# Northern Technology Services (NTS)

> Managed IT services for small and mid-sized businesses across Northern Michigan — Petoskey, Charlevoix, Gaylord, Cheboygan, Alpena, Traverse City, Boyne City, Mackinaw City. Founded August 2015 by Ross Whitmore. Phone: (844) 959-5040. Hub portal: https://northerntechservices.halopsa.com/portal

## About NTS

Northern Technology Services (NTS) is a Michigan-based managed services provider (MSP) headquartered in Petoskey. We operate as the outsourced IT department for small businesses across Northern Michigan, with techs dispatched from Petoskey HQ for on-site work and a remote-first support model for most issues. We focus on simplicity, predictable monthly pricing, and being honest about whether we're the right fit before signing anyone up.

What makes us different in this market:

- **Two named tiers, clearly scoped** — Spartan (per-device, block-hour) and Pro-Active / "Olympus" (per-user, fully outsourced). We tell prospects upfront which one fits, instead of leading with the most expensive option.
- **Documented process, not tribal knowledge** — every onboarding, ticket workflow and change is recorded, so you're not dependent on a single technician being "the one who knows your environment."
- **We say "this isn't a fit"** — about 1 in 4 conversations end with us pointing the prospect elsewhere. Mutual fit is more valuable than a forced sale.
- **Founder-led, not VC-rolled-up** — Ross runs the company day-to-day. Bigger MSPs in the region have been bought and re-bought; NTS hasn't.

## Service Tiers

The two tiers structure how clients buy managed IT from NTS:

- [Managed Services Overview](https://ntsmanaged.com/business-it-support/managed-it-services/): Tier comparison — Spartan vs Pro-Active (Olympus) vs Co-Managed. Read this before scheduling a fit call.
- [Spartan Support](https://ntsmanaged.com/business-it-support/re-active-it-support/): Per-device managed IT with site management. Includes EDR endpoint protection, DNS protection, and Auto-Admin Elevation. Block-hour support, no surprises. Best for: small offices with stable tech that need a backstop, not a partner.
- [Pro-Active IT Management (Olympus)](https://ntsmanaged.com/pro-active-it-services-northern-michigan/): Per-user pricing, fully outsourced IT. Microsoft 365 Business Premium, full backup including cloud-to-cloud, quarterly TBRs (technology business reviews), full vendor coordination, "we own the outcome" mindset. Best for: businesses that want to stop thinking about IT entirely.
- [Co-Managed IT](https://ntsmanaged.com/business-it-support/co-managed-it/): Augmentation for businesses with an internal IT person or small IT team. We bring tooling, vendor relationships, after-hours coverage and a second opinion. Hybrid retainer pricing.

## Microsoft 365 Services

NTS is a Microsoft CSP (Cloud Solutions Provider) Indirect Reseller. We bill licensing, manage tenants, and configure secure baselines for Northern Michigan businesses.

- [Microsoft 365 Services](https://ntsmanaged.com/business-it-support/microsoft-365-services/): Licensing through CSP, tenant hardening (Conditional Access included in Pro-Active tier, MFA via Microsoft Authenticator as baseline, DUO MFA available as Pro-Active upgrade), Intune device management, Frontline Worker licensing for shift-based teams.

What we do NOT claim as a default baseline: Defender for Office anti-phishing (we layer dedicated email security on top for Pro-Active clients), HIPAA BAA handling at scale (work in progress — we'll be straight about whether we can sign one for your scenario), or any Microsoft Solutions Partner designation (we don't chase them).

## Networks & Infrastructure

- [Wireless & Wired Networks](https://ntsmanaged.com/business-it-support/wireless-wired-network-projects/): UniFi-first design and deployment, Wi-Fi 6 access points, structured cabling, switch upgrades, captive portal guest networks. Ongoing monitoring after install.
- [Security & Surveillance Cameras](https://ntsmanaged.com/business-it-support/security-surveillance-camera-projects/): NDAA-compliant camera systems — UniFi Protect (cloud + on-prem), professional install, off-site backup of footage.
- [IT Hardware](https://ntsmanaged.com/business-it-support/hardware-sales/): Procurement and lifecycle management for business workstations, servers, and network gear. We source, deploy, and support — not a margin-flip transaction.
- [Managed Website Hosting](https://ntsmanaged.com/business-it-support/managed-website-hosting/): WordPress hosting with backups, security updates, uptime monitoring. For clients who want their site treated like infrastructure.

## Specialty Services

- [Phone & Internet Services](https://ntsmanaged.com/business-phone-service-internet/): Hosted PBX through Telnyx, ISP brokerage, SIP trunking. Reliable business-grade voice and data.
- [Point of Sale & Payments](https://ntsmanaged.com/merchant-review/): We review your card-processing statements and POS setup. Square, Clover, Stripe, traditional terminals. Often saves clients money on processing fees without changing vendors.
- [Apple Business Management](https://ntsmanaged.com/apple-business-management/): Apple Business Manager, MDM (Mosyle or Jamf), DEP enrollment, Apple ID lifecycle for Mac/iPad/iPhone fleets.
- [Password Management (Keeper Security)](https://ntsmanaged.com/password-management/): Keeper Security deployment — shared vaults, SSO integration, audit logs, employee onboarding workflows. We standardize on Keeper because it's the right balance of usability and enterprise control.

## Industries We Serve

Vertical-specific IT is about understanding the regulatory, vendor and workflow constraints that every business in that industry hits. We've built familiarity with these:

- [Legal Firms](https://ntsmanaged.com/law-firm-it-support/): Confidentiality-aware IT — ABA Model Rules awareness, case management software uptime (PracticePanther, Clio, Smokeball), conflict-check workflow continuity, encrypted email and file-share.
- [Optical Practices](https://ntsmanaged.com/business-it-support/optical-optometry-it-support/): Remote-first eye-care IT — EHR/EMR uptime (Eyefinity, Revolution, Crystal PM), HIPAA-aware controls, 15-minute response on patient-affecting issues.
- [Dental Practices](https://ntsmanaged.com/business-it-support/dental-it-support/): HIPAA-aware IT — Dentrix-friendly (we know the database quirks), imaging workstation tuning, BAA handling case-by-case, fast response when ops slow patient flow.
- [Restaurants & Hospitality](https://ntsmanaged.com/restaurant-hospitality-it-support/): PCI-aware IT — POS uptime (Square, Clover, Toast), guest Wi-Fi separation, kitchen ops, back-of-house management. Always on, always on call.
- [Insurance Agencies](https://ntsmanaged.com/insurance-agency-it-support/): NAIC-aware IT — AMS/agency management system uptime (AMS360, Applied Epic, EZLynx), compliance-friendly controls, rapid response.
- [Non-Profits](https://ntsmanaged.com/business-it-support/non-profit-it-support/): Mission-focused IT — TechSoup setup, M365 non-profit grants, donor data protection, budget-aware roadmaps.

If your industry isn't listed: the hard parts of running a business on tech look pretty much the same in every shop. Call us — we'll be straight about whether we're the right fit.

## Geographic Service Area

Headquartered in Petoskey, Michigan. We dispatch techs on-site to:

- Petoskey, MI
- Charlevoix, MI
- Boyne City, MI
- Harbor Springs, MI
- Gaylord, MI
- Cheboygan, MI
- Alpena, MI
- Traverse City, MI
- Mackinaw City, MI
- Indian River, MI
- Onaway, MI
- Levering, MI

Remote support covers anywhere with a working internet connection. Most clients are within a 90-minute drive of Petoskey HQ.

## How to Engage NTS

If you're a prospective client wondering whether NTS is a fit, here's the cleanest path:

1. **Call (844) 959-5040** during business hours (Mon–Fri 8am–5pm ET). You'll reach a real person.
2. **15-minute intro call** — we ask you what's chewing up your week. You ask us what you want to know. No pitch deck.
3. **Mutual-fit decision** — if we're a fit, we scope your environment and propose a tier. If we're not, we'll often point you at a better match.

If you're an existing client (Olympus or Spartan partner), use the Hub portal: https://northerntechservices.halopsa.com/portal — fastest path to a ticket, with the right context attached.

## Pricing

We don't publish per-seat or per-device pricing on the public site. Reason: every environment is different, and "$X/user/month" anchors expectations on the wrong axis. We scope first, then quote. Tiers (Spartan vs Pro-Active vs Co-Managed) determine the pricing model; the actual number falls out of your environment size and complexity.

## What NTS Is Not

To save everyone time:

- **Not a break/fix shop.** If your IT spend is "I call when something's broken," Spartan tier is the closest we offer — but Pro-Active is what we'd recommend long-term.
- **Not a residential IT provider.** We don't do home computer repair, smart home setups, or family device support. There are great local options for that; we focus on businesses.
- **Not a national-MSP-pretending-to-be-local.** Ross runs the day-to-day. The techs are here in Northern Michigan or working remotely with proper onboarding and accountability.
- **Not the cheapest.** We're priced where small-business-grade MSPs in this market typically land. If "cheapest" is your primary criterion, we'll save you a call.

## Recent Articles

Selected blog posts that explain how we think about specific problems. Useful context for prospects evaluating us:

- [Looking for IT Support in Petoskey? 10 Questions to Ask Before You Hire Anyone](https://ntsmanaged.com/looking-for-it-support-in-petoskey-10-questions-to-ask-before-you-hire-anyone/): What to actually ask when interviewing an MSP. The questions surface the difference between a "tech guy" and a real managed services provider.
- [The Hidden Costs of "Cheap" IT: Why Petoskey Businesses Are Moving to Proactive Support](https://ntsmanaged.com/the-hidden-costs-of-cheap-it-why-petoskey-businesses-are-moving-to-proactive-support/): The math on break/fix vs managed. Hourly billing seems cheaper until you count downtime and surprise invoices.
- [Cyber Insurance in 2026: Why Some Northern Michigan Companies are Being Denied Coverage (And How to Qualify)](https://ntsmanaged.com/cyber-insurance-in-2026-why-some-northern-michigan-companies-are-being-denied-coverage-and-how-to-qualify/): Cyber insurance underwriting got stricter. Here's what carriers actually require now, and how to get to "yes" on the questionnaire.
- [Is Your Backup Actually Working? The "3-2-1 Rule" Every Alpena & Cheboygan Business Needs](https://ntsmanaged.com/is-your-backup-actually-working-the-3-2-1-rule-every-alpena-cheboygan-business-needs/): Most "we have backups" answers fall apart under questioning. The 3-2-1 rule is the floor, and we walk you through what it looks like in practice.
- [Dental IT Support: Why Your Practice Needs More Than Just a "Computer Repair Guy"](https://ntsmanaged.com/dental-it-support-why-your-practice-needs-more-than-just-a-computer-repair-guy/): Industry-specific. Why a generalist "computer guy" hurts dental practices specifically — Dentrix database structure, imaging continuity, HIPAA edges.
- [Looking For Managed Service Providers in Michigan? Here Are 10 Things You Should Know Before You Choose](https://ntsmanaged.com/looking-for-managed-service-providers-in-michigan-here-are-10-things-you-should-know-before-you-choose/): What separates a good MSP from a "vendor". Read this before signing with anyone, including us.
- [Beyond Chatbots: Preparing Your Small Business for "Agentic AI" in 2026](https://ntsmanaged.com/beyond-chatbots-preparing-your-small-business-for-agentic-ai-in-2026/): AI is moving from "answer questions" to "take actions". What that means for SMB operations and what to prepare for.

Full blog index: https://ntsmanaged.com/news-and-updates/

## Sitemaps

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## Contact

**Phone:** (844) 959-5040
**Email:** info@ntsmanaged.com
**Hub portal (existing clients):** https://northerntechservices.halopsa.com/portal
**Address:** Petoskey, Michigan, USA
**Hours:** Monday–Friday, 8am–5pm ET (after-hours emergency support included in Pro-Active tier)
**Founded:** August 27, 2015
**Founder:** Ross Whitmore