IT consulting from Network Essentials gives Charlotte businesses a clear answer to a technology question before they spend money on it. We take on one-time consulting projects as well as ongoing work, we have advised and supported local businesses since 2002, and our security practice is CISSP-led. The first step, a free IT audit, costs nothing. Call (704) 206-8900 or request a free IT audit.
What our IT consultants advise on
- Where your IT stands today. A free IT audit shows what is patched, what is exposed and what is undocumented, in plain English.
- Security and risk. A cyber risk assessment finds the gaps. For firms that need a standing security advisor, vCISO services add a security roadmap, policy and vendor risk oversight.
- Compliance. What the rules that apply to you require of your IT: SEC Regulation S-P for advisers and broker-dealers, the FTC Safeguards Rule and a written information security plan for CPA firms, HIPAA for healthcare practices, CMMC for defense suppliers, and the controls cyber insurers now ask for.
- Microsoft 365 and cloud. Whether to move, what to move first, and how to do it without losing a working day. See Microsoft 365 for Charlotte businesses and cloud migration services.
- AI. Which tools are safe to use with client data, and the policy your staff needs before they start. See AI consulting.
- Remote access and zero trust. Replacing an aging VPN and firewall setup with Zscaler zero trust security.
- Your IT team. How to split the work between your internal IT person and an outside team through co-managed IT.
A one-time project or ongoing advice
One-time projects. Some questions have a start and an end: a compliance gap assessment, a Microsoft 365 or cloud migration plan, a security review before a cyber insurance renewal. We take these on as stand-alone consulting projects. You do not need to be a managed IT client.
Ongoing advice. If you want us to stay on, advice becomes part of managed or co-managed IT. Those agreements are month-to-month from day one, with no annual contract. You can cancel with 30 days’ written notice, for any reason, with no termination fee. We earn your business every month.
IT consulting or managed IT: which do you need?
| You need | That is |
|---|---|
| An answer to a specific question: are we secure, are we compliant, should we move to the cloud, what should we fix first | IT consulting |
| Someone to run IT every day: monitoring, help desk, patching, backups, security | Managed IT services |
| Help for the IT person you already have | Co-managed IT |
Most firms start with the first row and decide about the others once they have seen the findings.
How it works
- A short call. We ask about headcount, your current IT arrangement, what is regulated, and what is not working.
- The free IT audit. We look at your environment and write down what we find.
- Findings in plain English. What is at risk, what to fix first, and what can wait.
- You decide what happens next. Your own team can act on the findings, we can scope a one-time project, we can work alongside your team, or we can take IT on as a managed service. If we are not the right fit, we will say so.
Who we advise
Good fit: financial firms (RIAs, wealth managers, CPA firms, family offices and broker-dealers), law firms, professional services firms, manufacturers and healthcare practices in the Charlotte area with roughly 10 to 300 employees.
Not a fit: one-to-five person offices, and anyone shopping for the lowest hourly rate. Both are legitimate needs. Neither is what we built.
Why Network Essentials
- No long-term contracts. Managed IT is month-to-month from day one, so we earn your business every month.
- Serving Charlotte businesses since 2002, independently owned.
- CISSP-led: security decisions are made or reviewed by a CISSP.
- Named to the CRN MSP 500 five times since 2021.
- One office, at 11121 Carmel Commons Blvd in south Charlotte. When you call, you reach a person here.
Frequently asked questions
What does IT consulting cost in Charlotte?
With Network Essentials the first step is free: the IT audit and the cyber risk assessment cost nothing and carry no obligation. A one-time consulting project is scoped and priced before any paid work begins. Ongoing managed and co-managed IT is a flat monthly fee starting at $2,000 per month, on a month-to-month agreement.
Do you take one-time consulting projects?
Yes. We take stand-alone consulting projects, such as a compliance gap assessment or a migration plan, for firms that are not managed IT clients.
Is there a long-term contract?
No. A consulting project ends when the work is done. Managed and co-managed IT agreements are month-to-month from day one, with no annual contract, and you can cancel with 30 days’ written notice, for any reason, with no termination fee.
What is the difference between IT consulting and managed IT services?
IT consulting answers a question and gives you a plan. Managed IT services run your technology every day: monitoring, help desk, patching, backups and security. Many firms start with the first and move to the second.
Do you advise on compliance?
Yes. We work with SEC Regulation S-P, the FTC Safeguards Rule, HIPAA, CMMC and cyber insurance requirements, and we tell you what each one requires of your IT in plain English.
Which areas do you serve?
Charlotte and the surrounding metro, including Ballantyne, SouthPark, Matthews, Concord, Huntersville, Fort Mill and Rock Hill.
Start with a free IT audit
Tell us what you are trying to decide. Call (704) 206-8900 or request a free IT audit.