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	<title>The Aldridge Company</title>
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		<title>Aldridge Company News</title>
		<link>http://www.aldridge.com/blog/2013/05/15/aldridge-news-page/</link>
		<comments>http://www.aldridge.com/blog/2013/05/15/aldridge-news-page/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 15 May 2013 12:00:58 +0000</pubDate>
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				<category><![CDATA[Aldridge News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Company Information]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[General Topics]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.aldridge.com/blog/?p=418</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[“We are proud to be helping to bring the benefits of cloud computing to business and government organizations in Eastern China and view this partnership as a key step forward in our international growth.” ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="_mcePaste">
<div id="_mcePaste">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;" align="center"><strong><a href="http://www.aldridge.com/blog/2013/05/15/the-aldridge-company-listed-among-houstons-leaders-for-cloud-it-services/">The Aldridge Company Listed among Houston’s Leaders for Cloud, IT Services</a></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;" align="center">May 15, 2013</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;" align="center">The Aldridge Company is ranked among the Houston area’s leaders in cloud hosting and IT services by the Houston Business Journal. The Aldridge Company is ranked sixth among Houston-area cloud service providers and 12th among computer network and system integrators.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;" align="center">&#8211;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;" align="center"><a href="http://www.aldridge.com/blog/2013/03/19/the-aldridge-company-expands-houston-headquarters/"><strong>The Aldridge Company Expands Houston Headquarters</strong></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;" align="center">March 12, 2013</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;" align="center">The Aldridge Company today announced the addition of more than 3,000 square feet to its Uptown Houston headquarters. The Aldridge Company headquarters, which has been located at 4543 Post Oak Place Drive since March 2000, now totals 12,565 square feet.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;" align="center">&#8211;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;" align="center"><strong><a href="http://www.aldridge.com/blog/2012/10/29/the-aldridge-company-ranked-29th-on-houston-business-journals-2012-best-places-to-work/">The Aldridge Company Ranked 29th on Houston Business Journal’s 2012 Best Places to Work</a></strong></p>
<p>October 29, 2012</p>
<p>The Aldridge Company is ranked 29th in the Houston Business Journal’s list of 2012 Best Places to Work.  COO Patrick Wiley says the recognition is particularly special because it is based on the feedback and insights of  employees.</p>
<p>&#8212;</p>
<div><strong><a href="http://www.aldridge.com/blog/2012/09/28/the-aldridge-company-among-houston-business-journal-2012-best-places-to-work-honorees/">The Aldridge Company among Houston Business Journal 2012 Best Places to Work Honorees</a></strong></div>
</div>
<div>September 28, 2012</div>
<div>The Aldridge Company is among 78 companies to be honored by the Houston Business Journal as its class of 2012 Best Places to Work. Companies were selected based on employee engagement surveys evaluating their companies in areas such as goals and leadership, communication and support, and embracing innovation and ideas, among others.</div>
<p>&#8212;</p>
<div><a href="http://www.aldridge.com/blog/2012/08/21/the-aldridge-company-makes-inc-5005000-list-of-fastest-growing-companies/"><strong>The Aldridge Company Makes Inc. 500/5000 List of Fastest Growing Companies</strong></a></div>
<div>August 21, 2012</div>
<div>The Aldridge Company today announced it is ranked 1,821 on the 31st annual Inc. 500/5000, a prestigious list of the fastest-growing private companies in America. This is the third time The Aldridge Company has made the Inc. 500/5000 list, which ranks companies with the highest percentage growth in revenue over the past three years.</div>
<div>&#8212;</div>
<div><strong><a href="http://www.aldridge.com/blog/2012/06/28/the-aldridge-company-acquires-serenity-systems-inc/">The Aldridge Company Acquires Serenity Systems Inc.</a></strong></div>
<div>June 28, 2012</div>
<div>The Aldridge Company today announced the completion of its acquisition of Serenity Systems Inc., a technology services firm that provides managed services, network integration and performance improvement to manufacturing, distribution, construction and services firms throughout the United States.</div>
<div>&#8212;</div>
<div><a href="http://www.aldridge.com/blog/2012/05/07/the-aldridge-company-prepares-for-hurricane-season-adds-data-center-services-in-phoenix/"><strong>The Aldridge Company Prepares for Hurricane Season, Adds Data Center Services in Phoenix</strong></a></div>
<div>May 7, 2012</div>
<div>
<div>The Aldridge Company today announced it has geographically diversified its data center portfolio to ensure stability in the event of a natural disaster. With a majority of its clients located in the hurricane-prone Houston area, The Aldridge Company has selected Phoenix NAP in Phoenix, Ariz., one of the safest-from-natural-disaster cities in the U.S., for colocation and cloud hosting needs.</div>
</div>
<div>&#8212;</div>
<div><a href="http://www.aldridge.com/blog/2012/02/01/the-aldridge-company-and-rafte-company-merge-services/"><strong>The Aldridge Company Acquires IT Managed Services Practice from Extreme Technologies Inc.</strong></a></div>
<div>April 3, 2012</div>
<div>The Aldridge Company today announced the completion of its acquisition of the IT Managed Services practice of Extreme Technologies Inc. This strategic acquisition will accelerate The Aldridge Company&#8217;s growth and will complement its current operations. The Aldridge Company will absorb the IT Managed Services practice of Extreme Technologies, including employees and the customers they serve, enabling Extreme Technologies to focus on strategic business consulting services.</div>
</div>
<div>&#8212;</div>
<div><a href="http://www.aldridge.com/blog/2012/02/01/the-aldridge-company-and-rafte-company-merge-services/"><strong>The Aldridge Company and Rafte &amp; Company Merge Services</strong></a></div>
<div id="_mcePaste">February 1, 2012</div>
<div id="_mcePaste">The Aldridge Company and Rafte &amp; Company today announced the completion of the merger of IT support services. Under the agreement, Rafte &amp; Company will leverage the strengths of The Aldridge Company’s Managed Services practice while continuing to focus on its strengths in the areas of business process improvement, application evaluation/selection, and consulting services for professional services firms.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste">&#8212;</div>
<div id="_mcePaste"><a href="http://www.aldridge.com/blog/2012/01/09/the-aldridge-company-signs-mou-to-move-chinese-companies-to-the-cloud/"><strong>The Aldridge Company Signs MOU to Move Chinese Companies to the Cloud</strong></a></div>
<div id="_mcePaste">January 9, 2012</div>
<div id="_mcePaste">The Aldridge Company today announced it has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Shanghai Lingang Economic Development (Group) Co., Ltd. (SLED) to help advance cloud computing in the Pudong district of Shanghai. The Aldridge Company is among a dozen organizations joining forces to form the Shanghai Lingang Free Trade Port Economic Development, which will develop a new state-of-the-art data center designed for cloud computing.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste">&#8212;</div>
<div id="_mcePaste"><a href="http://www.aldridge.com/blog/2011/11/29/houston-business-journal-names-the-aldridge-company-to-fast-tech-50/"><strong>Houston Business Journal Names The Aldridge Company to Fast Tech 50</strong></a></div>
<div id="_mcePaste">November 29, 2011</div>
<div id="_mcePaste">The Aldridge Company today was recognized for the third year in a row by the Houston Business Journal as one of Houston’s fastest growing technology companies. The Aldridge Company was ranked 11th in the publication’s Fast Tech 50, achieving revenue growth of more than 106 percent in 2010.</div>
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		<title>The Aldridge Company Listed among Houston’s Leaders for Cloud, IT Services</title>
		<link>http://www.aldridge.com/blog/2013/05/15/the-aldridge-company-listed-among-houstons-leaders-for-cloud-it-services/</link>
		<comments>http://www.aldridge.com/blog/2013/05/15/the-aldridge-company-listed-among-houstons-leaders-for-cloud-it-services/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 15 May 2013 11:00:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>dkeeney</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Aldridge News]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Cloud Servers]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Dedicated Servers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Houston]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.aldridge.com/blog/?p=17473</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Houston Business Journal ranks Houston-area computer network and system integrators, cloud service providers HOUSTON, May 15, 2013 – The Aldridge Company (www.aldridge.com), a leading provider, consultant and integrator of information technology (IT) and cloud computing solutions for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), is ranked among the Houston area’s leaders in cloud hosting and IT services [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: left;" align="center"><strong><br />
</strong><strong><em>Houston Business Journal ranks Houston-area computer network and system integrators, cloud service providers</em></strong></p>
<p><strong>HOUSTON, May 15, 2013</strong> – The Aldridge Company (<a href="http://www.aldridge.com/">www.aldridge.com</a>), a leading provider, consultant and integrator of information technology (IT) and cloud computing solutions for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), is ranked among the Houston area’s leaders in cloud hosting and IT services by the Houston Business Journal.</p>
<p>Based on the number of local full-time employees, The Aldridge Company is ranked sixth among Houston-area cloud service providers. This was the first time the Houston Business Journal compiled such a list. Cloud hosting allows businesses to utilize The Aldridge Company’s IT infrastructure, security, and backup to store and access information, and deliver applications over the Internet. This can make it possible to avoid upfront infrastructure costs and to rapidly scale up or down to meet fluctuations in business demand.</p>
<p>Among the Houston-area’s computer network and system integrators, The Aldridge Company ranked 12<sup>th</sup>, based on local gross revenue.</p>
<p>“At the Aldridge Company, our role is to help customers align their technology systems and processes with their business strategy by leveraging the right tools and removing IT obstacles,” said Patrick R. Wiley, President of The Aldridge Company. “Ultimately, information is the most valuable asset of any business, and we are very proud and thankful that our customers entrust us to make sure their information is available when they need it wherever they need to access it.”</p>
<p>The Aldridge Company’s IT solutions include complete management of servers, PCs and networks coupled with rapid and accurate technical support. They also provide audits of security and disaster recovery readiness.</p>
<p>The Aldridge Company’s hosting services include cloud hosting, dedicated servers and colocation, which provide constant and current data availability, security and stability, thus giving customers peace-of-mind and allowing them to focus on their business. Last year, The Aldridge Company geographically diversified its data center portfolio for colocation and cloud hosting needs by adding a data center in Phoenix, Ariz., one of the safest-from-natural-disaster cities in the U.S.</p>
<p><strong>About The Aldridge Company</strong></p>
<p>The Aldridge Company is a Houston, Texas-based technology management, consulting and outsourcing company.  Founded in 1984, the company brings a winning combination of professional technical expertise, extensive capabilities and a strict focus on the importance of business processes.  The Aldridge Company is a leading provider, consultant and integrator of Information Technology and Cloud Computing solutions.  In 2011, the company was listed as No. 11 on the <em>Houston Business Journal’s</em> Fast Tech 50 list of fastest growing Houston technology companies.</p>
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		<title>The Aldridge Company Expands Houston Headquarters</title>
		<link>http://www.aldridge.com/blog/2013/03/12/the-aldridge-company-expands-houston-headquarters/</link>
		<comments>http://www.aldridge.com/blog/2013/03/12/the-aldridge-company-expands-houston-headquarters/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 12 Mar 2013 13:56:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>dkeeney</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Aldridge News]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.aldridge.com/blog/?p=12622</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Organic growth and three acquisitions in 2012 necessitate office expansion in Uptown Houston HOUSTON, March 12, 2013 – The Aldridge Company (www.aldridge.com), a leading provider, consultant and integrator of information technology (IT) and cloud computing solutions for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), today announced the addition of more than 3,000 square feet to its Uptown [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><em>Organic growth and three acquisitions in 2012 necessitate office expansion in Uptown Houston</em> </strong></p>
<p><strong>HOUSTON, March 12, 2013</strong> – The Aldridge Company (www.aldridge.com), a leading provider, consultant and integrator of information technology (IT) and cloud computing solutions for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), today announced the addition of more than 3,000 square feet to its Uptown Houston headquarters. The Aldridge Company headquarters, which has been located at 4543 Post Oak Place Drive since March 2000, now totals 12,565 square feet.</p>
<p>4543 Post Oak Place Drive is owned by SLS-AIM, LLC. The Aldridge Company negotiated the office expansion without the assistance of a broker.</p>
<p>The Aldridge Company’s headquarters houses the data center it uses for a range of hosting services, including dedicated servers, colocation and cloud hosting. Over the years, The Aldridge Company has added cooling and power systems as well as multiple generators for backup power.</p>
<p>“Power reliability is essential for maintaining customer trust and giving customers the peace-of-mind that allows them to focus on their business,” said Patrick Wiley, President and Chief Operating Officer with The Aldridge Company. “After extensive study, we decided to expand in our current location because of its close proximity to the Galleria and River Oaks areas, as well as to an electrical substation – where power can be restored quickly and our backup systems are already installed.”</p>
<p>The expansion will accommodate The Aldridge Company’s rapidly growing staff. Through its aggressive growth strategy, which included three acquisitions in 2012, The Aldridge Company has significantly expanded its base of talented employees and grown its customer base.</p>
<p>In addition to hosting services, The Aldridge Company provides a broad range of IT management services, including management of servers, PCs and networks coupled with rapid and accurate technical support. Other services include technology and work process evaluations, audits of security and disaster recovery readiness.</p>
<p><strong>About The Aldridge Company</strong></p>
<p>The Aldridge Company is a Houston, Texas-based technology management, consulting and outsourcing company. Founded in 1984, the company brings a winning combination of professional technical expertise, extensive capabilities and a strict focus on the importance of business processes. The Aldridge Company is a leading provider, consultant and integrator of Information Technology and Cloud Computing solutions. In 2011, the company was listed as No. 11 on the Houston Business Journal’s Fast Tech 50 list of fastest growing Houston technology companies.</p>
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		<title>Rain CII Tests the Water, Sticks with The Aldridge Company</title>
		<link>http://www.aldridge.com/blog/2012/12/17/rain-cii-tests-the-water-sticks-with-the-aldridge-company/</link>
		<comments>http://www.aldridge.com/blog/2012/12/17/rain-cii-tests-the-water-sticks-with-the-aldridge-company/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 17 Dec 2012 18:07:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>dkeeney</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Aldridge News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[For Techs]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.aldridge.com/blog/?p=1340</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Exhaustive review reaffirms that The Aldridge Company offers the best IT services for the value   In 2012, Rain CII Carbon LLC, a leading producer of calcined petroleum coke (CPC), decided to test the IT services market to ensure they were doing all they could to maximize cost efficiencies and improve IT services performance. Even [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_1342" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://www.aldridge.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/RainCII.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1342" title="Rain CII Carbon LLC " src="http://www.aldridge.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/RainCII-300x183.jpg" alt="Rain CII" width="300" height="183" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Rain CII Carbon LLC is a leading producer of calcined petroleum coke and a customer of The Aldridge Company</p></div>
<p><strong><em>Exhaustive review reaffirms that The Aldridge Company offers the best IT services for the value </em></strong></p>
<p><em> </em></p>
<p><em>In 2012, Rain CII Carbon LLC, a leading producer of calcined petroleum coke (CPC), decided to test the IT services market to ensure they were doing all they could to maximize cost efficiencies and improve IT services performance. Even though The Aldridge Company had been working with Rain CII for nearly six years, it approached the RFP process as an opportunity rather than a threat. The decision to retain The Aldridge Company with a long-term agreement turned out to be an easy one.</em></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Rain CII is an illustration of the global economy with offices and operating facilities spread across the United States and around the world. The company has headquarters in the U.S. and India, as well as seven facilities in the U.S. and affiliated operations in India and China.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Rain CII’s relationship with The Aldridge Company began at a low point in the company’s history. In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina washed through Louisiana, the largest CPC producing region in the world outside of China, leaving desolation and heartbreak. At the time, Rain CII was headquartered in Chalmette in St. Bernard Parish, downriver from New Orleans.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>“We were 100 percent unprepared,” Rain CII IT Director Karren Raedisch says. “We had one plant in a flooded area that was inoperable, but our other facilities continued plugging away. But our offices were knocked out. We had to declare force majeure due to our inability to get back on our feet quickly.”</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Shortly thereafter, the company made the difficult decision to relocate to the Houston suburb of Kingwood, Texas. Although the move originally was to be temporary, the decision was later made to remain in Kingwood permanently.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>“We linked up with The Aldridge Company at a crucial time when we were still in disaster recovery mode,” Raedisch said. “We had moved all IT systems and issued an RFP encompassing everything on the IT spectrum, including data center services and full outsource of IT support. The Aldridge Company was our choice.”</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>The Aldridge Company quickly got to work implementing a service called Complete IT Management. The Aldridge Company’s IT experts assessed Rain CII’s needs and helped to stabilize the company’s IT systems. Complete IT Management bundles all IT services, including network management and monitoring, desktop support, server management and support, help desk, network security and proactive IT planning and maintenance. The Aldridge Company provides these services under a flat monthly fee.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>“It is much more cost effective to utilize The Aldridge Company as an outsourced IT services provider than to handle these same needs internally,” said Raedisch. “I am a cost center, so I have to be a cost saver. Hiring our own IT staff brings minimal value to the company.”</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>She isn’t alone in coming to this conclusion. Respondents to the Information Week 2012 State of IT Outsourcing Survey were asked to rate outsourcing benefits on a 1-to-5 scale where 5 is &#8220;primary benefit.&#8221; 67 percent of respondents rated ‘cost savings’ three or higher. Twenty-two percent said cost savings is the primary benefit.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>“My job really is to figure out how to bring value to the business,” said Raedisch. “We could do more from an IT perspective, but it just doesn’t fit our business model. The use of mobile technologies is an example of where we proved through some testing that greater mobility and accessibility added value that legitimized the investment.”</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Raedisch says they found just the opposite to be true when testing a messaging/chatting application on office desktops. Although it was expected to enable a more dynamic flow of instant communication that could speed up decision making and remove barriers, the application became a nuisance and did not fit the company’s culture. They pulled the plug after a brief test.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>“Value is brought into the business through business intelligence and to do that we need a strong foundation, which is where The Aldridge Company comes in,” said Raedisch. “My time is focused on information systems. IT is 100 percent outsourced.”</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>According to the Information Week 2012 State of IT Outsourcing Survey, CIOs are more comfortable turning over some functions to outsourcers than others. The most outsourced area is application development, cited by 80 percent of survey respondents, followed by application maintenance (74 percent), hardware maintenance and support (61 percent), data center operations (60 percent), network monitoring and support (57 percent), and end user support (53 percent).</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Nearly six years into the relationship, Rain CII went back out with an RFP. While pleased with The Aldridge Company’s work, Raedisch and the management of Rain CII wanted to leave no stone unturned in their effort to achieve their business objectives of:</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<ol>
<li>Operating as cost efficiently as possible;</li>
<li>Improving IT services performance; and</li>
<li>Allowing Rain CII to focus on its core business and to accelerate the company’s growth through technologies that enable core business information needs.</li>
</ol>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>“We developed a scorecard and evaluated all vendors, rating each component by weighted percentages based on what mattered most to us,” said Raedisch.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Rain CII evaluated a total of nine IT service providers on an exhaustive set of 65 separate criteria, each of which was rated as “Nice to Have,” “Desirable,” or “Essential.” Those 65 criteria were then organized into four categories, including facility capabilities, technology and managed services, operations and engagement methodology. Each vendor was then scored on a 1-to-4 scale, where one means, “Does not meet at all,” and four means, “Exceeds requirements.”</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>“In the end, The Aldridge Company had the best score for the value, which sped up the evaluation and decision process a great deal,” Raedisch said.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>As a result of the RFP process, The Aldridge Company drives IT strategy for Rain CII. The Aldridge Company clearly understands Rain CII’s primary interest is the reliability of its IT systems so workers throughout the organization can be more effective every minute of every day.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>“The Aldridge Company has set up redundant data centers for mission critical applications, such as our Exchange server, file server and Citrix,” said Raedisch. We have nine facilities that use Citrix as their main application, so any down time would be unacceptable. The Aldridge Company manages it all for us.”</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Raedisch has advice for other organizations considering migrating to an outsourced IT service provider:</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<ul>
<li>First look at the cost differences and skill level differences among the IT service providers. This is where value differences are easiest to discover.</li>
<li>Be sure to carefully evaluate the controls that are in place and disciplines in place. You don’t want a provider who will be making it up on the fly.</li>
<li>Be aware that culture change may be needed for your organization. It is a big adjustment to being in the action every minute of every day to being involved at a director level.</li>
<li>Communication is essential. You need a partner that keeps the lines of communications open and updates you regularly on activities, opportunities and concerns. “We have monthly meetings, but technology changes so rapidly that the guidance needs to be ongoing and dynamic,” said Raedisch.</li>
<li>Understand that you are going to still have issues in IT – it is inevitable – but you have a partner for addressing those issues.</li>
</ul>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>“It takes a lot of trust in the partner, but the magic of outsourcing is giving us the ability to focus on those areas where we can be truly great,” said Raedisch. “How The Aldridge Company adapts to our culture is key. We have embraced some of their specifications, because it’s easier, but they spend considerable time understanding us and accommodating our unique needs and approaches.”</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Looking back on the entire scope of Rain CII’s relationship with The Aldridge Company, it seems like a lifetime ago that the company was bouncing back following Hurricane Katrina.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>“I sleep very well at night now,” Raedisch told us. “With The Aldridge Company onboard, I don’t worry about business continuity and disaster recovery issues anymore.”</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>About The Aldridge Company</strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>The Aldridge Company is a Houston, Texas-based technology management, consulting and outsourcing company. Founded in 1984, the company brings a winning combination of professional technical expertise, extensive capabilities and a strict focus on the importance of business processes. The Aldridge Company is a leading provider, consultant and integrator of information technology and cloud computing solutions. In 2011, the company was listed as No. 11 on the <em>Houston Business Journal’s</em> Fast Tech 50 list of fastest growing Houston technology companies.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>The Aldridge Company provides enterprise-level management of servers, PCs, and networks, coupled with rapid and accurate technical support. In addition, it operates and manages data center facilities offering fully-redundant, secure hosting of servers that cross the spectrum of business disciplines. By offering a broad range of IT solutions in one organization, The Aldridge Company allows clients to benefit from having a single point of contact for the entire IT environment.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong><em>For more information about The Aldridge Company and how it can help transform your IT management and services, visit </em></strong><a href="http://www.aldridge.com/"><strong><em>www.aldridge.com</em></strong></a><strong><em> or call (832) 209-2940.</em></strong></p>
<p><a title="Rain CII Case Study" href="http://www.aldridge.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/CII-Rain-Case-Study-FINAL-formatted.pdf" target="_blank">Download this case study</a>.</p>
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		<title>The Aldridge Company Ranked 29th on Houston Business Journal’s 2012 Best Places to Work</title>
		<link>http://www.aldridge.com/blog/2012/10/29/the-aldridge-company-ranked-29th-on-houston-business-journals-2012-best-places-to-work/</link>
		<comments>http://www.aldridge.com/blog/2012/10/29/the-aldridge-company-ranked-29th-on-houston-business-journals-2012-best-places-to-work/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 29 Oct 2012 13:17:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>dkeeney</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Company Information]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[General Topics]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.aldridge.com/blog/?p=587</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[HOUSTON, October 29, 2012 – The Aldridge Company (www.aldridge.com), a leading provider, consultant and integrator of Information Technology and Cloud Computing solutions for SMBs, is ranked 29th in the Houston Business Journal’s list of 2012 Best Places to Work. &#160; Now in its 12th year, 78 companies made the cut in four categories: companies with [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_588" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 283px"><a href="http://www.aldridge.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/BPTWcover2012-280.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-588" title="BestPlacestoWork" src="http://www.aldridge.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/BPTWcover2012-280-273x300.jpg" alt="The Aldridge Company is among the best places to work" width="273" height="300" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">The Aldridge Company ranked 29th on the Houston Business Journal&#8217;s list of Best Places to Work.</p></div>
<p><strong>HOUSTON, October 29, 2012</strong> – The Aldridge Company (www.aldridge.com), a leading provider, consultant and integrator of Information Technology and Cloud Computing solutions for SMBs, is ranked 29<sup>th</sup> in the Houston Business Journal’s list of 2012 Best Places to Work.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Now in its 12th year, 78 companies made the cut in four categories: companies with 10 to 100 employees, companies with 101 to 500 employees, companies with 501 or more employees and companies that are not based in Houston, but have a significant presence in the area. Employees evaluated their companies in areas such as goals and leadership, communication and support, advancement opportunity and skill development, recognition and compensation, tolerance and flexibility, and embracing innovation and ideas.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>“What makes this recognition particularly special is that it is based on the feedback and insights of our employees, because employee satisfaction is a primary component of our success,” said Patrick R. Wiley, President and Chief Operating Officer of The Aldridge Company. “Employees who are happy, engaged and challenged are able to deliver the superior level of client service The Aldridge Company is committed to providing.”</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>The Aldridge Company has cultivated a positive work environment even during a period of rapid growth. Since the start of 2012, The Aldridge Company has announced three acquisitions, including the acquisition of the IT services of Rafte &amp; Company in January, the acquisition of the IT Managed Services practice of Extreme Technologies in April and the acquisition of Serenity Systems Inc. in June. The acquisitions have further underscored the firm’s commitment to the dynamic and growing IT services market by continuing to aggressively expand the depth and breadth of The Aldridge Company’s services and expertise.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>The Aldridge Company’s IT solutions include complete management of servers, PCs and networks coupled with rapid and accurate technical support. Other services offer technology and work process evaluations, audits of security and disaster recovery readiness, and hosting services such as cloud hosting, collocation and dedicated servers.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>The Houston Business Journal honored the companies that made its 2012 Best Places to Work list at a luncheon at the Royal Sonesta Hotel Houston.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>About The Aldridge Company</strong></p>
<p>The Aldridge Company is a Houston, Texas-based technology management, consulting and outsourcing company.  Founded in 1984, the company brings a winning combination of professional technical expertise, extensive capabilities and a strict focus on the importance of business processes.  The Aldridge Company is a leading provider, consultant and integrator of Information Technology and Cloud Computing solutions.  In 2011, the company was listed as No. 11 on the <em>Houston Business Journal’s</em> Fast Tech 50 list of fastest growing Houston technology companies.</p>
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		<title>It&#8217;s National Cyber Security Awareness Month</title>
		<link>http://www.aldridge.com/blog/2012/10/25/its-national-cyber-security-awareness-month/</link>
		<comments>http://www.aldridge.com/blog/2012/10/25/its-national-cyber-security-awareness-month/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 25 Oct 2012 15:12:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>dkeeney</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General Topics]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.aldridge.com/blog/?p=575</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Recognizing the importance of cybersecurity, October is designated National Cyber Security Awareness Month. It is a good excuse to reflect on what your organization is doing to protect itself and what more you can do. According to the 2012 Small Business Study from the National Cyber Security Alliance and Symantec, surprisingly few businesses are taking adequate steps to [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_585" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://www.aldridge.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Cybersecurity.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-585" title="Cybersecurity" src="http://www.aldridge.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Cybersecurity-300x201.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="201" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Photo by IntelFreePress</p></div>
<p>Recognizing the importance of cybersecurity, October is designated <a href="http://www.staysafeonline.org/ncsam/">National Cyber Security Awareness Month</a>. It is a good excuse to reflect on what your organization is doing to protect itself and what more you can do.</p>
<p>According to the <a href="http://www.aldridge.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/2012_ncsa_symantec_small_business_study.pdf">2012 Small Business Study</a> from the National Cyber Security Alliance and Symantec, surprisingly few businesses are taking adequate steps to protect themselves and their customers from online threats.</p>
<p>The survey found that 83 percent of respondents lack a formal cybersecurity plan, which is pretty incredible. Only 17 percent have a plan in place and yet three-quarters (77 percent) of small business owners believe their company is safe from attack.</p>
<p>Nearly six out of 10 (59 percent) SMBs do not have a contingency plan outlining procedures for responding and reporting data breach losses. Approximately three out of four (73 percent) indicated that a reliable and trusted Internet presence is critical for their success; 77 percent acknowledged that cybersecurity is important for their brand image.</p>
<p>While social media is an increasingly popular vector for phishing attacks, 70 percent of SMBs do not have policies for employee social media use.</p>
<p>Small businesses that have not had a <a href="http://www.aldridge.com/audits_and_assessments.html">security audit</a> should schedule one today. An audit is the best and only way to fully understand all of your business&#8217;s security, technologies and practices as they exist today. The practice can improve online safety practices in a number of areas, especially when it comes to establishing policies and protocols for safe Internet use, with these simple ways to stay safe online:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Know what you need to protect</strong>: One data breach could mean financial ruin for an SMB. Look at where your information is being stored and used, and protect those areas accordingly.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><strong>Enforce strong password policies</strong>: Passwords with eight characters or more and use a combination of letters, numbers and symbols (e.g., # $ % ! ?) will help protect your data.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><strong>Map out a disaster preparedness plan today</strong>: Don’t wait until it’s too late. Identify your critical resources, use appropriate security and backup solutions to archive important files, and test frequently.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><strong>Encrypt confidential information</strong>: Implement encryption technologies on desktops, laptops and removable media to protect your confidential information from unauthorized access, providing strong security for intellectual property, customer and partner data.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><strong>Use a reliable security solution</strong>: Today’s solutions do more than just prevent viruses and spam; they scan files regularly for unusual changes in file size, programs that match known malware, suspicious e-mail attachments and other warning signs. It’s the most important step to protect your information.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><strong>Protect Information Completely: </strong>It’s more important than ever to back up your business information. Combine backup solutions with a robust security offering to protect your business from all forms of data loss.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><strong>Stay up to date</strong>: A security solution is only as good as the frequency with which it is updated. New viruses, worms, Trojan horses and other malware are born daily, and variations of them can slip by software that is not current.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><strong>Educate employees</strong>: Develop Internet security guidelines and educate employees about Internet safety, security and the latest threats, as well as what to do if they misplace information or suspect malware on their machine.</li>
</ul>
<p>National Cyber Security Awareness Month is designed to engage and educate public and private sector partners through events and initiatives with the goal of raising awareness about cybersecurity and increasing the resiliency of the nation in the event of a cyber incident. October 2012 marks the ninth annual National Cyber Security Awareness Month sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security in cooperation with the National Cyber Security Alliance and the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC).</p>
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		<title>The Aldridge Company among Houston Business Journal 2012 Best Places to Work Honorees</title>
		<link>http://www.aldridge.com/blog/2012/09/28/the-aldridge-company-among-houston-business-journal-2012-best-places-to-work-honorees/</link>
		<comments>http://www.aldridge.com/blog/2012/09/28/the-aldridge-company-among-houston-business-journal-2012-best-places-to-work-honorees/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 28 Sep 2012 17:39:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>dkeeney</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Company Information]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[General Topics]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.aldridge.com/blog/?p=548</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[HOUSTON, September 28, 2012 &#8211; The Aldridge Company (www.aldridge.com), a leading provider, consultant and integrator of Information Technology and Cloud Computing solutions for SMBs, is among 78 companies to be honored by the Houston Business Journal as its class of 2012 Best Places to Work. The Aldridge Company has cultivated a positive work environment even during [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_556" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://www.aldridge.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/BestPlacestoWork.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-556" title="BestPlacestoWork" src="http://www.aldridge.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/BestPlacestoWork.jpg" alt="The Aldridge Company is among HBJ's Best Places to Work" width="300" height="300" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">The Aldridge Company is among the Houston Business Journal&#8217;s class of 2012 Best Places to Work.</p></div>
<p><strong>HOUSTON, September 28, 2012</strong> &#8211; The Aldridge Company (www.aldridge.com), a leading provider, consultant and integrator of Information Technology and Cloud Computing solutions for SMBs, is among 78 companies to be honored by the Houston Business Journal as its class of 2012 Best Places to Work.</p>
<p>The Aldridge Company has cultivated a positive work environment even during a period of rapid growth. Since the start of 2012, The Aldridge Company has announced three acquisitions, including the acquisition of the IT services of Rafte &amp; Company in January, the acquisition of the IT Managed Services practice of Extreme Technologies in April and the acquisition of Serenity Systems Inc. in June. The acquisitions have further underscored the firm’s commitment to the dynamic and growing IT services market by continuing to aggressively expand the depth and breadth of The Aldridge Company’s services and expertise.</p>
<p>Best Places to Work honorees are divided into four categories: companies with between 10 and 100 employees, 101 and 500 employees, more than 500 employees and companies with a significant presence in the city. Companies with a significant presence aren&#8217;t based in the Houston area, though all the others are. A significant presence is defined as more than 150 employees in the Houston area.</p>
<p>See a slideshow of the honorees in each category by clicking <a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2012/09/26/2012-best-places-to-work-nominees.html?s=image_gallery">here</a>.</p>
<p>Scores are based on employee engagement surveys collected by <a href="http://www.qresearch.us/">Quantum Market Research</a>. Employees evaluated their companies in areas such as goals and leadership, communication and support, advancement opportunity and skill development, recognition and compensation, tolerance and flexibility, and embracing innovation and ideas.</p>
<p>The Aldridge Company scored more than 80 points, on a scale of 100. The actual rankings will be revealed at the awards ceremony Oct. 19 at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in Houston.</p>
<p>The Aldridge Company’s IT solutions include complete management of servers, PCs and networks coupled with rapid and accurate technical support. Other services offer technology and work process evaluations, audits of security and disaster recovery readiness, and hosting services such as cloud hosting, collocation and dedicated servers.</p>
<p><strong>About The Aldridge Company</strong></p>
<div id="_mcePaste">The Aldridge Company is a Houston, Texas-based technology management, consulting and outsourcing company.  Founded in 1984, the company brings a winning combination of professional technical expertise, extensive capabilities and a strict focus on the importance of business processes.  The Aldridge Company is a leading provider, consultant and integrator of Information Technology and Cloud Computing solutions.  In 2011, the company was listed as No. 11 on the Houston Business Journal’s Fast Tech 50 list of fastest growing Houston technology companies.</div>
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		<title>The Aldridge Company Makes Inc. 500/5000 List of Fastest Growing Companies</title>
		<link>http://www.aldridge.com/blog/2012/08/21/the-aldridge-company-makes-inc-5005000-list-of-fastest-growing-companies/</link>
		<comments>http://www.aldridge.com/blog/2012/08/21/the-aldridge-company-makes-inc-5005000-list-of-fastest-growing-companies/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 21 Aug 2012 14:16:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>dkeeney</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Company Information]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.aldridge.com/blog/?p=521</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Aldridge Company today announced it is ranked 1,821 on the 31st annual Inc. 500/5000, a prestigious list of the fastest-growing private companies in America. This is the third time The Aldridge Company has made the Inc. 500/5000 list, which ranks companies with the highest percentage growth in revenue over the past three years.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="_mcePaste"><strong><em>Houston IT services company plays essential role in helping customers leverage technology to accelerate growth</em></strong></div>
<div><strong></p>
<div id="attachment_523" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://www.aldridge.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/inc5000.gif"><img class="size-medium wp-image-523" title="Inc-500-5000" src="http://www.aldridge.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/inc5000-300x211.gif" alt="" width="300" height="211" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">For the third time, The Aldridge Company has made the Inc. 500/5000 list of America&#39;s fastest growing private companies.</p></div>
<p></strong><strong> </strong><strong> </strong><strong>HOUSTON, August 21, 2012</strong> – The Aldridge Company (www.aldridge.com), a leading provider, consultant and integrator of Information Technology and Cloud Computing solutions for SMBs, today announced it is ranked 1,821 on the 31st annual Inc. 500/5000, a prestigious list of the fastest-growing private companies in America. This is the third time The Aldridge Company has made the Inc. 500/5000 list, which ranks companies with the highest percentage growth in revenue over the past three years.</p>
</div>
<div>“We have been blessed to have strong long-term relationships with our customers whose businesses grow and prosper as we grow,” said Patrick R. Wiley, President and Chief Operating Officer of The Aldridge Company. “Our customers embrace us as their strategic partners and entrust us with their most valuable assets – their IT systems and information. By teaming with The Aldridge Company, businesses can focus on their business and let our team of IT experts align their systems and processes with their business strategy in order to accelerate growth and achieve their objectives.”</div>
<div>The Aldridge Company, which reported 154 percent growth during the three years from the start of 2009 through 2011, has continued to grow rapidly in 2012. Since the start of the year, The Aldridge Company has announced three acquisitions, including the acquisition of the IT services of Rafte &amp; Company in January, the acquisition of the IT Managed Services practice of Extreme Technologies in April and the acquisition of Serenity Systems Inc. in June. The acquisitions have further underscored the firm’s commitment to the dynamic and growing IT services market by continuing to aggressively expand the depth and breadth of The Aldridge Company’s services and expertise.</div>
<div>The Aldridge Company’s IT solutions include complete management of servers, PCs and networks coupled with rapid and accurate technical support. Other services offer technology and work process evaluations, audits of security and disaster recovery readiness, and hosting services such as cloud hosting, collocation and dedicated servers.</div>
<div>Established in 1982, the Inc. 500/5000 represents the most comprehensive look at the most important segment of the economy — America’s independent-minded entrepreneurs. The list is a distinguished editorial award, a celebration of innovation, and a network of entrepreneurial leaders.</div>
<div><strong>About The Aldridge Company</strong></div>
<div id="_mcePaste">The Aldridge Company is a Houston, Texas-based technology management, consulting and outsourcing company.  Founded in 1984, the company brings a winning combination of professional technical expertise, extensive capabilities and a strict focus on the importance of business processes.  The Aldridge Company is a leading provider, consultant and integrator of Information Technology and Cloud Computing solutions.  In 2011, the company was listed as No. 11 on the Houston Business Journal’s Fast Tech 50 list of fastest growing Houston technology companies.</div>
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		<title>The Aldridge Company Acquires Serenity Systems Inc.</title>
		<link>http://www.aldridge.com/blog/2012/06/28/the-aldridge-company-acquires-serenity-systems-inc/</link>
		<comments>http://www.aldridge.com/blog/2012/06/28/the-aldridge-company-acquires-serenity-systems-inc/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 28 Jun 2012 11:50:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>dkeeney</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General Topics]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.aldridge.com/blog/?p=514</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Third acquisition of 2012 strengthens position as leading IT services provider for SMBs HOUSTON, June 28, 2012 – The Aldridge Company (www.aldridge.com), a leading provider, consultant and integrator of information technology (IT) and cloud computing solutions for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), today announced the completion of its acquisition of Serenity Systems Inc., a technology [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="_mcePaste"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"></p>
<div id="attachment_519" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://www.aldridge.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Aldridge-square.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-519" title="Aldridge-Wiley" src="http://www.aldridge.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Aldridge-square-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Patrick Wiley (left) and David Aldridge of The Aldridge Company.</p></div>
<p>Third acquisition of 2012 strengthens position as leading IT services provider for SMBs</span></div>
<p><strong>HOUSTON, June 28, 2012</strong> – The Aldridge Company (www.aldridge.com), a leading provider, consultant and integrator of information technology (IT) and cloud computing solutions for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), today announced the completion of its acquisition of Serenity Systems Inc., a technology services firm that provides managed services, network integration and performance improvement to manufacturing, distribution, construction and services firms throughout the United States. Terms of the agreement will not be disclosed.</p>
<p>“This strategic acquisition strengthens The Aldridge Company’s position as a leading IT services provider capable of delivering powerful and effective IT services to organizations of all sizes,” said Patrick Wiley, Chief Operating Officer with The Aldridge Company. “By continuing to aggressively expand the depth and breadth of The Aldridge Company’s services and expertise, we have further underscored the firm’s commitment to the dynamic and growing IT services market.”</p>
<p>The acquisition of Serenity Services is The Aldridge Company’s third acquisition of 2012. In April, The Aldridge Company acquired the IT Managed Services practice of Extreme Technologies. In January, The Aldridge Company absorbed the IT services of Rafte &amp; Company into its Managed Services practice, which expanded the firm’s reach into law firms, nonprofit organizations and other professional services firms.</p>
<p>This is the right time to implement an aggressive growth strategy. According to research firm Visiongain, the managed services market is poised to reach $86 billion by 2016.</p>
<p>Through its aggressive growth strategy, The Aldridge Company has significantly expanded its base of talented employees and grown its customer base. Serenity Systems’ Founder and CEO Mark Leary will join The Aldridge Company’s management team as Vice President with other key personnel, including Team Lead/Systems Administrator Lisa Hill, also making the transition.</p>
<p>“We had been approached by a number of companies over the years, but The Aldridge Company is special because its team shares our passion and reputation for quality and service,” said Leary. “With The Aldridge Company, our customers will have access to the technology expertise and the services they need to succeed in an increasingly complex and competitive business environment.”</p>
<p>The Aldridge Company provides a broad range of IT management services, including management of servers, PCs and networks coupled with rapid and accurate technical support. Other services include technology and work process evaluations, audits of security and disaster recovery readiness, and hosting services such as cloud hosting, collocation and dedicated servers.</p>
<p><strong>About The Aldridge Company</strong></p>
<p>The Aldridge Company is a Houston, Texas-based technology management, consulting and outsourcing company.  Founded in 1984, the company brings a winning combination of professional technical expertise, extensive capabilities and a strict focus on the importance of business processes.  The Aldridge Company is a leading provider, consultant and integrator of Information Technology and Cloud Computing solutions.  In 2011, the company was listed as No. 11 on the Houston Business Journal’s Fast Tech 50 list of fastest growing Houston technology companies.</p>
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		<title>Efficiently Winding Down a Complex Legal Business</title>
		<link>http://www.aldridge.com/blog/2012/05/21/efficiently-winding-down-a-complex-legal-business/</link>
		<comments>http://www.aldridge.com/blog/2012/05/21/efficiently-winding-down-a-complex-legal-business/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 21 May 2012 15:39:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>dkeeney</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General Topics]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.aldridge.com/blog/?p=508</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A Case Study of The Aldridge Company’s Work for the Trustee in the Howrey Law Firm Bankruptcy In 2011, the partners of Howrey LLP voted to dissolve the firm, which had expanded to become one of the largest antitrust and intellectual property practices in the world with more than 700 lawyers in 17 offices in [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="_mcePaste">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;"><strong><em><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: &amp;amp;quot;">A Case Study of The Aldridge Company’s Work for the Trustee in the Howrey Law Firm Bankruptcy</span></em></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: &amp;amp;quot;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;"><em><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: &amp;amp;quot;">In 2011, the partners of Howrey LLP voted to dissolve the firm, which had expanded to become one of the largest antitrust and intellectual property practices in the world with more than 700 lawyers in 17 offices in the U.S., Europe and Asia. Faced with the monumental challenge of cost effectively winding down the firm’s complicated IT infrastructure, the bankruptcy trustee turned to The Aldridge Company.</span></em></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: &amp;amp;quot;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: &amp;amp;quot;"> </span></p>
<div id="attachment_511" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://www.aldridge.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/diamond-logo.png"><img class="size-medium wp-image-511" title="Diamond.jpg" src="http://www.aldridge.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/diamond-logo-300x54.png" alt="The Aldridge Company assisted Diamond McCarthy" width="300" height="54" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Faced with the monumental challenge of cost effectively winding down the firm’s complicated IT infrastructure, the bankruptcy trustee turned to The Aldridge Company.</p></div>
<p>Jason Rudd, a partner with Diamond McCarthy LLP, calls it “an octopus.” He’s referring to the information technology (IT) systems of Howrey LLP, the once thriving law firm that dissolved in 2011 and entered chapter 11 bankruptcy. Diamond McCarthy is serving as trustee’s counsel and is guiding the orderly wind-down of the firm’s operations.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: &amp;amp;quot;">As in every bankruptcy case, the trustee in the Howrey bankruptcy, Allan Diamond, has focused on investigating the bankruptcy estate, gathering assets and converting the assets to cash to pay claims. The goal is to recover as much for the creditors as possible. Additionally, Diamond sought to preserve client data while he notified all former clients of the firm’s liquidation to provide clients the opportunity to retrieve their files.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: &amp;amp;quot;">The Howrey case involved approximately 10,000 former clients. As the trustee quickly realized, one of the biggest obstacles to an orderly and cost-efficient wind-down was Howrey’s complicated IT systems. </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: &amp;amp;quot;">With a chief information officer who doubled as the firm’s executive director of operations and an IT staff that, at its peak, employed more than 90 people, Howrey had taken great pride in being perceived as a leader in legal technology. One news release stated, “To maintain its leadership position, Howrey has consistently placed a strong focus on the strategic use of technology to improve efficiencies.”</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: &amp;amp;quot;">However, the firm’s many customized IT solutions and 300 physical servers with 200 terabytes of data operating out of hosted datacenters in Virginia and The Netherlands apparently failed to provide an early warning as cash flow sputtered.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: &amp;amp;quot;">In fact, Howrey’s IT department was still scaling up as the vultures were circling.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: &amp;amp;quot;"> “It was jaw-dropping – that was my first reaction,” said Rudd. “They had the IT infrastructure for a firm with thousands of people but only a couple dozen were left. We were on a very limited budget as we began working to unravel this beast and we found out that just keeping the IT system operating was churning through $200,000 every month. We knew right away that we needed expert guidance to get the firm’s IT under control and shrink it.”</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: &amp;amp;quot;">For many reasons, just flipping the switch and turning off Howrey’s IT systems was not an option. For instance, the trustee was investigating outstanding accounts receivable, which required access to billing and time-keeping data. An investigation was also underway into the circumstances that led to the dissolution of the firm to explore potential liability, which required access to e-mail and other records. Moreover, much of the firm’s data is the property of its former clients and is protected by attorney-client privilege, necessitating preservation and special handling. </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;"><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/the-law-firm-may-have-dissolved-but-the-records-remain/2012/02/21/gIQAjxilcR_story.html"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: &amp;amp;quot;">The Washington Post</span></a><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: &amp;amp;quot;"> described the challenge this way:</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-left: .5in; line-height: normal;"><em><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: &amp;amp;quot;">“Winding down a law firm’s data cache is especially complicated because virtually everything in it is owned by clients who have to be tracked down and contacted, whereas in bankruptcies involving other types of businesses, most of the data stored over the company’s life span is owned by the company itself. And because information retained by law firms is protected under attorney-client privilege, the estate must be particularly careful about returning or destroying the files so no one other than the client can access them.”</span></em></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: &amp;amp;quot;">“We specialize in bankruptcy and insolvency situations and other forms of liquidations, but this one was unusually complicated because of the complexity of the systems, the amount of information, the sensitivity of much of the information, and the limitations imposed in terms of budget and timeline,” Rudd said. “In a lot of ways it was similar to our work on healthcare matters because Howrey’s client data required the same degree of sensitivity as patient records do.”</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: &amp;amp;quot;">In January 2012, the trustee secured approval from the creditors committee to engage The Aldridge Company to develop and implement a plan to wind down Howrey’s IT systems while maintaining access to data and preserving client files. The Aldridge Company team quickly concluded that institutional memory would be essential and worked closely with the Howrey IT staffer who had remained to assist with the wind-down.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: &amp;amp;quot;">“Over the years, Howrey had developed customized solutions that would have taken us too much time to learn, so having that internal expertise was invaluable,” said Patrick Wiley, Chief Operating Officer with The Aldridge Company. “We started by separating the firm into its business units and approaching one application at a time. We asked ‘do we need it?’ If yes, ‘How do we shrink it?’ If no, ‘How do we preserve it?’”</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: &amp;amp;quot;">Application-by-application The Aldridge Company facilitated the preservation of all data that might be needed, then they pulled the plug on anything not essential for the investigation or accounts receivable. </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: &amp;amp;quot;">“We needed to be able to dissect the data without harming it and then shrink it down without losing data integrity,” Wiley said.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: &amp;amp;quot;">The Aldridge Company’s detailed analysis found that Howrey’s systems held approximately 200 terabytes of data and it all needed to be preserved for certain periods of time. They moved the firm’s U.S. servers to The Aldridge Company’s Managed Services data center in Houston, Texas. Due to concerns about European privacy laws, moving foreign client data to U.S. servers was not an option, so Aldridge used the Amazon cloud (Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud and Amazon Simple Storage Service) based in Europe to achieve their efficiency goals. </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: &amp;amp;quot;">Between January 2012 and March 2012, The Aldridge Company shrunk Howrey’s hosted data center environment of 300 physical servers down to four physical servers running only 30 virtual servers on Howrey’s private cloud managed by The Aldridge Company.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: &amp;amp;quot;">“The Aldridge Company was extremely autonomous and we appreciated that Patrick and his team always came to the table with a solution – never just a problem,” said Rudd. “They were great communicators throughout the process. They constantly updated us and offered great advice, but perhaps most important in a situation like this that is prone to change, The Aldridge Company was flexible.”</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: &amp;amp;quot;">The strategies implemented by The Aldridge Company successfully reduced the operational costs of Howrey’s IT systems from over $200,000 per month to $12,000 per month. The firm’s data was available for the ongoing investigation, but was significantly shrunk. Client data was preserved.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: &amp;amp;quot;">“The key in any bankruptcy is to maximize the value for all stakeholders by getting the most out of assets and minimizing costs,” said Rudd. “The Aldridge Company has been instrumental in making that possible.”</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; mso-outline-level: 2;"><strong><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">About The Aldridge Company</span></strong></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The Aldridge Company is a Houston, Texas-based technology management, consulting and outsourcing company. Founded in 1984, the company brings a winning combination of professional technical expertise, extensive capabilities and a strict focus on the importance of business processes. The Aldridge Company is a leading provider, consultant and integrator of information technology and cloud computing solutions. In 2011, the company was listed as No. 11 on the <em>Houston Business Journal’s</em> Fast Tech 50 list of fastest growing Houston technology companies.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The Aldridge Company provides enterprise-level management of servers, PCs, and networks, coupled with rapid and accurate technical support. In addition, it operates and manages data center facilities offering fully-redundant, secure hosting of servers that cross the spectrum of business disciplines. By offering a broad range of IT solutions in one organization, The Aldridge Company allows clients to benefit from having a single point of contact for the entire IT environment.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;"><strong><em><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">For more information about The Aldridge Company and how it can help transform your IT management and services, visit </span></em></strong><a href="http://www.aldridge.com/"><strong><em><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: &amp;amp;quot;">www.aldridge.com</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> or call (832) 209-2940.</span></em></strong></p>
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