Charleston Regional Business Journal - Disaster Preparedness

In Focus:

Disaster Preparedness

LIST IT Support Companies, Page 23 BONUS LIST Business Communications Companies, Page 25 Top causes of crises in 2015

The Institute of Crisis Management tracked 212,115 business crisis stories in worldwide news.

1. Mismanagement...............31.41% 2. White-collar crime.............13.35% 3. Consumer activism..............7.75% 4. Environmental damage.......6.21% 5. Whistleblowers....................5.88% 6. Executive dismissal.............5.77% 7. Discrimination.....................5.32% 8. Cybercrime..........................4.75% 9. Labor dispute .....................4.51% 10. Hostile takeover...................3.83% Source: Institute of Crisis Management, 2015 Annual Report

Cybersecurity by the numbers

The Identity Theft Resource Center tracks breaches, compromised information and industry categories across the nation in a Data Breach Report that is updated daily.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center forecasts a near-normal number of named storms and hurricanes during the 2016 Atlantic hurricane season, which ends Nov. 30. The forecast predicts 10 to 16 named storms, with four to eight of those becoming hurricanes. (Photo/File)

Emergency management officials urge early prep for hurricanes

By Barry Waldman

T

Contributing writer

he Atlantic hurricane season began June 1. But disaster season could be anytime in the Lowcountry, as the historic October floods showed.

Area emergency management officials and community leaders took the time in late May to remind residents to prepare as though disaster is a certainty. The only uncertainty, they say, is exactly when it will strike.

Although the Lowcountry’s last devastating hurricane — Hugo — hit in 1989, the region has endured numerous high-wind events since. It is also prone to tornadoes, flooding, ice storms and earthquakes, any of which can and have destroyed roads and bridges, leaving communities isolated and without basic services for days.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center forecasts a near-normal

number of named storms and hurricanes during the 2016 Atlantic hurricane season, which ends Nov. 30.

NOAA’s predictions come with a wide margin for error. Hurricane Hugo, which delivered between $8 billion and $10 billion worth of destruction in 1989, rumbled through the Lowcountry during a “normal” hurricane season.

Officials have developed plans for how individual families and businesses can prepare for storms, ride them out and recover. This is important, they say, because residents will be on their own in the immediate aftermath of a disaster.

“We need 72 to 96 hours because it’s going to take that long for local government to restore essential services,” said Mario Formisano, director of Dorchester County’s Emergency Management Department.

Because 200,000 more people live in the region now than were here in 1989, at least 30% of the population has not experienced widespread destruction. So leaders urged residents to take precautions

seriously.

Charleston County produced a 31-page hurricane guide that includes maps of evacuation zones, lists of evacuation routes and emergency supplies, and preparation instructions.

Cathy Haynes, chief of operations at the Charleston County Emergency Management Department, said residents can download an app with much of the same information and can visit the county website at charlestoncounty.org to sign up for alerts delivered by email, text and voice.

Like in Dorchester County, Charleston County officials also recommend all residents develop a plan for the first three to five days after a storm, when there may be no power, no access to or egress from neighborhoods, and no access to food or clean water.

The Charleston County hurricane guide suggests making a communications plan for contacting family members, protecting buildings from damage, ensuring See HURRICANE, Page 22

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46.5%, or 220

Businesses’ share of reported data breaches this year through June 14, exposing 2.4 million records. Government and the military accounted for 5.7% of all compromised records, with 27 breaches and 5.6 million records exposed.

112.8 million

Number of medical or health care records exposed to data breaches in 2015, for 66.7% of the total. Businesses saw 781 breaches and 169 million exposed records.

14.9%

Percentage of exposed data resulting from employee error or negligence in 2015. Hacking accounted for 38% of all data breaches, an 8.5-percentage-point increase from 2014.

Source: Identity Theft Resource Center, 2015/2016 Breach Reports

Next Issue’s Focus:

Commercial Real Estate

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IN FOCUS: DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

June 27 - July 10, 2016

DHEC: Clear standing water to prevent spread of Zika

By Ashley Heffernan aheffernan@scbiznews.com

C

harleston has had its share of health epidemics over the years, some of the most deadly occurring when English colonists in the city tried to fight off yellow fever, dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases.

The warm weather and well-established population of mosquitoes in the state has researchers and physicians worried that the Zika virus, which is also transmitted by mosquitoes and is in the same family of flaviviruses as Japanese encephalitis and West Nile, could spread to South Carolina.

“From an environmental point of view, South Carolina and Charleston are basically the best setting for problems associated with infectious disorders.

That is not because there are too many bacteria or too many viruses, it’s because of the environment,” said Dr. Carlos Pardo-Villamizar, director of the Johns Hopkins Transverse Myelitis Center, who spoke during a recent Zika symposium at the Medical University of South Carolina.

He said the Zika virus, which can cause serious birth defects such as microcephaly — a condition in which a baby born to an infected woman has an abnormally small head — was first discovered in the late 1940s in Africa. In the 2000s, it began spreading to Asia, India and the South Pacific. A major outbreak of Zika occurred last year in Brazil, and cases have now been discovered in the United States in patients who have traveled to countries with Zika.

More than 2 billion people live in Zika-suitable areas of the world, and one fear is that the cases from abroad could spread the virus to mosquitoes in the United States and cause an outbreak.

Christopher Evans, a public health entomologist with the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, urged people to empty water-filled containers — such as bird baths, nonchlorinated pools, buckets, rain barrels, fountains, animal dishes, gutters, flower pots and vases — because they are common places for mosquitoes to lay eggs.

“Tip and toss: Tip it over and toss it out,” Evans said. “It sounds real simple, but when you go to teach that to the public, it’s not as simple. People have this stuff everywhere.”

DHEC guidelines are similar for residential and commercial properties.

“We would encourage businesses to do the same things we advise individuals to do to control breeding grounds

The Zika virus, which is in the same family as West Nile, is spread by mosquitoes. (Photo/File)

of mosquitoes — especially eliminating breeding grounds such as standing water,” DHEC spokesman Robert Yanity said. “Old tires are especially a concern since they can hold water inside of them.

Businesses that recycle tires must be especially mindful of ensuring their tires are not breeding grounds for mosquitoes and should take necessary measures to do so.”

Businesses with employees who work outdoors should also encourage the use of mosquito repellant. DHEC suggests repellants with at least one of these ingredients: DEET, icaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535.

Long-sleeved shirts and pants are advised to keep mosquitoes from biting, and window and door screens should be repaired so the insects can’t get inside buildings.

Travelers to a country with active Zika virus transmission who have symptoms — such as fever, rash, joint pain, red eyes, muscle pain and headaches — are recommended for testing.

Additionally, all pregnant women who have traveled to Zika-active countries within the past two to 12 weeks, or those who have had sexual contact with someone who has, should be offered the test, said Frederick Nolte, vice chair for laboratory medicine at MUSC. One travel-associated case of the virus had been confirmed in the state; however, DHEC did not release details on the location of the case, to protect the patient’s privacy.

As of June 10, MUSC has sent samples from 15 patients to public health laboratories in Columbia for testing; none of the samples tested positive for Zika, he said.

“We have no plans to implement local testing at MUSC unless we become an area with active transmission of the virus,” Nolte said. cr bj

Reach staff writer Ashley Heffernan at 843-849-3144 or @AshleyBHeff on Twitter.

June 27 - July 10, 2016

IN FOCUS: DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

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IN FOCUS: DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

Tips to improve cybersecurity • Train employees in security principles – have standards of protocol and behavior.

• Protect hardware, networks and information – update antivirus software.

• Provide firewall security for Internet server – available with OS or free online; enabled both at work and at home if employees work at home.

• Create mobile device action plan – use password protection, encrypt data and use security apps in phones that have access to confidential info; establish reporting procedure for lost or stolen phones.

• Back up important data and information – back up documents and information to computers and to the cloud or offsite.

• Control physical access to computers – lock up laptops when unused; create user accounts for each employee; allow administrative privileges only to trusted IT

staff and key personnel.

• Secure Wi-Fi networks – make sure wireless is encrypted, SSID is hidden and network has a password.

• Use best practices with payment cards – work with banks or processors to set up anti-fraud services; do not use the same computer to process payments and surf the internet.

• Limit employee access and authority – give employees access only to the data systems necessary for their jobs, and do not allow installation of software without permission.

• Require passwords and authentication – have employees use unique passwords and change them every three months; consider further authentication practices with additional information; check with vendors who handle sensitive information.

Source: U.S. Small Business Administration

June 27 - July 10, 2016

IN FOCUS: DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

June 27 - July 10, 2016

Guarding against data breaches in Charleston

By Natalie Swanson

I

nswanson@scbiznews.com

n December 2013, Target was subjected to a data breach that compromised 110 million customer records, according to a report by the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. Cyberthieves accessed the retailer’s network through “a third-party vendor, a small Pennsylvania HVAC company, which did not appear to follow broadly accepted information security practices,” the report said.

Target’s widely publicized data breach is just one instance of what Chris O’Rourke, CEO of Soteria, a Charleston cybersecurity and software development firm, calls “overconfidence in third parties.”

Companies that entrust sensitive information to third parties without checking their procedures risk being infiltrated and becoming an accessory to cyberattack, as the Pennsylvania HVAC company did.

O’Rourke said it is important to identify a company’s risk of a breach to safeguard against cyberattacks and loss of data.

“If there is any value in doing business with a company, it is a target,” O’Rourke said.

Hackers may attack a business, however small, once it is linked to the network of a larger company, he said.

Frank Mobley, CEO of software security firm Immedion, called technology breaches “geographically ambivalent,” affecting Charleston no differently from any other location.

John LaCour, CEO of PhishLabs, a Charleston cybersecurity company, agreed.

“Charleston businesses are just as sus-

ceptible as every other business,” he said in an emailed statement. “Sometimes companies think they won’t be targeted because there isn’t anything of high value on your servers. But you’re still a target – hackers will use your computers as a hopping-off point for attacks on high-value targets.”

To prevent data breaches, all three executives recommended instituting standardized policies for employees as the best — and often most neglected — safety precaution.

Mobley said threats are becoming more difficult to detect; training employees to be wary of suspect emails and phone calls and permitting access to only necessary information minimizes human error where data is concerned.

“We advise our clients to modify their email so that external emails are clearly identified as coming from outside the company and to train employees on how to suspect and report suspicious emails,” LaCour said.

Aside from data breaches driven by employee errors, Mobley noted machine failure of disk drives or CPUs as the most common reason for lost data. Maintaining backups of information is essential for safeguarding data against both technical failures and against cyberattacks, such as ransomware and identity theft.

The three executives also cited updated virus protection and firewalls as necessary protection for companies.

“There’s no silver bullet though,” LaCour said, “so you really need good security technology, processes and security awareness working together.” cr bj

Reach staff writer Natalie Swanson at 843-849-3125.

Data breaches in South Carolina

The Identity Theft Resource Center reports five S.C. instances of data exposure in 2015, resulting in a total of 56,449 records reported as compromised. In 2016, there have been three breaches and 2,498 exposed records reported in South Carolina: Blue Cross Blue Shield South Carolina 998 records comprised through unauthorized access and disclosure of paper data in February.

Evening Post Industries Experienced an electronic breach in late February that affected an undisclosed number of records. A fraudulent email account gained access to W-2 employee information.

PruittHealth Home Health – Low Country A May break-in resulted in 1,500 records being exposed. Thieves had access to patient medical records but appear to have stolen only cash.

Source: Identity Theft Resource Center, 2015/2016 Breach Reports

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IN FOCUS: DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

June 27 - July 10, 2016

Expert: South Carolina due for major storm

By Melinda Waldrop mwaldrop@scbiznews.com

U

niversity of South Carolina geography professor and climatologist Cary Mock has studied hurricanes for nearly 20 years. He has mapped S.C. storms from 1722 to the present day, recording a spike in activity in the 1830s and again in the 1890s.

He has read diary entries from farmers who saw crops destroyed by those “gales,” as they were called at the time, and pored over detailed, handwritten weather reports kept by the Ravenel family and other prominent citizens.

“It’s a matter of time,” Mock said, peering at a spreadsheet showing that the last major storm to hit the state did so 12 years ago. “We’re just naturally due.”

The 2016 hurricane season is off to an active start, with tropical storms Bonnie and Colin already making waves in the Atlantic. Many South Carolinians are still recovering from October’s record flooding, which was spawned in part by Hurricane Joaquin’s stalling off the coast.

HURRICANE, continued from Page 17

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that flood insurance is up to date and assembling an emergency supply kit.

Plans for family members who have special medical needs should be addressed, as should pets.

Among the items that could easily be overlooked are a manual can opener, utensils, toilet paper and bleach, the latter of which can be used to purify water.

The S.C. Emergency Management Department has also created a hurricane guide available at scemd.gov and at area Walgreens stores.

Business continuity

Business owners should develop continuity plans so that their companies can continue essential-mission functions at alternative locations, if necessary, Formisano said.

Businesses need to consider four key questions to ensure continuity after disasters, according to Scott Cave, principal at Atlantic Business Continuity Services and a certified business continuity professional: • Does the disaster plan cover every kind of disaster, or just hurricanes?

• Does the disaster plan focus as much on recovery as on preparation?

• When was the disaster plan last updated?

• When was the last time staff members were trained and the disaster plan was practiced?

“The reality is that you have to plan for the worst outcome and work around that,” said Christian Stegmaier, a specialist in USC’s School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management and chair of the retail and hospitality practice group at the law firm of Collins & Lacy.

For businesses, that includes clear, working lines of communication.

Employees need to know if businesses are still operating, and hotel guests need to know what steps are being taken to ensure their safety.

“Be very transparent,” Stegmaier said.

“Tell them what’s going on with regard to your particular operations, what you know about the weather. Communication is a key.”

Companies should also secure important documents and inventory.

“If you’re in management, you really have to pay attention to the forecasts and treat them as if it’s going to happen,” Stegmaier said. “Take steps ahead of time to protect your assets.”

That includes reviewing and updating all insurance policies. cr bj

“The actual event shouldn’t be the first time you crack the binding on the plan,” Cave said.

Larger companies are generally better prepared than small companies, which are more focused on day-to-day operations, he said, adding that it generally takes businesses three to six months to create a plan and train employees.

Once a disaster occurs, recovery authorities said they need residents’ cooperation. Those who break the rules during these events put their own lives and the lives of rescuers in danger, said Tom Smith, director of Emergency Preparedness for Berkeley County.

During the October floods, he said, some people moved barricades blocking flooded streets and drove themselves off the road. Personnel had to abandon recovery work to rescue them.

“If we tell you to leave, it’s not because we don’t like you,” Berkeley County Supervisor Bill Peagler said. “It’s because we care about you.”

When Dorchester County emergency management officials urged 45 residents in one community to evacuate during the floods, all but two remained in their homes, said Dorchester County Council Chairman David Chinnis.

Rather than order anyone out, county staff went door-to-door asking residents to provide county officials with information about their next of kin. That strategy worked, he said, and will be used again in the future. cr bj

IN FOCUS: DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

June 27 - July 10, 2016

www.charlestonbusiness.com 23

Computer Services & IT Services Ranked by No. of Employees Company Name Verizon Wireless 873 Orleans Rd. Charleston, SC 29407 Comcast Business 4400 Belle Oaks Drive North Charleston, SC 29405 Desktop Co-op 511 Crowfield Lane Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 NetTec NSI LLC 511 Crowfield Lane Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 Charleston Imaging Products Inc. 3129 West Montague Ave. North Charleston, SC 29418 eGroup 482 Wando Park Blvd Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 Technology Solutions of Charleston Inc. 4973 Rivers Ave. North Charleston, SC 29406 Windstream 3955 Faber Place Drive, Suite 205 Charleston, SC 29405 Cantey Tech Consulting 2702 Azalea Drive North Charleston, SC 29405 Integral Solutions Group B 141 Williman St. Charleston, SC 29403 Spirit Communications 311 Johnnie Dodds Blvd., Suite 141 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 Enterprise Technologies, Inc. 3870 Leeds Ave., Suite 107 North Charleston, SC 29405 Responza IT Management Services 29 Gamecock Ave., Suite 201 Charleston, SC 29407 Teleco Charleston 1070 St. Andrews Blvd.

Charleston, SC 29407 Communication Management Inc. 724 Wappoo Road Charleston, SC 29407

Phone / Website Email

Top Local Official(S) / Year Founded

843-696-4500 www.verizonwireless.com travis.smith@verizonwireless.com

Travis Smith 2000

843-266-3010 www.comcast.com gary_toal@cable.comcast.com

Anthony Douglas, Gary Toal 1963

350

Cabling/wiring, ISP

843-881-4651 www.desktopco-op.com info@desktopco-op.com

Joe Rainero, Robert D'Italia 2001

100

Data center, managed services, other IT services/Cloud-based applications, Office 365

843-881-4651 www.nettecnsi.com info@nettecnsi.com

Joe Rainero 1995

100

Data center, data storage/recovery, managed services, network design/ mgmt., systems integration, other IT services/Cloud services; Office 365; Microsoft Windows Server; hosting; remote access; email, calendar and contacts sharing and sync; off-site backup.

843-769-7774 www.theofficepeople.com sales@theofficepeople.com

Sean P. Mummert 2004

65

Hardware sales/service, managed services, other IT services

1-877-347-6871 www.egroup-us.com info@egroup-us.com

Mike Carter 1999

32

Data center, data storage/recovery, hardware sales/service, managed services, software development

843-745-0045 www.tscharleston.com -

Rachel Shivers Crunk 2000

32

Cabling/wiring, hardware sales/service, network design/mgmt., systems integration/digital security surveillance

843-266-2700 www.windstreambusiness.com ben.davis@windstream.com

Ben Davis 1998

32

Data center, data storage/recovery, hardware sales/service, ISP, managed services, network design/mgmt., systems integration, other IT services

843-278-1827 www.canteytechnology.com willis@canteytechnology.com

Willis Cantey 2007

25

Data center, data storage/recovery, hardware sales/service, managed services, network design/mgmt., systems integration, other IT services/ IT support and consulting, including IT help desk, hosting, data center support, virtualization, disaster recovery, security, networking

843-513-1531 www.integralsg.com -

Kim Mann, Mike Brewerton, Kyle Cox 1987

20

Cabling/wiring, data center, data storage/recovery, hardware sales/ service, managed services, network design/mgmt., systems integration, other IT services/Commercial Tier IV data center

843-513-1100 www.spiritcom.com marketing@spiritcom.com

Bob Keane, Grey Humphrey, Greg Guerra 1984

20

Data center, ISP, managed services, network design/mgmt., other IT services/Voice over IP- Hosted Firewall- Managed Firewall- WAP

843-744-0150 www.etisc.com sales@etisc.com

Mark Mitchum 1986

17

Cabling/wiring, data center, data storage/recovery, hardware sales/ service, ISP, managed services, network design/mgmt., systems integration, other IT services

843-990-9203 www.responza.com lanceb@responza.com

Lance Becker, Ash Kinghorn 2005

17

Mobile/Web app development, cabling/wiring, data storage/recovery, hardware sales/service, managed services, network design/mgmt., systems integration, other IT services

843-571-0000 www.telecochas.com mjones@telecochas.com

Michael Jones, Nancy Diserio-Jones 1983

17

Cabling/wiring, data center, data storage/recovery, hardware sales/ service, ISP, managed services, network design/mgmt., systems integration, other IT services/voice, data, video, Wireless networks

843-377-4444 www.cminetworks.com info@cminetworks.com

Jon Buring, Andrew Clarkson, Gil Ballenger 1986

16

Cabling/wiring, data center, hardware sales/service, network design/ mgmt., systems integration, other IT services

Employees 1,200

Specialization ISP, network design/mgmt.

843-529-0098 www.trainwithpst.com pst@trainwithpst.com

Ingrid Tugwell 1994

13

Mobile/Web app development, cabling/wiring, computer training, data center, data storage/recovery, hardware sales/service, managed services, network design/mgmt., software development, systems integration, other IT services/VA Training Benefits Accepted - security implementations, enterprise resource planning, process flow, diagramming, cost analysis, software and hardware migrations

843-737-8050 www.immedion.com jenny.skipper@immedion.com

Patrick O'Brien, Frank Mobley, Ravi Sastry 2007

11

Data center, data storage/recovery, ISP, managed services, network design/mgmt., other IT services/cloud solutions, virtual computing environments

843-207-1911 www.compuzone.com regina@compuzone.com

Regina M. Soriano 1997

8

Cabling/wiring, data center, data storage/recovery, hardware sales/ service, network design/mgmt., systems integration, other IT services

843-553-8800 www.kotoritechnologies.com information@kotoritechnologies.com

Neadom Tucker 2006

8

Cabling/wiring, computer training, data center, data storage/recovery, hardware sales/service, ISP, managed services, network design/mgmt., systems integration, other IT services

843-580-1520 www.bidr.co info@bidr.co

Sam Staley, Patrick Bryant 2014

6

Mobile/Web app development, software development

843-817-5152 www.spcnow.com info@spcnow.com

Frank Muehlenkamp 2000

6

Computer training, software development, systems integration, other IT services/SAP consulting

Stratus Technology Solutions 1200 Queensborough Blvd., Suite F Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

843-884-3097 www.stratusts.com support@stratusts.com

Chris Hanson, Padgett Anna 2002

6

Data center, data storage/recovery, hardware sales/service, managed services, network design/mgmt., systems integration, other IT services/ VOIP hosted phone service, remote backup and disaster recovery, helpdesk and monitoring, consulting, virtual desktops and servers, cloud storage and utilities.

The Computer Guyz of South Carolina LLC 2612 Larch Lane, Suite 104 Mount Pleasant, SC 29466

843-884-1323 www.thecomputerguyz.net help@thecomputerguyz.net

Candice Vasenda 2011

6

Cabling/wiring, computer training, data center, data storage/recovery, hardware sales/service, managed services, network design/mgmt., systems integration, other IT services

PST Inc. 4105 Faber Place Drive, Suite 420 North Charleston, SC 29405 Immedion 8480 Palmetto Commerce Parkway Ladson, SC 29456 CompuZone of Charleston 7685 Northwoods Blvd., Suite 8E North Charleston, SC 29406 Kotori Technologies LLC 5418-A Rivers Ave. North Charleston, SC 26406 Bidr 633 King St. Charleston, SC 29401 Software Projects Consulting Inc. 104 Dirocco Lane Summerville, SC 29485

Because of space constraints, only the top-ranked companies are printed. For a full list of participating companies, visit www.scbiznews.com/data. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors sometimes occur. Email additions or corrections to lists@scbiznews.com, fax to 843-849-3122 or go to www.tinyurl.com/joinourlists.

B Includes Radiate Technologies

Researched by Melissa Verzaal

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IN FOCUS: DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

June 27 - July 10, 2016

IN FOCUS: DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

June 27 - July 10, 2016

www.charlestonbusiness.com 25

Business Communications Companies Ranked by No. of Employees in the Charleston Area

Company

Phone / Website Email

Top Local Official(s) / Year Founded

Employees / Offices

Comcast Business 4400 Belle Oaks Drive North Charleston, SC 29405

843-266-3010 www.comcast.com gary_toal@cable.comcast.com

Anthony Douglas, Gary Toal 1963

Desktop Co-op 511 Crowfield Lane Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

843-881-4651 www.desktopco-op.com info@desktopco-op.com

NetTec NSI LLC 511 Crowfield Lane Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

Specialization

Scale of Services

350 6

High speed Internet, voice services, cable TV

Small business, enterprise

Joe Rainero, Robert D'Italia 2001

100 2

Cloud computing; application hosting; off-site data storage and backup; virtual IT department for businesses; remote desktop services; terminal services; Citrix and Microsoft Windows infrastructure hosting, business disaster recovery services.

Small business, enterprise

843-881-4651 www.nettecnsi.com info@nettecnsi.com

Joe Rainero 1995

100 2

Managed Services, consulting, backup, directory services, email

Small business, enterprise

Charleston Imaging Products Inc. 3129 West Montague Ave. North Charleston, SC 29418

843-769-7774 www.theofficepeople.com sales@theofficepeople.com

Sean P. Mummert 2004

65 3

machine-to-machine networking; audio and video for conference rooms and offices; IP and managed services; teleconferencing

Small business, enterprise

Carolina Office Systems 1042 Legrand Blvd., Suite 1 Wando, SC 29492

843-972-1262 www.carolinaos.com keller.lee@carolinaos.com

Bryan Christopher 1978

35 1

Sales and services of Xerox office equipment, managed print services, printer sales, laser printer supplies, document management software, scanning solutions, production printing equipment and solutions

Residential, small business, enterprise

eGroup 482 Wando Park Blvd Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

1-877-347-6871 www.egroup-us.com info@egroup-us.com

Mike Carter 1999

32 2

Provides innovative data center architecture, cloud, and managed services to businesses across the Southeast

Residential, small business, enterprise

Technology Solutions of Charleston Inc. 4973 Rivers Ave. North Charleston, SC 29406

843-745-0045 www.tscharleston.com -

Rachel Shivers Crunk 2000

32 1

IP video surveillance systems, network security, VPNs, wireless, e-business, computer hardware and network integration

Small business

Cantey Tech Consulting 2702 Azalea Drive North Charleston, SC 29405

843-278-1827 www.canteytechnology.com willis@canteytechnology.com

Willis Cantey 2007

25 2

IT support and consulting, including IT help desk, hosting, data center support, hardware virtualization, disaster recovery, security, networking

Small business, enterprise

Teleco Charleston 1070 St. Andrews Blvd.

Charleston, SC 29407

843-571-0000 www.telecochas.com mjones@telecochas.com

Michael Jones, Nancy DiserioJones 1983

17 1

Fiber optics networking, structured cabling systems, wireless networks, data networks, video networks and VOIP

Small business, enterprise

Graybar Electric Co. 7219 Investment Drive North Charleston, SC 29418

843-207-2700 www.graybar.com Larry.smith@graybar.com

Larry Smith 1869

16 1

Electrical, communications and data products; industrial supplies, security products

Residential, small business, enterprise

Radio Communications of Charleston Inc. 102 Farm Road Goose Creek, SC 29445

843-553-4101 www.radiocommofcharleston.com kk4b@firstpage.net

Rick Buckner, Liz Buckner 1971

16 1

Motorola, MOTOTRBO two-way radio sales and service; GPS and fleet management systems; wireless broadband solutions. Veteran Owned Small Business with a focus on Public Safety, Manufacturing and Hospitality

Small business, enterprise

Immedion 8480 Palmetto Commerce Parkway Ladson, SC 29456

843-737-8050 www.immedion.com jenny.skipper@immedion.com

Patrick O'Brien, Frank Mobley, Ravi Sastry 2007

11 1

Dedicated data center services; cloud solutions, colocation and managed IT services, including disaster recovery, managed network security services, custom storage and backup, server monitoring and management

Small business, enterprise

CompuZone of Charleston 7685 Northwoods Blvd., Suite 8E North Charleston, SC 29406

843-207-1911 www.compuzone.com regina@compuzone.com

Regina M. Soriano 1997

8 3

Custom-built computer systems; retail sales and service; networking, on-site services, virus removals, data recovery

Residential, small business, enterprise

Kotori Technologies LLC 5418-A Rivers Ave. North Charleston, SC 29406

843-553-8800 www.kotoritechnologies.com information@kotoritechnologies.com

Neadom Tucker 2006

8 1

Networking and mobile computing; disaster recovery and business continuity planning; web, application and database development; broadband, voice, VoIP and email

Small business, enterprise

Stratus Technology Solutions 1200 Queensborough Blvd., Suite F Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

843-884-3097 www.stratusts.com support@stratusts.com

Chris Hanson, Padgett Anna 2002

6 1

Computer serving and managed network services

Small business, enterprise

CyberNet-Charleston 1054 Johnnie Dodds Blvd., Suite A Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

843-568-1174 www.cyberNet-Charleston.com reny@cybernet-Charleston.com

Reny Melo 1995

4 2

Voice / Copper / IP communications - Comcast/Xfinity - Vonage Dealer

Small business, enterprise

EarthLink Business 2538 Cherry Point Road Wadmalaw Island, SC 29487

843-576-3424 www.earthlink.com russell.jewell@elnk.com

Jeff Lowney, Rick Froehlich 1985

3 1

IT services, solutions, connectivity, security, management, Hosted Voice over IP nationwide

Enterprise

Trident Communications Inc. 8421 Dorchester Road, Suite 109/379 North Charleston, SC 29420

843-552-1345 www.tridentcommunicationsinc.com info@tridentcommunicationsinc.com

Kevin Smith 1994

3 1

Low voltage company offering structured cabling systems and design; CAT-5e, 6, 6A and 7 installation; fiber optic cabling and network solutions; Internet access, VoIP services, and hosted phones.

Small business, enterprise

Charleston Telecom Solutions LLC 402 Gloucester Court Summerville, SC 29485

843-225-8570 Patricia H. Bascom, Bob www.charlestontelecomsolutions.com Bascom pat@charlestontel.com 2011

2 1

VOIP telephone service and phones, telephone systems, phone and data cabling, fiber optic cabling. Internet monitoring.

Small business, enterprise

Port + President, LLC 299 President St. Charleston, SC 29403

843-540-1655 www.portandpresident.com Portandpresident@gmail.com

1 1

Boutique consulting firm offering tailored solutions for all your business, marketing, public relations, social media and event management needs.

Small business

Melissa Medford 2014

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Researched by Business Journal staff