Sure Systems
Sure Systems is a Calgary-based managed IT services and cybersecurity firm founded in 2003, specializing in Microsoft 365 management and managed IT for small and mid-market businesses across non-profits, construction, oil & gas, automotive, financial services, and professional services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersCalgary, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Sure Systems does
Sure Systems, founded in 2003 and headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, is a managed IT services and cybersecurity firm serving small and mid-market businesses in the Calgary region. The company delivers a managed IT core (24/7 monitoring, help desk, infrastructure and endpoint management) augmented by co-managed IT, project services, IT consulting, IT procurement, cloud services, and a layered cybersecurity stack (business continuity, backup, compliance). Its Microsoft 365 Management practice is a distinct capability covering Exchange, Teams, SharePoint, Defender, Intune, Copilot, Azure, and Purview, anchored on local, non-outsourced technical staff.
The firm monetizes primarily through recurring monthly managed service subscriptions, with supplementary revenue from co-managed engagements, standalone fixed-price or T&M projects, and two assessment products — a free Microsoft 365 Security Assessment and a paid M365 Reality Check at a fixed US$449-equivalent price point. Additional free AI Readiness and Cyber Risk Score self-assessments serve as structured top-of-funnel lead generation. Go-to-market is direct and sales-led, leveraging a local Calgary field team, a content-marketing engine (blog, monthly newsletter), public customer case studies, Google Reviews, and external credibility from inclusion on the CRN 2026 MSP 500 Pioneer 250 and Channel Futures 2025 MSP 501 lists. No channel partners, resellers, or external funding have been disclosed.
Sure Systems targets six primary verticals — non-profits, construction, oil & gas, automotive, financial services, and professional services — and reports 100+ active customers with multiple documented 10+ year relationships. The firm operates with 11–50 employees under founder/CEO Alex McGillivray, COO David Buzacott (joined 2012), and CIO Can Zhang (joined 2009). It is privately held with no institutional investment, parent company, or subsidiary structure disclosed.
Sure Systems firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sure Systems
- Legal name
- Sure Systems
- Website
- https://suresystems.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Sure Systems is a Calgary-based managed IT services and cybersecurity firm founded in 2003, specializing in Microsoft 365 management and managed IT for small and mid-market businesses across non-profits, construction, oil & gas, automotive, financial services, and professional services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sure Systems industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Managed IT Services
- NAICS
- Computer Facilities Management Services (541513), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Other Computer Related Services (541519), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (5415)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Incident Response, On-Call & Operational Readiness (BPAEAKAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cloud DR, Backup & Business Continuity (BPAEACAJ), Cloud & Infrastructure Support (Servers, Storage, Virtualization) (BPAAACAE), IT Program/Project Management (PMO) & Delivery Assurance (BPAEAAAO), Backup & DR Software Implementation & Managed Platforms (BPAEALAI)
Keywords
Where Sure Systems is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Calgary
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Sure Systems business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Managed IT Services: Recurring monthly managed IT services providing proactive IT maintenance, 24/7 monitoring and alerting, help desk support, infrastructure management, and cybersecurity services. Flexible options from pay-as-you-go to all-inclusive plans.
- Assessment Services: One-time assessment services including M365 Reality Check ($449) providing comprehensive security and configuration analysis with expert consultation.
- Project Services: Time-and-materials or fixed-price IT project engagements for infrastructure upgrades, cloud migrations, cybersecurity remediations, and hardware rollouts. Available standalone without requiring ongoing managed services.
- Co-Managed IT Services: Partnership model where Sure Systems complements internal IT teams with additional bandwidth, tools, and expertise while client retains control.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | M365 Reality Check Assessment - One-time comprehensive analysis |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Microsoft 365 Security Assessment - Free security posture review |
| Subscription | Monthly | Managed IT Services - Flexible monthly plans |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Project Services - Standalone IT project engagements |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Sure Systems product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sure Systems provides managed IT services, cybersecurity, cloud services, and Microsoft 365 management to Calgary-based SMB and mid-market organizations across non-profit, construction, oil & gas, automotive, financial services, and professional services verticals. Services are delivered by a fully local team with no outsourced support, including 24/7 monitoring, help desk, infrastructure management, backup, compliance support, and IT consulting. The portfolio is anchored by recurring managed service subscriptions and supported by standalone assessment, project, and co-managed engagements.
Product overview
Sure Systems is a Calgary-based managed IT services provider offering a portfolio of managed IT, cybersecurity, cloud, and consulting services. The core offering is Managed IT Services (fully managed or co-managed models), which provides 24/7 monitoring, help desk, endpoint management, and infrastructure management. This core is augmented by specialized modules: Cybersecurity Services (including Business Continuity, Backup, and Compliance sub-products), Cloud Services, Project Services, IT Consulting, IT Procurement, and Help Desk. Microsoft 365 Management is a distinct service covering the Microsoft platform stack (Teams, SharePoint, Copilot, Azure). Sure Systems also offers four assessment tools: the free Microsoft 365 Security Assessment, the paid M365 Reality Check Assessment ($449), the free AI Readiness Score self-assessment, and the free Cyber Risk Score self-assessment. All services are available as standalone engagements or bundled under managed services agreements.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Managed IT Services Core managed IT service offering providing proactive IT support, 24/7 monitoring and alerting, help desk, end-user support, infrastructure management, and server monitoring for Calgary businesses, available as fully managed or flexible arrangements.
- Cybersecurity Services Layered cybersecurity solutions including risk assessments, network and endpoint protection, Zero Trust framework implementation, business continuity, backup, and compliance support for Calgary businesses.
- Cloud Services Cloud migration, hybrid cloud setup, and ongoing cloud management services enabling businesses to work anywhere with secure, scalable infrastructure, including Azure configuration support.
- Project Services Standalone IT project delivery covering network builds, cloud migrations, cybersecurity remediations, and large-scale software rollouts, offered independently of Managed Services agreements with transparent scoping.
- Co-Managed IT IT partnership model where Sure Systems complements a client's internal IT team with extra bandwidth, tools, and expertise while the client retains full control of their environment.
- IT Consulting Strategic IT consulting including IT assessments, cloud readiness reviews, compliance preparation, and virtual CIO services to align technology with business goals and budgets.
- IT Procurement Hardware and software procurement services including vendor-agnostic recommendations, lifecycle planning, warranty management, and sourcing of specialized equipment such as rugged field devices.
- Help Desk Calgary-based help desk providing direct access to local technicians for rapid response, endpoint management, and field services support as part of Managed Services.
- Microsoft 365 Management Microsoft 365 administration, optimization, and management services covering licensing, Teams and SharePoint setup, Copilot and AI deployment, and Azure configuration to maximize client value from the Microsoft platform.
- Microsoft 365 Security Assessment Free Microsoft 365 security assessment delivering a comprehensive cloud analysis of M365 tenants (Exchange, Teams, SharePoint, Defender, Intune) mapped to NIST CSF 2.0 and CIS Controls, with an executive summary report and 1-hour expert consultation.
- M365 Reality Check Assessment Paid one-time evidence-based snapshot assessment of a Microsoft 365 environment covering security posture, access and permissions, governance fundamentals, and risk assessment, priced at $449 with a full scan, executive summary, and 1-hour expert review.
- AI Readiness Score (Copilot Readiness Assessment) Free self-assessment scoring 10 dimensions of a client's readiness for Microsoft Copilot deployment, including licensing, identity and MFA security, device management, data classification, permissions hygiene, and governance.
- Cyber Risk Score (Cybersecurity Self-Assessment) Free self-assessment based on the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, evaluating organizations across 5 pillars (Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, Recover) to determine cybersecurity preparedness level.
Quantifiable outcome
- Response times described as impressive and fast, minimizing client downtime
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Sure Systems
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Sure Systems technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration11 records
AI capability6 records
Feature4 records
Sure Systems partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Sure Systems competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Long View Systems: Western-Canadian-headquartered managed IT and cloud services provider with overlapping Microsoft-centric offerings and similar SMB/mid-market client base. Operates across Western Canada and the U.S., making it the closest scaled-up analogue to Sure Systems' Calgary model.
Broad incumbents
- Compugen: Large Canadian IT services and solutions provider offering managed services, cloud, and end-to-end workplace technology. Directly overlaps with Sure Systems' Microsoft 365, cloud, and field-services-style engagements across SMB and mid-market accounts.
- CDW Canada: Diversified technology solutions provider in Canada covering hardware procurement, managed services, and cybersecurity. Competes with Sure Systems for mid-market managed services and procurement-led deals, especially in construction, nonprofit, and O&G verticals.
- Telus Business Solutions (Managed Services): Telus's managed services and security division sells into Canadian SMB and mid-market — including Alberta — with bundled connectivity, cloud, and managed security, directly competing with Sure Systems for end-to-end IT outsourcing deals.
- Microsoft (Direct M365 / Copilot managed offerings): Microsoft's own Microsoft 365, Defender, and Copilot deployment and managed offerings compete with the managed services, security baseline configuration, and Copilot rollout projects Sure Systems sells into its Microsoft-centric client base.
Emerging players
- eSentire: Canadian-headquartered MDR (managed detection and response) specialist with overlap on Sure Systems' cybersecurity, compliance, and 24/7 monitoring services. Targets similar regulated and mid-market use cases with a more security-pure value proposition.
Regional players
- Hyperior: Western-Canadian MSP focused on managed IT, cloud, and cybersecurity for SMB/mid-market. Closely matches Sure Systems on geography, customer size, and Microsoft-centric delivery model.
- Think On (Inc.): Canadian managed cloud and IT services provider specializing in SMB/enterprise cloud, backup, and managed infrastructure. Overlaps Sure Systems on cloud services, DR, and managed infrastructure offerings.
Others
- Calgary-based independent MSPs (e.g., Ampify, Ghostlines, Nexus IT): Comparable small Calgary/Canadian MSPs that compete for the same SMB/mid-market accounts as Sure Systems. Included to acknowledge the highly fragmented local competitive set rather than a single named competitor.
- Kaseya / Datto (managed IT platform vendor): Provider of the RMM, PSA, and cybersecurity platforms Sure Systems' peers and the firm itself likely use internally. Included as an ecosystem enabler — Kaseya's vertical SaaS trends shape the technology and pricing model Sure Systems can deliver.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Sure Systems social profiles
Digital presenceSure Systems compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Sure Systems financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sure Systems leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Sure Systems funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sure Systems M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sure Systems
What does Sure Systems do?
Sure Systems provides managed IT services, cybersecurity, cloud services, and Microsoft 365 management to Calgary-based SMB and mid-market organizations across non-profit, construction, oil & gas, automotive, financial services, and professional services verticals. Services are delivered by a fully local team with no outsourced support, including 24/7 monitoring, help desk, infrastructure management, backup, compliance support, and IT consulting. The portfolio is anchored by recurring managed service subscriptions and supported by standalone assessment, project, and co-managed engagements.
Is Sure Systems a public or private company?
Sure Systems is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Sure Systems founded?
Sure Systems was founded in 2003. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Sure Systems based?
Sure Systems is headquartered in Calgary, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Sure Systems make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Managed IT Services are the primary driver. The others are assessment Services, project Services and co-Managed IT Services.
Who are Sure Systems's main competitors?
Long View Systems is listed as a direct peer. Broad incumbents are Compugen, CDW Canada, Telus Business Solutions (Managed Services) and Microsoft (Direct M365 / Copilot managed offerings). eSentire is listed as an emerging player. Regional players are Hyperior and Think On (Inc.). Others are Calgary-based independent MSPs (e.g., Ampify, Ghostlines, Nexus IT) and Kaseya / Datto (managed IT platform vendor).
Does Sure Systems have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sure Systems.
What industry is Sure Systems in?
Sure Systems's product category is Managed IT Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAEAKAL, Incident Response, On-Call & Operational Readiness, with a secondary code of BPAEACAJ, Cloud DR, Backup & Business Continuity. Its NAICS code is 541513 and its SIC code is 7370.