### Company Overview & Leadership
WingSwept is an employee-owned company [[1]][[12]] delivering comprehensive IT solutions and managed services, with a specialization in cybersecurity and regulatory compliance for highly regulated industries [[3]][[7]]. The firm serves a diverse client base, including CPAs, healthcare, legal, construction, technology, and various sectors such as Manufacturing, Insurance, Life Sciences, and Engineering [[4]][[10]][[7]]. WingSwept operates a security-first service model, integrating advanced threat detection, 24/7 monitoring, and security training into its service delivery [[1]][[4]]. Support is structured around Personalized Service Pods—dedicated teams of engineers familiar with the client environment—maintaining a 3:1 client-to-engineer ratio to ensure responsive service and proactive IT management, including patch management and automated updates designed to reduce downtime [[1]][[4]]. The firm provides services in locations including Durham [[1]] and Reston, VA [[13]].
The organization’s technical proficiency is supported by its core focus areas, including strategic planning, infrastructure optimization, and specialized technology expertise:
* **Key Service Domains:** Virtual CIO (vCIO) strategic planning, cloud migrations, infrastructure optimization, and backup and disaster recovery solutions [[8]]. * **Main Technology Specializations:** Expertise covers Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Dell, Lenovo, VMware, Fortinet, and Cisco technologies [[4]][[8]]. * **Workforce Signals:** The team includes 4 Certified Information Systems Security Professionals (CISSPs) and 3 compliance-focused resources on staff [[6]].
### Leadership Team:
* Jay Strickland, CISSP, serves as Founder/CEO [[2]]. * April Strickland holds the SPHR certification [[2]].
### Federal Market & Contracts
WingSwept operates as a specialized government contractor and Managed Service Provider (MSP), focusing on navigating the complex IT demands of the public sector [[1]][[3]]. The firm collaborates with federal, state, and local governments, as well as highly regulated industries, to ensure operational compliance [[4]][[14]]. WingSwept is distinguished as the only MSP with a FedRAMP® authorized product, and its Application Development team holds the distinction of being the only small business IT MSP to undergo annual StateRAMP and FedRAMP compliance assessments [[14]][[4]]. This expertise is critical, as the federal government’s focus on cybersecurity often results in contracts that explicitly require specific security controls [[1]]. WingSwept provides comprehensive, secure, and compliant IT solutions, offering continuous or as-needed consulting services to assist clients with refreshing policies, procedures, and documentation alongside traditional business IT support [[3]][[4]]. The managed services team is trained and experienced in working with sensitive data [[1]].
The firm maintains deep expertise in critical federal compliance frameworks and delivers advanced cybersecurity services:
#### Compliance Standards
* WingSwept operates as a NIST 800-171 compliant government contractor [[4]]. * The firm holds a Registered Practitioner Organization (RPO) designation from CYBER AB for CMMC [[14]]. * The NIST 800-171 framework, which protects 14 control families across 110 controls, is required for organizations working with the DOD, GSA, NASA, and other agencies, and was recently expanded by NIST 800-172 [[1]][[8]]. * Compliance services assist clients in navigating complex regulations including CMMC, GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS [[16]].
#### Core Services
* Security Information & Event Management (SIEM) for real-time threat detection [[10]]. * Managed Detection & Response specifically for Microsoft 365 [[10]]. * Implementation of Zero-Trust Security Frameworks to ensure strict access control [[10]]. * Dark Web Credential Monitoring to prevent account compromises [[10]]. * Guidance through the CMMC certification process to ensure readiness for Department of Defense contract awards [[9]].
#### Contract Vehicles
* The Case Management and Tracking System (CMTS), a Commercial Off-The-Shelf product developed by WingSwept, is available with GSA-schedule pricing to simplify the procurement process [[11]].
### Certifications & Socioeconomic
WingSwept maintains a rigorous security posture validated by yearly audits across multiple critical frameworks, including NIST 800-171, SOC2 Type 2, HIPAA, and FedRAMP [[5]]. The organization is distinguished as the only Managed Service Provider (MSP) offering a FedRAMP® authorized product, specifically operating the only FedRAMP-authorized cloud service platform among MSPs [[1]][[6]]. Furthermore, WingSwept holds the Registered Practitioner Organization (RPO) designation from CYBER AB for CMMC [[2]][[1]]. The firm’s commitment to compliance is demonstrated by its technical expertise and audit schedule:
* WingSwept operates as a NIST 800-171 compliant government contractor [[8]]. * The organization employs 4 Certified Information Systems Security Professionals (CISSPs) and 3 dedicated compliance-focused resources [[3]][[4]]. * Annual FedRAMP audits are conducted by a Certified Third-Party Assessment Organization (3PAO) [[7]]. * The Application Development team undergoes annual assessments for both StateRAMP and FedRAMP® compliance, making WingSwept the only small business IT Managed Services provider to carry that rigorous distinction [[9]][[10]]. * The firm’s experts maintain industry knowledge through certifications such as CISSP and CompTIA Security+ [[14]].
### Recent News & Recognition
WingSwept has consistently secured recognition for its growth, technical proficiency, and workplace culture, with multiple honors anticipated in 2025. The firm’s technical experts maintain industry-leading knowledge through certifications such as CISSP and CompTIA Security+ [[6]], enabling the delivery of comprehensive IT solutions [[7]] and advanced cybersecurity measures [[8]].
#### Recognition Highlights:
* **2025:** Named to the Best Employers in North Carolina list by Business North Carolina [[1]], the Triangle Business Journal Best Places to Work list [[2]], and recipient of the Triangle Business Journal Corporate Leadership Awards [[9]]. * **2022:** Recognized as one of the Great Employers to Work for in North Carolina by Best Companies Group [[10]], included on the Fast 50 list [[12]], and achieved recognition on the Channel Futures MSP 501 list [[11]]. * **Historical Achievements:** The company was included on the Inc. 5000 List in 2022, 2015, and 2012 [[14]][[15]]. In 2019, WingSwept achieved the \#1 Medium-Sized Company ranking in the Triangle Business Journal Best Places to Work awards [[13]] and was recognized by Inc. as one of the Best Workplaces in the United States for the second consecutive year [[18]]. * **Industry Awards:** Earlier recognition includes the 2015 Golden Datto Award for "Community Partner of the Year" [[16]] and the Pinnacle Business Steady Growth and Profitability Award from the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce for the second consecutive year in 2015 [[17]].