Author Archives: Bob

Thomson Reuters Is Ending Virtual Office CS Support. Here’s What Accounting and Professional Services Firms Need to Do Next.

If your firm runs on Thomson Reuters Virtual Office CS, you’ve likely already received the notice: Thomson Reuters is ending support for Microsoft 365 and Hosted Exchange email within the Virtual Office (VO) environment this August. 

To be clear, Virtual Office CS itself isn’t going away — UltraTax CS, Practice CS, FileCabinet CS, and the rest of the CS Professional Suite will continue running as they do today. But the email and Office applications your staff uses inside VO every day will no longer be supported by Thomson Reuters, and your firm will need its own Microsoft 365 license and tenant in place before the deadline.

You don’t have to start over, and you don’t have to navigate this transition alone.

WHAT DOES “END OF SUPPORT” ACTUALLY MEAN FOR YOUR FIRM?

When Thomson Reuters ends support for Microsoft 365 within Virtual Office CS, the responsibility for your email environment shifts to your firm. That means:

For firms in regulated industries — accounting, legal, financial services — email is where client financial data lives. A poorly managed migration isn’t just an operational risk. It can put you out of compliance with frameworks such as HIPAA, GDPR, CCPA, IRS Publication 4557, and AICPA standards governing how client financial data must be protected.

August is closer than it feels.

WHAT THOMSON REUTERS IS RECOMMENDING

Thomson Reuters is offering a managed migration service to move your Hosted Exchange mailboxes into your firm’s own Microsoft 365 tenant. That covers the data move itself — but it doesn’t cover standing up and securing your tenant, configuring mail-flow and DNS records correctly, or administering the environment going forward. Thomson Reuters has stated it will not support the administration of your Microsoft 365 tenant. In plain terms, the mailbox data gets moved, and then your firm is on its own.

For many firms, this is also a natural moment to step back and look at the bigger picture. Performance issues, scalability limitations, and high costs have already prompted a significant shift among accounting firms away from Virtual Office CS toward third-party private cloud hosting for the CS Professional Suite — hosting that delivers better performance, greater flexibility, stronger support, and lower costs. The Microsoft 365 transition is accelerating a conversation many forward-looking firms were already having.

WHAT THIS TRANSITION ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE

The word “migration” can sound daunting, especially if your firm has years of customized workflows, integrations, and user configurations built into your current environment. A well-managed transition does not require you to rebuild from scratch.

CyberlinkASP specializes in hosting complex, customized application environments. Whether you’re moving your email to a properly configured Microsoft 365 tenant or relocating your entire CS Professional Suite environment to a private cloud, years of configuration, workflows, and integrations are preserved, eliminating the need to manage the underlying infrastructure.

The process typically involves:

  1. Environment Assessment — A thorough review of your current Thomson Reuters setup, including your Hosted Exchange usage, application versions, integrations, user access needs, and peak usage patterns.
  2. Migration Planning — A cutover playbook designed around your firm’s calendar, keeping tax season and critical deadlines in mind.
  3. Secure Data Migration — Your mailboxes, data, and application customizations are moved to the new environment with full integrity and zero loss.
  4. Go-Live & Validation — Staff access the new environment, tested for performance under real-world load, before full cutover.
  5. Ongoing Support — 24×7, US-based support from specialists who know the Thomson Reuters CS suite and Microsoft 365 administration — not just the underlying infrastructure.

WHY CYBERLINKASP FOR YOUR TRANSITION

CyberlinkASP is the trusted Advanced Solutions Provider for small and mid-size businesses, specializing in cloud and IT solutions with a commitment to data security, business continuity, and 24×7 US-based support.

CyberlinkASP delivers secure, high-performance cloud hosting for Thomson Reuters CS Professional Suite, Checkpoint, and practice management software — purpose-built for the performance demands and compliance requirements of accounting and law firms.

What sets CyberlinkASP apart:

THE BOTTOM LINE

Virtual Office CS will still be running in September — but Thomson Reuters-managed email won’t be. Firms that act now have time to plan a smooth, well-managed transition. Firms that wait until August will be scrambling to stand up a Microsoft 365 tenant with no support line to call.

If your firm relies on UltraTax CS, Practice CS, FileCabinet CS, Accounting CS, or any other CS Professional Suite application, now is the time to evaluate your options and get a plan in place.

CyberlinkASP is ready to help. Contact us today to learn more.

Signs You’ve Outgrown Your Current IT Provider

Most businesses don’t wake up one day and decide to switch IT providers. The decision builds slowly — one missed ticket, one frustrating outage, one compliance scare at a time. By the time most SMB leaders realize their provider can’t keep pace, they’ve already been losing ground for months.

If any of the following scenarios sound familiar, it may be time to have a candid conversation about what your business actually needs from a technology partner.

  1. Your IT provider is reactive, not proactive.

If your provider only shows up when something breaks, that’s break-fix support — not managed IT. A true MSP monitors your environment around the clock, identifying and resolving issues before they become outages. If your IT team is always fighting fires rather than preventing them, you’ve outgrown reactive support.

  1. Downtime is becoming a business problem, not just an IT inconvenience.

A law firm that can’t access case files. A medical practice locked out of patient records. A financial services team unable to reach clients during market hours. When downtime starts affecting revenue, reputation, or compliance, your infrastructure has become a liability. CyberlinkASP’s 99.99% uptime guarantee exists precisely for businesses where availability is non-negotiable.

  1. Your provider doesn’t understand your industry’s compliance requirements.

HIPAA, GDPR, CCPA, SOC 2 — if your IT provider can’t speak fluently about the regulations that govern your business, you’re exposed. Compliance isn’t an IT checkbox; it’s an ongoing operational responsibility. CyberlinkASP works across healthcare, financial services, legal, and other regulated industries — bringing real-world compliance expertise to every engagement.

  1. You’re managing multiple IT vendors and nobody owns the big picture.

If your networking provider, your cloud vendor, your security firm, and your helpdesk are all separate — and nobody is coordinating across them — you have a fragmentation problem. Every gap between vendors is a potential point of failure. Modern SMBs need a single IT partner who can see and manage the full picture.

  1. Your applications and infrastructure haven’t modernized with your business.

Still running on-premise servers that are aging out of support? Using legacy apps that can’t be accessed remotely? If your IT infrastructure is limiting how your team works — particularly in a hybrid or remote environment — your provider isn’t moving you forward. CyberlinkASP enables businesses to access any application from any device, from anywhere, securely.

  1. You can’t get a straight answer on security posture.

If you ask your current IT provider ‘Are we secure?’ and the answer is vague, that’s a red flag. A mature MSP will provide clear reporting on your security posture, patch status, threat activity, and incident response readiness. Security shouldn’t feel like a mystery.

  1. Support calls go to a ticketing queue, not a human.

CyberlinkASP offers 24×7, US-based support accessible by phone — not just a ticket portal. When something goes wrong, business leaders shouldn’t have to wait for a callback queue to prioritize their issue. If your current provider’s ‘support’ means submitting a form and waiting, your support model has fallen behind your needs.

  1. You’ve added headcount or locations, but your IT hasn’t scaled with you.

Growth exposes IT gaps fast. New employees, new offices, new compliance obligations — each adds complexity. If your current provider is struggling to keep pace with your growth, you need an MSP built to scale. CyberlinkASP delivers solutions tailored to businesses experiencing change, not just businesses in steady state.

Outgrowing an IT provider isn’t a failure — it’s a sign that your business has grown. The right next step is partnering with an MSP that’s built to support where you’re headed, not just where you’ve been. CyberlinkASP works with hundreds of SMBs to modernize, secure, and future-proof their IT environments.
Contact CyberlinkASP  today and let’s start the conversation.
Contact Us 10 Questions to Ask Before Choosing an MSP

Choosing a managed service provider (MSP) is one of the most consequential IT decisions a small or mid-size business can make. The right MSP becomes a true technology partner — one that protects your data, keeps your systems running, and scales alongside your business. The wrong one can leave you exposed to downtime, security gaps, and a frustrating support experience.

Before you sign a contract, these are the 10 questions every business should ask.

1. What does your support model look like — and is it truly 24/7?

Not all “24/7 support” is created equal. Some MSPs staff a skeleton crew overnight and route after-hours calls to a ticketing queue. Others — like CyberlinkASP — offer genuine 24×7, US-based support with real technicians available by phone, day or night.

Ask specifically: Who answers the phone at 2 a.m. on a Sunday? Where are they located? What’s your average response time for critical issues?

For businesses in healthcare, financial services, legal, or any industry where systems simply can’t go down, the answer to this question matters enormously.

2. Do you have experience in my industry?

Generic IT support and industry-specific IT expertise are very different things. Your MSP should understand the compliance landscape, application requirements, and operational rhythms of your specific vertical.

CyberlinkASP works with hundreds of SMBs across healthcare, financial services, legal, professional services, manufacturing, and life sciences. That means when a healthcare client needs HIPAA-compliant cloud infrastructure, or a law firm needs secure document access from any device, the team already knows what good looks like — and what’s at stake if it falls short.

Ask: Can you show me case studies or client examples from my industry? Do you understand the compliance requirements I operate under?

3. How do you handle data security and compliance?

Cybersecurity is no longer optional for SMBs. According to industry research, small and mid-size businesses are increasingly targeted by ransomware and phishing attacks precisely because they’re perceived as easier targets than large enterprises.

Your MSP should be able to speak clearly to how they protect your data — including encryption standards, endpoint protection, threat monitoring, and incident response — as well as their track record with regulations like HIPAA, GDPR, CCPA, and others relevant to your industry.

Ask: What cybersecurity tools and protocols are included in your managed services? What happens if there’s a breach?

4. What is your uptime guarantee?

Downtime is expensive. Whether it’s a law firm that can’t access client files or a medical practice that loses access to patient records, every minute of unplanned downtime has real costs.

A credible MSP will back their service with a clearly defined Service Level Agreement (SLA) that includes uptime commitments. CyberlinkASP guarantees 99.99% uptime and 99.99% service level coverage — and 100% data restoration.

Ask: What uptime do you guarantee in your SLA? What remedies do clients have if you fall short?

5. What does your disaster recovery and business continuity plan look like?

Disasters happen — whether it’s a ransomware attack, a natural disaster, hardware failure, or human error. The question isn’t if your business will face disruption; it’s how fast you’ll recover when it does.

Your MSP should have a documented, tested business continuity and disaster recovery (BCDR) approach that includes regular data backups, defined recovery time objectives (RTOs), and clear communication protocols.

Ask: How often is our data backed up? Where is it stored? How quickly can you restore operations after an incident?

6. Who will actually be working on our account?

One of the most common frustrations businesses have with MSPs is the revolving door of technicians who don’t know their environment. Institutional knowledge matters — especially when your business relies on customized applications or complex legacy systems.

CyberlinkASP brings experienced IT team members to every engagement, including technology leaders who have been with the company for decades. That kind of continuity translates directly into consistency, faster resolution times, and a team that truly understands your business.

Ask: Will we have a dedicated account team? How do you handle staff turnover?

7. Can you support the applications we rely on?

Not every MSP can support every application. If your business runs on Microsoft 365, Microsoft Dynamics, Sage, SYSPRO, or other industry-specific platforms, you need to confirm your MSP has deep expertise with those tools — and ideally, hosted environments built around them.

CyberlinkASP is one of the nation’s largest Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS) providers and offers hosting and support for the applications SMBs depend on daily. Critically, CyberlinkASP enables companies to move to the cloud while preserving years of application customizations — eliminating a common barrier to modernization.

Ask: Do you have experience hosting and supporting the specific applications we use? Can we see examples?

8. How will we communicate, and what does onboarding look like?

The first 90 days of an MSP relationship set the tone for everything that follows. A disorganized onboarding process is a warning sign. Your MSP should have a structured process for documenting your environment, establishing communication protocols, and getting your team up to speed.

Ask: Walk me through your onboarding process. How do our employees reach your team? What’s our primary point of contact?

9. How does your pricing model work?

MSP pricing models vary widely — per user, per device, tiered bundles, all-inclusive flat rates. The right model depends on your business size, growth trajectory, and how predictable you need your IT costs to be.

Watch out for contracts with vague language around what’s “included” versus what triggers additional charges. A trustworthy MSP will be transparent about pricing and help you understand exactly what you’re getting.

Ask: What’s included in your base pricing? What are common add-ons or overage charges? How does pricing change as we grow?

10. What makes you different from other MSPs?

This is the most open-ended question — and often the most revealing. A strong MSP should be able to articulate a clear, specific answer. Not marketing language, but concrete differentiators backed by proof points.

For CyberlinkASP, the answer centers on three things: deep SMB specialization, genuine 24×7 US-based support, and award-winning solutions — including being named Citrix’s Partner of the Year in 2023. Businesses don’t just get a vendor; they get a team of experienced IT professionals invested in their success.

Ask: Beyond price, why should we choose you? What do your longest-tenured clients say about working with you?

The Bottom Line

Choosing an MSP is too important to rush. The right partner will protect your business, scale with your growth, and give you the peace of mind that your IT is handled — so you can focus on running your company.

CyberlinkASP is the trusted Advanced Solutions Provider for small and mid-size businesses, specializing in cloud and IT solutions with a commitment to data security, business continuity, and 24×7 US-based support. We work with hundreds of SMBs across the country to ensure they’re getting the best possible solution for their needs — and their budget.

Ready to ask us these questions directly? Contact CyberlinkASP today and let’s start the conversation.

Contact Us How the Right MSP Lowers IT Costs While Increasing Reliability

For small and mid-size businesses (SMBs), IT is no longer just a support function, it’s the backbone of daily operations. From cloud applications and remote access to cybersecurity and compliance, your technology environment directly impacts productivity, revenue, and risk.

Yet many organizations still face a frustrating reality: rising IT costs paired with unreliable systems.

The right Managed Services Provider (MSP) changes that equation.

We will explain how partnering with the right MSP lowers IT costs while improving reliability, security, and performance and what to look for when choosing an IT partner.

Why IT Costs Spiral Out of Control

Before we discuss the solution, it’s important to understand the problem.

IT costs typically rise due to:

Many SMBs believe keeping IT internal is more affordable. In reality, a single outage, security breach, or compliance issue can wipe out years of perceived savings.

That’s where a modern MSP delivers measurable value.

Proactive IT Management Reduces Downtime

Downtime is one of the most expensive hidden IT costs.

Lost productivity. Missed client deadlines. Revenue interruptions. Reputational damage.

The right MSP doesn’t wait for something to break.

Instead, they provide:

CyberlinkASP, for example, provides 24×7 US-based support and proactive monitoring to help SMBs stay up and running when business continuity is critical

The result: fewer outages, faster issue resolution, and predictable system performance.

Predictable Monthly IT Costs (No Surprise Bills)

Traditional IT support often operates on a “time and materials” model. You only pay when something breaks, which sounds economical until emergencies hit.

A strategic MSP provides:

This shifts IT from a volatile expense to a controlled operational investment.

For SMB leaders, that predictability improves cash flow planning and eliminates surprise IT invoices.

Access to Enterprise-Level Expertise — Without Enterprise Salaries

Hiring a full internal IT team is expensive:

Salaries, benefits, training, and turnover costs add up quickly.

A strong MSP delivers experienced IT professionals across disciplines — at a fraction of the cost of building an internal team

CyberlinkASP brings experienced IT team members to every engagement and provides hard-to-find skill sets for SMBs

This means:

All without expanding payroll.

Improved Security Reduces Financial Risk

Cyberattacks are no longer a matter of “if,” but “when.”

Ransomware, phishing, insider threats, and compliance violations can devastate SMBs.

The right MSP reduces this risk through:

CyberlinkASP specializes in modern, secure cloud solutions built around data security and business continuity

When security improves, financial risk drops and so do long-term costs associated with breaches and recovery.

Optimized Cloud and Application Environments

Many SMBs overspend on cloud services because environments aren’t properly architected.

Common issues include:

A strategic MSP evaluates your environment and designs cost-effective solutions aligned to your business needs and budget

CyberlinkASP builds modern cloud-based solutions that allow users to access any application from anywhere, on any device — securely and cost-effectively

As one of the nation’s largest Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS) providers and Citrix Partner of the Year, CyberlinkASP helps SMBs modernize without unnecessary overhead

Business Continuity Protects Revenue

IT reliability isn’t just about uptime — it’s about resilience.

A strong MSP ensures:

CyberlinkASP empowers businesses to modernize and scale confidently, knowing their IT needs are fully covered

When systems stay online, revenue stays protected.

What to Look for in the Right MSP

Not all managed service providers are equal. The right partner should:

CyberlinkASP works with hundreds of SMBs across healthcare, financial services, professional services, manufacturing, and government

That industry experience translates into smarter, more reliable solutions.

If your organization is looking to control IT spending while improving reliability, it may be time to evaluate whether your current IT strategy is truly working for you.

Contact CyberlinkASP to learn how structured managed IT services can support your SMB today.

Contact Us

Frequently Asked Questions 

How does an MSP reduce IT costs?

An MSP reduces IT costs by providing proactive monitoring, predictable monthly pricing, access to experienced IT professionals, optimized cloud infrastructure, and improved cybersecurity — all of which reduce downtime, emergency repairs, and financial risk.

Is outsourcing IT cheaper than hiring internal staff?

For most SMBs, yes. Outsourcing IT eliminates the need for multiple specialized hires while providing access to a broader skill set at a lower total cost.

Can an MSP improve system reliability?

Yes. Through 24×7 monitoring, proactive maintenance, cloud optimization, and disaster recovery planning, a qualified MSP significantly improves uptime and performance.

What industries benefit most from managed IT services?

Healthcare, financial services, legal, manufacturing, and professional services organizations benefit most due to compliance requirements, data security needs, and business continuity demands

CyberlinkASP Names Ryan McDowell as Vice President of Sales

Experienced Channel Sales Leader Joins CyberlinkASP to Drive Growth and Strengthen Partner Ecosystem

Dallas, Texas — February 20, 2025 — CyberlinkASP, a trusted Advanced Solutions Provider of cloud and managed IT services for small and mid-size businesses, is pleased to announce the appointment of Ryan McDowell as its new Vice President of Sales. With over 20 years of experience in Channel Sales, Ryan brings extensive expertise in developing strategies that drive revenue growth and foster collaboration.

Ryan began his career in Channel Sales more than a decade ago, focusing on building strong partnerships and increasing revenue. Over the past eight years, he served as Director and Vice President of Sales at T3 Communications and Verve Cloud, where he pioneered a groundbreaking go-to-market strategy targeting MSP and VAR partners. His leadership drove an impressive 200% revenue growth in the segment within three years.

“We are excited to welcome Ryan to the CyberlinkASP team,” said Chris Lantrip, CEO of CyberlinkASP. “His deep expertise in Channel Sales and his proven ability to accelerate revenue growth make him an invaluable addition to our company. We look forward to his leadership in expanding our market presence and strengthening our partner ecosystem.”

As Vice President of Sales at CyberlinkASP, Ryan will lead efforts to deliver innovative IT, cloud, and cybersecurity solutions that help businesses optimize their operations and tackle complex challenges. A key focus of his role will be driving the company’s Channel Partner Program. This program will strengthen partner relationships, provide tailored sales resources, and offer competitive incentives, ensuring sustainable success for both CyberlinkASP and its partners. With his strategic vision and extensive expertise in channel networks, Ryan’s leadership will be pivotal in propelling CyberlinkASP’s continued growth and market expansion.

“I’m thrilled to join CyberlinkASP and lead the sales team in driving new growth opportunities,” said McDowell. “CyberlinkASP has a strong reputation in the industry, and I look forward to collaborating with our partners to deliver cutting-edge solutions that create tangible business value.”

About CyberlinkASP
Headquartered in Dallas, TX, CyberlinkASP is a leading Advanced Solutions Provider specializing in IT, cybersecurity, and cloud services. As one of the nation’s largest Virtual Desktop providers and Citrix’s Partner of the Year (2023), CyberlinkASP delivers cutting-edge solutions for data security, business continuity, and application hosting. Its purpose-built cloud infrastructure and 24×7 US-based support empower businesses to securely and cost-effectively access any application from any location on any device. With a strong commitment to delivering tailored, high-performance solutions, CyberlinkASP continues to support organizations across diverse industries in achieving seamless growth and operational excellence. For more information, visit www.cyberlinkasp.com.

Follow CyberlinkASP: LinkedIn and Facebook

Media Contact
Stephanie Farrell, CMO
stephanie@youroms.com
774.276.1521