Partner profile
Guide Star
Enterprise-Level IT & Cybersecurity for SMBs
Founded 2021 · Iron Mountain, MI, USA (105 Kent St, 49801 · Subsidiary or division
Partnership Overview
Who Guide Star is built for
Small and mid-sized businesses — hospitality, construction, MDU/housing, financial institutions, law firms, municipalities, healthcare, manufacturing, education — needing managed cybersecurity (especially phishing/awareness training for insurance compliance) and outsourced IT without internal security staff.
Guide Star, a division of CCI Systems, delivers managed IT and cybersecurity services purpose-built for small and mid-sized businesses. Its flagship Phishing & Security Awareness Training service is fully managed — no new account logins required — with 200+ training videos, continuous simulated phishing campaigns, 'Learning Moments' delivered after a simulated phish click, and automatic scheduled reporting that helps clients qualify for cybersecurity insurance. The broader portfolio spans end-user support, systems administration, network services (DIA, Ethernet, MPLS, SD-WAN, SIP trunking), firewall/NaaS, MDR, vulnerability management, managed Wi-Fi and VoIP, and 24/7 monitoring via its contact center and NOC, including a 'Walk-In Takeover' service for transitions from failed IT arrangements.
- VerifiedSep 20, 2026 · high confidence
- 5solutions across 2 categories
- 5 yrsin business, since 2021
Why teams pick Guide Star
- Fully managed SAT with no new account logins
- Training delivered directly to inbox
- Automatic reporting for cybersecurity insurance qualification
- Continuous (not annual) campaign model
- Division of CCI Systems (large network engineering firm)
- Walk-In Takeover service
Probably not a fit
We haven't published fit caveats for Guide Star yet. Tell us what you run and we'll say whether they fit, or who we'd look at instead.
Get matched insteadRecognition & proof points
- Guide Star operates as a division of CCI Systems (founded 1955, employee-owned/ESOP, ~1,000+ employees) and partners w…Proof point
- Its fully managed phishing/security-awareness program is designed to help clients qualify for cybersecurity insuranceProof point
Notable clients
Vendor-reportedNamed clients not publicly disclosed. Parent CCI Systems serves broadband operators, MSOs, utilities and enterprises across North America Guide Star focuses on SMB/mid-market managed IT and cybersecurity.
Our Solutions
Rubber Duck solutions through Guide Star
From first evaluation to day-to-day operations, Rubber Duck Technology helps you get full value from Guide Star's Cybersecurity & Compliance and Managed IT & Cloud Ops solutions. We fit them to the systems you already run, remove overlap, and give you a clear view of how they perform, so your team can move faster with fewer surprises.
Cybersecurity & Compliance
Security Awareness Training
Guide Star delivers a fully managed phishing and security awareness training program with no new account logins, sending 200+ training videos and 'Learning Moments' directly to employee inboxes after simulated phish clicks.
- Fully managed, no logins Program administration, content, and reporting are handled by Guide Star with training delivered straight to the inbox.
- Cyber-insurance reporting Automatic scheduled reporting helps clients qualify for cybersecurity insurance.
- Continuous campaign model Runs continuously rather than as a one-time annual exercise.
Phishing Simulation
Guide Star runs continuous simulated phishing campaigns and delivers just-in-time 'Learning Moments' training the moment an employee clicks a simulated phish.
- Continuous campaigns Simulations run on an ongoing model instead of point-in-time tests.
- Just-in-time training Learning Moments are delivered immediately after a simulated phish click.
Managed Detection & Response (MDR)
Guide Star offers MDR alongside continuous vulnerability management, bringing enterprise-level threat detection to SMBs at SMB-friendly pricing.
- Enterprise tools for SMBs MDR and vulnerability management are priced for smaller organizations.
- 24/7 monitoring Backed by a contact center and NOC operating around the clock.
Firewall / Network Security
Guide Star provides firewall and Network-as-a-Service offerings together with network monitoring and management, leaning on CCI Systems' network engineering expertise.
- Backed by CCI Systems Network security is grounded in a large network engineering firm's expertise.
- Enterprise tools for SMBs Brings enterprise-grade network security within reach of SMBs.
Managed IT & Cloud Ops
Managed IT Services
Guide Star provides end-user support and systems administration for SMBs, backed by the network engineering scale of parent company CCI Systems, including a 'Walk-In Takeover' service for transitions from failed IT arrangements.
- Enterprise tools for SMBs Delivers enterprise-grade tooling priced for small and mid-sized businesses.
- Walk-In Takeover Smoothly assumes IT operations from prior failed arrangements.
- Backed by CCI Systems Supported by the scale of a large network engineering firm.
How Guide Star delivers
24/7 monitoring with US-based contact center and NOC; help desk/support center; proactive monitoring; (800) 684-2115 support line. (vendor-reported)
Services in detail
- Managed IT ServicesDelivered as a fully managed service with 24/7 monitoring via a contact center and NOC.
- Managed Security ServicesDelivered as fully managed services with 24/7 monitoring and automatic scheduled reporting.
- Security Awareness TrainingFully managed by Guide Star, including program administration, content delivery, and reporting.
- Technical Support / HelpdeskDelivered through a staffed support center backed by a 24/7 contact center.
- 24/7 MonitoringDelivered around the clock through a contact center and network operations center.
Automate/AI, built in · Integrates 3rd-party AI. Managed IT and cybersecurity services leverage third-party security tooling (SIEM/EDR/endpoint) and vendor AI rather than a proprietary AI platform.
Compare
One quote is a price. Three quotes are a market.
We'd price Guide Star next to these. Same scope on one page, sent to every provider, so the numbers actually line up.
Who we'd price next to Guide Star
Ntiva Manage Protect
Managed IT Services for Growing Businesses
Already talking to someone else? Tell us and we'll put them in the mix.
Case Studies
What backs it up
Case studies
No published case studies yet.
Ask us and we'll request a reference call with Guide Star.
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Technology that doesn't sink under pressure
Talk it through before you sign.
Send us what you run today. We'll price Guide Star against two alternatives and tell you which one we'd pick, and why.