GROUP 26 ELITE PARTNERS

LARES
Lares and its globally respected co-founder and CEO Chris Nickerson was the first organization Group 26 Technology approached as a cornerstone partner when founding the firm. There is no security organization in the world we would rather be associated with. Chris, Lares and its outstanding team serve as our Group 26 Technology security lead for all clients large and small.
Continuous Defensive Improvement Through Adversarial Simulation and Collaboration
Why the Industry Looks to Lares For Leadership?
Lares is a Denver, CO cybersecurity consulting company that prides itself on its ability to provide continuous defensive improvement through adversarial simulation and collaboration.
Eliminate Industry Noise with a Trusted Security Partner
The security industry is polluted with vendor-generated noise vying for your attention and budget. The fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD) machine has reached an all-time high with vendors promoting their solutions as a silver bullet to defend against attackers while simultaneously releasing internally developed “reports” depicting just how bad the world is without their solution.
Does any of this propaganda really make you feel more secure?
"Here at Lares®, we want to help you make the most informed security decisions you can for your organization by giving you confidence. Confidence to defend against attackers with the tools at hand, address security and compliance concerns, and pass audits and assessments."
Lares can help your organization validate its security posture through offensive security-focused services such as complex adversarial simulations, network penetration testing, application security assessments, insider threat assessments, vulnerability research, continuous security testing, virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO) services, and coaching.
Historically, industry assessments focus on the negative aspects of your organization’s security program. Lares is committed to highlighting where gaps may exist and working closely with you to build a mature security program capable of defending against any adversary you may face.
Company co-founder CEO, Chris Nickerson is a global cybersecurity expert in great demand, both as a practitioner of information security and as lecturer and educator. He has created a blended methodology to assess, implement, and manage information security realistically and effectively.
Solutions:
▲Penetration testing
▲Mobile, web, and application assessments
▲RED TEAM - Full scope and blended threat tests
▲Continuous security testing
▲PURPLE TEAM - Complex adversarial simulations
▲Social engineering and insider threat assessments
▲Physical security evaluations
▲Incident response and forensics
▲Virtual Chief Information
▲Security Officer (vCISO)
▲Compliance – assessment & certification

Red Canary was recommended to Group 26 by Lares’ CEO Chris Nickerson, our security leader.
Red Canary’s global leadership in End Point Security & Managed Detection & Response is universally recognized.
Red Canary is a security operations ally for modern teams, deployed in minutes. Our outcome-focused solutions help you achieve measurable improvements to your security operations "Red Canary was built to bring Fortune 100 detection and response to every organization"
Red Canary was founded in 2013 with a single purpose: improve security for organizations of all sizes by detecting cyber threats and providing intelligence and tools to respond. Backed by a security operations team using unrivaled detection technology, Red Canary reinforces security teams on day one and eliminates the need for companies to build their security from scratch.
A highly respected national leader in the areas of cyber threat management-hunting, investigation and response, Red Canary has a successful history of protecting clients' most valuable data and serves clients across all business sectors.

DVP Technologies
Managing Partner Michael Rafferty has been a long-time friend and business partner of Group 26 founder Al LaPrino and DVP is a cornerstone partner of the organization.
DVP Technologies designs deploys and manages objective voice and data network strategies for enterprise, small- to medium-sized business, carrier, and commercial building sectors. The company provides strategic consulting to assist organizations by performing benchmarking & requirements analyses, negotiating service provider contracts and optimizing infrastructure and services.
The vision at DVP is to equip clients with best-in-class practices, as well as the professional expertise to design, deploy and manage their own network communications services.
Services include:
▲Metro Ethernet, optical and dark fiber connectivity
▲WAN Solutions (MPLS, SDN, CDN, VPN)
▲Internet Access
▲Colocation & Managed Hosting
▲Hosted VoIP, SIP Trunks
▲Commercial Building Network Connectivity Management
▲Mobility Lifecycle Management and Optimization
▲IoT Solutions (M2M-Machine to Machine)
▲IaaS, SaaS, DaaS Solutions
▲Collaboration Services and UCaaS
▲Consulting services
▲Enterprise IOT Global Asset Tracking for both the military and healthcare markets
▲National and global Office 365 rollouts for the enterprise
The company facilitates the deployment and continued support of network infrastructure from "cradle to grave." Company representatives are experienced at handling everything from untangling complex vendor favored telecommunications agreements to managing dark fiber installations.

TierPoint is a leading national provider of best-in-class IT infrastructure services that help clients improve agility, drive performance, and manage risk. TierPoint offers multi-tenant, private, and hybrid cloud solutions; disaster recovery, business continuity, and other managed services; and colocation - all backed by a commitment to superior customer service and highly-redundant, carrier-neutral data centers coast to coast.
State-of-the-Art Data Centers
With one of the largest and most geographically diversified footprints in the U.S., TierPoint operates more than 40 data centers across the nation with industry-leading service levels (SLAs) up to 100% uptime.
Security is TierPoint’s top priority. TierPoint offers comprehensive physical security including 24x7 on-site personnel, biometric access screening and full-building video capture. TierPoint’s data centers are HIPAA, PCI-DSS, GLBA, and SSAE 18 compliant.
Small businesses to Fortune 500 enterprises choose TierPoint data centers for enterprise-class reliability, performance, and security, without the risk and overhead of an on-premises data center.

The TNS Group is a Managed Services Provider (MSP) and provides premier strategic managed business solutions specifically to small and mid-sized clients in the Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey areas. Company founder and CEO Ami Soifer and SVP, COO John Stroili are long-time business friends of Al LaPrino and were one of the initial partners approached, serving as a cornerstone partner of Group 26 Technology today.
Founded in 1996 with offices in Stamford and New York, The TNS Group has become recognized as an industry leader, ranked globally as one of the most successful MSP’s in the world. TNS also carries a sterling reputation for its integrity, exceptional customer service, quality of work and dedication to clients.
The TNS Group specializes in:
▲Managed IT Services (Total Care)
▲CIO Consulting Services
▲Strategic Planning and Guidance
▲Cloud Solutions
▲Backup and Disaster Recovery
▲Security Protection (TNS Protect)
▲Client Lead Generation
▲IT Audits and Assessments
▲IT Budgeting
The company stays at the forefront of technology. Team members are technically certified and are expected to stay current in their select areas of expertise. Specifically, TNS maintains partnerships and recognition with Microsoft, Apple, Citrix, VMware, Cisco, IBM, Hewlett Packard, Sourcefire, Ruckus, Symantec, Red Hat, and several other leading technology vendors.
One of the most valuable services TNS provides to clients is CIO-level guidance, ensuring that firms with minimal IT staff can still get the necessary leadership to take their businesses to the next level without spending exorbitant sums on staffing costs.

Mosaic Marketing
“Since 1993, Mosaic still remains faithful to one central belief:
Our focus is always on you and your business or organization.
From beginning to end, we strive to deliver the results you need when you need them. This has been our mission for years, and it will continue to remain first and foremost for many years to come.”
- Al Canosa, Managing Director.
Mosaic Marketing is unlike any other marketing or advertising agency in the Tri-State area. Why? Because Mosaic has assembled an impressive collection of marketing and advertising services in one place and under one roof to help address client business needs.
Company History
What is now Mosaic started in Shelton, CT more than 23 years ago as a small print shop providing high-quality digital and offset Printing solutions to hundreds of satisfied customers.
Eventually, the company’s printing operation grew to the point where it relocated to Branford, CT in 2008, built a state-of-the-art production facility and hired more staff.
In 2009, Mosaic began offering clients a wide array of indoor and outdoor Signage solutions, including banners, posters, lightboxes, custom wallpaper murals, wide-format graphics, floor and window graphics, vehicle wraps and even 14’ x 48’ highway billboards.
Two years later, the company expanded again to answer the demand from its business and nonprofit clients to become a full-service marketing and advertising agency.
Marketing division key business services:
▲Print Marketing
▲Signage Marketing
▲Content Creation
▲Media Planning & Buying
▲Strategic Market Planning
▲Event Marketing
Digital Marketing division services:
▲Website Design & Development
▲Online Marketing
▲Video Marketing
Mosaic has won impressive awards for its work, including being named 2015 Business of the Year by the CT Shoreline Chamber of Commerce. The company insists on using the latest and best technologies to get razor-sharp messages out its clients’ most qualified prospects.

Bohan & Bradstreet was recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Best Recruiting Firms in 2018 and 2019, and places candidates in over 15 states each year. Based in Guilford, CT.
Company Information
Bohan & Bradstreet (B&B) has over 30 years of success in securing and filling searches for senior staff to executive-level talent within emerging start-ups to NYSE-listed global corporations across multiple industries.
B&B is the #1 recruiting firm headquartered in the State of Connecticut for both executive and professional recruiting as recognized by Forbes in 2019 and currently ranks #46 in Forbes Top 200 executive search firm rankings and #70 in Forbes Top 250 professional search firm rankings.
B&B’s approach is truly collaborative and begins with a comprehensive understanding of each client's end-to-end business operations and the financial, operational, and strategic opportunities on the horizon. B&B’s process is tailored to each client's needs and B&B finds individuals distinctive to the personality of the organization. B&B helps its clients’ build a winning team and culture.
B&B’s practice areas cover:
ACCOUNTING • ENGINEERING • FINANCE • GENERAL MANAGEMENT • HUMAN RESOURCES • MARKETING • OPERATIONS • RISK MANAGEMENT • SALES • TECHNOLOGY

Progressive Benefits Solutions (PBS) is a technology-based company based in Branford, CT that has created software systems that change the way employers purchase and manage their employee benefits. Designed to cover the entire benefits lifecycle from open enrollment to post-enrollment, PBS has developed systems that aid in the administration of benefits for any employee population.
Specifically, PBS specializes in the administration of benefit administration systems, building web-based private exchanges for carriers and broker agencies, as well as IRS pre-tax benefit plans and consumer-directed health plans.
What is a private exchange and how does it work? A private exchange has the potential to change the way businesses shop for benefits. It is an online store, similar to a retail website, where employees can shop around and compare and purchase health insurance and other benefits.
PBS has developed private exchanges based on three configurations:
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Single-Carrier / Insurer Exchange
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Multi-Carrier / Third Party / Corporate Exchange (Employer-sponsored)
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Hybrid Exchange
PBS software partnerships offer a software solution to easily consolidate multiple HRA tasks. This comes together on a simple and intuitive platform allowing employees to spend less time on paperwork and more time supporting their business growth.
The company's customization and flexible platform let clients easily manage benefits, regardless of size. The PBS software solution is not simply a "shop and enrolls suite." It is a fully configurable rules-based system supported by a trusted third-party administrator that fully understands employee benefits.
Given its advantages, the PBS solution is especially desirable for small- to mid-sized businesses with 25-500 employees. For employers faced with the challenges of the Affordable Care Act, the PBS software suite is also outstanding.

Consolidated Computing
Founded in 2000, Consolidated Computing is an IT solutions provider, integrator and service provider based in Easton, CT. The firm’s slogan is "Doing More with Less Infrastructure," and the staff is committed to delivering first-class IT business solutions that reduce cost and increase manageability with no single point of failure.
Since its inception, the owner, Don Hanson has brought a passion for excellent quality and service to his clients. The company's focus has been on the business sector, as well as on the town/municipality and nonprofit communities. The company employs people who share Mr. Hanson's vision for what exists not only in the technology of today but in the next wave of technology solutions ahead.
Consolidated Computing offers a diverse set of hardware, software, and services to address specific client needs, including:
▲Server and Storage Consolidation
▲Desktop Virtualization (End User Computing)
▲Cloud Solutions
▲Remote Backup
▲Cloud Disaster Recovery
▲Business Continuity
▲WAN Acceleration
▲Office Networking
▲Wireless Networks
▲Hosted e-mail and e-mail archiving
▲Exchange Migrations
▲SharePoint & Office 365
Each of Consolidated's VMware certified engineers is equipped to address any client needs, from the desktop to the datacenter.
Consolidated Computing partners with HP, Dell, IBM, VMware, Nutanix, SimpliVity, Tegile, PureStorage, SOURCEfire, Ruckus, Datto, Veeam, Riverbed, Microsoft, Symantec, and other key vendors, so that client needs are always matched with the right technology.

C-CO Technology excels as a provider of structured cabling and fiber optic installations. The company designs install and support professional cabling infrastructures virtually every single week of the year.
As an investment, structured cabling provides exceptional Return on Investment (ROI). When designed correctly, a structured cabling system typically outlives all other networking components and only requires minimal upgrades.
A strong proponent and partner of the global industry leader RUCKUS wireless solutions, C-CO carries an extremely strong field staff to ensure any RUCKUS project exceeds all expectations. The company also brings a wealth of experience and a strong reference base of small to mid-sized business clients to Group 26.
At C-CO, the entire staff is dedicated to a high level of corporate responsibility. The company believes that its actions should be first and foremost ethical. At C-CO, they believe that everything flows from strong ethics. This means "treating people fairly, being a positive force in the community and keeping promises."
The remainder of the company's stated corporate responsibility reflects its manner of conducting business:
"We are only as good as our behavior to our employees, our customers, and our community. Feel free to judge and measure C-CO against our own words."
"For many companies, corporate responsibility statements are words created by public relations departments or outside consultants. They rarely filter down to employees or corporate behavior. At C-CO we take this seriously. We live by our words and all our employees know what our core values are and how we live by them."