Walk into any small business on a given Monday and you’ll find the same dependency on the network. Wi-Fi, printers, security cameras, point-of-sale systems, cloud apps, phones, and laptops all run through one invisible backbone. And when any piece of that backbone snaps, the entire day can wobble.
That’s the world Information Management Systems (IMS) has lived in for 30 years. Founded in 1995 and based in Fargo, IMS is a managed IT and cybersecurity provider focused on small to midsized businesses across the region.
Today, the company is led by cousins Kelsey Beauchamp (CEO) and Eric Erdmann (COO), who officially purchased IMS from founder Rick Johnston in about April 2023 after years of planning and a smooth handoff.
“We like to be in charge of the entire network,” Erdmann said. “Anything that touches online, wireless, or has a physical connection and needs to communicate with the internet or other devices—printers, access points, servers—we manage it.”
That “entire network” mindset is the difference between patching problems and actually owning the system. And for IMS, it starts the rule that if something breaks, call them first.
Why “call Us First” Saves Everyone A Headache
Many businesses have multiple vendors. Maybe one company handles managed print, another handles phones, another handles cameras. That’s fine… until something goes sideways.
“What happens a lot is the client calls a vendor first, and they’ll say, ‘Oh, that’s a networking issue,’” Erdmann said. “Then the client has to come back to us and try to relay messages back and forth.”
IMS tries to eliminate that triangle entirely. Their team diagnoses the issue first, identifies whether it’s actually a network problem or a hardware/vendor problem, and then coordinates the rest behind the scenes.
Unlimited Help Desk Support
A lot of managed IT models still bill based on incidents. The more problems you have, the more revenue they generate. IMS goes the opposite direction.
“The biggest thing we do that not a lot of other providers include is unlimited help desk support—on site and remote,” Beauchamp said. “If something isn’t working, you call us. We fix it remotely if we can, and if not, we come out. You never get a bill for that.”
Their goal is preventative, not reactive. They monitor issues early, automate fixes where possible, and keep systems stable enough that your staff stops thinking about IT altogether.
That philosophy matters more now than ever because the security landscape is changing daily.
“Cybersecurity threats evolve constantly. Ransomware, phishing, everything. If this isn’t your field, how do you know you’re set up right to begin with,” Erdmann said.
Customer Experience, Not Just It Experience
IMS also leans hard into something you don’t always associate with tech companies: hospitality-level service.
IMS is World Class Customer Experience Trained through Dijulius Group, a program used by major service brands like Chick-fil-A and Starbucks. It’s not a badge they toss on a website. It’s a core way they operate. They respond quickly, explain clearly, teach clients as they go, and never make anyone feel dumb for asking.
Ims’s 5 Essential Tech Tips To Strengthen Your Small/medium Business (Smbs)
1. Train Staff On How To Spot Email Scams (It’s The #1 Threat)
Human error causes most data breaches. Short monthly, quarterly, or annual phishing-awareness training sessions dramatically reduce risk and strengthen your company’s first line of defense: your people.
2. Turn On Mfa Everywhere (No Exceptions)
Multi-Factor Authentication is still the #1 defense against account compromise. Enable MFA across email, remote access, financial platforms, and any critical business tool. Make it the company standard—and enforce it.
3. Replace Shared Passwords With A Password Manager
Shared spreadsheets and reused passwords are an easy way for cybercriminals to gain access. Password manager like 1Password allow:
- Secure credential sharing
- Automatic password updates
- Strong password generation
- Logging and auditing
This dramatically improves security without slowing down staff.
- Malware damage
- Data exposure
It also makes compliance and auditing far easier for growing businesses.
4. Review User Access When Employees Join Or Leave
Most SMBs forget to remove former employees from systems. A simple onboarding/ offboarding checklist ensures accounts are added and removed properly, reducing the risk of unauthorized access and closing a major security hole.
5. Automate One Repetitive Workflow
SMBs often waste hours on routine tasks like invoicing, scheduling, file organization, or customer follow-up. Try automating just one of these process using tools you already have (Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, PSA/CRM, etc.).
That teaching piece is baked into their daily workflow.
“If we fix something, we tell them what we did,” Erdmann said. “If it’s preventable, we show them how. If it’s something we can automate, we let them know we’re monitoring for it going forward.”
Physical Security And Smart Monitoring
While most people know IMS for managed networks and cybersecurity, they’ve also expanded into physical security.
They design and support:
- camera systems inside and outside buildings
- access control for restricted rooms
- environmental sensors for temperature, humidity, air quality, even vaping/smoking detection
For many clients, just having clean, reliable exterior video is enough to deter bad behavior, and to provide evidence fast if something happens.
“There’s a lot of use cases,” Erdmann said. “But we think most businesses should at least have exterior cameras now.”
A Local Story, Thirty Years Deep
IMS started when Rick Johnston, a former potato farmer who shifted into tech, built a business to help regional companies get more reliable systems and less daily tech stress.
Beauchamp joined IMS in 2009. Erdmann came aboard in 2011, after Johnston asked Beauchamp if she knew anyone graduating with an IT background.
“We’d talked about ownership for years,” Erdmann saie. “Rick floated the idea early on. We knew it was the plan eventually. After COVID we started putting the pieces in place, and then the sale happened.”
Today, IMS is a five-person team with Beauchamp, Erdmann, and three additional staff supporting a client base that stretches well beyond Fargo.
Who all uphold the promise to keep your systems secure, keep your business running, and make technology feel like a tool — not a stressor.
Get A Free Network Assessment Today!
Not sure how healthy or secure your network really is? We’ll evaluate your systems, identify risks, and provide clear recommendations—completely free.
Call us today at 701-364-2718 or email [email protected].
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