What SMS Tech Solution does

SMS Tech Solutions is a privately held, woman-founded technology reseller and value-added reseller (VAR) headquartered in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Founded in 2003-2004 by Sally Shorb, the company aggregates and resells hardware, software, classroom management, and cybersecurity products from leading vendors including Microsoft, Adobe, Google, Lenovo, HP, Dell, Cisco, Trend Micro, Fortinet, Sophos, and several others. It operates as an Adobe Gold Reseller and Microsoft partner, distributing volume licenses through programs such as Microsoft EES, OVS-ES, Select Plus for Academic, and Adobe Value Incentive Plan (VIP). The firm does not develop proprietary technology; its offering is a curated multi-vendor catalog wrapped around licensing expertise, deployment services, and E-Rate consulting.

The company's primary customer segment is K-12 education, supported by offerings such as Chromebooks, Google Workspace for Education, Adobe Creative Cloud K12 site and Named User licenses, and GoGuardian classroom management. Secondary segments include small and medium businesses, government entities, and nonprofit organizations. Distribution is sales-led through direct phone/email outreach, quote-request forms, and an NCPA cooperative purchasing partnership, reaching active clients across 40 U.S. states. Revenue is generated through hardware margins, recurring subscription licensing, and professional services including deployment, installation, configuration, training, asset tagging, and E-Rate assistance, alongside leasing options.

The business recently transitioned leadership when founder Sally Shorb retired in 2024 and was succeeded by President Edward Metz, who brings three decades of corporate experience spanning investment banking, product management, strategic planning, and CFO roles. With a headcount of 1-10 employees, SMS Tech Solutions operates as a lean reseller business with nationwide distribution reach and a strong concentration in the U.S. K-12 procurement channel.

Name

SMS Tech Solution

Legal name

SMS Tech Solutions

Website

https://smstechsolutions.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SMS Tech Solutions is a privately held technology reseller (VAR) headquartered in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, serving K-12 schools, SMBs, government, and nonprofits across 40 U.S. states. As an Adobe Gold Reseller and Microsoft partner, it distributes hardware, software licensing, classroom management, and cybersecurity solutions from leading vendors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chapel Hill

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales: SMS Tech Solutions generates revenue through the sale of computer hardware including Chromebooks, laptops, desktops, servers, networking equipment, projectors, displays, and accessories from brands such as Lenovo, HP, Dell, Acer, ASUS, Samsung, Cisco, and Epson.
2. Software Licensing - Adobe: Revenue from Adobe software licensing including Creative Cloud K12 Site Licenses at $25 per device (annual term) or $5 per named user (annual term), with minimum purchase requirements of 100-2500 licenses depending on deployment type.
3. Software Licensing - Microsoft: Revenue from Microsoft licensing programs including Microsoft 365, Office 365 Education, and Enrollment for Education Solutions (EES) subscription licensing, with options for both subscription and perpetual licensing models.
4. Professional Services: Additional revenue streams include deployment services, installation, configuration, planning, training, tagging and etching, white glove services, assessment, and E-Rate assistance services.
5. Classroom Management Software: Revenue from classroom management and student safety software including GoGuardian, Securly, Blocksi, Lightspeed, and other educational technology solutions.
6. Cybersecurity Solutions: Revenue from endpoint protection, EDR, XDR, and MDR solutions including products from Malwarebytes, VMware Carbon Black, Bitdefender, Fortinet, ESET, Sophos, and Trend Micro.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

SMS Tech Solutions is a value-added reseller that aggregates and distributes third-party hardware, software, and cybersecurity products to K-12 schools, businesses, government, and nonprofit organizations across approximately 40 U.S. states. It sells devices such as Chromebooks, laptops, networking gear, projectors, and charging carts alongside software licenses for Microsoft 365, Adobe Creative Cloud, Adobe Sign, and Google Workspace for Education, plus classroom management and cybersecurity platforms. The company complements resale with professional services including deployment, installation, configuration, training, asset tagging/etching, E-Rate consulting, and leasing support.

Product overview

SMS Tech Solution is a technology solutions reseller and provider serving schools, businesses, and organizations across 40 states. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of technology products and services including: hardware devices (Chromebooks, laptops, desktops, servers, networking equipment, projectors, displays, and accessories from brands like HP, Dell, Lenovo, Acer, ASUS, Samsung, Epson, Cisco, and more); software licenses and subscriptions (Microsoft 365, Office 365 Education, Adobe Creative Cloud, Adobe Sign, Google Workspace for Education with multiple tiers including Education Fundamentals, Teaching & Learning Upgrade, Education Standard, and Education Plus); classroom management and student safety platforms (GoGuardian Admin, Teacher, and Beacon; Securly; Blocksi; Lightspeed; Faronics; NetOp; NetSupport); cybersecurity solutions (Endpoint Detection and Response, Extended Detection and Response, and Managed Detection and Response from vendors including Malwarebytes, VMware Carbon Black, Bitdefender, Fortinet, ESET, Sophos, Trend Micro, and others); and professional services (assessment, deployment, installation, configuration, planning, tagging/etching, training, white glove services, E-Rate support, and leasing options). The company operates as an Adobe Gold Reseller and Microsoft partner, offering volume licensing through programs like EES, OVS-ES, and VIP. Founded in 2003 by Sally Shorb, the company brings over 20+ years of experience in product and licensing knowledge.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Microsoft 365 and Office 365 Education Microsoft-hosted cloud-based productivity suite combining Office desktop applications, business-class email, shared calendars, instant messaging, video conferencing, and file sharing. Offered to schools and businesses with education plans available for students, faculty, and staff, available through subscription and perpetual licensing including OVS-ES Program and Enrollment for Education Solutions (EES).
• Adobe Creative Cloud Adobe's collection of 20+ industry-standard applications for design, photography, video, and web, offered to K-12 schools (via Shared Device or Named User K-12 Site Licenses) and enterprises through the Adobe Value Incentive Plan (VIP) with up to 80% off retail pricing for education customers.
• Adobe Sign Adobe Document Cloud electronic signature solution that transforms document processes into end-to-end digital experiences across devices at any scale.
• Google Workspace for Education Integrated productivity and collaboration suite for schools and businesses, including Docs, Sheets, Slides, Sites, Classroom, Meet, Chat, and Gmail. Available in Education Fundamentals, Teaching and Learning Upgrade, Education Standard, and Education Plus editions, FERPA, COPPA, and GDPR compliant.
• GoGuardian Digital learning environment platform for K-12 schools that combines multi-layered content filtering (Admin), classroom management (Teacher), and student safety monitoring for suicide and self-harm risk (Beacon) to help educators keep students safe, on-task, and engaged on any device, browser, or operating system.
• Securly Complete student safety, wellness, and engagement platform offering online and campus safety filtering, student wellness monitoring, technology management, and budget decision tools for K-12 schools.
• Blocksi All-in-one K-12 suite combining content filtering, student safety, and classroom management with AI-powered threat detection, adaptive content filtering, and customized classroom management.
• Computing Devices (Chromebooks and Laptops) Notebook computers and Chromebooks from top brands including Lenovo, HP, Dell, Acer, ASUS, and Samsung for education and business customers, covering rugged, 2-in-1, and AI-capable models.
• Networking Equipment Networking solutions including cloud-managed outdoor Wi-Fi 6E access points (Cisco Catalyst 9163E), campus-wide WiFi networks, and wired systems from Cisco and other leading networking vendors.
• Projectors and Displays Display technology for classrooms and boardrooms including Epson PowerLite 770F full HD 3LCD lamp-free projectors with 1080p resolution and 4,100-lumen brightness, plus large format displays.
• Charging Carts and Accessories Smart charging carts (such as Rise K12 30-Unit Smart Charging Cart), display mounts, power supplies, keyboard covers, and other accessories compatible with Chromebooks, Apple products, and tablets.
• Cybersecurity Solutions (EDR, XDR, MDR) Endpoint, extended, and managed detection and response solutions from vendors including Malwarebytes, VMware Carbon Black, Bitdefender, Fortinet, ESET, Sophos, Trend Micro, Avast/AVG, Barracuda, McAfee, Panda, Symantec, Vipre, WatchGuard, Webroot, and Kaspersky, covering endpoint, network, email, and cloud security.
• Professional Services Technology assessment, planning, deployment, installation, configuration, asset tagging and etching, training, and white glove services to support schools and businesses in implementing software and hardware solutions.
• Volume Licensing Services Volume license pricing and management for Microsoft, Adobe, and security products, including Microsoft's OVS-ES Program, EES, Select Plus for Academic, and Open License for Academic programs.
• E-Rate Services E-Rate consulting and support services that help educational institutions navigate the federal E-Rate funding program for connectivity and technology purchases.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 80% off retail pricing for Adobe products for education customers
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration24 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AdobecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSMS Tech Solutions is an Adobe Gold Reseller specializing in Adobe Creative Cloud for education. They offer K-12 site licenses including device licenses ($25/user annually) and named user licenses ($5/user annually) with minimum purchase requirements ranging from 100-2500 licenses depending on deployment type.
• MicrosoftcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSMS Tech Solutions is a Microsoft partner offering Microsoft 365, Office 365 Education, and Enrollment for Education Solutions (EES) subscription licensing programs. They provide both subscription and perpetual licensing options for education customers.
• GooglecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSMS Tech Solutions offers Google Workspace for Education products including Education Fundamentals, Teaching and Learning Upgrade, Education Standard, and Education Plus editions. They also provide Google Management Licenses and Google Enterprise solutions.
• GoGuardiancoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSMS Tech Solutions offers GoGuardian products including GoGuardian (digital learning environments), GoGuardian Beacon (student safety/mental health monitoring), GoGuardian Teacher (classroom management), and GoGuardian Admin (content filtering).
• LenovocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSMS Tech Solutions is a Lenovo partner offering Chromebooks including Lenovo 300e Yoga 4th Generation, Lenovo 100e Chromebook 2nd Gen variants, and other Lenovo devices for education and business.
• HPcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSMS Tech Solutions offers HP devices including HP Fortis G1m 11 inch Chromebook with MediaTek Kompanio 520 Processor and rugged durability features.
• DellcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSMS Tech Solutions offers Dell devices including Dell Pro 16 PC16250 16-inch Notebook with Intel Core Ultra i5 processor and AI capabilities.
• CiscocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSMS Tech Solutions offers Cisco networking products including Cisco Catalyst 9163E outdoor Wi-Fi 6E cloud-managed wireless access point for campus-wide WiFi networks.
• SecurlycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSMS Tech Solutions offers Securly platform providing complete student safety, student wellness, and student engagement solutions including content filtering, behavior monitoring, and technology management.
• MalwarebytesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEndpoint protection and EDR solution provider partnership offering traditional antivirus measures and advanced threat detection capabilities.
• VMware Carbon BlackminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAdvanced endpoint protection and EDR solution providing threat detection and response capabilities for devices connected to networks.
• BitdefenderminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCybersecurity solution provider offering endpoint protection, EDR, and XDR capabilities for organizations of all sizes.
• FortinetminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEnterprise cybersecurity provider offering firewall, network security, and unified threat management solutions.
• SophosminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCybersecurity provider offering endpoint protection, EDR, XDR, and MDR solutions with expert threat monitoring services.
• Trend MicrominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGold partner for Trend Micro cybersecurity solutions including endpoint protection, network security, and cloud security offerings.
• National Cooperative Purchasing Association (NCPA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerNCPA partnership enables SMS Tech Solutions to serve public sector and education customers through cooperative purchasing contracts, providing access to technology solutions at negotiated pricing.
• EpsonminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProjector and display solutions provider including PowerLite 770F with 3LCD lamp-free technology and Full 1080p resolution.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• CDW Corporation: CDW is a large multi-billion-dollar IT VAR selling hardware, software, and services to K-12, higher ed, government, and corporate customers. Comparable in product categories (Lenovo, HP, Dell, Cisco, Microsoft, Adobe, Google) and K-12/government focus, but operates at vastly greater scale and breadth.
• SHI International: SHI is a major enterprise IT solutions provider and VAR with a large public-sector and education practice, carrying the same Microsoft, Adobe, Google, and device vendor lines. Comparable business model and customer base, but with deeper enterprise bench and global footprint.
• Insight Enterprises: Insight is a global IT solutions and VAR serving enterprise, public sector, and education with hardware, software, and services. Comparable vendor portfolio and K-12/government coverage, but at enterprise scale.
• Zones Inc. Zones is an IT solutions provider serving enterprise, public sector, and education with hardware, software, and services. Comparable vendor portfolio, though less education-specialized than SMS Tech.
• TD SYNNEX: TD SYNNEX is a major IT distributor and solutions aggregator that supports thousands of VARs and resellers — including many in the K-12 channel. Comparable vendor breadth and channel position, but operating as a wholesaler/distributor rather than an end-customer reseller.

Direct peers

• Carahsoft Technology Corp. Carahsoft is the largest government IT VAR in the US, with a particularly strong K-12 and state/local government focus and deep vendor partnerships including Adobe, Google, and Microsoft. Highly comparable in the public-sector / education cooperative-purchasing motion (similar in spirit to SMS Tech's NCPA partnership).
• Connection (Connection Public Sector): Connection is a mid-size IT VAR with a dedicated Connection Public Sector division that resells Microsoft, Adobe, Cisco, Dell, HP, and Lenovo to K-12, higher ed, and government. Directly comparable in customer segment, vendor portfolio, and volume-licensing motion.
• Trox Communication: Trox is a Midwest US-based education-focused IT VAR specializing in Chromebooks, classroom management, networking, and volume software licensing for K-12. Direct K-12 specialist peer with similar vendor mix and school-district procurement motion.
• Howard Technology Solutions: Howard Technology Solutions is a US-based IT VAR with a strong K-12 and education focus, reselling HP, Lenovo, Dell, Microsoft, Adobe, and networking products to schools and districts. Direct K-12 specialist peer with very similar product portfolio and customer base.

Others

• CDW Education / CDW-G: CDW-G is the public-sector division of CDW focused on K-12, higher ed, and government. Most direct K-12 motion peer in the industry given the depth of education-specific procurement, E-Rate, and volume licensing capabilities.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/smstechtoday

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 SMS Tech Solution