The YMCA of Greater Boston is more than just an affordable place to get in a workout . As the largest private provider of social services in Massachusetts , the YMCA of Greater Boston supports the mental , physical , and social well-being of over 150,000 people annually . In 1851 , it became the first YMCA in the United States , and today , it ’ s one of the largest urban YMCAs in the nation . Because of this single organization , 10,000 children get to enjoy summer camps every year , low-income families get access to $ 10.3 million in critical services at no cost , and jobseekers can tap into professional job training resources — but that ’ s just the start . From youth sports to affordable housing support , the organization continues to expand its offerings to fit the ever-changing needs of Greater Boston .
In today ’ s digital world , the organization is facing yet another massive change . In order to offer Wi-Fi , computers , connected workout machines , and more to its members , the YMCA of Greater Boston needed to bolster its IT resources . Equipped with its own IT team , the nonprofit was never interested in outsourcing all of its IT operations but instead was looking for a reliable partnership that could help support the organization behind the screen . In 2007 , Direct iT reached out to forge that partnership , and since then , the YMCA of Greater Boston hasn ’ t looked back , working with Direct iT under a Co-Managed program
According to Philip DeFeo , the IT Manager at the YMCA of Greater Boston , a lot has changed since the 2007 contract between Direct iT and the YMCA : “ Sixteen years ago , we were growing . Back then , we probably had about 250 – 300 users on the network . Today we have well over 1,000 , so we ’ ve grown significantly in our system users . At the time , we needed help with our network connectivity , so Direct iT came in and helped us with network switches , firewalls , Wi-Fi . . . they ’ ve helped us with a lot over the years .”
Direct iT works with many different business structures and client needs , but because of the complexity of the organization and the services it offers , the YMCA of Greater Boston needs a custom Co-Managed approach from Direct iT .
NOT ONLY DOES DIRECT IT HELP SUPPORT THE YMCA ’ S INTERNAL HELP DESK SYSTEM BUT IT ALSO ACTS AS AN ADDED LAYER OF PROTECTION WHEN THINGS GO WRONG .
“ We use them as a means of escalation . If there is a firewall down at a specific branch that we can ’ t resolve , we ’ ll reach out to Direct iT for help ,” DeFeo explained .
When the YMCA of Greater Boston wants to bring more advanced or niche technologies into its ecosystem , the Direct iT staff are trained on the new technology as well . “ They ’ re very flexible ,” says DeFeo . Recently , the YMCA of Greater Boston made the decision to modernize its network infrastructure using Aruba Instant On . This change enabled Internet of Things devices , cuttingedge applications , and reliable connectivity across 24 different locations . It was a massive IT project within the organization and Direct iT played a critical role in its success . Not only did it transform how the organization serves its members and guests in the 21st century but it actually reduced network management costs .
DeFeo isn ’ t shy about expressing his gratitude for the quality of work that Direct iT brings to the table . “ I have sung the praises of Direct iT to many other IT directors and companies over the years because they ’ ve been so good to us ,” he said . “ They ’ ve saved us on many occasions . They ’ ve always been there for us .” Being able to find the right point of affordability , reliability , and quality can be tough to do in any industry , but when working with Direct iT , their clear business values permeate every client interaction .
In his experience with Direct iT , DeFeo recognizes that it starts at the top and trickles down . Direct iT ’ s CEO , David Javaheri , leads with compassion and empathy — both for his clients and his employees . “ David is a very caring guy in general . Not only does he care about his clients but he cares about his employees . I ’ ve heard many stories to support that over the years . It starts from the top ,” he shared . Through the ups and downs of doing business , it ’ s partnerships like this one that have a real-world impact .
The YMCA of Greater Boston may have a very specific set of requirements when it comes to their IT needs , but they also have a very specific operating structure and a wide range of member benefits . By allowing Philip DeFeo and his team to lead the way but still providing excellent service and extra hands when needed , the Co-Managed program by Direct iT makes it possible for the YMCA of Greater Boston to serve its members in new ways , foster connection in the digital age , and implement new tools and technologies for the benefit of the community . Technology has the power to change lives , and through the efforts of dedicated organizations like the YMCA , it actually does .
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