Shauli Zacks
Published on: September 15, 2025
SafetyDetectives recently sat down with John Ahlberg, CEO and Founder of Waident Technology Solutions, to discuss his journey from CIO to entrepreneur and what sets Waident apart in the crowded IT services space. Over 21 years ago, John recognized a gap in the market for managed services that put people first instead of focusing solely on technology. That vision has grown into a company known for its resilient, people-centric approach to IT, blending strategy, security, cloud, and hands-on support into a seamless experience for clients. In our conversation, John shared what inspired him to launch Waident, how his team helps small and mid-sized businesses tackle today’s biggest cybersecurity challenges, and why documentation and resilience remain central to their success.
Can you start by telling us a bit about your background and what led you to start Waident Technology Solutions?
I started Waident Technology Solutions 21 years ago because I saw a need for managed services. Back then, managed services weren’t really a thing. My background was as CIO for a commercial real estate investment bank. I also have a business degree, so while I’ve always been technical, my focus has been on people, process, and culture.
When I left that company, someone approached me asking if I could find a third-party IT firm for them since they were growing and didn’t want to build an internal IT team. I looked around but couldn’t find a good fit. The prevailing model was: “pay us a monthly fee and Bob comes to your office one day a week.” That felt reactive, not strategic — and very technology-focused instead of people-focused.
So, I went back to that company and said, “What if I started my own company and you hired me?” They said yes. That’s how Waident was born.
For our readers who aren’t familiar with Waident Technology Solutions, what are some of your flagship services that make you stand out?
In our industry, everyone handles technology in some form. We all “do the same thing.” What makes us different is our “people-first” approach.
We don’t walk in and demand that clients switch all their technology or upgrade everything. We design around their reality. If a user needs help, we’re there, no matter what. One time, a new hire called us in their first week, not about tech, but about a bathroom issue. We said, “We don’t fix bathrooms, but no problem, we’ll get your office manager to handle it.” It’s about helping people, period.
We divide what we do into five main areas:
- Help Desk – high-touch, responsive support for whatever users need.
- Core Technology – managing and monitoring the “blinking lights in the closet”: servers, networks, or even specialized manufacturing equipment connected to the network.
- Strategy – We act as technology guidance counselors, ensuring IT aligns with business goals.
- Security – customizable security, from fully managed SOC 2- and NIST-aligned programs to tailored solutions based on cyber insurance requirements.
- Cloud – our private cloud backs up over a million files per year, but we also manage Azure, Google, Amazon, or any other platform.
At the core, Waident is about resilience. Strategic leaders don’t want break-fix IT or “technology cowboys.” They want a partner with a resilient, people-first approach, and that’s us.
Cybersecurity is built into everything Waident does. What are the biggest security challenges you see small and mid-sized businesses facing right now, and how do you help them prepare?
The biggest challenge starts with adoption. It still surprises me how many companies don’t prioritize security, even large ones. Some small companies, on the other hand, care a lot. So, part of the challenge is education and helping leaders understand the risks.
We align security either with NIST, SOC 2, or their cyber insurance requirements. That way, clients can connect the dots: “Here’s what my insurance requires, and here’s how Waident covers it with tools and processes.” We also break out the setup, monthly cost, and maintenance for each tool so it’s clear.
The three biggest concerns for the small and mid-sized businesses we see are:
- Ransomware – it’s always in the news, and clients equate it with “hackers in my network.”
- AI Security – AI is now in phones, emails, PDFs, everywhere, and it’s often free but not secure. That means company data can be unknowingly exposed. The fix is education, policies, disabling risky features, and implementing secure alternatives.
- Underbudgeted Security – some companies simply don’t allocate enough for security.
Our role is to make solutions cost-effective, practical, and easy for clients to adopt.
We have a whole guide on how to protect SMBs following the NSIT framework:
Documentation and proactive planning seem to be part of your DNA. Why are those often overlooked, and how do they give your clients an edge?
We’ve been told we’re not just an IT company, we’re also a documentation company. It’s part of our DNA.
Too often, new clients tell us their old IT provider didn’t document anything and wouldn’t share information. That’s a bad place to be. At Waident, we document everything, starting with onboarding. And we share it with the client.
That means a business user can go into their documentation and see, for example, how to set up a new ERP user, fix common issues, or log in. Documentation empowers them and gives transparency. We don’t hold it hostage.
Internally, documentation is expected. If something isn’t documented, people correct it right away. This culture gives clients confidence, continuity, and resilience.
Waident has been recognized with industry awards and made the Inc. 5000 list. From your perspective, what sets the company apart in a crowded IT services market?
Honestly, it’s “we suck less”. By saying that, it’s our way of telling prospects and clients that we understand their IT frustrations.
IT can be frustrating, nobody usually says, “I love my IT team!” But when people do, it’s because their IT provider actually cares. That’s what we focus on: people-first service.
Resilient IT doesn’t mean things never break. Fiascos will happen. It means being prepared: redundancy so users don’t notice disruptions, protocols for urgent issues, and thorough post-mortems to improve.
Clients often tell us their old IT team ignored tickets for weeks or never fully resolved them. We’re different:
- Tickets are closely monitored with alerts if response times slip.
- We’re persistent — “like a dog with a bone.”
- We over-communicate so clients are always in the loop.
Looking ahead, what new technologies or trends are you most focused on, and how do you see Waident evolving to meet the next wave of client needs?
The big one is AI. It’s being integrated into everything: phones, email, files, you name it.
Our philosophy is to avoid the bleeding edge but stay on the leading edge. We encourage our team to experiment, research, and test new tools. If someone thinks something could help clients, they’re given time to explore it.
We always implement new technologies internally first. That way, when clients ask about AI, we can speak from experience, not just theory. Unfortunately, some IT companies take the opposite approach, sending underqualified staff to “sell” AI without real knowledge. That’s not us.
Our approach ensures clients get trusted guidance on practical, secure AI adoption and any other emerging technology.
