Abe Garcia – Founder and Principal Consultant

Abe  is an IT professional with over 30 years of hands-on, strategic, and real-world experience. His career began at age 12 in the days of MS-DOS, Lotus 1-2-3, and floppy disks you could frisbee. By 16, he was already working part-time for his computer instructor — and he’s been keeping systems online, users calm, and fires out (metaphorical mostly) ever since.

He’s held roles ranging from desktop publishing and systems manager for a daily newspaper to Apple Store repair tech (earning all Apple repair certifications), Systems Administrator and most recently, Director of IT at a $50M, 200-employee printing and fulfillment company — a position he held for 15 of his 20 years there.

Abe led end-to-end modernization of the company’s tech stack multiple times over, standardizing software images, rolling out enterprise-wide Windows upgrades (XP through 11, NT to 2022), and implemented a lease-to-own model multiple times to refresh over 200 desktops, servers and enterprise storage. He built a robust datacenter infrastructure anchored by VMware ESXi (from version 2 through Broadcom-era v8), migrated to a hybrid cloud setup with AWS, and maintained over 100 virtual servers and VDI.

He designed and implemented disaster recovery systems using Veeam backups with tape and cloud replication, a remote recovery site, multi-building network topologies, and generator-backed power for the company’s data centers. He ensured business continuity through major crises such as the 2008 recession—often keeping aging equipment running well past its expected retirement date—and again during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the latter, he replaced legacy Citrix systems with a secure, scalable RDP Gateway environment protected by DUO two-factor authentication, enabling company-wide remote work, all while managing a critical corporate acquisition, onboarding new team members, and providing them with remote access and support. 

Abe’s Exchange experience runs deep — from version 5.5 to 2016 — culminating in a hybrid Exchange/O365 deployment that paved the way for a seamless transition to Microsoft 365 email. His cybersecurity work includes deploying AI-driven threat detection and response via Darktrace, including Antigena autonomous response and email protection. He has also managed endpoint security transitions from McAfee, Sophos, and into Trend Micro’s Apex One and Vision One platforms.

He played a key role in security improvements that helped the company meet the demands of pharma, banking, and accounting clients — managing audits and infrastructure hardening, particularly during the acquisition and through COVID. As the company matured, he collaborated closely with a dedicated security officer to support ongoing efforts toward SOC2 compliance.

Abe balances modernization with operational continuity. He successfully maintained complex legacy systems — including the long-running EFI-PSI ERP  — alongside modern infrastructure, virtualization, and evolving security frameworks. This balancing act ensured stability for the business while introducing newer technologies to support future growth.

In short: Abe approaches IT with a focus on steady progress, security and high availability, keeping systems reliable and aligned with business goals — no drama, just keeping the wheels turning.

In addition to his real-world experience, Abe holds a degree in Web Development and has completed extensive technical training in networking, server infrastructure, virtualization, security, and cloud technologies. His skill set spans a wide range of tools and platforms, including Cisco and Ubiquiti networking, HP/HPE servers, AXIS cameras and access control systems, multiple VoIP systems, Crystal Reports, SQL Server administration and migrations, FileMaker development and administration, and hands-on AV system integration, in addition to back-end setup and administration of industry specific systems such as Veracore, Prinergy, Quadient, PrintIQ, BCC, Metalogix, Process Shipper, Metrix, SageFAS, XMPie and others.

When you need someone to modernize legacy infrastructure, lead complex rollouts, stabilize operations, and keep a lean team functioning like a much larger one — Abe is your guy. He thrives in high-complexity, fast-paced environments, aligning technology with business goals while keeping systems running, users productive, and auditors happy.

 Honorary Titles: Uptime Architect. Cool Under Pressure. Zen During Audit Storms.