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Cumulus Global Receives CRN’s 2026 MSP 500 Honors

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2026 CRN MSP 500Innovative Services Drive Productive, Secure, and Affordable IT Solutions

Westborough, MA, February 18, 2026 – Cumulus Global (www.cumulusglobal.com) proudly announces that its recognition by CRN®, a brand of The Channel Company, to the 2026 Managed Service Provider (MSP) 500 list in the Pioneer 250. This is the 7th year CRN has recognized the company for its innovative cloud and IT services and solutions for small and midsize businesses, local governments, and K-12 school systems.

“We are proud to again receive this recognition of our unique value proposition,” noted Cumulus Global CEO Allen Falcon. “Our team focuses on ensuring our clients’ IT infrastructure, cloud, and artificial intelligence (AI) services are productive, secure, and affordable.” 

Connect with a Cloud AdvisorCumulus Global is being recognized for its innovative Managed Cloud Services and its Security CPR® managed security services. With four tiered offerings, Cumulus Global’s Managed Cloud Services scale to the specific needs of small and midsize organizations. The service packages include security, co-management, remote administration, and support. The company’s Security CPR® services provide policies, procedures, technologies, and a culture of awareness. These services help prevent and protect against attacks and help clients effectively respond and recover, if needed.

“Small and midsize organizations face unique challenges and use technology – from Apps to AI – differently than larger organizations,” noted Falcon. “Our model, services, and team all focus on helping clients affordably leverage IT – especially cloud and AI services – to thrive and grow.”

CRN’s MSP 500 list is an annual, comprehensive guide to the leading MSPs in North America. The MSP 500 recognizes companies whose services enhance business efficiency, simplify IT, and optimize return on technology investments. The Pioneer 250 category recognizes MSPs service small and midsize clients.

“The companies on our 2026 MSP 500 list are redefining what exceptional managed services look like—helping organizations of every size stay agile, maximize their IT investments and scale with confidence,” said Jennifer Follett, VP of U.S. Content and Executive Editor, CRN, The Channel Company. “These are the innovators who stay ahead of customer needs and deliver transformative services that free businesses to focus on what they do best and accelerate their success.”

The 2026 MSP 500 list is featured online at crn.com/msp500.

About The Channel Company 

The Channel Company (TCC) is the global leader in channel growth for the world’s top technology brands. We accelerate success across strategic channels for tech vendors, solution providers and end users with premier media brands, integrated marketing and event services, strategic consulting, and exclusive market and audience insights. TCC is a portfolio company of investment funds managed by EagleTree Capital, a New York City-based private equity firm. For more information, visit: thechannelco.com.

About Cumulus Global

Nationally recognized as a leader, Cumulus Global delivers productive, secure, and affordable managed cloud services to small and midsize businesses, governments, and K-12 schools. Translating business objectives into technology needs and priorities, we design, deploy, manage, and support services that help our clients thrive and grow.

Prevent AI Data Leaks with the Right Tools

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As leaders of small and midsize organizations, we need to operate efficiently and effectively within a range of security constraints. Laws, regulations, industry standards, and contractual obligations set expectations and, in most cases, impose requirements on how we manage and run our business and IT. Now, artificial intelligence (AI) adds a new layer of security challenges.

AI is most effective when it has access to a broad range of relevant information. However, that access must be carefully limited to authorized users, creating a delicate balancing act.

AI data leaks occur when AI tools and systems expose information to unauthorized users or share it inappropriately. These leaks can happen internally or externally, and may be accidental or intentional.

Preventing AI data leaks requires actively governing permissions and access, along with choosing AI tools that align with your security and privacy requirements.

Setup AI Data Governance

The days of “set and forget” permissions are over. At the macro level, AI data governance requires actively managing access controls and permissions settings.

Begin by reviewing and auditing your current access controls and permissions settings. It is common for users to rely on default sharing settings or to adjust permissions for convenience, often extending access inappropriately. While people may not actively search for and find private information, AI will.

Running an audit tool and resetting permissions can help close these gaps and provide a fresh starting point. Once permissions are properly configured, advanced security tools enable ongoing monitoring to identify new threats as they emerge. These tools can notify users and administrators of potential issues and modify permission changes to reduce risk.

Pick Secure AI Tools

With data access controls and permissions properly secured, the next step is ensuring that the AI tools and systems you use do not put your data at risk.

When selecting AI tools, look for the following attributes:Connect with a Cloud Advisor

1. Adheres to Security Standards

Include security as a critical criteria when selecting your AI tools and systems. Verify that the AI tools you pick adhere to industry and regulatory security standards.

2. Does NOT Train Models Without Permission

Never use an AI tool that trains their models without your permission. These tools effectively absorb anything you input and incorporate it into their models, potentially exposing your data to other users.

3. Does NOT Allow Human Data Review Outside Your Domain

Avoid AI tools and systems that allow humans outside of your organization to see or use data you have entered into the system. Even if these systems are not using your data to train their models, if others can see it, then it is not secure.

4. Does NOT Sell or Use Data for Other Purposes

Choose AI tools and systems that do not sell or use your data for purposes beyond providing the service. Outside of training, some AI tools mine data for sale to others for research, marketing, and other purposes.

The general rule of thumb is: If you pay, your data is private. If the tool is free, so is your data.

However, some paid AI tools still include terms and conditions that allow data collection and usage. Before moving forward with any AI tool or system, always check the fine print.

How We Help

Schedule an intro meeting with one of our Cloud Advisors. Our team can discuss how you can assess your risk, create effective policies, and select tools that deliver productive, secure, and affordable AI solutions. The meeting is free and without obligation.

About the Author

Bill Seybolt bio pictureBill is a Senior Cloud Advisor responsible for helping small and midsize organizations with productive, security, and secure managed cloud services. Bill works with executives, leaders, and team members to understand workflows, identify strategic goals and tactical requirements, and design solutions and implementation phases. Having helped hundreds of organizations successfully adopt cloud solutions, his expertise and working style ensure a comfortable experience and effective change management.

Which Workspace Business Subscription is Right for You?

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Pick the right Google Workspace Business SubscriptionFor small businesses, generally those with fewer than 300 employees, Google offers three subscription options. The right choice for your business depends on your needs, priorities, and budget. While we offer a comprehensive feature comparison, the highlights below are designed to help guide your decision.

Business Starter

Cost: 
  • $7 / user / month with an Annual or Multi-Year Subscription
  • New subscription incentives: Available
  • Upgrade Incentives: N/A
Key Features:
  • Custom domain with 30 GB of storage for email and documents
  • Basic security controls
  • Email filtering, virus blocking, and phishing/malware protections
  • Groups for email lists, content sharing, calendar invites
  • Drive for Desktop
  • Shared Drive membership
  • Basic Chat and Meet features
  • Gemini AI for Gmail
Top Reasons SMBs Choose Starter:

Business Starter delivers a low-cost entry for small businesses looking for reliable email services with occasional needs for editing, document sharing, and other collaboration tools.

Business Standard

Cost: 
  • $14 / user / month with an Annual or Multi-Year Subscription
  • New subscription incentives: Available
  • Upgrade Incentives: Available
Key Features:
  • 2 TB storage per user, aggregated across subscription
  • Enhanced security controls
  • Attachment scanning / sandboxing
  • Document eSigning, approvals, custom templates
  • Advanced Shared Drive sharing and storage
  • Meet Features: Noise cancellation, breakout rooms, recording, polls, Q&A, and more
  • Gemini AI for Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Chat, and Meet
  • Full NotebookLM Access
  • Secure Data Regions
Top Reasons SMBs Choose Standard:

Business Standard is an affordable, secure platform for business productivity that is the best entry point for most small businesses. Businesses love the useful, integrated AI features and capabilities, as well as the admin-managed storage (shared drive) with secure external sharing.

Business Plus

Cost: 
  • $22 / user / month with an Annual or Multi-Year Subscription
  • New subscription incentives: Available
  • Upgrade Incentives: Available
Key Features:
  • 5 TB storage per user, aggregated across subscription
  • Advanced security controls
  • Archive / eDiscovery Services for Gmail, Drive, Shared Drives, and Chat
  • Organizational branding, including default templates and themes
  • Chat file sharing management and document controls
  • Meet recording, transcripts, and notes
  • Security advisor data protection
  • Advanced endpoint and device management and controls
Top Reasons SMBs Choose Plus:

Business Plus is a secure, affordable, productive platform with features that help meet regulatory and industry compliance requirements. Businesses that chose this subscription need or want the advanced security with compliant archiving and e-discovery, expanded storage capacity, and advanced controls for Chat, Meet, and Devices.

How We Help

Our Cloud Advisors are here to help you plan, execute, and succeed. We can help you evaluate and select the right Google Workspace Business (or Enterprise) subscription for your business. Book some time and start your journey.

About the Author

Allen Falcon is the co-founder and CEO of Cumulus Global.  Allen co-founded Cumulus Global in 2006 to offer small businesses enterprise-grade email security and compliance using emerging cloud solutions. He has led the company’s growth into a managed cloud service provider with over 1,000 customers throughout North America.

3 IT Scams for Small Businesses to Avoid (in Inc.)

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Small businesses often fall prey to low-tech IT scams.

While simple, these low-tech scams can, and often do, create high levels of damage.

Our CEO, Allen Falcon, writes about 3 IT Scams for Small Businesses to Avoid over at Inc.  You can read it here.

How We Can Help

Our Cloud Advisors and Service Team can help you create and implement policies and procedures.  Our Security CPR® Managed Security Service and our Managed Cloud Services provide you with co-managed security and cloud services that ensure your IT environment is productive, secure, and affordable.

Your Strategy for Business Resilience

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Cyber incidents, system failures, and unexpected disruptions are no longer rare events. For small and mid-size businesses (SMBs), even a short outage or minor breach can interrupt operations, expose sensitive data, and damage customer trust.

Business resilience means preparing your organization to absorb disruptions and keep moving forward. You cannot, however, achieve resilience with a single tool or policy. 

Business Resilience requires a layered security strategy that reduces risk, limits impact, and supports fast recovery. 

Why Business Resilience is Your Priority

Technology plays a critical role in nearly every part of your business. When systems are disrupted, the impact extends beyond IT to revenue, reputation, and customer confidence. 

A resilient security strategy helps you maintain operations even when things do not go as planned. 

Connect with a Cloud Advisor4 Strategic Pillars for Resilient Cybersecurity

An effective approach to security addresses risk across four key areas:

  1. Awareness: Your employees recognize common threats, follow security best practices, and understand their role in protecting the organization.
  2. Prevention: Updates, controls, and monitoring reduce exposure by closing common attack paths.
  3. Protection: Safeguards such as encryption, access controls, and multi-factor authentication limit damage when incidents occur.
  4. Recovery: Backups and response plans enable you to restore systems, data, and workflows quickly.

These pillars help you defend against both cyber threats and everyday mistakes and align with our Security CPR™ managed security model. 

Plan for Impact, Not Just Prevention

No environment is immune to risk. 

Even with strong preventive measures, incidents will still happen. Ongoing training, layered defenses, and clearly defined response plans will help you manage disruptions efficiently and reduce downtime. 

Preparation ensures that a security event becomes a manageable incident rather than a prolonged crisis.

Resilient cybersecurity is the foundation for business resilience. 

Resilience is a Strategic Commitment

Building resilience is an ongoing effort that evolves as threats, technologies, and business needs change. With the right strategy and experienced partners, you can stay prepared, protect critical systems, and maintain stability when disruptions occur.

Managed Cloud Services Support Business Resilience

Managed cloud and managed security services play a critical role in helping you improve security and business resilience without overwhelming internal teams. At Cumulus Global, we support resilience through:

  • Comprehensive IT and security management
  • Secure collaboration and productivity solutions
  • Cloud infrastructure monitoring, optimization, and protection

By aligning cloud technology with your business objectives, our managed cloud services and our Security CPR™ Managed Security Services improve reliability, reduce risk, and support long-term continuity.

About the Author

Bill Seybolt bio pictureBill is a Senior Cloud Advisor responsible for helping small and midsize organizations with productive, security, and secure managed cloud services. Bill works with executives, leaders, and team members to understand workflows, identify strategic goals and tactical requirements, and design solutions and implementation phases. Having helped hundreds of organizations successfully adopt cloud solutions, his expertise and working style ensure a comfortable experience and effective change management.

Cumulus Global Changes the Managed Network Model for SMBs

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New Partnership Lowers Small Businesses Costs for Enterprise-Grade Local Area Networks

Westborough, MA, January 22, 2026 – Cumulus Global proudly announces its new strategic partnership with Meter to bring affordable enterprise-grade local area network (LAN) solutions to small and midsize businesses and local governments. Partnering with Meter, Cumulus Global brings a new model for Internet, wired, WiFi, and cellular networks. A single, simple monthly fee replaces multiple vendors and separate costs for design, installation, hardware, software, support, and upgrades.

“We are excited to bring this solution to our clients and other small and midsize enterprises,” stated Cumulus Global CEO Allen Falcon. “With Meter, we can offer best-in-class networking infrastructure with a solution focused on performance and security rather than on how many devices the client needs installed.”

Connect with a Cloud AdvisorMeter offers a unique approach to networking that prioritizes performance and reliability over minimizing hardware and recurring costs. Clients pay a single, predictable monthly fee that covers analysis and design, networking equipment, service plans, and ongoing management and support. Pricing is based on the size of the space, measured in square feet, instead of on a per-device basis. This approach ensures clients receive the network they need and can adjust it as requirements change, all for a predictable cost.

“Meter is a premium networking solution that includes local area, WiFi, and in-building cellular networking,” noted Falcon. “Organizations with multiple locations, lean or outsourced IT teams, and cost-conscious growth plans are ideal candidates for Meter’s technology, solutions, and pricing model.”

Beyond delivering a technologically advanced network, Meter’s service and pricing model allows businesses to manage networking costs as either an operating expense or a capital expenditure.

Businesses, local governments, and K-12 schools looking to improve their networking infrastructure can contact Cumulus Global to book a free, no obligation meeting with a Cloud Advisor.

About Cumulus Global

Nationally recognized as a leader, Cumulus Global delivers productive, secure, and affordable managed cloud services to small and midsize businesses, governments, and K-12 schools. Translating business objectives into technology needs and priorities, we design, deploy, manage, and support services that help our clients thrive and grow.

How to Start the New Year with an Effective IT Budget

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Connect with a Cloud Advisor

UPDATED: January 9, 2026 — Added additional resources (see below).

Many small businesses tend to react to IT expenses instead of planning ahead with a clear budget in place. A subscription renewal arrives, a laptop fails, or a new tool seems useful, and you make a decision in the moment. While this day-to-day approach can work in the short term, it generally leads to fragmented spending and technology that does not fully support your long-term goals. Over time, this lack of planning becomes more than an inconvenience.

If you do not have an IT budget, there is no such thing as an “in-budget” IT purchase. 

Every unplanned expense adds costs and introduces uncertainty, putting profit at risk. With a budget in place, you get clarity on current spending and can plan ahead instead of scrambling.

Step into the new year with more control by following this simple process that gives you a complete view of your IT.

> Document Your Recurring IT Expenses

Review all subscriptions, service agreements, and other recurring IT expenses. Check invoices and scan credit card statements. Look for monthly or annual services that renew quietly in the background.

Create a list of your recurring IT expenses, tracking costs by month. For a full picture, total your monthly and annual IT spending for each item.

> Inventory Your Hardware and Software

Create a list of all your computers, printers, networking gear, and other devices. Do the same for purchased (non-subscription, non-SaaS) software. Note purchase dates, warranty dates, and expected lifespans for each item.

Create a replacement schedule by month for any hardware and software you plan, or need, to replace or upgrade in the coming year.

> Remove What No Longer Serves You

Cleaning up your IT takes thought. Review your recurring services and hardware/software lists to identify duplicate services and items no longer used or needed. Plan when you will remove or retire unnecessary services, equipment, and software.

Decluttering frees up your budget and keeps your team focused. If changes require data migration, equipment disposal, or extra training, schedule these steps in advance to stay prepared.

> Identify Initiatives You Want to Fund

You will likely want or need to add new technology or tools in the coming year. Break down each initiative and estimate upfront and ongoing expenses. Be clear about timing. Some projects require deposits or advance orders, while others only begin billing once services are delivered. Map payments by item and month to project cash flow and avoid unexpected issues.

> Create a Single Cohesive Budget

After tracking recurring expenses, mapping replacements and upgrades, and planning new initiatives, combine everything into one organized view of your IT spending. Add up your expenditures monthly, quarter, and annually, including totals for each line item and category. This provides you with a full view of your budget, cash flow requirements, and project timing.

A single, consolidated budget transforms scattered technology activity into a predictable, manageable plan.

eBook - Smart IT Budgeting Pays OffIT Budget Workbook Template

How We Help

Dive deeper with our recent “Smart IT Budgeting Pays Off” eBook for a deeper dive into the process for building an effective IT Budget.  You can also download our IT Budget Workbook Template to help you get started.

Our Cloud Advisors help you put your IT plans into action. We assess your current technology, identify productivity and security gaps, remove redundant services, identify opportunities, train your team, and help you manage IT projects and your overall IT ecosystem.

No matter your starting point, book time with us to create your IT plan for 2026 and take control of your technology and spending.

About the Author

Bill Seybolt bio pictureBill is a Senior Cloud Advisor responsible for helping small and midsize organizations with productive, security, and secure managed cloud services. Bill works with executives, leaders, and team members to understand workflows, identify strategic goals and tactical requirements, and design solutions and implementation phases. Having helped hundreds of organizations successfully adopt cloud solutions, his expertise and working style ensure a comfortable experience and effective change management.

Turn AI Prompts Into Business Outcomes

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Artificial intelligence (AI) is evolving rapidly, providing you with powerful tools that can transform how your organization operates. By integrating it into your daily workflows, you can make smarter decisions and streamline tasks that once took significant time to complete. Over time, AI will produce measurable results that are easy to track and analyze.

How AI Can Work for You

You get the most value from AI when you apply it to targeted, repeatable processes that address real business needs. For example, regularly analyzing meeting transcripts with AI can uncover actionable insights and identify trends that guide your business strategy.

AI can also assist in creating communications and marketing content that reflect your brand’s voice. Moreover, it can generate structured agendas or talking points for sales conversations, allowing you to emphasize client relationships and highlight your business’s strengths.

By making AI a regular part of your workflows, you can continuously refine outputs and achieve more accurate results over time.

Getting Started with AI

Connect with a Cloud Advisor
For those just starting out with AI, begin with smaller projects. For example, try using AI to automate follow-ups or analyze customer feedback. These use cases will help your team become familiar with AI while still delivering immediate impact. Over time, incorporate AI into more complex processes.

Give your organization the opportunity to explore its full potential without disrupting daily operations.

You should regularly monitor AI outputs to make sure that the technology and uses align with your goals. Tracking data usage also helps you keep information secure and will help maintain trust.

Crafting Effective Prompts

Once you are familiar with AI, you can unlock its full potential by providing clear context and direction. You and your team should know how to craft a prompt that helps AI fully understand your objectives and your voice.

A strong prompt includes the following elements:

  1. Persona: Decide the role you want AI to take on. Defining a persona helps shape the perspective, tone, and level of expertise AI uses in its response.
  2. Backstory: Share context about your business, your customers, and the tone or results you expect.
  3. Task: Be specific about what you want AI to produce. Include your brand voice, target audience, and any formatting preferences.

For example, you might ask AI to take on the persona of a knowledgeable and approachable communications expert. Then, provide it with the backstory of your company and set a confident, friendly tone aimed at small business owners. Finally, be clear about the task, such as writing a professional announcement in your brand voice. Be sure to include any formatting preferences, like short paragraphs for easy readability.

Using AI Responsibly

In order to adopt AI responsibly, pay careful attention to sensitive business and client information. Selecting AI tools that meet strong standards for privacy, security, and compliance helps you protect this information and maintain trust with your clients and stakeholders. Beyond selecting the right tools, establish clear protocols to guide your team’s use of AI.

Your policies should:

  1. Define safe usage: Clearly outline how AI should be used across your organization. Clear safe usage guidelines prevent misuse and ensures your team can confidently rely on AI.
  2. Ensure compliance with regulations: Establish rules that keep your organization aligned with legal, industry standards, and contractual obligations. These rules should address the protection of sensitive client information, along with adherence to data privacy laws and governance policies.
  3. Encourage creative applications: Support your team in exploring innovative approaches to problem-solving. Creative applications and use cases allow your organization to maximize the benefits of AI while generating tangible results.

AI is a powerful tool that can enhance business processes and strengthen client relationships. When it is used properly, your organization can achieve meaningful and lasting results.

How We Help

You can dive deeper into crafting effective prompts by viewing our November 2025 3T@3 Series session, “How To: Better AI Results” and several eBooks and other resources in our Resource Center. Our Cloud Advisors are here to help you plan, execute, and succeed. Book some time and start your journey.

About the Author

Allen Falcon is the co-founder and CEO of Cumulus Global.  Allen co-founded Cumulus Global in 2006 to offer small businesses enterprise-grade email security and compliance using emerging cloud solutions. He has led the company’s growth into a managed cloud service provider with over 1,000 customers throughout North America.

Simplify Your IT Strategy

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UPDATED: January 2, 2026. Added related resources (see below).

As a small to medium-sized business (SMB) leader, you already know how tough IT decisions can be. From software to infrastructure, every choice affects your efficiency, budget, and long-term growth. One of the biggest challenges is decision-making paralysis. With so much information coming at you, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and unsure about which details actually matter. The key is learning how to manage that information effectively.

Managing Information Overload

Access to information can be both a benefit and a burden. Thanks to search engines and AI-powered tools, you can gather data faster than ever. But too much information can feel like noise if you don’t know where to start.

Connect with a Cloud AdvisorTo cut through the clutter, start by identifying your core business goals and IT priorities. This will help you filter out irrelevant information and zero in on what truly supports your objectives. Additionally, you should lean on trusted sources and expert insights, as they provide accurate, reliable information that helps you make decisions based on facts rather than assumptions.

When you create a structured approach to research, you turn information overload into informed decision-making.

Evaluating Your Options

After narrowing your focus, the next step is choosing the right solution. With so many options available, it’s easy to second-guess your choices. A structured evaluation process helps you stay objective and confident.

  1. Define your key requirements and goals: Identify what your business truly needs from an IT solution. Use these requirements as benchmarks to quickly rule out any options that don’t fit.
  2. Research your top contenders: Take a closer look at the solutions that meet your criteria. Watch product demos, read case studies, and, if possible, talk to current users to understand real-world experiences.
  3. Evaluate long-term performance: Ask how each option will scale with your business, how reliable the vendor’s support is, and how easily it integrates with your current systems.

Following these steps will help you minimize risk and choose solutions that support lasting growth.

Putting a Process in Place

Once you’ve evaluated your options, you should put a clear process in place to ensure that your decisions align with your business goals.

  1. Form a team of key stakeholders to gain diverse perspectives and ensure all relevant viewpoints are considered.
  2. Set a timeline with milestones to keep the decision-making process on track and maintain momentum.
  3. Use decision-making frameworks such as SWOT analysis or a Decision Matrix to compare options objectively.
  4. Document your reasoning throughout the process to maintain transparency and create a reference that supports future decisions.

In Summary

IT decision-making doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. The right approach not only helps you choose the best solutions but also saves time, reduces stress, and positions your business for growth. Start small, stay focused, and turn decision-making from a hurdle into a strength for your SMB.

How We Help

We provide the structure, communication, and support your team needs to succeed. From defining roles and prioritizing tasks to managing follow-ups and challenges, our professional services help keep your IT systems in sync with your business priorities so projects move forward efficiently.

Our Cloud Advisors help you put your IT plans into action. We assess your current technology, identify productivity and security gaps, remove redundant services, identify opportunities, train your team, and help you manage IT projects and your overall IT ecosystem.

eBook - Smart IT Budgeting Pays OffIT Budget Workbook Template

Related Resources

Take the next step with our recent “Smart IT Budgeting Pays Off” eBook for a deeper dive into the process for building an effective IT Budget.

You can also download our IT Budget Workbook Template to help you get started.

No matter your starting point, book time with us to create your IT plan for 2026 and take control of your technology and spending.

About the Author

Allen Falcon is the co-founder and CEO of Cumulus Global.  Allen co-founded Cumulus Global in 2006 to offer small businesses enterprise-grade email security and compliance using emerging cloud solutions. He has led the company’s growth into a managed cloud service provider with over 1,000 customers throughout North America.

Boost Your Tech Project Team Performance

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Your technology projects succeed when your project team performs well as a team and individually. When team members communicate clearly, stay accountable, and focus on what matters, your projects run smoother and achieve better results.

Here’s how to make team participation work.

Define Your Project Team

Remember that your project team is more than your IT staff and vendors.  You project team should include stakeholders – executive sponsors, subject matter experts, and key users/user groups. Your extended project team helps you define success metrics, prioritize requirements, manage and communicate change, and provides testing and feedback.

With a well-defined team, you can manage your project to the metrics that matter. You also have more control of project scope and direction.

Set Clear Roles and Commitments for Team Members

Teamwork starts with clarity. Define roles, responsibilities, expectations, and deadlines from the start. Verify that everyone knows their responsibilities, and accountability and motivation will naturally follow. (This 3T@3 Series recording discussing managing project input and feedback)

Clear commitments reduce confusion and align your team.

Prioritize Tasks

After setting commitments, establish priorities. Technology projects have many moving parts. To manage these effectively, teams should collaborate to identify and rank priorities based on urgency, impact, and dependencies.

By focusing on high-priority work, you ensure that your team completes critical tasks first and that you allocate resources efficiently. Clear priorities also help your team maintain a steady workflow and remain aligned.

Follow Up Consistently

Even the most organized teams need structured follow-ups to maintain momentum. Regular, structured check-ins help you and your team track progress, address roadblocks early, and reinforce accountability. Use follow-up and status meetings to catch missed deadlines and project issues before they get out of hand. You gain flexibility to adjust timelines and resources slightly without compromising the overall project schedule.

Consistent follow-ups help you address issues early, keep your team on track, and reinforce a shared sense of responsibility and accountability.

Handle Disruptions Constructively

Working in a team isn’t always easy. Sometimes team members may be disruptive, overlook mistakes, or push back against collaboration. The key is to address these issues early and respectfully. Take the time to listen, acknowledge what’s going on, and respond promptly. Be transparent when addressing concerns and remember that it’s perfectly fine for your answer to be “no.” When you explain the reasons behind your decisions or changes in direction, it helps everyone stay on the same page. Even if not everyone agrees, they will understand where you’re coming from.

By constructively managing conflicts, you and your team maintain a positive environment that encourages productive contributions from everyone.

How We Help

We provide the structure, communication, and support your team needs to succeed. From defining roles and prioritizing tasks to managing follow-ups and challenges, our professional services help keep your IT systems in sync with your business priorities so projects move forward efficiently.

About the Author

Allen Falcon is the co-founder and CEO of Cumulus Global.  Allen co-founded Cumulus Global in 2006 to offer small businesses enterprise-grade email security and compliance using emerging cloud solutions. He has led the company’s growth into a managed cloud service provider with over 1,000 customers throughout North America.