization needs to invest in hardware or use already existing systems whereas a public cloud is all handled off site. Private clouds also require system administrators. However, one system administrator could easily manage a 100-node cloud with a part-time effort. [5]
Maintenance: Since the private cloud is hosted on sight, the organization needs to provide adequate power, cooling, and general maintenance. The host organization also runs the risk of data loss due to physical damage of the unit (i.e. fire, power surge, water damage).
[1] "Seeding the Clouds: Key Infrastructure Elements for Cloud Computing." IBM. Feb.2009. IBM Corporation. 26 Feb. 2010. <http://www-935.ibm.com/services/in/cio/pdf/oiw03022usen.pdf>.
[2] Fogarty, Kevin. "Cloud Computing Definitions and Solutions." CIO 10 Sep. 2009.Wed. 27 Feb 2010. <http://www.cio.com/article/501814/Cloud_Computing_Definitions_and_Solutions>.
[3] Ibid
[4] "Cloud Computing Public or Private? How to Choose Cloud Storage." Sys-Con Media. Sys-Con Media, 2008. Web. 26 Feb 2010. <http://www.sys-con.com/node/707840>.
[5] Ibid
For Immediate Release
NSK INC RECOGNIZED FOR SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS
Boston based IT consulting firm gets rave reviews from Earthworm Inc. for their recycling and conservation efforts for 2009
Boston, MA, February 24, 2010 - NSK Inc, a leader in IT consulting for small to medium businesses, has been recognized by
Earthworm Inc. for their recycling efforts over the course of the 2009 calendar year. Based in Somerville, MA, Earthworm Inc. specializes in recycling office waste materials and implementing corporate recycling programs. NSK Inc and Earthworm began a partnership in 2009 to increase the sustainability of NSK Inc's Boston office.
Over the course of a year, NSK Inc completely revamped their recycling program and made numerous positive contributions to the environment. NSK Inc reduced their carbon footprint (the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions caused by an organization) by 1.79 metric tons. Almost two tons of carbon was saved from being released into the atmosphere through NSK's green initiative, helping to reduce their carbon footprint and reducing environmental impact.
In addition to lowering carbon emissions, NSK Inc also saved 180 pounds of bottles and cans, roughly 2400 pounds of paper (the equivalent of 20 trees), and recycled 390 pounds of electronics equipment. According to Tim Lasonde, the President of NSK Inc, "Being green fits within NSK's mission of helping companies use technology to grow their businesses so that they are more efficient and productive. If we can show success and savings within our own organization, we can also help others achieve similar goals."
NSK Inc's efforts towards an eco-friendly business don't stop with the Earthworm partnership. Nancy Keddy, Founder and CEO of NSK Inc, believes that the efforts are an ongoing event. "We must always be improving our processes and considering their impact on the environment." In addition to the Earthworm program, NSK is currently transitioning their billing system to be paperless. Keddy says, "We are forward thinkers, so recycling is a must."
About Earthworm Inc.
Earthworm seeks to conserve natural resources by promoting the recycling of office waste materials. We promote recycling by operating both small and large scale commercial recycling programs, and by serving as an educational resource to the public. This combination of hands-on experience and environmentalism enables Earthworm to be a pioneer in offering sustainable, workplace recycling programs. For more information, please visit www.earthwormrecycling.org.
About NSK Inc.
NSK Inc is a leader in information technology consulting, with a focus on IT management for SMB companies. Headquartered in Boston, MA with an additional office in Palo Alto, CA, the company offers a wide array of IT services for business driven information challenges. They provide service and support for small and medium-sized businesses and groups working within large organizations. NSK Inc also creates custom software products for investment banks, equity management organizations, and other specialized industry areas. For more information, please visit www.nskinc.com.
Press Contact
For more information about NSK Inc, please contact:
Cathie Briggette
NSK Inc.
(p) +1 617 303-0480
(e) cathie@nskinc.com
For Immediate Release
NSK INC SELECTS AUTOTASK FOR PSA SYSTEM
Boston IT consulting firm making switch to new, web-based, professional services automation system for time and project management
Boston, MA, February 19, 2010 - NSK Inc, a Boston-based IT consulting firm specializing in small to medium businesses, recently purchased the Autotask® Software System for the company's Professional Services Automation software (PSA). Optimized for use by IT Providers, Autotask is an all in one resource for project management, billing and invoicing, and time reporting. The system runs off of a centralized cloud database and allows users to update from anywhere, a key reason why NSK chose the system.
Tim Lasonde, the President of NSK Inc couldn't be happier. "Of all the products and PSA systems we looked at, Autotask is the easiest to implement. It has all of the features we need to enhance our clients' experience." NSK will be utilizing Autotask as a way to allow technicians from NSK to log hours and report remotely from any location; a benefit for when they are on the job and not in the office. Emily R. Steinberg, Office Manager at NSK Inc says that Autotask is a step up from the current system configuration. "It will help to keep NSK better organized and allow for easier billing and invoicing, as well as employee time tracking."
The selection process wasn't an easy one for NSK Inc. "We looked at many companies over the past two months, watched many demos, and participated in a few trials," says Lasonde. "Autotask was the right choice for NSK because it allows us to improve our services for businesses in Greater Boston, streamline billing and invoicing, and measure the success of our employees." NSK will implement Autotask over the next two months, and expects to be fully transitioned to the system by the start of the second fiscal quarter.
About Autotask Corporation
Autotask Corporation is the leading provider of innovative, web-based Business Management Software and Services designed exclusively for IT Service Providers, MSPs, IT Consultants, Systems Integrators and other technology solution providers. Accessible via any PC, at any time without any downloads, Autotask helps IT professionals intuitively manage and automate the key operations for their service business and integrates seamlessly with most Managed Services software applications. For more information on Autotask please visit http://www.autotask.com or call 518-720-3500. Autotask®, Autotask Go!®, Autotask Pro® are registered trademarks Autotask Corporation. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.
About NSK Inc.
NSK Inc is a leader in information technology consulting, with a focus on IT management for SMB companies. Headquartered in Boston, MA with an additional office in Palo Alto, CA, the company offers a wide array of IT services for business driven information challenges. They provide service and support for small and medium-sized businesses and groups working within large organizations. NSK Inc also creates custom software products for investment banks, equity management organizations, and other specialized industry areas. For more information, please visit www.nskinc.com.
Press Contact
To schedule a press briefing, please contact:
Cathie Briggette
NSK Inc.
(p) +1 617 303-0480
(e) cathie@nskinc.com
(w) http://www.nskinc.com
For Immediate Release
NSK INC MAKES BOSTON BUSINESS JOURNAL BOOK OF LISTS
Boston-based IT consulting firm makes Top 40 List for 2010; joins ranks of major IT firms in Boston
Boston, MA, February 5, 2010 - NSK Inc, a leader in IT consulting for small to medium businesses, has been included in the Boston Business Journal's "Book of Lists 2010." Considered a "Who's Who in Boston Business," the guide profiles some of the largest corporations in the Greater Boston Area. NSK Inc is featured under the category "Area's Largest IT Consulting Firms," showcasing forty technology companies in the Greater Boston Area.
Nancy Swan Keddy, CEO and Senior Partner of NSK Inc, is thrilled to be a part of this year's selection. "It is a privilege this year to have NSK Inc recognized in the BBJ Book of Lists, 2010. NSK has always strived to be one of the top IT firms in Boston and this notoriety substantiates this accomplishment." Keddy started NSK Inc in 1995, and the company has expanded since, boasting a workforce of almost thirty employees along with an extensive client list. According to Keddy, NSK Inc was founded on the idea that she "didn't want to assist just one, but multiple organizations in growing and/or increasing their knowledge of both Information Technology and Development."
About The Boston Business Journal
The Boston Business Journal is Greater Boston's premier business newspaper, providing breaking news and comprehensive coverage of the region's business community. Each weekly issue includes in depth articles covering a variety of industries, corporate profiles, executive spotlights, as well as our exclusive Top 25 Lists. BBJ also publishes daily business news through its robust website, BostonBusinessJournal.com, and daily email updates.
About NSK Inc
NSK Inc is a leader in information technology consulting, with a focus on IT management for SMB companies Headquartered in Boston, MA with an additional office in Palo Alto, CA, the company offers a wide array of IT services for business driven information challenges. They provide service and support for small and medium-sized businesses and groups working within large organizations. NSK Inc also creates custom software products for investment banks, equity management organizations, and other specialized industry areas. For more information, please visit www.nskinc.com.
Press Contact
To schedule a press briefing, please contact:
Cathie Briggette
NSK Inc.
(p) +1 617 303-0480
(e) cathie@nskinc.com
(w) www.nskinc.com
IT Associate at NSK Inc. Receives VMWare Certification
NSK Inc now certified in VMware vSphere 4 virtualization
Boston, MA, February 1, 2010 - NSK Inc. recently announced that one of their IT Associates, Justin Etling is now a VMware® Certified Personnel. VMware software allows system administrators to run multiple operating systems on one CPU and lets users create virtualized servers. Etling is certified in VMware's vSphereTM 4, a cloud computing application designed to manage large pools of virtualized computing infrastructure including hardware and software components. According to Etling, "virtualization is the future of the IT industry."
"Virtualization is going to be a huge project driver for small to medium businesses (SMB) in 2010," comments Timothy Lasonde, President of NSK Inc. "As small businesses begin to realize that they can get more out of their equipment by implementing these new technologies, the demand for qualified technicians who understand SMB companies and how to correctly utilize this technology is skyrocketing. Justin is leading NSK Inc in its virtualization efforts and his certification helps to position us appropriately."
In order to become VMware certified, Etling completed a fifty hour training course which culminated in a certification exam. He says the course was very beneficial and that VMware is "really easy to use and implement." Once a technician becomes a VMware Certified Professional, they are officially licensed to use, install, and configure VMware solutions. Etling claims his new credentials are a huge asset to NSK Inc. "A lot of our clients use [VMware] to save money on hardware and software costs. Our clients also use the application for disaster recovery. If a server dies, you can instantly bring it up on another server, which minimizes downtime."
About VMware
VMware delivers solutions for business infrastructure virtualization that enable IT organizations to energize businesses of all sizes. With the industry leading virtualization platform - VMware vSphereTM - customers rely on VMware to reduce capital and operating expenses, improve agility, ensure business continuity, strengthen security and go green. With 2008 revenues of $1.9 billion, more than 150,000 customers and 22,000 partners, VMware is the leader in virtualization which consistently ranks as a top priority among CIOs. VMware is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices throughout the world and can be found online at http://www.vmware.com/.
VMware, VMware vSphere and VMware vCenter are registered trademarks and/or trademarks of VMware, Inc. in the United States and/or other jurisdictions. All other marks and names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective companies.
About NSK Inc
NSK Inc is a leader in information technology consulting, with a focus on IT management for SMB companies. Headquartered in Boston, MA with an additional office in Palo Alto, CA, the company offers a wide array of IT services for business driven information challenges. They provide service and support for small and medium-sized businesses and groups working within large organizations. NSK Inc also creates custom software products for investment banks, equity management organizations, and other specialized industry areas. For more information, please visit NSK Inc
IT Security Tips for Computer Applications
Update your software:
All current Microsoft operating systems come configured to perform automated updates. However, most of the applications that are installed on your computer do not. Keep in mind that every application you use poses a potential risk that could allow an attacker to gain access to your system or information. So, configure your software to check for updates frequently. If it can’t be automated, make sure you check for updates to your software. Whether it’s Adobe Reader, Apple iTunes, Sun Java, Mozilla Firefox, or the latest video game, new vulnerabilities are constantly being discovered and patches are routinely being released. Update everything and update frequently.
If you don’t need it, uninstall it:
Every application you have on your computer represents a potential vulnerability, or a way for an attacker to gain access. Consider your computer to be like a house and every application is like a window. When an application is vulnerable, it’s as if the window is open, allowing attackers easy entrance. Even when the window is close, i.e., the application is patched, the attacker can clearly see the window and can work to find a vulnerability that will open it up. If you don’t need an application, you should uninstall it. This is like removing the window and walling it in; there’s nothing there through which an attacker can even try to gain access.
Written by:
Ben Howard - MCSE, Security+, CCNA Security, NSA 4011
Senior IT Associate
NSK Inc.