Since 2005, Quercus IT has provided information technology services for small and medium sized businesses. Growing and adapting to changing needs and times, Quercus IT has evolved to provide IT support (managed IT services), including protecting clients from increasingly sophisticated cyber threats, while never losing sight of the values and focus that have empowered the company for 20 years.
Andrew Bryson, president, launched Quercus IT with a vision of outstanding client service.
“I was looking for a new challenge,” he says. “I wanted to surround myself with a team of business and technology experts that enjoyed learning and delivering ‘tech’ to clients.”
After becoming an owner, he admits he wasn’t prepared for all the complexities that come with running a business, but his heart and vision were in the right place: outstanding service, fair prices and a fully engaged team.
He launched Quercus IT and went on a steep learning curve.
“Okay, so it is very challenging to staff an engaged team,” he recalls with a laugh as he notes some of his earlier ideas about company ownership were a little immature. “Plus, we had to shift the business model. We started as a software development company.”
That model worked very well, initially. Quercus IT secured a great reputation for collaborative projects based around Microsoft technology. Then, in 2014, the oil crash paused the need for this type of service among Quercus IT’s core client base.
So, they pivoted.
“We had already started to provide some managed IT services for clients,” says Bryson. “So, we shifted and moved ahead full-time with the new business model.”
Two of Bryson’s and Quercus’ strengths have always been vision and action. After going into managed IT full-time, they continued to adapt to industry needs and trends, going from a pay-as-you-go model to fixed monthly fees and being selective in choosing clients.
“It’s very rare that we lose clients,” Bryson explains. “We will, however, excuse ourselves from working with clients who are not participating in the relationship and discussions required to have a stable and secure operating environment.
“Cyber threats have not only increased over the past five years but have also become significantly more sophisticated. Today, we rely on advanced tools, services and 24/7 monitoring to ensure client data remains secure. However, technology alone isn’t enough. Social engineering attacks, like phishing emails or fraudulent calls, require a human defense: education. That’s why we’ve adopted a platform offering quick, weekly training sessions – just 2-3 minutes – to keep teams informed about the latest threats and how to respond. It’s a simple yet powerful way to lower risk and build a culture of cybersecurity awareness.
“We are passionate about the success of our clients and choose to align with those who are also passionate about ours.”
For Quercus IT, helping clients reach that success is rooted in providing, “Expertly managed IT. We compare hundreds of best practices, customize and align those practices with the environment of our clients and we ensure compliance. You typically get this level of service in large companies with huge IT departments and multiple disciplinary teams. You simply can’t have just one person knowing what needs to be done for IT with today’s protocols. We provide this level of service for small to medium sized businesses. We are their IT department. We work with you as part of your team.”
With the standards and procedures Quercus IT creates, including leveraging progressive tools like automation, they can quickly access their clients’ environments, remediate issues and complete tasks faster than many traditional competitor models.
Bryson smiles, “Technology has been my lifelong passion. I still love coding, integrating and configuring, while also operating at a strategic level. At Quercus IT, our ability to manage a large number of clients and endpoints with a lean team speaks volumes about our capability. In the managed IT space, particularly in help desk services, success isn’t defined by the size of the team, but by the results we deliver.”
Remaining progressive and embracing the rapidly changing digital landscape is another way Quercus IT ensures clients’ success.
“Our company is actively taking steps to leverage AI safely and securely within our operations. Recently, we earned certification to deliver a service that helps our clients harness the power of AI effectively. With the right guidance, any organization can adopt AI safely—and in today’s competitive landscape, embracing AI isn’t optional. If you don’t, your competitors will,” Bryson explains.
He knows businesses have a great deal of choice when it comes to partnering with a managed IT company. He also knows that it takes a phenomenal amount of trust, transparency and vulnerability for company owners to hand over the digital backbone of their business to an outside source.
“Not all managed IT providers are created equally,” Bryson cautions. “Many enter the industry chasing financial opportunities, leveraging their extroversion and social skills to sell. However, once clients are on board, a lack of experience or technical expertise often becomes apparent. This not only damages the reputation of the industry but also erodes trust.”
Quercus IT has worked diligently for years to overcome this industry stigma, build trust and show why they are a reliable, consistent partner. It’s why the company has earned awards for rapid growth.
He is proud of his team for embracing a fundamental value together – giving back. Quercus IT supports non-profits such as community and club sports, the Zebra Child Youth & Advocacy Centre, Alberta Diabetes Foundation, AdaptAbilities, and The Canadian Association for Williams Syndrome.
From an idea to a startup, from a startup to a corporation, from the present to far into the future, Quercus IT sets a new standard and a high bar for managed IT companies. Rooted in trust and invested in the success of each client, the team continues to grow and evolve while providing the services today’s companies need.
Bryson concludes, “Quercus was built on the foundation of trust, relationships and a vision for longevity – just like the oak tree it’s named after. We’re deeply grateful to our clients, family and team, whose support and dedication have been instrumental in our growth and success. Thank you for being part of our journey.”
2-15015 123 Ave NW
Edmonton, Alberta T5V 1J7
(780) 409-8180
