Presidio, a global digital services and solutions provider, primarily offered professional services for cloud infrastructure and cost optimization before 2018. However, they lacked a formalized managed services offering for Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure—two of the world’s leading cloud platforms. Recognizing the need to expand its services portfolio and respond to client demands, Presidio sought to create a comprehensive Managed Services Provider (MSP) offering.

Challenge

Although Presidio had a robust professional services cloud division and an established cost optimization offering, the company was missing an essential component for cloud clients: a fully developed managed services offering. The company faced the challenge of not only building an MSP from scratch but also achieving certification for the AWS Managed Services Program (MSP) certification. This certification is crucial for credibility and for standing out in a highly competitive market.

Presidio needed an experienced partner to design, implement, and manage the transformation from professional services to a scalable, sustainable MSP model that would offer continuous, proactive management of cloud environments.

Solution: Red Beach Advisors

To tackle these challenges, Presidio engaged Red Beach Advisors, led by Managing Director Ray McKenzie, to build their AWS and Azure Managed Services offering from the ground up. The scope of work included:

  • Process Development: Red Beach Advisors worked closely with Presidio to establish the necessary processes for cloud infrastructure management, including incident response, monitoring, automation, and customer support.
  • Procedure Implementation: The team developed detailed procedures for client onboarding, management, and escalation paths, ensuring consistency and scalability.
  • Personnel Strategy: A key part of building the MSP involved identifying and hiring the right talent. Red Beach Advisors helped Presidio define the roles and responsibilities for a fully staffed managed services team. This included outlining the duties and requirements of Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 staff, developing the training path for team members, and hiring cloud engineers, customer success managers, and service desk personnel.
  • Tooling Setup: Red Beach Advisors recommended and implemented best-in-class tools to monitor and manage the performance of AWS and Azure environments. This included service desk management software, cloud monitoring tools, and automation platforms for efficient operations.
  • Performance Metrics: Red Beach Advisors also introduced performance measurement systems, ensuring that service levels were met, and client expectations were exceeded. Metrics focused on customer and contractual SLAs, incident resolution time, cost optimization, uptime guarantees, and customer satisfaction.

Through their efforts, Red Beach Advisors also led the initiative for Presidio to become AWS Managed Services Program certified, adding credibility to the offering and building trust with prospective clients.

Results

Within two years of launching the managed services offering, Presidio transformed its cloud services division into a sustainable revenue stream, which continues to grow year over year. The managed services platform has allowed Presidio to deliver end-to-end cloud infrastructure management for clients, resulting in long-term contracts, increased customer satisfaction, and recurring revenue.

By achieving AWS Managed Services Program certification, Presidio not only distinguished itself in the market but also attracted new clients seeking certified MSPs for AWS. The managed services business now serves as a cornerstone of Presidio’s cloud services portfolio.

Client Testimonial

“Red Beach Advisors played an instrumental role in developing our managed services offering from scratch. Their expertise in cloud infrastructure, combined with their focus on building processes and teams, allowed us to launch a world-class managed services platform for AWS and Microsoft Azure. Today, it is one of the fastest-growing segments of our business, thanks in no small part to their leadership and direction.”
– Stephen Palmese, Chief Information Officer, Presidio

Red Beach Advisors Testimonial

“Building Presidio’s managed services platform was a rewarding challenge. We had to build everything from process and procedures to personnel and tooling, all while focusing on performance metrics to ensure we met and exceeded client expectations. I’m proud of the work our team did and the lasting impact it has had on Presidio’s growth and market positioning.”
– Ray McKenzie, Managing Director, Red Beach Advisors

Conclusion

Red Beach Advisors’ expertise in designing and implementing MSP solutions helped Presidio create a scalable, high-performance cloud managed services offering for AWS and Azure. This new revenue stream has proven to be both sustainable and profitable, providing Presidio with a competitive advantage and long-term growth in the cloud services market.