AE Business Solutions

What AE Business Solutions does

AE Business Solutions is a privately held IT systems integration and consulting firm headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, founded in 1949 (originally as Lettercraft Press) and operating for 76 years. The company serves enterprise and mid-market organizations across the Midwest — with offices in Madison, Milwaukee, Appleton, Wausau, and Minneapolis — delivering solutions across seven core practice areas: Security, Cloud & DevOps, Data Science, Infrastructure, Network, Talent Acquisition, and Professional Services. Its customer base spans financial services, healthcare, education, industrial, government, and insurance verticals, with long-tenured clients including Cuna Mutual Group, State of Wisconsin, American Family Insurance, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

The firm's core technology proposition is a curated, vendor-aligned integrator model rather than a proprietary platform play. AE partners at top tiers with Nutanix (Premier Partner in North America, 2025), Rubrik (Americas Regional Channel Partner of the Year, 2026), Palo Alto Networks, Okta, Tanium, AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Snowflake, HashiCorp, Arista, Juniper, and Aruba, among others, and uses these to design and operate hybrid cloud, security, networking, and data science environments. Delivery occurs through three professional services models — OneAE (integrated), Resident Engineer, and Project Services — backed by a Talent Acquisition Center of Excellence. AE Capital provides in-house financing (sales leaseback, deferred payment, lease restructuring) for technology purchases from $10K to $10MM+ over 24-60 month terms.

Revenue is generated primarily through professional services engagements, technology product resale via vendor partnerships, IT talent acquisition/staffing, and AE Capital financing. GTM is enterprise field sales with district-based coverage (Central, East, Public Sector), augmented by thought-leadership events such as the Guidepost Technology Conference and DEEP608 cybersecurity conference. The company is management-owned (no identified PE/VC), led by Chairman Rick Gordon and President & CEO John Harris, with CRO Matt Blanchard overseeing revenue operations. The firm is positioning to layer AI-driven capabilities (anomaly detection, agentic IT operations, FinOps, predictive scaling) onto its integration services, while the underlying business remains a regional, services-led integrator.

Name

AE Business Solutions

Legal name

AE Business Solutions

Website

https://aebs.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

AE Business Solutions is a privately held IT systems integration and consulting firm serving enterprise and mid-market organizations across the Midwest with security, cloud, infrastructure, networking, data science, talent acquisition, and professional services practices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

IT Systems Integration & Consulting

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Computer Systems Design Services (541512), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Strategy & IT Advisory (BPAEAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Enterprise Integration, iPaaS & Middleware Services (API/EDI) (BPAEAGAH), Enterprise Architecture & Technology Roadmapping (BPAEAAAC), IT Asset Lifecycle Services (Procure-to-Retire) (BPAEAOAF)

Keywords

• IT systems integration
• Enterprise security consulting
• Hybrid cloud infrastructure
• IT talent acquisition
• Data science consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Madison

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Professional Services: IT consulting and systems integration services delivered through project-based engagements, resident engineer placements, and ongoing professional services. Includes short-term project work and long-term solutions supporting client IT environments.
2. Talent Acquisition / Staffing: IT-focused recruitment and staffing services placing technology professionals with client organizations. Serves both clients seeking IT talent and IT professionals seeking career opportunities.
3. AE Capital Financing: Cost-effective financing solutions for technology equipment, software, and services including sales leaseback, deferred payment plans, lease restructuring, and Trade-It programs. Finance sizes range from $10k to over $10MM.
4. Technology Product Sales: Sales and integration of technology products through vendor partnerships including security, cloud, infrastructure, and networking solutions. Revenue generated from product resale alongside professional services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

AE Business Solutions is an IT systems integration and consulting firm that designs, deploys, and manages security, cloud, infrastructure, networking, data science, and IT talent solutions for enterprise and mid-market organizations across the Midwest. The company combines professional services delivery models (OneAE, Resident Engineer, Project Services) with a curated vendor portfolio and its own AE Capital financing program to sell and integrate third-party technology products.

Product overview

AE Business Solutions is an IT systems integration and consulting firm offering a portfolio of seven core practice areas: Security Solutions, Cloud & DevOps, Data Science, Infrastructure, Network, Talent Acquisition, and Professional Services. The company also offers AE Capital Financing as an add-on service for technology purchases. The core practices operate as interconnected service lines that leverage shared Centers of Excellence and vendor partnerships to deliver comprehensive IT solutions. Professional Services includes OneAE (integrated services model), Resident Engineer Services, and Project Services, which serve as delivery mechanisms across all other practice areas. The company emphasizes a 'Client-First Mentality' approach with meticulously vetted vendor partnerships rather than a tech-agnostic stance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Security Solutions Comprehensive security program development, operations, and solutions for enterprise organizations across financial, medical, academic, and industrial sectors, including network security, application security, cloud security, identity & access management, remote workforce solutions, SOC automation, and security validation via attack simulation and attack surface management.
• Cloud & DevOps Security-conscious cloud architecture and platforming for organizations modernizing with cloud-native architectures. Includes public and hybrid cloud engineering, CNAPP/CSPM/CWPP cloud security, infrastructure-as-code, CI/CD pipeline development, and automation delivered by certified AWS, Azure, and GCP architects and engineers.
• Data Science Data-driven business value services that help clients assess, select, implement, and manage scalable data science solutions. Includes certified data architects and engineers delivering implementation assistance and ongoing support across the data journey, leveraging partners such as Snowflake, Tableau, Alteryx, and Dataiku.
• Infrastructure Hybrid cloud infrastructure solutions for deployment, protection, and maintenance, including architecture and design, deployment services, solution integration, automation and orchestration, ransomware mitigation, migration services, and ongoing support.
• Network Solutions Enterprise networking solutions for building mobile, resilient networks. Services include network infrastructure, data center networking, campus wired and wireless, load balancing/ADC, NetOps, SD-WAN, cloud networking, and DDI (DNS/DHCP/IPAM).
• Talent Acquisition IT talent recruitment services connecting clients with qualified technology professionals, with a focus on candidates not actively pursued by other staffing firms. Includes social and psychological candidate screening, retention strategy, and recruiter specialization in passive IT candidates.
• Professional Services Flexible professional services delivered through three models: OneAE (full-time integrated services with Service Delivery Manager), Resident Engineer Services (3-6 month project engagements), and Project Services (project-specific engagements led by certified engineers, solution architects, and project managers).
• AE Capital Financing Cost-effective, customized financing solutions for technology equipment, software, and services, including sales leaseback, deferred payment plans, lease restructuring, and Trade-It programs. Finance sizes range from $10k to over $10MM with 24, 36, 48, or 60 month terms and end-of-lease return, purchase, or refresh options.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 76 years in business serving enterprise clients across the Midwest

Named customers8 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration52 records

AI capability8 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Palo Alto NetworkscoreTechnology or IntegrationSecurity vendor partner providing network security, cloud security, and zero trust solutions. Listed as a key vendor partner across the Security and Cloud & DevOps practice areas.
• NutanixcoreTechnology or IntegrationHyperconverged infrastructure partner. AE Business Solutions named Nutanix Premier Partner in North America, with expertise across HCI, cloud integration, security, and automation.
• RubrikcoreTechnology or IntegrationData protection and cyber resilience partner. AE Business Solutions won Rubrik's 2026 Global Partner Award for Americas Regional Channel Partner of the Year.
• OktacoreTechnology or IntegrationIdentity and access management vendor partner, supporting cloud security and zero trust solutions.
• TaniumcoreTechnology or IntegrationSecurity and endpoint management vendor partner providing security operations and endpoint protection capabilities.
• Juniper NetworkscoreTechnology or IntegrationNetworking vendor partner supporting campus wired and wireless, data center networking, and SD-WAN solutions.
• HPE ArubacoreTechnology or IntegrationNetworking vendor partner providing campus wired and wireless networking solutions.
• Amazon Web ServicescoreTechnology or IntegrationPublic cloud platform partner with certified architects and engineers supporting cloud-native application development and cloud infrastructure deployments.
• Microsoft AzurecoreTechnology or IntegrationPublic cloud platform partner with certified architects and engineers supporting Azure-based cloud environments and hybrid cloud solutions.
• Google CloudcoreTechnology or IntegrationPublic cloud platform partner with certified architects and engineers for GCP-based cloud-native architectures.
• HashiCorpcoreTechnology or IntegrationInfrastructure-as-Code and secrets management partner supporting IaC implementations and cloud-native security.
• SnowflakecoreTechnology or IntegrationData cloud platform partner supporting data engineering, analytics, and data science solutions.
• AlteryxsupportingTechnology or IntegrationData analytics automation partner supporting data science and analytics solutions.
• TableaucoreTechnology or IntegrationData visualization partner with documented case study success (Cuna Mutual Group Tableau Journey).
• DataikusupportingTechnology or IntegrationEnterprise data science platform partner supporting scalable data science implementations.
• Pure StoragesupportingTechnology or IntegrationModern data storage vendor partner supporting hybrid cloud infrastructure deployments.
• ZertosupportingTechnology or IntegrationData protection and ransomware resilience partner supporting hybrid cloud environments.
• Arista NetworkscoreTechnology or IntegrationData center networking partner supporting modern enterprise network architectures.
• CloudflarecoreTechnology or IntegrationNetwork security and cloud networking partner supporting cloud security, SD-WAN, and networking solutions.
• NetskopesupportingTechnology or IntegrationSecure access service edge (SASE) partner supporting cloud security and zero trust implementations.
• Cato NetworkssupportingTechnology or IntegrationSASE and network security partner supporting SD-WAN and cloud networking solutions.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Marco Technologies: Midwest-headquartered IT solutions provider offering managed services, cloud, security, and unified communications to mid-market and enterprise customers; competes head-to-head with AEBS in Wisconsin and Minnesota regional deals.
• Slalom: Mid-market focused technology consulting firm delivering cloud, security, data, and enterprise transformation services; competes with AEBS on cloud, security, and data science engagements in the Midwest.
• Perficient: Digital transformation and enterprise consulting firm with deep cloud, data, and security practices; competes with AEBS for enterprise modernization and integration engagements.
• TEKsystems: Large IT staffing and services firm placing engineers, consultants, and developers with enterprise and mid-market clients; overlaps directly with AEBS Talent Acquisition Center of Excellence and professional services offerings.
• West Monroe Partners: Mid-market focused management and technology consulting firm with offices across the U.S.; competes with AEBS on enterprise transformation, cloud, and security projects for Midwest-headquartered clients.
• Netrix Global: Mid-market IT solutions and managed services provider with strong security and cloud practices across the Midwest and nationally; competes with AEBS in the same customer segments and vendor ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• CDW Corporation: National IT solutions and services provider with broad hardware, software, and integrated services; competes with AEBS on enterprise deals requiring multi-region delivery and scale that AEBS cannot match.
• Insight Enterprises: Global IT solutions integrator covering enterprise hardware, software, cloud, and services; overlaps with AEBS's network, infrastructure, and cloud practices at the upper end of the mid-market segment.
• SHI International: Large IT solutions provider combining software, hardware, and professional services across security, cloud, networking, and data center; competes with AEBS on enterprise IT procurement and integration work.
• Presidio: National IT solutions integrator delivering cloud, security, networking, and managed services; competes with AEBS on enterprise infrastructure, security, and hybrid cloud engagements.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ae-business-solutions
• Xx.com/AEBusinessSolut

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AE Business Solutions