KOSBE Client The Utility Company Acquires International Company, Nitro

Kingsport, TN, May 19, 2012 --(PR.com)-- KOSBE Client, The Utility Company of East Tennessee’s national headquarters, The Utility Company (TUC) announced recently the acquisition of Canada’s largest Managed Service Provider, Nitro. The deal enhances TUC’s line of computer hardware options available for client purchase as well as strengthens their Healthcare IT offerings.

“The acquisition of Nitro is huge for us for two reasons. First, it allows us to add seven more product lines to our hardware offerings including Cisco, VMWare, Apple and EMC,” said TUC’s President and CEO, Dawn Bouch of the East Tennessee location. “Secondly, Nitro’s expertise in the healthcare vertical gives us the ability to offer point-of-care mobility, clinical workspace virtualization, information management/compliance solutions and electronic medical records (EMR) services to healthcare organizations in the Tri-Cities.”

As an IT Managed Service Provider (MSP), TUC proactively monitors and manages information technology networks, gives managers and business owners a single point of contact for "all things technology," and employs a remote-access model that prevents disruption of workflow.

TUC is ranked on the MSPMentor list for, World’s Top 100 Managed Service Providers already, but can now offer a more extensive selection due to the acquisition. New product lines available are: Apple, EMC, Cisco, Citrix, VMWare, IBM and Toshiba. The full line includes: HP, Lenovo, Microsoft and Digium Solutions.

“The MSP space has evolved a lot over the past decade,” stated, Larry Poirier, CEO of Nitro. “Our senior management team assessed our options and decided we needed to join forces with an organization with national reach and a proven ‘next-generation’ remote managed services operating model to take us to the next level.”

The combination of hardware/software monitoring and a remote technology support system offers clients fewer down times, happier customers and a secure, reliable work environment. Additionally, TUC acts as a consultant with respect to all federal regulations to ensure that their clients are in compliance of all regulations regarding network and data security.

Services are designed to give their client’s business enterprise-level services at a price you can afford. Those include: managed services IT, remote technology support, virtual exchange, virtual servers and desktops, backup and disaster recovery, managed voiceover IP (VoIP), network monitoring, outsourced IT solutions, network management solutions, servers, laptops, PCs, tablets and printers and Digium Switchvox phone systems.

Thanks to prior partnerships with some of the leaders in the industry, TUC can design network infrastructure and implementation services as well as cloud computing services.

Hours of operation are Monday to Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Customer support through the Network Operation Center in available 24/7.

For more information about The Utility Company of East Tennessee or to receive a free quote, call (423) 282.9348, visit their website www.trytuc.com, follow them on Facebook www.facebook.com/trytuc or e-mail info@trytuc.com.

It is the intent of KOSBE to be the go-to organization in the Tri-Cities for small business owners and entrepreneurs who want to start or grow their businesses, by creating and developing the right tools and resources and cultivating the right partnerships. In partnership with Tennessee Small Business Development Centers (TSBDC) at ETSU, KOSBE can more effectively serve the needs of entrepreneurs and small businesses. For a complete listing of services, tools and resources, visit kosbe.org.

The cooperative agreement between KOSBE and East Tennessee State University is partially funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). SBA’s funding is not an endorsement of any products, opinions or services. SBA funded programs are extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. Additional funding is provided by the Tennessee Board of Regents and the state of Tennessee.

To schedule your free confidential counseling appointment in a private setting by TSBDC-certified counselors in person, online by phone or e-mail call Marybeth McLain at (423) 392.8825 or e-mail, mmclain@kosbe.org.

For more information about the Tennessee Small Business Development Center (TSBDC) at ETSU Kingsport Affiliate Office and your Kingsport Office of Small Business Development & Entrepreneurship (KOSBE), visit tsbdc.org and kosbe.org or call (423) 392.8825. We’re social too; follow us on Facebook, Kosbe – The Small Business Connection, Twitter, @KOSBEConnection, LinkedIn group, KOSBE - The Small Business Connection and our YouTube Channel, KOSBEConnection.