Heartland Business Systems

Commercial firms, public sector bodies and small to medium businesses in the Midwest bring their technology to Heartland Business Systems, known as HBS, for work that runs from cybersecurity to business software.

Cybersecurity as the lead service

Security is the firm's lead line. It offers threat detection and response, designed to spot and act on threats faster, and it aims to prevent many attacks outright. Services include penetration testing, vulnerability assessments, policy writing, risk management and security awareness training for staff. HBS says it begins by understanding each client's environment, then aligns security measures with the client's business priorities.

Data protection

On the data side the firm offers replication of backups, recovery planning after an outage, protection for cloud and email, firewalls, malware defences and multi-factor authentication.

Collaboration and communications

Its collaboration work covers audio visual systems for enterprise video conferencing, distance learning, digital signage, mass notification and audio. Managed collaboration includes unified communications, VoIP telephony, and support for Webex and Microsoft Teams.

Business applications and analytics

HBS sells and supports Microsoft products including Dynamics 365 for sales and marketing, Dynamics GP, Dynamics 365 Business Central, Office 365 and SharePoint, and it offers ERP consulting. On analytics the firm offers short Power BI engagements, such as a dashboard in a day, a Power BI jumpstart and a showcase, along with SQL database management, monitoring and health checks.

Custom builds and the school market

Application development covers custom, mobile, web and IoT applications, along with document imaging, scanning hardware, document management software and imaging services. Its case material includes a SharePoint project that created internal connections for a generator maker and a virtual desktop deployment for a school district. The firm also describes video surveillance and life safety planning for K-12 schools, which it says face physical security challenges.

Pratum and the cybersecurity line

The firm took on Pratum, Inc, a cybersecurity company, which it describes as joining its family. Pratum's offerings now form part of the cybersecurity line, which the firm says protects organizations from cyberattacks. The company says it partners with major technology providers and serves clients with a local team of experts.

Heartland Business Systems is an information technology services provider with several locations in the Midwest. It supports commercial organisations, public sector bodies and small to medium-sized businesses, with a local team building technology setups around each client's aims. The company has absorbed the cybersecurity firm Pratum into its business.

Products and services

• Cybersecurity: threat detection and response, assessments, penetration testing, vulnerability scanning, risk management, policies and staff awareness training.
• Data protection: backup and replication, disaster recovery, cloud and email security, firewalls, malware protection and multi-factor authentication.
• Collaboration: video conferencing, digital signage, mass notification, VoIP telephony, Webex and Microsoft Teams.
• Business applications: Microsoft Dynamics 365, Office 365, SharePoint and ERP consulting.
• Data analytics: Power BI work and SQL database management and monitoring.
• Application development: custom, mobile, web and IoT applications, plus document imaging and management.

Who it serves

Clients include commercial firms, public sector organisations and small to medium businesses across all industries, including schools.

Key facts

• Based in: Midwest, United States, with multiple locations
• Acquisition: Pratum, a cybersecurity firm, now part of the company