Managed Cloud Services in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Cloud Solutions That Work the Way Your Business Does
Moving to the cloud doesn’t have to be complicated — or risky. Real IT Solutions helps West Michigan businesses adopt cloud technology at the right pace, with the right tools, and with a team that stays by your side long after the migration is done. From Microsoft 365 and cloud print management to SaaS backup and Azure infrastructure, we handle the complexity so you can focus on running your business.
Every cloud engagement is backed by our RealCare™ model — proactive, strategic, and always responsive — and our “Thrilled Today or You Don’t Pay” guarantee.
The Cloud Is Only Valuable When It’s Managed Well
What We Mean by “Managed”
Plenty of companies can sell you a Microsoft 365 license or point you toward Azure. What separates Real IT Solutions is that we manage what comes after — licensing, configuration, security, backup, training, and ongoing support. Cloud services without management are just another bill you’re paying without knowing what you’re getting.
Our Managed Cloud Services cover the full lifecycle: assessment and planning, migration and deployment, user training, and continuous monitoring. We work with established platforms our team knows deeply — Microsoft, Datto, Printix, and Azure — and we’re honest with you about what cloud can and can’t do for a business your size.
| What You Get | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Fully managed Microsoft 365 deployment | Productivity tools configured, secured, and ready to use from day one |
| Datto SaaS Backup for Microsoft 365 | A true second copy of your data — not just Microsoft’s retention policies |
| Cloud print management via Printix | Print from any device, anywhere — no print servers required |
| Azure infrastructure consulting | Honest guidance on when Azure VMs make sense — and when they don’t |
| User training included with deployment | Your team actually knows how to use what we set up |
| Ongoing monitoring and support | Issues caught and resolved before they become outages |
Microsoft 365:
The Foundation of a Modern, Secure Workplace
Microsoft Modern Workplace
Microsoft 365 is much more than email and Word documents. When configured correctly, it becomes the secure, collaborative backbone of your entire organization — connecting your team across devices, locations, and applications while protecting your data from threats.
Real IT Solutions manages the full Office 365 project lifecycle. From your initial discovery session through licensing, encryption, migration, installation, and training, we have a documented process that accounts for every step — including the ones other providers skip.
Our Office 365 Deployment Process
We break the project into five structured phases so nothing gets missed and you always know where things stand:
- Initial Setup: Discovery conversation covering your current environment, explanation of 365 packages, company setup, admin user provisioning, and initial configuration.
- Encryption: Azure encryption provisioning and protection setup — so your data is secure before anyone touches it.
- Migration: Client login information gathering, then actual migration from IMAP, previous IT provider platforms, or Google-based email systems.
- Installation: Microsoft 365 user setup and Microsoft Office 365 application installation on all workstations and laptops. Note: installation may take longer on older machines or slower internet connections.
- Training: Quick-start training covering OneDrive, Teams, encryption, and answers to your team’s most common questions — delivered on-site or via remote session.
Which Microsoft 365 Plan Is Right for You?
Microsoft 365 plans are numerous and can feel overwhelming. Real IT Solutions has narrowed the selection to two options that fit the majority of our clients:
| Plan | What’s Included | Per-License Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Azure Active Directory Premium P1 | Single Sign-On (unlimited), User/Group Provisioning & Management, AD Join, Device Registration, Administrator Bitlocker Recovery, Advanced security and usage reports | $6.40 / license Required for every machine/user |
| Microsoft 365 Business Premium | All Premium Office Apps, Exchange Plan 1 (50 GB), Exchange Archive (1.5 TB), Exchange Message Encryption, OneDrive (1 TB per user), Microsoft Defender for Office 365, Data Loss Prevention, SharePoint Plan 1 (1 TB), Azure Identity Protection, Azure AD Premium P1 | $26.40 / license Required for every machine/user |
Pricing shown reflects current Real IT Solutions package rates. Contact us for a customized quote based on your seat count and environment.
Microsoft 365 Doesn’t Back Up Your Data — We Do
365 Backup
This is one of the most common misconceptions we encounter: businesses assume that because their data is in the cloud, it’s automatically backed up. It isn’t. Microsoft 365’s built-in data retention options are not the same as backup. They are not designed for fast point-in-time restores of deleted emails or data, and they don’t create a separate, independent copy of your information stored in a different location.
Real IT Solutions includes Datto SaaS Backup as part of our cloud management stack to fill this gap. It creates a true, independent backup of your Microsoft 365 environment — Exchange mailboxes, OneDrive, and SharePoint — with granular restore options when you need them.
Why Datto SaaS Backup Matters for West Michigan Businesses
- Access to email for former employees: When employees leave, you don’t have to keep paying a Microsoft subscription just to retain their email and shared documents. Datto provides a separate, cost-effective way to access and retain that data.
- Compliance and data retention: If your organization operates under regulations with data retention requirements — healthcare, financial services, legal — Datto ensures you can retain and archive critical data to meet those obligations.
- Automated backup scheduling: New Microsoft 365 accounts are automatically added to the backup schedule. No manual configuration. No missed users.
- Point-in-time restore: Exchange mailboxes are backed up automatically up to six times per day. OneDrive and SharePoint data is also covered, giving you multiple restore points in the event of accidental deletion or a ransomware event.
| Datto SaaS Backup Details | |
|---|---|
| Cost | $1.50 per machine/user per month |
| Included Storage | 1 TB |
| Covered Data | Exchange mailboxes, OneDrive, SharePoint |
| Backup Frequency | Up to 6x daily for Exchange; scheduled for OneDrive and SharePoint |
Azure Virtual Machines: When They Make Sense — and When They Don’t
Cloud Infrastructure — Honest Guidance
Microsoft Azure Virtual Machines offer virtually unlimited scalability. Pricing is based on resources and data usage, configurations are flexible, and the platform is genuinely powerful for the right workloads. But here’s something we’ll tell you straight: for most small businesses, moving to Azure VMs is not the right move right now.
We’re not going to recommend something that doesn’t serve your business just because it sounds modern. Our job is to help you make smart technology decisions — and right now, Azure VMs come with real trade-offs for SMBs in West Michigan.
Why We’re Cautious About Azure Servers for Most SMBs
- Software compatibility: The majority of practice management and industry-specific software vendors do not currently support cloud-hosted servers. If your line-of-business application isn’t certified for Azure, you’re taking on serious risk.
- Cost reality: Azure server costs are often three times the cost of an equivalent physical server — and those costs are variable and difficult to predict month-to-month.
- Connectivity dependency: Azure VMs require stable, high-speed failover gigabit internet service. If your connection goes down, your server goes with it.
- Unpredictable billing: Azure costs scale with usage, which sounds appealing but can create billing surprises for teams unfamiliar with cloud cost management.
Where Cloud Infrastructure Does Add Value
That said, cloud infrastructure is the right answer for specific scenarios — and we actively help clients take advantage of those:
- Cloud-based backup and disaster recovery: Cloud is excellent for storing off-site backups and enabling fast recovery without a secondary physical location.
- Remote and hybrid work enablement: Cloud tools — particularly Microsoft 365 and Azure AD — significantly simplify secure remote access for distributed teams.
- Scalable resource bursting: Businesses with genuinely variable compute needs (seasonal manufacturing spikes, for example) can benefit from Azure’s on-demand scaling.
- Future-proofing your infrastructure strategy: We’re closely monitoring Azure pricing as the platform matures. Cloud economics are improving, and we’ll recommend migration when the numbers make sense for your business.
Cloud Management Backed by the RealCare™ Model
The RealCare™ Difference
Every Managed Cloud Services engagement at Real IT Solutions is structured around our proprietary RealCare™ IT model — four pillars that ensure your cloud environment is never just set-and-forgotten.
| RealCare™ Pillar | What It Means for Your Cloud Environment |
|---|---|
| Automated | Backups run on schedule. New users are automatically added to backup policies. Security updates deploy without manual intervention. |
| Proactive | We monitor your cloud environment continuously, identifying issues before they affect your team’s productivity or your data integrity. |
| Reactive | When something goes wrong — a deleted mailbox, a failed sync, a licensing issue — our help desk responds fast and resolves it completely. |
| Strategic | We review your cloud stack regularly and give you straightforward advice on when to expand, upgrade, or change course — no upselling, just honest guidance. |
Managed Cloud Services for West Michigan Businesses
Who We Serve
Real IT Solutions serves small and mid-sized businesses across Grand Rapids, Kentwood, Wyoming, Grand Haven, and the broader Kent County area. Our Managed Cloud Services are particularly well-suited for:
- Professional services firms — CPA practices, wealth management firms, insurance agencies, and legal offices with compliance-sensitive data and remote access needs
- Manufacturing and distribution companies — West Michigan manufacturers who need reliable cloud collaboration tools without abandoning line-of-business systems that run on-premises
- Healthcare-adjacent organizations — Businesses handling PHI or operating under HIPAA who need backup, encryption, and documented compliance controls
- Businesses with 15+ employees — Organizations with enough seats that licensing, security, and training need to be managed systematically rather than ad hoc
- Companies transitioning from aging IT infrastructure — Businesses still running on-premises email servers, outdated print infrastructure, or legacy cloud setups that were never properly configured
Why Choose Real IT SolutionS
When you’re making technology decisions that affect your entire business, the team behind the advice matters. Real IT Solutions is a Grand Rapids-based IT consulting firm with certified consultants, a track record of successful engagements across West Michigan, and a client satisfaction guarantee that puts our money where our mouth is. Don’t take our word for it — our Clutch reviews speak for themselves. Click any review below to see the full details.
- Local expertise — Grand Rapids-based consultants who know West Michigan businesses
- Certified team — 40+ years of combined IT experience across the consulting practice
- Proven track record — consistently top-rated on Clutch across multiple service categories
- No-risk guarantee — “Thrilled Today or You Don’t Pay” on every engagement
- Relationship-driven — the same advisors who make the recommendations carry them out
The Real IT Solutions
100% Money-Back Guarantee
Thrilled Today or You Don’t Pay
Managed Cloud Services — Questions We Hear Every Day
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does moving to Microsoft 365 mean my data is automatically backed up?
A: No — and this is one of the most important misconceptions to clear up. Microsoft 365 includes data retention and loss prevention tools, but those are not the same as backup. Microsoft’s native tools are not designed for fast point-in-time restores of deleted emails or files, and they don’t store a second, independent copy of your data in a separate location. That’s why Real IT Solutions includes Datto SaaS Backup as part of our cloud management stack.
Q: Which Microsoft 365 plan does Real IT Solutions recommend?
A: For most of our clients, Microsoft 365 Business Premium is the right fit. It includes the full suite of Office applications, enterprise-grade email with generous storage, OneDrive, SharePoint, Microsoft Defender, Data Loss Prevention, and Azure Active Directory Premium P1 — essentially everything a 15–300 seat business needs in one license. For businesses with simpler needs or those looking to add security controls to an existing 365 subscription, Azure Active Directory Premium P1 as a standalone add-on may be the right entry point. We’ll walk through your specific situation during a discovery call.
Q: How long does a Microsoft 365 migration take?
A: For most businesses, the full Office 365 project runs approximately 4.5 hours for the first user and roughly 30 additional minutes per user for installation. A 10-user company, for example, should expect a project of around 9–10 hours total across all phases: initial setup, encryption, migration, installation, and training. We provide a detailed time estimate during discovery based on your current environment, internet speed, and hardware.
Q: What’s included in cloud training?
A: Every Microsoft 365 deployment includes a one-hour training session for your team. We cover OneDrive file sharing and sync, Microsoft Teams collaboration basics, Exchange encryption, and the most common questions your employees will have in their first days using the new environment. Training is available on-site at your Grand Rapids area location or delivered remotely — whichever works better for your team.
Q: Should my business move its servers to Azure?
A: For most small and mid-sized businesses in West Michigan, our honest recommendation is not yet — at least not for your primary server workloads. Azure VM costs are typically two to three times the cost of an equivalent physical server, and most line-of-business software vendors don’t certify their applications for cloud-hosted servers. Where Azure genuinely shines for SMBs is in backup and disaster recovery, remote access, and Microsoft 365 identity management. We’ll tell you clearly when the math changes in your favor.
Q: Is there a satisfaction guarantee on Managed Cloud Services?
A: Yes. Like all Real IT Solutions services, our Managed Cloud Services are backed by our “Thrilled Today or You Don’t Pay” guarantee. If you’re not satisfied with the work we’ve done, we make it right. That applies to migrations, deployments, training, and ongoing management — if something isn’t working the way it should, we stay on it until it is.
Q: What is Printix and why would I use it instead of a traditional print server?
A: Printix is a cloud-based print management platform that replaces your on-premises print server with a SaaS solution. It eliminates print driver installation headaches, lets your team print from any device on any network, and removes the maintenance burden of keeping print server hardware and software current. At $2 per machine per month, it’s typically far more cost-effective than maintaining a dedicated print server — and it scales easily as your business grows.
Q: What areas does Real IT Solutions serve for Managed Cloud Services?
A: We provide Managed Cloud Services to businesses throughout Grand Rapids, Kentwood, Wyoming, Walker, Grandville, Grand Haven, and the broader West Michigan and Kent County region. Remote management and support means we can also assist clients outside of our local area for cloud-specific engagements.